SERVING TAUNTON'S CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1957
Located at 176 Somerset Avenue (Route 138 South), Taunton, Massachusetts, across from Memorial Park
Telephone (508)823-2374

Regular Worship Sunday at 10:00 a. m.

A HISTORY OF OUR CONGREGATION

Memorial United Methodist Church is committed to building and rebuilding a vital urban ministry, seeking to provide physical and spritual comfort and a welcoming church home to a wide variety of people from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. The church is affiliated with the Rhode Island Southeastern Massachusetts (RISEM) District of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Methodism has existed in Taunton since early in the 19th Century. In September 1954, Hurricane Carol caved in the roof of the former Calvary Methodist Church, located at the corner of Weir Street and Somerset Avenue. Calvary's congregation was invited to take refuge at the nearby First Methodist Church on Weir Street, which itself was located in a small and aging structure. Soon, the two congregations saw the advantages of merging into a single larger force and of constructing a new edifice to the glory of God and the betterment of their ministries. They acquired an estate located between the two churches and undertook a major fundraising and construction project. Memorial Methodist Church, named for Memorial Park located across the street, held its first worship service on June 2, 1957. The organ and pews were salvaged from Calvary Church, refurbished and placed in new settings at Memorial. The church later added a rear wing for classrooms and offices. The beautiful white steeple, which has become a major Taunton landmark, was raised in 1962. In the period 2000-2002, the 1915 organ was restored in a major fundraising and building project, its pipes moved onto the altar for better resonance, and a modern synthesizing console installed. The church building hosts a number of community programs and events.

Reverend Jane S. Lawrence

Hello!

I’m the pastor here at Memorial United Methodist Church. Welcome to our site! We hope to see you in church soon.
I grew up in rural East Texas and came to faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 13 under the revival ministry of the Rev. Jewel McLure and the Local Ministry of Rev. Billy Bonner. Our family life centered in our little church and the folks there were my role models for Christian living. I was richly blessed by local youth ministry and Christian summer camping experiences.
I was educated in Frankston, Texas public school; Southwestern (Methodist) University at Georgetown, Texas; University of Massachusetts at Boston; and Andover Newton Theological School. This grounding in our Methodist traditions and ecumenical training serves me well.
Before coming to Taunton, I served two other churches Pentecost UMC in Brockton and First Methodist UMC in Greenfield, Ma.
Prior to ordination I was a lay minister to youth at Church of All Nations UMC in downtown Boston as a staff member and at Bethany UMC in Roslindale as a volunteer. During those years I was also part of a cooperative United Methodist Youth Ministry called City Lights which provided year-round and summer programming for youth in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Providence, and Hartford. I have also served as Day Camp Director at Aldersgate Camping and Conference Center in North Scituate, RI.
My call to ministry is grounded in spiritual development and discipleship with a strong emphasis on youth spirituality. Throughout my life, the presence of the Living God has been a source of joy, grace, comfort, strength, and renewal. It is my heart’s desire to share that gift with others and to teach Christians to do the same.

Grace, peace, and blessings to you!
Rev. Jane S. Lawrence (aka “PJ” for Pastor Jane)

MARCH
2009

Dear Ones,

In Ann Weems’ beautiful book of poetry entitled Kneeling in Jerusalem, there is a lovely poem which I will read at the Ash Wednesday service which suggests that there might be “Hallelujahs” lingering in the ashes of last Palm Sunday’s palm leaves. Wow! What a spiritual concept!! Lent can be a somber time, if we only look at the outward trappings. The colors are dark, the scriptures are almost accusatory in their calls to repentance - not to mention much of the time the weather outside is frightful.
As we look back over the time since last Ash Wednesday, we can see deaths, births, growth, change, as well as some of the same old same old. We have said goodbye to some old friends. We have welcomed new ones. Some have left the church and some have come to find faith for the first time or to renew their faith. While there are some things we need to reflect on and repent of, in much of it there are Hallelujahs! Such is the journey of Christian life lived in community.

