What We Believe
What We Do
- Sunday Morning Worship Information
- Special Sundays and Services
- Religious Education
- Music Programs
- Young Adults
- Loose Ends
- United Methodist Women
- Our Food and Diaper Pantry
- Sponsorship
- Mission Trips
Where we are located
Special Sections of our Website
College Ave is a church whose membership is dedicated to experiencing the Word of God, to receiving, learning, teaching, and sharing that Word in fellowship with Christ. We hope to open our hearts, minds, and doors in order to respond to the Word of God and the love of Christ in a way that reaches out in renewal, rebirth, in healing to all.
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College Avenue United Methodist Church, as a people of God claiming Jesus Christ as our savior, affirms that its primary mission is to be faithful in our ministry with the people in our church and community. We want to live our faith in all relationships. We want to exemplify in our public ministry our faith in God's grace and our understanding of faith as a reaching out to all people, including gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons. We would love as we are loved--unconditionally. We wish to be an open community, welcoming and affirming everyone, just as Christ is welcoming and affirming of everyone.
We believe all persons are created in the image of God, and all are offered God's love and grace. We desire to make explicit and public our past and present practices. Therefore, we affirm the full participation of all--regardless of sexual orientation, race, or gender--who confess Jesus Christ as savior, in all aspects of church life. These include baptism, confirmation, membership, funeral rites, and positions of leadership. We believe the Disciplinary prohibition against ordination of gay Christians is inconsistent with the offer of God's grace to all.
We believe a welcoming congregation to be inclusive and expressive of the concerns of all, regardless of sexual orientation, at every level of congregational life--in worship, in program, in ministries, in social occasions--welcoming not only the presence but celebrating the unique gifts of each life. We join with the Reconciling Congregation Program within the United Methodist Church to "Open the Doors" to all persons. We hope with God's grace to be instruments of reconciliation to all persons who, because of prejudice, homophobia, or ignorance find themselves in exile from the family of God.
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Pastoral Study Series - Throughout the course of the year Bible Studies are offered on various topics. Studies are usually on Wednesdays from 6-7:30 PM in Room 15. To find out information about our current study, please call the church office at 617-776-4172. Past topics included: forgiveness, "Introduction to the Gospel of John", "Living the Questions" ,"Who do you say that I am", "Introduction to the New Testament", "Falling Stars", "Introduction to the Old Testament". Please call the church office (617-776-4172) for more information or visit our online interactive website to see if more information has been posted there.
Young Adults- Every Thursday at 7:00 PM: young adults have small group dinner and discussion/spiritual formation in room 15. For information contact the young adult leader, Trelawney Grenfell-Muir.
Religious Education For All Ages on Sundays
Sunday Morning classes- Every Sunday morning (From September to June) The Upon a Rock band begins the religious education time with new and classic folk & rock music, as well as contemporary praise songs and the occasional hymn. After a time of prayer, adults and children break into smaller groups according to their interest. These classes are held in Room 24 on the second floor. Follow the signs for Cambridge Welcoming.
Lacount Bible Class
The Lacount class meets at 9:30 Sunday mornings in Lacount Chapel for good old-fashioned hymn singing and Bible study.
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Sanctuary Singers
Rehearses 9:30a.m. Sunday morning. The choir performs every Sunday morning and prepares special music for Christmas and Easter. Talk to a choir member for more information or call the church office at 617-776-4172.
Upon A Rock
This home-grown folk-rock band provides the music for the Sunday morning religious education classes that meet upstairs. New members are always welcome! Contact Trelawney Grenfell-Muir for more information.
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Roughly in their 20s and 30s, College Avenue young adults engage in many activities. are an active bunch. From sharing meals together to evening small groups, food drives to movie nights, social action to personal reflection, they seek to grow in faith, fellowship, and outreach, and always welcome newcomers.
Every Thursday at 7:00 PM: young adults have small group dinner and discussion/spiritual formation in room 15. For information contact the young adult leader, Trelawney Grenfell-Muir.
To see photographs of young adult activities, click here.
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Loose ends is a group that works on finishing personal projects while enjoying the company of others finishing personal projects. Projects are often crafts, but most projects that are portable are welcome. Loose ends meets on a monthly basis on Wednesday nights. Please call the church office (617-776-4172) for more information.
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College Avenue UMC has long had an active United Methodist Women's program. For more information please call the church office (617-776-4172) for more information or visit our online interactive website to see if more information has been posted there.
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All year around many families call on us to help them with food and diapers.
