Carter Memorial joins a rich Methodist tradition to establish and maintain an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth and Christian Education. It is no surprise to Methodists that small groups have emerged as the present culture's forum for nurture and growth in many areas of life. We have listed a wide variety of our groups below. For an introduction to any of them, please phone the church at 781.444.2460

or e-mail us at office@carterumc.org. We will help to orient you and connect you with these groups.

Sunday School

Classes for all ages:  Preschool/Kindergarten, Elementary 1-3, Elementary 4-5, Middle School Grades 6-8, Senior High Grades 9-12, Adult (see below).

9:00 a.m. for Middle School, Senior High and Adults

Children age 3 through 5th grade start in worship at 10:15 a.m. and then go to Sunday School following the Children's Time during the worship service.

Weekday Bible Studies

Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Firth Room

The Wednesday morning Bible Study this year will focus on the topic "Jesus and the Gospels" or more broadly "The Writings of the New Testament." The course will explore the scriptures that made it into the New Testament from a literary view point. Why did the writer tell the story that way? Why did the gospel writers see Jesus in so many different ways? What can we learn about Jesus from this author’s perspective?

Our "visiting" lecturer will be Professor Luke Timothy Johnson of Emory University. After a time of "including in and prayer" at the beginning of each session led by Pastor Caroline, we will watch a 30 minute DVD lecture by Professor Johnson. Then we will have about 45 minutes of discussion and sharing.

Our text is Professor Johnson’s book, The Writings of the New Testament. Copies will be available for $30. A free copy is in the Page Library at Carter for use there.

This is a year-long study which begins Wednesday, Sept. 12^th at 10 a.m. Breaks for the various holidays will be taken. It ends mid June. A syllabus of the course through December is below.

Click here to view the syllabus.

The Wednesday morning course attracts people of a variety of denominations who want "meat" not "milk". It is in essence a seminary-level course made available for persons of various educational backgrounds.

Register by emailing Pastor Caroline Edge at pastor@carterumc.org.

This course is for persons who don’t really know anything about the Bible and would like to study one of the liveliest gospels. It is scheduled for one hour on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 25^th through November 6^th (excluding the 2^nd Tuesdays). The course will pick up again on January 15 – Feb. 5^th.

It is taught by Pastor Caroline and will use a study guide called Focus on Luke. It has 12 sessions with simple readings, questions to consider, group activities and a place for a journal meditation. The book is $12 and is available in the church office.

Light refreshments are served. We meet in the church library.

If you do not have a Bible you are comfortable studying, Pastor Caroline will help you find one.

Register by emailing pastor@carterumc.org.

Intergenerational Activities

Lunch Bunch - The Lunch Bunch is a weekly time after the Sunday service to dine at various restaurants while enjoying the fellowship of others in the congregation. The group departs from the Narthex after the 10:15 worship service.

United Methodist Youth Fellowship- UMYF sponsors events for youth in sixth through twelfth grades from our congregation and the community. It includes study, fellowship, worship, service, and outreach throughout the year.  It is designed to meet the spiritual needs of youth in an environment that is exciting and fun.

A typical Sunday meeting includes a study topic and time for fellowship and games.  Other activities include service projects, participation in worship events, and mission trips.  The UMYF program establishes an atmosphere where spiritual growth can happen by encouraging youth to share their spiritual journey and to grow from hearing about the journeys of others.  The activities seek to link Biblical themes and ideals to the issues facing youth today.  It also allows and encourages youth to put their faith into action by serving others. UMYF demonstrates that church is fun and relevant.

Please subscribe to the monitored Yahoo Group below to stay informed and/or pick up the current meeting schedule at the church office.

Everyone is welcome and everyone respected.

Opportunities for Adults

Sunday school - Carter offers a variety of classes for adults on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:00 am. Recent classes have focused on such topics as:

How our faith impacts our views on current events.

How the books of the Bible apply to our daily life.

A study of the United Methodist Social Principals.

Men's Prayer Breakfast - The Men's Prayer Breakfast is a time for fellowship and prayer with men of all ages. It meets at 6:30 am every Thursday morning at the Bickford's at 669 Highland Avenue.

United Methodist Women - The United Methodist Women are actively involved in service to our congregation, our community, and our world. In addition to unit activities, smaller circles meet monthly for programs and fellowship.

Pastor's Bible Study - The Pastor's Bible Study is a time for fellowship, discussion, and deepening faith and understanding. It meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am in the Firth Room and studies a variety of books of the Bible.

Chancel Choir - The Chancel Choir is the core of the music program for our church. The Choir leads the music in worship regularly on Sunday mornings. Composed of thirty adults ranging in age from high school to mid-eighties, the choir is an intergenerational fellowship of extraordinarily committed people who rehearse weekly to prepare our worship music. The choir also presents a special program annually for Christmas, and participates in the Needham Interfaith Choir Concert in the spring.