Announcements
Carter is a diverse community of faith grounded in scripture, experience, tradition, and reason. Sunday services are in our Needham sanctuary at 10:00 am and live-streamed on social media. Our service is a blend of both traditional and contemporary worship styles that we hope you find uplifting, fulfilling, and comfortable! To get a preview of what worshiping with us is like, visit our Sermons page to view an example of a recent service
Catch our services at the following times:
- Wednesday: 3:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
- Friday: 1:00 p.m.
- Comcast: 9
- Verizon: 29
- RCN: 15
Needham Cable Schedule
Join us each Sunday morning for worship in our Needham sanctuary or from home via our live-stream. Our services blend traditional and contemporary elements, offering an uplifting and welcoming experience for all.
Worship with Children
Families are always welcome at Carter. Children (through 7th grade) remain in the sanctuary until the Time for Young Christians, after which they are invited to Sunday School. Children are also welcome to stay with you throughout the entire service if you prefer.
Worship Online
If you're joining us from home, you can watch live or view past services anytime. Visit our Sermons page, or find us on Facebook and YouTube to worship with us online.
Carter is a diverse community of faith grounded in Scripture, tradition, reason, and lived experience. We invite you to join us—whether in the pews or online—and discover the warmth of our community and the spirit of our worship.
Saturday, May 9
10:00 a.m. Piano Studio
Sunday, May 10
6th Sunday of Easter
10:00 a.m. Worship
6:30 p.m. Al-Anon
Tuesday, May 12
6:00 p.m. AA
Wednesday, May 13
6:30 p.m. GPS
Thursday, May 14
7:00 p.m. PS96
7:45 p.m. Choir
Friday, May 15
1:00 p.m. Mahjong
6:30 p.m. AA, PM Hall
Saturday, May 16
10:00 a.m. Piano Studio
Sunday, May 17
7th Sunday of Easter
10:00 a.m. Worship
11:30 a.m. Confirmation
12:00 p.m. Youth Event
6:30 p.m. Al-Anon
All-Church Spring Cleaning May 30, 9 am –1 pm
It's time to freshen up our church home! Join us on Saturday, May 30 for our All-Church Spring Cleaning as we come together to care for the spaces we share and love. There will be tasks for everyone—dusting, organizing, light yard work, and more—so whether you can stay for an hour or the whole time, your help will make a difference. This is a great opportunity for fellowship while serving side by side, and many hands will make the work light. Come lend a hand as we prepare our church for the season ahead—we look forward to working together!
May Faith Forum Sunday 31st
Please join us on May 31st for a very special Faith Forum. We will be talking about "Moral Leaders" and looking at some great examples from recent and past history around the world. We will be looking at leaders from the perspective of Jesus instructions to us, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to give to God what belongs to God." Each member of the team is profiling a remarkable leader. We hope to learn what makes a leader moral (and what does not!) In looking for new leaders what should we be looking for as Christians? What traits and values can help our leaders and us to follow God's way. Please think about moral leaders you know of and bring your ideas to enrich our discussion. As always, child care will be provided.
Pumpkin Patch Scholarships
This year, Carter will again be offering $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who reside in Needham, Wellesley, Dedham, Dover, Norwood, Westwood, Newton, or Sherborn who plan to continue their education. The scholarship criteria are based on community service and a genuine desire to serve others. The scholarships are funded from the proceeds of our pumpkin patch Applications may be requested through the church office at office@carterumc.org or downloaded at www.carterumc.org. Applications are due back to the church office no later than noon on Thursday, May 14 and must be complete with all supporting documents. The scholarships will be awarded at a worship service in June.
Summer Mission Trip July 12 –16
United Methodist Economic Ministry Salem, Maine. If you are interested in joining us on the mission trip, please pick up the registration form, which can be found in the Narthex, and return it by May 15th to Pastor Sandra or Stephanie.
Carter Book Group has 3 selections for 2026
The Carter Book Group will be reading these books this year
- May 26: A Gospel of Hope by Walter Brueggemann
- October 28: Rough Sleepers by Dr. Jim O'Connell.
There are a few copies of each book available to borrow from the Volunteer Room. We hope you can join us for our discussions at 9:30 in the Parlor. Please reach our to Lynn Rodman if you have any questions.
Carter Memorial United Methodist Church is pleased to offer two $1,000 Community Service Scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to continue their education at a college, university, accredited trade school, or alternative educational program.
Applicants must reside in Needham, Wellesley, Dedham, Dover, Norwood, Westwood, or Newton. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service and a desire to serve others.
These scholarships are funded through proceeds from the annual Carter Church Pumpkin Patch, as a way of thanking the community for its continued support.
View the Scholarship Application Form (PDF)
(document opens in a new window)
Completed applications must be submitted to the church office no later than noon on Thursday, May 14 and must include all required supporting documents.
Applicants will be notified of the committee's decision by Saturday, June 6.
For more information, contact the church office via our secure contact form.
— Carter Memorial UMC Missions & Service Team
At Carter Memorial United Methodist Church, the Generic Ministry Drive is underway, inviting members and attendees to contribute essential items to support those in need.
A dedicated bin stationed in the narthex awaits donations.
Help Our Folks Stay dry and warm this season!
We are collecting high-need items in adult sizes, all in clean, usable condition, to help keep our neighbors warm and protected this season. Items needed include sweatpants, hoodies (no zippers), zippered waterproof winter coats, jeans (sizes 36 and smaller), belts, suitcases with working zippers and wheels, backpacks, and sleeping bags. A collection bin is located in the narthex for your donations. Thank you for your generosity and support.
Through collective generosity, the Carter Memorial community endeavors to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals facing various challenges.
We are offering a separate Sunday School class for older children. Meeting in PM Hall, we plan to offer more challenging and fun activities around the week's Bible lesson. We also need more teachers to staff this to keep up with our increasing number of children (Hooray!). Please see Tim or a member of the Children's Ministry Team. You can also sign up online to help.
Join us for Sunday School at 11:45 am
Our youth program at Carter offers a nurturing environment for kids in 6th through 12th grades to grow together in their faith and commitment to Christ. Weekly youth Sunday school offers a space for middle and high school students to engage Scripture, ask questions, share experiences, work through problems, and foster a personal, relevant faith.
Youth Group
In addition to weekly Sunday school, our youth have several opportunities to connect. One of the core tenets of our youth development approach is getting youth engaged in mission and outreach as a way to better understand and engage with the world around them.
"The yarn forms the stitches, the knitting forges the friendships, the craft links the generations."
The Knitting Group gathers on the first and third Tuesday mornings of each month from 10:00 am until Noon in the Volunteer Office.
Join in the fellowship and fun. All are welcome!
Questions? Call Cindy Vietor at 781-235-2090.
Bread of Life is Carter's meal ministry, offering a meal to any who comes. Whether needing food, fellowship, or community and the love of God, Bread of Life welcomed all to a home-cooked meal.
Before the pandemic, Bread of Life met on the first and third Tuesday evenings with a fellowship time, music, and service with a smile. Volunteers set up, cooked, served, and cleaned up each meal, including Carter members, community friends, and teens learning about community service. Costs were paid through free-will donations and Mission funds.
We are currently working to bring our kitchen up to the new requirements of Needham Public Health. When that work is done, we hope to restart the ministry.
If you would like to help with Bread of Life, please contact Beth Henrich at brhenrich@yahoo.com to volunteer. We will keep you all up to date on our progress and plans.