Church Profile: St. Paul's United Methodist of Monroe
Name: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Address: 201 S. Monroe St., Monroe
Denomination: United Methodist
Approximate membership: About 300; worship attendance has been 50-90 in-person since the pandemic and 40-60 online, said Rev. VanOudheusden
When did the church begin? 1811. “We are 222 years-old,” Pastor VanOudheusden said.
Name of pastor: Rev. Melodye Surgeon VanOudheusden
Service times: 9:30 a.m. Sundays, both in-person in the sanctuary and online through Facebook Live; a YouTube post is shared after 2 p.m. Nursery care is available for infants through age 4
Other offerings: Social hour with snacks after every worship every Sunday; Sunday School for children, youth and adults during the school year; Kids Choir, Bell Choir and Chancel Choir throughout the school year; Christ Kids (elementary children’s group) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday during the school year; United Methodist Youth Fellowship/UMYF (middle and high school ages), 6 to 8 p.m. the second Sunday; Discipleship’s Path, a membership class for adults, will be offered this fall; Short Term Study will resume in the fall; Community Enrichment Classes offered monthly Wednesdays through the summer months; Women’s Circle Groups, offering card and quilting ministries, meets monthly; United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) meet regularly for book studies and congregational support
Ministries offered by the church: God Works! meals on Tuesday; Ministry of Care for Arborwood School; Care Packages for youth in college and in military service; Thanksgiving and Christmas meals
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulsumc
Website: www.stpaulsumcmonroe.org
Phone number: (734) 242-3000
More information: "Our worship is a mix of the classic and the modern. We offer open Holy Communion (anyone can partake) the first Sunday of the month during worship and at 5:30 p.m. through “drive-in” Holy Communion in our south side parking lot. Pastor Melodye offers Holy Communion to you in your car," the church said.
Music is led by John Tyner, music director, a former music educator for Monroe Public Schools. Alisha Cooley, a Christian Education director, offers Christian Education programs.
"St. Paul’s has a history of 'birthing' pastors. We have had nine members of our congregation go into full-time service over the last 20 years," Rev. VanOudheusden said.
A different church will be featured each Friday in the Church Profile feature on the Faith page.
Area churches can participate and learn more by emailing Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
More: Church profile: 2|42 Community Church in Monroe
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Church Profile: St. Paul's United Methodist of Monroe
