SOUP AND SPIRIT Wednesday nights 

February 25 – March 25

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm.   

We will gather at 6:30 for soup and a time of study and reflection. The study will be hybrid, so you can join us in person or online. If you can, we encourage you to come in person, and enjoy the soup and fellowship before the study. However, if you cannot be with us in person, please log on to the Zoom link (which I will send before the study) beginning 7pm.

This year, we will be studying Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben P. Job.  

In 'Three Simple Rules', Rueben Job offers an interpretation of John Wesley's General Rules for today's readers. This insightful work calls us to mutual respect, unity and a deeper daily relationship with God. This simple but challenging look at three commands, "do no harm, do good, stay in love with God," calls us to mutual respect, unity, and a deeper relationship with God. 

We invite everyone to join us for the study. We ask that you please sign up so that we can order you a copy of the book. Books are $8.

To sign up, you can: Follow this link for the Signup Form 2026 Lenten Study Sign Up OR Email the office directly fumc@fumcmelrose.com OR Call the Church Office 781-662-7060 When you sign up, please indicate if you will be joining us in person or online.

We will also need volunteers to make soup! If you can volunteer, please sign up on the bulletin board outside of the library (Emerson Hall), or contact the church office directly.

Melrose Community Freezer  

January 15th 2026 update

Huge thanks for keeping the Melrose Community Freezer stocked with healthy homemade meals! In 2023 we provided over 2500 meals through this program, and we’re able to do this because of YOU. We’re providing an average of 60 to 90 meals each week. In 2025, our needs have rapidly grown, we are now regularly providing over 100 meals each week. Lately our freezers have been running low on food given the increasing demand for meals. Please consider making some meals for the freezer or packing up extra soup or stew your making as the weather cools off! We need your help to consistently be able to provide meals to the community.

Meal donors should deliver DIRECTLY to the Community Freezer at Melrose First United Methodist Church, 345 Main Street Melrose.    Donations are no longer being taken at Sargent Street.

Meal Drop off Days and Times January 15th 2026 UPDATE

Weekdays: Please call the church office at 781-662-7060 in advance to confirm hours for dropping off meals

Sunday Mornings: Drop off from 9am - 11am.

Process: Park in the circular driveway in front of the church. Ring the buzzer at the front door, and Margo will answer. Place your meals in the “Incoming” freezer at the end of the first hallway on the right. Please put your name, phone number and meal information on the clipboard on the "incoming" freezer

Sign Up Genius Link:  The SignUpGenius link is the following, and we would still love for you to sign up so we can anticipate the number of meals each week. Here’s the link:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44A8AA22ABF8C70-community#/

Details for Meal Preparers:

COOK: a meal to donate, double your dinner recipe for donation, or save extra dinner portions. 

PACKAGE: individual meals in single-serve microwave-safe containers. Takeout containers are ideal, so reuse clean ones you’ve collected, or use the containers we’ve provided at Melrose FUMC next to the freezer. Family-size meals can be packaged in aluminum containers for the oven, but please note that otherwise we are not able to accept styrofoam, aluminum, or Ziplocs.

LABEL: each container with your name, the donation date, the meal name(s), any dietary specifics: GF (gluten f ree), VE (Vegetarian) VG (Vegan), LS (low salt)

Important Requirements: Meals must be complete, including protein, veggie and starch; Meals should freeze well and reheat well; Meals must be individually labeled to enable guest choice; Make what you love to eat!

Most Requested Meals: Roasted/grilled meat & fish of all types with accompanying potatoes/rice & veggies, Soups & stews of all kinds, Macaroni & cheese, plus protein (chicken, pulled pork, etc.) & veggies 

Desserts! We need sweet treats for our guests!

Please make desserts that are NUT-FREE, since some of our guests have sensitivities.

Desserts should freeze well, like cookies and bars. (Slices of pie are challenging.); Desserts should be individually packaged; Each dessert should be simply labeled to enable guest choice. Example: "Chocolate Chip Cookies," no need to list all ingredients.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for making this mission a success in our community!