Madison Street

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Worship

At Madison Street, worship is central to our life together. We gather together as a community to worship God with traditions of beautiful music, timely liturgies and prayers, holy communion (celebrated the first Sunday of each month), baptism (all ages), contemporary preaching, and interactive rituals. Our hope is to experience the mystery and joy of God's presence so that we can go into the world to share God's message of love through the witness of our lives. 

COVID-19 Update as of March 2022

To read our current COVID-19 Guidelines, click here.

In-Person Worship

 

Our primary in-person service is at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings and is held in the Sanctuary. 


Our Sanctuary is built in a gothic style, and the focal point of our worship space is the cross placed on the Table at the center of the chancel area, which the congregation faces from the nave. 


Within the chancel area are the pulpit on the left side, from which the Word of God is preached, and the lectern on the right, from which the Word of God is read. In the center of the chancel is the Table, a reminder that we are all invited to the table of the Lord to receive God's grace and the elements of Holy Communion, and the baptismal font, at which we are initiated into the family of God. 


Madison Street follows the traditional church calendar for the seasons of the Christian year, often reflected in the themes of the services, the readings and music. The colors of the paraments (linens on the Table, lectern, and pulpit) also reflect those seasons. 


A professionally-staffed nursery is provided for children ages 3 and under, and children ages 4 through grade 5 are invited to participate in Kid's Core (children's church).  

Virtual Worship

Our Sunday morning service is live-streamed at 10:15 a.m. on both YouTube and Facebook.  The recordings of these services remain available to watch at any time on either platform.  Click below to access our Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

   

    Madison Street observes Holy Communion on the first 

    Sunday of each month.  We encourage those worshiping

    with us virtually to have bread and juice available on 

    Communion Sundays in order to partake of the sacrament

    along with those gathered in the sanctuary.


    For virtual worshipers who live in the Clarksville area, 

     Communion elements may be picked up at the church 

     the week prior to the first Sunday of the month. The 

    elements will be in the small, table-top refrigerator 

    located in the glass vestibule at the Commerce Street

    entrance between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

    Monday through Friday.

Baptism

Baptism has been a practice of the Christian fellowship since its earliest days. Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized. His baptism marked the beginning of his ministry. When the church began its ministry of preaching on the day of Pentecost, the Apostles called upon those who believed in Jesus to "repent and be baptized." From that time on baptism has been the accepted sign of entrance into the Christian life and fellowship.


Baptism is one of the two sacraments recognized in The United Methodist Church (the other is Holy Communion).  Baptism is a sign of "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ." Grace means unmerited, unearned favor; it means freely given love. The fundamental truth of the Gospel is that God loved us first. 


Baptism is also the act of entrance into the Christian fellowship. By baptism we are initiated into Christ's Holy Church and marked as disciples of Jesus Christ. 


Youth and adults may receive Christian baptism after meeting with the Senior Pastor. An infant's baptism usually takes place when the child is about three months old, but any age is acceptable. Soon after the birth or adoption of a child, parents are encouraged to be in touch with the Senior Pastor to schedule the child's baptism. 


All baptisms are celebrated during our in-person worship service on Sunday mornings at 10:15 a.m. In general, baptisms are not scheduled on Communion Sundays, Easter Sunday, or other services when the sacrament itself would not be able to receive the importance it deserves. 


For more informatiom about baptism, please contact Rev. Harriet Bryan (harriet@madisonstreetumc.org).


Funerals


Death is a universal experience of life. A significant aspect of the ministry of your staff at Madison Street is to join with you in facing death. The church's pastors offer their presence at any time of crisis and especially when death is imminent or has occured. 


A Christian funeral (when the body is present) or memorial service (when the body is not present) is an opportunity for believing people to gather in faith to praise God for the gift of life and the promise of resurrection. It is also an opportunity to ask God for strength and courage to accept death. 


The church seeks to help its members express their faith in their response to death as well as in their daily lives. 


Death presents an occasion for the church to unite in the celebration of the victory of faith. There will be mourning but the mourner is undergirded by the fellowship of the people of God. 


In the event of death, contact one of the church's pastors. You may call the church at any time (931) 647-0221.  The automated phone system will record your message and forward it to our pastors. 


Click here to view our Funeral and Memorial Service Guide.