United Methodist Church of Absecon Has Rich History

The United Methodist Church of Absecon, located at 100 Pitney Rd., was built in 1829.

There have been several renovations and additions since then, the most recent in 2002.

Kay Stadlmeir, the office manager, spoke at length about the church and its various ministries.

“Once a month we collect specific items for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission,” Stadlmeir said. “We’re also blessed in return by a group of folks from the mission who attend our worship services on a regular basis.”

The church has also sponsored several trips to Chi Chi Castenango, a mission located in Guatemala.

“Last fall we collected over 2,000 pairs of shoes for the mission,” Stadlmeir said.

The congregation at the church is a large one.

“We have over 750 members who attend four worship services on the weekend,” Stadlmeir said. “We have a traditional service Saturday evening at 5 p.m., and also on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. We also have a contemporary worship service in the church hall Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. We provide a nursery for our services, and we have Sunday school classes for ages 3 through adult at 9:30 a. m.”

Another on-site activity is the Community Center for Seniors that meets at the church Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open to all seniors who are Atlantic County residents.

“Seniors participate in activities, there are interesting guest speakers, and perhaps best of all, they receive a wonderfully nutritious and delicious lunch prepared fresh onsite by a talented volunteer chef,” Stadlmeir said. “Seniors who would like more information about this bi-weekly gathering may call 609-645-0013.”

The church offers several adult Bible studies during the week, and a youth Bible study on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. Junior and senior youth have planned their own mission trip this coming summer to New Oxford, PA.

There are many noteworthy things at this historic church. Stadlmeir says two of them are the church organist and its pipe organ.

“Our organist, Priscilla Cunningham, is a graduate of the prestigious Wheaton College Conservatory of Music,” Stadlmeir said. “It is her pleasure to play for our members at our three traditional services each week. Our three-manual, 18-pipe church organ is about 100 years old. It has been restored twice in its history by the Peragallo Organ Company of Patterson, New Jersey, the same company that maintains the pipe organ in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.”

The pastor at the United Methodist Church of Absecon is also unusual for a unique reason. Pastor Ed Davis was ordained in 1988 and held several pastoral positions in this region before assuming his pastoral duties at the church in 2005. What makes him unusual is the fact that he was born and raised in Absecon and has come to his hometown to serve the congregation. A fair number of Galloway Township residents attend the church, as well.

For more information about the church and its programs, call 609-641-1265, or email abseconumc@comcast.net.