Please help us replenish our food and diaper pantry. Here are some food suggestions: rice, beans, pasta, and pasta sauce (in jars or canned); canned meats, tuna, turkey, chicken, and ham; dry cereals, oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup, soups packaged or canned (single and family size) (examples chicken noodle, chicken & rice, beef stew, ect.) Macaroni and cheese in a package, canned raviolis and spaghetti (single and family size), canned vegetables.
Diaper sizes 1-6.
Contact the church office for drop off times or just bring your donations to church on Sunday and put them in the shopping carts.
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We also serve the community by offering our building to a number of service-related communities and organizations, including:
Somerville Homeless Coalition -we provide room and utilities to the Somerville Homeless Coalition's adult shelter in our church.
Twelve-Step Groups
A variety of support groups meet on weekday evenings, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Overeaters Anonymous, CODA, and others. Contact the church office for meeting times for specific groups.
Somerville Committee for a Response to AIDS
The Committee for a Response to AIDS (CRA) was founded by church member Bob Publicover to find concrete ways to assist persons living with AIDS to live a full life. Programs include the Thursday night free AIDS dinner, a food bank, the annual Walk Down Broadway, and more. Contact the church office or the Somerville News (666-4010) for more details.
Living Wage Commission
The Somerville Living Wage Commission is working to pass legislation in Somerville that would mandate that all city employees, and employees of city contractors, receive a "living wage," that is, a wage above the poverty line. A similar initiative passed in Boston last year.
Boy Scout Troop 3
One of the oldest troops in the nation, Boy Scout Troop 3 meets Thursday nights during the school year.
Girl Scout Troop
Meets Friday afternoons after school during the school year.
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New trip announced, click here for more information.
Mission trip to New Orleans-March 26-April 1 2006
College Avenue United Methodist Church sent a mission team down to New Orleans to help with the Katrina recovery efforts. The mission team based their operations out of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church. Members of the team going down were Gary Nettleton, Andrew Burd-Harris, Mike Rodehorst, Tiffany Steinwert, Nancy Hercules, Tim Peters, Tom Bursey, Eric Bursey, and Bob Keifer.
The team went to homes and removed everything damaged by Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding. Since most of the houses were soaked in water and toxic waste for several weeks, the team stripped down the homes down to its bare foundation. We worked with the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the Louisiana United Methodist Storm Recovery Center . The church is planning on sending down a team again in the Spring of 2007. If you are interested please contact Rev. Nettleton.
College Avenue United Methodist Church New Orleans Mission Trip Blog.
College Avenue’s Photogallery including photographs from our mission trip.
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By the T:
Take the Red Line to Davis Square. Go out the College Avenue exit. When you reach ground level, you will be facing Store 24. Turn to your right and walk up the street (College Avenue). College Avenue UMC will be the first church on your left, at the corner of Chapel Street and College Ave. There are many other ways you can reach College Avenue by the T. The MBTA's trip planner can assist you in discovering which ones would work best for you, MBTA trip planner. Use 14 Chapel ST, Somerville as the final destination.
- By Car - from Boston or east of Somerville:
Take Massachusetts Avenue towards Porter Square, Cambridge. Turn onto Beech Street (one block north of Porter Square at the Episcopal Church). Make a left on Elm Street where Beech ends. Follow Elm and then bear right when you can no longer go straight. Make sure you are in the left lane at this point. Turn left onto Highland Avenue at the traffic island. The first traffic light after turning onto Highland is Davis Square. Make a right at this light onto College Avenue. College Avenue United Methodist Church will be the first church on your left, at the corner of Chapel Street and College Ave.
- By Car - from north of Somerville via I-93 South:
From I-93 South, take exit 31 and once you leave the highway, make a right at the stop light and continue going straight onto Harvard Street. Go through several traffic lights until you come to Powder House Circle (rotary). Go halfway around the rotary and onto College Avenue. (College Ave. will be between the small convenience store and a small park). The church is several blocks down on the right at the corner of Chapel Street and College Ave.
- By Car - from south of Boston via I-93 North:
Head straight off exit 29 (Somerville-Everett) past Home Depot and Loews Theaters and go through one light. Head north on 38. Once on 38, take left at second light onto Harvard Street-- you will just have passed a Sunoco and Burger King. Go through several traffic lights until you come to Powder House Circle (rotary). Go halfway around the rotary and onto College Avenue ( College Ave. will be between the small convenience store and a small park). The church is several blocks down on the right at the intersection of Chapel Street and College Ave.
- By Car - from Arlington or Lexington:
Take Broadway to Powderhouse Circle (rotary). Turn right immediately onto College Avenue (between the small convenience store and a small park). The church is several blocks down on the right at the corner of Chapel Street and College Ave.
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Address: 14 Chapel ST, Somerville MA 02144 Phone: (617) 776-4172