In our current Bible study, Finding Faith in a Hurricane, author Graham Standish suggests that much of what we experience in our journey of faith is based on our expectations. He says, “We want God to do so much for us that we cannot see what God has already done or is doing for us”. Hmmm.
SO! Do you expect to find Hallelujahs amidst the ashes of Lent? In your daily life? In God’s church?
I’ve been told that I observe Lent as a spiritual leader more fully than is common in many Protestant churches. I’m not alone in that, by the way. Many of us are getting back to the Tradition (note capital T) that is older than “the way we’ve always done it here” because we believe that is how the faith is carried from generation to generation and that when these traditions are lost, we risk losing the opportunity to allow God to transform our lives. One cannot fully experience God’s amazing grace in the joy of Easter morning until one has experienced God’s grace in
Jesus’ walk toward the cross with his followers
Jesus’ death on the cross as they experienced it
Jesus’ resurrection as they witnessed it.
So let us join in a Holy Lent. Come to the Lenten worship series on Thursday night, the Lenten Dinner theatre on March 14, the worship serviced in Holy Week. Jesus will meet you there, if you expect to find Him.

Memorial United Methodist Church
176 Somerset Ave, Taunton, Ma.

Saturday, March 14, 5:30 p.m

Roast Pork Dinner with all the trimmings
$10 - Adult $5 – Kids under 12


A free will offering will be taken for the players.


The performance will have a Lenten theme.
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Please purchase your tickets in advance
or
Call 508 823-2374 for reservations

ABOUT THE COVENANT PLAYERS

"We seek to serve the true reality of Christianity through the unlimited power of communication
by drama. This means presenting the insight of challenge in a way and manner that the individuals in the audience cannot resist. That is, to cause them to identify with specific roles - often through the approach of humor - which then implicates them in the dilemmas faced by that role as the play comes to its open end.
"Under such circumstances, there is no way the majority of individuals can escape a direct
confrontation with themselves in the areas of belief, faith, understanding, commitment, honesty, realism, truthfulness, consistency and others." - Charles M. Tanner, Founder
Come and experience the COVENANT PLAYERS!
The Covenant Players bring the excitement and impact of Christian drama into the setting of
any church event. In worship, in special emphasis programs and workshops, their plays are fresh,pertinent and thought provoking. Founded by playwright Charles M. Tanner, this international repertory company has performed over two million times in its 40 year history, with more than 3,000 plays written specially for the organization by its founder. With over 60 touring units performing throughout the world, Covenant Players challenge people to take a closer look at themselves and the practice of their faith.
The Covenant Players -

COVENANT PLAYERS
P.O. Box 2900
Oxnard, CA 93034-2900
Tel.: (805) 486-7155
Fax: (805) 486-2725
email: CP@covenantplayers.org
Website: www.covenantplayers.org

COVENANT
PLAYERS

Greater Taunton Clergy Association

Ecumenical Lenten Services 2009

The Greater Taunton Clergy Association follows a long tradition with Ecumenical services on Thursday evenings during the season of Lent. This year the theme for the services will be “The Prayers of Jesus”. The services are held in a different church each week, with the preacher coming from another area church. The public is cordially invited to attend these services as make our spiritual journey through the season of Lent.

The evening begins with a pot luck supper at 6:30 PM. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to share, as well as their own place setting.

The service is held at 7:30 PM. An offering will be received at each service to benefit the work of Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and the St. Francis Samaritan House Shelter.


Date Host Church Preacher

Feb. 26 Pilgrim Congregational Church Rev. James Tilbe

Mar. 5 West Congregational Church Rev. Teresa Fernandes

Mar. 12 Holy Family E. Taunton Rev. Dr. Ernest L. Vermont

Mar. 19 Memorial United Methodist Church Fr. Timothy Goldrick

Mar. 26 Myricks United Methodist Rev. David Auten

April 2 Union Congregational Church Rev. Jane Lawrence

ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP OF YORK SAYS THAT CHRISTIANS ARE SEEN AS OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM OF MODERN SOCIETY

A British archbishop has given a speech in which he discusses how it is becoming harder to practice and preach Christianity in modern Western Society. For a good read, click on this link or paste it to your browser. Jody Fiore

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4681357/Archbishop-of-York-Dr-John-Sentamu-Christians-are-regarded-as-mad-by-society.html


Monthly Mission Moment

The Final Judgment
Matthew 25; 31-40

“I was hungry and you fed me.”

For the month of February we will feed the hungry. Feb. 1st is Superbowl Sunday. Memorial calls this Soup-r-bowl Sunday. We will take up a collection in soup bowls. The collection will be given to Our Daily Bread of Taunton.

Each Sunday in February we are being in supplies for Samaritan House, the homeless shelter of Taunton. Some of the most needed supplies are: powdered milk, coffee, sugar, and paper products (plates, napkins, cups, and paper towels).