A message from Pastor Travis 1/22/21
Dear FUMC Family and Friends,
As most of you are aware, my wife Sandra is also a United Methodist pastor who is serving at Grace United Methodist in Lynn. Beginning July 1, she is being appointed by the Bishop to serve Carter Memorial United Methodist Church in Needham. She is both sad to be leaving Grace UMC and excited about her new ministry at Carter Memorial UMC.
Sandra and I are in our 26th year of pastoral ministry. For the entire time of our ministry, we have lived in the parsonage of the church in the town in which I served, and Sandra has had to commute to her church. We didn’t plan it to be that way, but that has been the way it has worked out. Sandra has never complained about it, but it has been a burden on her with which I have never dealt. However, with this appointment, the Bishop has said that it is my turn to commute. Therefore, in late June we will be moving to Needham.
This move will not affect my ministry with First UMC, Melrose, nor will it lessen my involvement in the larger Melrose community. I have watched Sandra serve in one town and live in another for all this time and I have an excellent example in her of how to do this effectively.
First UMC Melrose’s parsonage will most likely be rented out by the church. This will both provide additional revenue to the church and cut expenses for oil, electricity, and other utilities.
It is a blessing to serve at First UMC Melrose, and I am excited what God will do through us in this coming year
.Blessings,
Pastor Travis