Morton Presbyterian Church

10/25/2024

Rocky Mount area friends, tomorrow promises to be a beautiful day. We hope to see you at Morton Church’s Trunk or Treat. Come by and visit us, and even sit a spell. We love to visit!

09/20/2024

Friends, the Activity Pack that goes with the book Gathered at the Table is now available! Go here to download it, and also to find a short liturgy for World Communion Sunday based on the book. The activity pack includes several communion bread recipes, including one that we love at Morton Church!
https://www.glenysnellist.com/free-resources/

12/23/2023

Friends, due to my illness there will be no worship services at Morton on Christmas Eve. You can worship with our sister congregation, Bethlehem Presbyterian Church at the corner of Bethlehem and Old Mill Roads at 10 a.m., and at 5:30 p.m. for a candlelight Christmas Eve communion service.

11/17/2023

Friends, today’s book is a reminder of how much a deeply inclusive community means for children who struggle. My brother and I were blessed to grow up in a tiny congregation where everybody was just “us,” including the two of us who had difficulties related to being born with cleft lip and cleft palate, and including two men who had significant cognitive disabilities. We were all “us,” and we all were much-loved. We truly belonged. All our contributions were valued. It shaped my vision of church. I took that vision to the congregation I pastor now, while my brother is now an elder at our home church. This title really jumped out at me: When I Go to Church, I Belong. It illustrates what “all are welcome” means and what belonging looks like. It invites us to think about concrete ways to make church a home for people with a variety of conditions, including some that are outwardly invisible, but have a big impact on how a person experiences the world. In the pictures below there’s an illustration of how a congregation made a safe, welcoming place for a child with sensory issues and her family. “Let all the children come to me,” said Jesus. Find this book and more on our book page.

11/16/2023

Friends, here are two books to add to your Ash Wednesday reflections. You Are Stardust and The Stuff of Stars point out that every atom that is, and every atom in our bodies, originated in the stars that exploded eons ago. The dust from which God formed humankind is literally stardust, and it is precious dust, linking us bodily with everything else in all God’s creation. So why do people persist in thinking we are “only” dust, and that the dust is dirty and worthless, meaning we are dirty and worthless? The One who created the stars and gave them all their names doesn’t think that. Yes, Ash Wednesday reminds us that we will return to dust. But it remains precious dust, and it is still safely in the hands of the Keeper of the stars, and our dear Keeper. Stardust glitters with the beauty of its Creator! Find these books and more at Morton Church’s online book fair. See the link in the comments. You can order helpful resources and get them delivered wherever you are. Thanks for your support!

11/14/2023

Friends, our book fair runs for six more days through Sunday. Here is a great resource for everyone who loves to read with children and talk about important things. Picture Book Theology is Hanna Schock’s labor of love. (See the link in the comments.) There you will find hundreds of book reviews with pictures anlong with ideas for using them, and you can search by topic by clicking on the categories down at the bottom of the page. You can also use the search box to find titles. Most of the books are from general publishers and are not overtly spiritual, though she includes books from Christian publishers like Beaming Books as well. Here’s a book I learned about from Hanna: God’s
Diner invites reflection on who is welcome at the table.

10/19/2023

01/20/2022

Friends, due to the surge in COVID cases in our area, our 11 a.m. Sunday worship will be solely via Zoom through February. You can connect with us on your computer, or also using a regular phone. Please send me a message, and I'll send you the information and help you connect.

12/11/2021

We are praying that this will help someone who is hurting. Everyone is welcome.