A note from Pastor Travis 1-8-26

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2026. I pray that this will be a blessed year for you and for our church. If the rest of the year is as eventful as January will be, then our church will have a banner year!  

Below is a reminder of some of the things happening in January. Be sure to mark your calendar and invite a friend!

MLK Day of Service at FUMC

Monday, January 19 – 10am-12pm 

Our congregation is participating in the Melrose MLK Event. We are partnering with LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts. LUCE is a network made up of multiple grassroots organizations. It operates a hotline, allowing citizens to report and verify sightings of immigration agents in the state. It advocates on behalf of immigrants, and supports families impacted by ICE. 

During the MLK Day of Action, LUCE will be holding a book sale and a donation drive of gloves, hats, and wool socks at our church. All proceeds will go directly to families that LUCE’s hub is currently supporting who have been impacted by ICE. 

LUCE will also share information about how you can get involved in their work, and about upcoming training events. We invite you to join us for this important event.

MLK Day of Service Schedule at

Melrose UU Church – 70 W. Emerson Street

Sunday, January 18

5pm Community Potluck Dinner

7pm FREE Concert / Opening Doors Project

Monday, January 19

9:30am Light Breakfast and Registration

10am-12pm Citywide Service Projects throughout the city (including at FUMC)

10am-12pm Social Justice presentations

12pm Lunch and Closing Program

Annual Haitian Independence Celebration Potluck Fundraiser

Sunday, January 25 – Following Worship

The schools in L ’aisle Haiti were badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa last October. One of the schools sustained such heavy damage that it has not been able to reopen. At our our annual Haitian Independence Celebration Potluck Fundraiser we are beginning a campaign with our partner organization Haiti Global Youth Partnership to raise the necessary funding to help this school reopen. All are invited to join us for a great meal, wonderful fellowship, and the chance to donate to a wonderful cause.  So, plan to stay at church for lunch on January 25, bring a dish to pass, and invite family and friends.  

If you would like to make a donation ahead of time, You can write a check to the church and put “Haiti” in the memo line, bring cash or donate through our website, https://fumcmelrose.com/e-giving/

Blessings and Peace,

Pastor Travis

Donations to Fight the Cold Weather

The Malden Warming Center has put out a call for donations. They are in need of sweatshirts and sweatpants, especially small, medium, and large. They also need men’s jeans in sizes smaller than size 38 and new men’s boxer briefs. The warming center is for adults only. 

Housing Families, who serves families with children, has asked for donations of diapers, baby wipes, unopened formula, and cleaning and hygiene supplies.

You can bring any donations for these groups to the church.