New Haven Area United Methodists Welcome New Pastor

United Methodists of both New Haven UMC and Immanuel UMC at Senate Grove have welcomed a new Pastor, the Reverend Doug Booth. Booth, who was born and raised in Saint Louis, comes to the area from the Chicago suburbs, having formerly served as Pastor of Sharon UMC in Plainfield, Illinois.

“I am very glad to have the opportunity to not only return to my home state but to be called to lead these two small but active churches in rural Franklin County,” Booth said. “The New Haven and Immanuel churches both have a long history of community involvement and are active in the mission field both at home and abroad. I look forward to getting to know these congregations and the area they serve.”

Booth is a third career pastor, having over 15 years of work in radio and television broadcast news and six years as Press Secretary to former Illinois Congressman and Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. He did his undergraduate work at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO and attended Garrett-Evangelical Seminary at Northwestern University.

“Pastor Doug is very open and inviting and we’ve had several visitors who have already become regular attendees,” said Immanuel UMC Lay Leader Madeline Gottemoeller. “He preaches very Bible-based messages from the heart and not a script, and relates those lessons to everyday life concerns in a personal and engaging style.”

New Haven UMC Lay Leader Leslie Penning agreed, saying “We are excited to be working with Pastor Doug on discovering new ways to serve and share in fellowship with others in the New Haven community. He is enthusiastic about the possibilities that lie before us, and has shared with us many ideas to help us continue our faith journey.”

Worship services at New Haven UMC on Route 100 are conducted at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Services at Immanuel UMC in Senate Grove on Highway VV are held at 10:45 a.m. Sundays.

More information on either church or various discipleship and mission opportunities is available by contacting the church office at (573)-237-3165.