Announcements

Stay Connected with Our Church Calendar

Something is always happening at Carter Memorial UMC! From worship and Bible studies to fellowship gatherings, ministry opportunities, and special events, we invite you to get involved and stay connected.

Looking for dates and times? Visit our church calendar for the complete schedule of upcoming meetings, activities, and events.

View Church Calendar →

Worship with us in person or online on YouTube, Facebook, as well as on this site on our Sermons 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 Sermons page to view an example of a recent service.

Worship Services are on Needham Cable TV

WATCH OUR WORSHIP SERVICES ON NEEDHAM CABLE TV

Catch our services at the following times:

Wednesday: 3:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am
Friday: 1:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am

Channels:

Comcast: 9
Verizon: 29
RCN: 15

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

LOOKING AHEAD IN WORSHIP

Sundays at 10:00 a.m. - In-Person & Live-Streaming
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.

PUMPKINS WITH A PURPOSE PUMPKIN PATCH

The pumpkins are here! Carter Memorial UMC's Pumpkins with a Purpose Pumpkin Patch opened Saturday, October 10!

Come find the perfect pumpkin while supporting a wonderful cause! Our pumpkins come from the Navajo Nation, and proceeds benefit the Navajo people and other charitable causes.

Pumpkins will be available through October 31, or while supplies last.

Volunteers Needed!

We would love your help! Volunteers are needed to assist with pumpkin sales, distribution, and maintaining the pumpkin patch.

You can sign up online or contact Don Henrich at uechenrich@yahoo.com to join the online volunteer scheduling system.

Bring your family, pick out a pumpkin, and help make a difference in the lives of others. We look forward to seeing you at the pumpkin patch!

FALL CHURCH WORKDAY

Fall Church Workday – Saturday, November 7!

Many Hands Make Light Work!

Come join your Carter Memorial UMC family for a morning of fellowship, teamwork, and service as we work together to care for our beautiful church property!

Our annual Fall Church Workday is a wonderful opportunity to lend a helping hand, enjoy the fresh autumn air, and make a meaningful difference in our church community.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: Beginning at 9:00 AM
Location: Carter Memorial United Methodist Church

There's Something for Everyone!

We'll be tackling a variety of fall maintenance projects, including raking leaves, cleaning gutters, power washing, and other tasks around the church grounds.

All ages and abilities are welcome! Whether you can volunteer for the entire morning or just an hour, your help will be greatly appreciated.

Coffee and Breakfast Treats Provided!

We'll have plenty of coffee and delicious breakfast treats to help everyone start the morning off right.

Please RSVP by the end of October by contacting:

Marjie Lane: [Marjie_l@outlook.com]
Tom Taylor: [Tomtaylor@alumni.virginia.edu]

The Trustees look forward to seeing everyone there!

Come lend a hand, enjoy some fellowship, and help keep Carter Memorial UMC looking its best!

TRIVIA NIGHT!

Tuesday, November 10 | 6:30 PM

Location: Cook Restaurant (Across from Town Hall)

Get ready for an evening of laughter, friendly competition, and great company! All Carter Church family members ages 21 and over are invited to join us for a fun-filled Trivia Night!

Test your knowledge, cheer on your teammates, and enjoy a lively evening with a fantastic quizmaster and plenty of friendly competition. Whether you're a trivia expert or just coming for the fun, it's a wonderful opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy time together!

There's no cost to participate! Just bring your enthusiasm and, if you'd like, some money for food or drinks.

**Please RSVP by November 4** so our Fellowship Team can reserve enough tables.

[Click Here to RSVP Online]

You may also register by emailing Marjie Lane.

Last-minute plans changed? Come anyway! We'd love to have you join us for a great evening of fellowship and fun!

CHURCH HAPPENINGS

Wednesday, October 28
7:00 p.m. GPS
7:00 p.m. Trustees (Zoom)

Thursday, October 29
7:00 p.m. PS96
7:45 p.m. Choir

Friday, October 30
6:30 p.m. AA, PM Hall

Saturday, October 31
10:00 a.m. Piano Studio

Sunday, November 1
All Saints Sunday
10:00 a.m. Worship
11:30 a.m. Faith Forum
6:30 p.m. AI-Anon

Sunday School Party, November 1
Children in our Explorers Class, Age 4- Grade 2 can wear their costumes to church on Sunday, November 1. We will have a Sunday School lesson on All Saints Day,( November 1) and a fun Halloween time with seasonal treats and fun. We hope to see you all in your fun finery.

Charge Conference
November 11, 2026, at 7:00 pm. This year's conference is doing something new. This year we will have a Charge Conference with 2 other churches, United Parish of Auburndale, and United Methodist Church of Newton, at our church. This will be an in-person meeting. All are encouraged to attend this meeting. All the Committee Reports must be in the office by November 2.

Carter Book Group selections for 2026
The Carter Book Group will be reading these books this year

October 28: Rough Sleepers by Dr. Jim O'Connell.

A few copies of each book are available to borrow from the Volunteer Room. We hope you can join us for our discussions at 9:30 in the Parlor. Please reach out to Lynn Rodman if you have any questions.

COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP

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

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.

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.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Announcing a 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 Stephanie 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 anyone 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.