Announcements

🎄 Carter Memorial UMC Christmas Tree Pickup Town of Needham Only - Saturdays Jan 4th, 11th and 18th 🎄

Show your appreciation for our dedicated staff with a thoughtful gift to the Carter Memorial UMC Staff Appreciation Fund and help make their day a little brighter!

Worship with us in-person, or online on YouTube, and Facebook, as well as this site on our Messages page.

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 Messages page to view an example of a recent service

📺 WORSHIP SERVICES ARE ON NEEDHAM CABLE TV 📺

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.

Channels:

• Comcast: 9
• Verizon: 29
• RCN: 15

🌐 Stay up to date with the full schedule here:
👉 Needham Cable Schedule

Please support our 2024 Christmas Gifts for DCF Children!
This year we are again sponsoring gifts as part of the DCF Wonderfund program. Wonderfund is an annual gift drive to help provide gifts to more than 50,000 Massachusetts children engaged with the MA Department of Children and Families. This year Carter is sponsoring 30 children from the Dorchester office. Stay tuned for more details on how you can sign up and the deadline for gifts. Details should be available closer to Thanksgiving. If you have any questions please contact Lynn Rodman.

LIST OF HAPPENINGS

Monday, December 16, 2024
7:00 p.m. Advent Study

Tuesday, December 17, 2024
10:00 a.m. Knitting Group
7:00 p.m. Charge Conference (see details below)
8:00 p.m. AA, Volunteer office

Wednesday, December 18, 2024
6:30 p.m. Great Plains Square

Thursday, December 19, 2024
7:00 p.m. PS96
7:45 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

Friday, December 20, 2024
6:30 p.m. AA, PM Hall

Saturday, December 21, 2024
9:00 a.m. Eagle Scout Ceremony
10:00 a.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal

Sunday, December 22, 2024 Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:00 a.m. In Person and Live Streaming Worship, Sanctuary
Christmas Children and Youth Pageant (see details below)
6:30 p.m. Al-Anon, Volunteer Office

Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve
Service begins at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary (see details below).

We're continually planning meaningful gatherings and activities for our community. Please remember to check back regularly to stay informed about these events and join in the wonderful experiences we have in store for you.

MEETINGS AT OUR CHURCH

🗓️ Join Us for Our Upcoming Meetings!

At Carter Memorial United Methodist Church, we are a community of faith, hope, and love. Whether you're looking for spiritual growth, fellowship, or opportunities to serve, we invite you to join us at our regular meetings.

Tuesday, December 17
Charge Conference: This meeting starts at 7 pm, all are invited to our annual Charge/Church Conference. This is an in person meeting with our District Superintendent.

Saturday, Janary 18
Men's Fellowship: The next men's fellowship time will be at 6 PM.
As a follow-up from our last meeting, we will be discussing the Biblical concept of Idolatry. We will be meeting at the home of Mike Beard. Sandwiches will be served. Please bring your own beverage and, if your would like, one to share. Please RSVP to Don Henrich (uechenrich@yahoo.com) or Dick Vietor (rvietor@hbs.edu). Hope to see you there!

Is redemption possible for Ebenezer Scrooge? Pastor and author Matt Rawle believes so as he discovers the teachings of Jesus in the words of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Rawle dives deep into the dark, sad, greedy world of Scrooge and discovers a man in dire need of a second chance. Along with Scrooge, we meet the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and in the process learn about living with and for others in a world blessed by Jesus. Rediscover and reinvigorate your Christian faith this Advent and Christmas season and look at this familiar classic through the lens of faith.

ADVENT STUDY

🎄 The Redemption of Scrooge 🎩

📅 Dates: December 16
🕖 Time: Mondays at 7 PM

Is redemption possible for Ebenezer Scrooge? 🤔
Pastor and author Matt Rawle believes so!

Join us as we explore the teachings of Jesus through the timeless Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. 🌟 Together, we'll journey into the dark, sad, and greedy world of Scrooge to discover a man in need of a second chance.

