Arlington Street United Methodist Church

05/25/2022

A Prayer for Our Children

As they were meeting today, the Bishop and members of the New England Conference Cabinet learned of the fatal shooting at a Texas elementary school. They offer this prayer for Texas and for our nation.



“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
— Jeremiah 31.15, NIV


We receive the news of another school shooting of our children and those called to teach them perpetrated by someone who was barely past childhood himself, and the ancient words of suffering erupt from us: “How long, O Lord?”

We grasp for words to describe this atrocity — children “horrifically” and “incomprehensibly”* killed — and we know that they fall short; for the enormity of this violence and loss exceeds the power of language to describe. The ancient words of suffering erupt from us: “How long, O Lord?”

We are reminded by the best data that guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in this country since 2020 — that there were 26 school shootings in the US last year— that active shooter attacks in this country have doubled since the beginning of the coronavirus; and we witness our legislators battling over rights and control. The ancient words of suffering erupt from us: “How long, O Lord?”

How long, O Lord? How long must we mourn and weep for our children who are no more? How long must we fear sending our children to school? How long must we watch our young people become filled with pain, fear, and hopelessness so that the only answer that makes sense to them is to desperately and fatally inflict their experience on others? How long will our prayer lists be populated by the families and friends of victims of gun violence?

Hear our cries, O Lord.
Listen to our prayers …
Lead us to the Rock that is higher than us.
— Psalm 61.1-2 adapted, NIV

Cleanse us of our pain and our sin. Fill us with your hope. Show us how to love. Show us how to change this world for Christ’s sake so that your kindom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let us not finish this prayer with an Amen until what we pray for is fully realized through the power and transformation of your resurrection.


*Words used by Texas Governor Greg Abbott during a press conference today.

05/08/2022

Our latest service is now posted. See our 8 May 2022 Mother's Day service with special video, and also a baptism and membership. Plus a special announcement from Pastor Rich. Blessings!

This is the 10:00 am Service on 8 May 2022 at Arlington St UMC in Nashua NH. It has a special Mothers Day video, a baptism, and a new member by profession o...

04/24/2022

Our worship service from Easter is now posted. See and hear trumpets, drums, and more. He is risen indeed!

This is the 17 April 2022 Easter service from Arlington Street United Methodist Church. All music covered by CCLI copyright and streaming licenses.

04/17/2022

Join us this morning at 10:00 am for our Easter Service! All are welcome. 63 Arlington St, Nashua, NH 03060

04/14/2022

Arlington Street United Methodist Church Invites the Community to Celebrate Easter together!

Everyone in the community is invited to attend Arlington Street
United Methodist Church (ASUMC) this Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, at the following times:

Maundy Thursday, 14 April 7:00 pm, ASUMC

Easter Sunday, 17 April

6:30 am, Sunrise Service, Evergreen Cemetery

Easter Continental Breakfast after Sunrise Service at ASUMC

10:00 am, Communion Service, ASUMC

This season is a time of celebration, and everyone is welcome to join us. The reason we celebrate is that more than 2,000 years ago, God’s plan of redemption altered the world forever. On Palm Sunday, we focused on the significance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and what his journey means for our own today. On Maundy Thursday, we move to the Upper Room and remember the first taking of Holy Communion. On Easter, we will celebrate the resurrection and coming alive with the power to change our lives. Please plan to join us. Everyone is invited and ALL are welcome!

Rich Bensinger, Pastor at ASUMC.

Arlington Street UMC is a United Methodist congregation which welcomes all people, located at 63 Arlington Street in Nashua, NH. For more information, visit the ASUMC page, web site www.asumc.org or call 603-882-4663.

04/05/2022

Here is the service from 3 April 2022. Have a blessed day! Pastor Rich

This is the 10:00 am worship service from Arlington Street UMC in Nashua NH. All music covered by CCLI Copyright and Streaming licenses.

03/02/2022

Join us for Ash Wednesday worship tonight at 7:00 pm.

Everyone is invited and all are welcome!

03/02/2022

Check out the Lenten Prayer Calendar.

All are invited to the 2022 National Association of Conference Presidents March 3rd to March 5th.  If you can not attend in person, below you will find the link for the NACP "watch only" zoom site for this year's  meeting.  Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84046140209?pwd=azR1aDJKeUY2S...

02/25/2022

A prayer from our Bishop. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers. Pastor Rich

01/30/2022

No Sunday School or Worship Service today, 30 January. There will be a Zoom fellowship time at 10:00 am. PM Pastor Rich for the Zoom link. Stay safe and warm and take it easy cleaning up the snow.