All Saints Sunday

All Saints Sunday is November 1. During worship, we will be naming and honoring the cherished lives of those who have passed during this last year, and will light a candle in their memory. We invite you to join us for this meaningful occasion.

Bread of Life Feeding Ministry

Sharing a meal. Sharing hope. Sharing God’s love.

Bread of Life is a nonprofit, faith-based food security program based in Malden that provides a variety of services to families and individuals who are struggling with food insecurity and other challenges. As part of our ongoing mission to serve our community, our church participates in the Bread of Life program providing and serving hot meals on the 2nd Thursday in January, March, May, July, September, and November.  We are grateful for the many members of our congregation who have so generously helped purchase ingredients, prepare food, and serve meals, and we would welcome anyone who would like to join us.

Our next meal will be served on November 12. Since this meal is so close to Thanksgiving, we would like tomake it a little more special by offering apple crisp for dessert. We are asking members of our congregation to consider baking an apple crisp to share. We have a simplerecipe available, and we will be happy to provide aluminum baking pans. Please bring your apple crisp to the church by noon on November 12. Your gift of time and food may seem simple, but it can make a meaningful difference to someone in our community. We thank you in advance for helping us extend God’s love and care through this ministry. And our many thanks in advance to everyone who helps make this ministry possible!

For more information, to get a recipe and/or a aluminum pan, contact the office at 781-662-7060 or send email: fumc@fumcmelrose.com

Community Thanksgiving Service

One of the highlights of November is the community interfaith Thanksgiving service. This year it will be on Sunday, November 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, 70 W. Emerson Street. All are invited to attend.

Thanksgiving In-Gathering

Also on Sunday, November 22, we will have our annual collection of food as part of our Thanksgiving Service. Please bring your gifts to church so that we may help those facing food insecurity during this holiday season. Thank you for your generosity.

Home For the Holidays

Home For the Holidays traditiona in Melrose will run from Friday, December 4- Sunday, December 6. We are going to be a trolly stop for the event on the 6th. This is a wonderful way to get people into our church.  Our plan is to have the library decorated with nativity creches. We need two things from you. 

First, we need native creches. Please bring one or two from home that we can use to decorate. We will only need them for that weekend.

Second, we need volunteers to be at the church during the event. If you can help with both/either of these, please email the church office, fumc@fumcmelrose.com.

September 1, 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. This year, the need continues to grow. In the summer, our freezers run low on food due to vacations and out-of-the-routine of cooking 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 September 1, 2026 UPDATE

Weekdays: Please call the church office at 781-662-7060 in advance to confirm hours for dropping off meals as days and times vary. 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!