🌟 What You'll Experience:

• Meet the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future 👻🎅
• Learn about living with and for others 🤝
• Rediscover your faith during this Advent and Christmas season 🙏

Sign Up Today:
📱 Online: https://forms.gle/15MdoD5ZshLv6ep47
✉️ To register contact us via our secure Contact Form.

Let's reinvigorate our Christian faith together this holiday season! 🎁

CHRISTMAS CHILDREN AND YOUTH PAGEANT

🎄 Carter Memorial United Methodist Church Presents 🎄
✨ Christmas Children and Youth Pageant ✨

Come and experience the joy, laughter, and love of the Christmas season as our children and youth present a beautiful pageant filled with music, drama, and the true meaning of Christmas.

🎶 Songs and performances that will warm your heart
🌟 A special moment to reflect on the gift of Christ's birth
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Perfect for the whole family!

📅 Sunday, December 22nd
⏰ 10:00 AM

Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for this joyful celebration! Let's come together and celebrate the Christmas spirit in a meaningful and unforgettable way.

We can't wait to see you there! 🎅🎁

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

✨ Christmas Eve Service at Carter Memorial United Methodist Church ✨

Join us as we gather to celebrate the birth of Christ in a beautiful and peaceful service filled with light, music, and reflection.

🕯️ Candlelight Service to honor the true spirit of Christmas
🎶 Special Music to inspire and uplift your heart
🙏 A time of quiet reflection and prayer

📅 Tuesday, December 24th
⏰ 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

🎄 Bring your family and friends to this special night of worship and joy. Let's celebrate the wonder of Christmas together!

We look forward to sharing this holy night with you! 🌟

NEW TESTAMENT STUDY

📖 Invitation to the New Testament Study 📖
Carter Memorial United Methodist Church

🗓️ Dates and Times:
Tuesdays: January 7 - February 25, 7:00 PM on Zoom
Wednesdays: January 8 - February 26, 10:00 AM in person

✨ Join us for a thoughtful and enriching study of the New Testament!
Participants can choose to attend either the Tuesday evening Zoom class, the Wednesday morning in-person class, or both.

💲 Cost:
The cost for the Participant's Book is $15.

📋 How to Register:

Use the Response Sheet or the QR Code provided.
In your registration, please let us know which date and time works best for you.
❓ Questions? If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Sandra.

🙏 Dive deeper into the Word of God this winter - we can't wait to grow in faith with you!

IT'S COOKIE TIME

🍪 It's Cookie Time for Your College Student! 🍪

Carter Memorial United Methodist Church
📍 Address: 800 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA
📞 Phone: 781.444.2460
✉️ Email: bbbeard66@yahoo.com

The Anna Howard Shaw Circle will be continuing the February tradition of providing boxes of goodies to college students - a mission that brings smiles to all! 🎁💕

🔑 We Need Your Help!
The first step is to collect the addresses of each college student.

📅 Please submit addresses by January 5.

📞 How to Submit Addresses:

Call the Church Office at 781.444.2460. Or email the information to David at the Church Office or Barbara Beard at bbbeard66@yahoo.com. Your support is crucial to making this tradition a success! Let's come together to spread joy and support our college students with a sweet reminder of home.

GENERIC MINISTRY DRIVE

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.

Please donate current immediate needs: adult-sized jeans, hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers (especially men's 10-13. Men's NEW briefs and boxers - all sizes. Women's NEW underwear sizes 5, 6, 7. Travel-sized lotion and toothbrushes, belts, backpacks, duffle bags, luggage. The Autumn Wish List: zippered waterproof jackets (especially for men), adult mittens and gloves, men's hats, warm socks (clean, good condition, used OK), and sleeping bags.

Through collective generosity, the Carter Memorial community endeavors to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals facing various challenges.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Announcing New Sunday School class for grades 3-7.

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.

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
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.

KNITTING @ CARTER UMC

"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

Bread of Life is Carter's meal ministry, offering a meal to any who come. Whether needing food, fellowship, or community and the love of God, Bread of Life welcomed all to a home-cooked meal.

Prior to the pandemic Bread of Life met 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.