A Methodist Presence on North Parkway Since 1869
Aldersgate Methodist Church sits at 1050 North Parkway in Jackson, Tennessee, where it has ministered since 1980. The congregation's roots reach back to 1868, when an acre of ground on Hays Avenue in the eastern part of Jackson was purchased from the nieces and nephews of Andrew Jackson. A small frame building was raised on that property, and the first worship service was held on February 21, 1869. Growth in the city and population shifts in the 1960s and 1970s prompted a relocation, and in 1980 the church moved to its present site at the corner of North Parkway and Campbell Street. With that move the congregation adopted the name Aldersgate, a reminder of John Wesley's heart-warming experience on Aldersgate Street in London in 1738, which is considered the beginning of Methodism. In May 2023, after a season of prayer and discernment, the church moved its denominational affiliation to the Global Methodist Church.
Worship and Music at the Heart of Sunday
The Sunday rhythm at Aldersgate begins with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and moves into Morning Worship at 10:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. On the first Sunday of each month the congregation typically celebrates Holy Communion, and the Lord's Table is open to all who wish to participate. Worship centers on traditional affirmations of faith, including the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, alongside scripture that grounds the Sunday sermon. Congregational prayer lifts up individual requests, and the pastor offers a children's moment each Sunday. Children's Church follows that moment for those who want to continue age-appropriate learning during the sermon.
Music is a cornerstone of the worship experience. The Adult Choir, directed by Krista Mergen, sings each Sunday and rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. The Sanctuary Choir and the contemporary Grateful Praise Team weave a blended mix of traditional hymns and contemporary favorites into the service. The Celebrate Handbell Choir, directed by Betsy Porter, rehearses at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings and rings regularly in worship. Music leaders encourage anyone who feels called, regardless of musical background, to join the music ministry.
The worship service is livestreamed on YouTube and on the church's Facebook page. There is no dress code - congregants wear everything from jeans to dresses - and there are no assigned seats. Greeters meet visitors at the door and help them find their way.
Sunday School for Every Age
Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m., with classes available for every age group. Children age 3 through 5th grade gather for a group assembly and then break into age-appropriate groups. Youth in grades 6 through 12 meet in the Youth Room in the basement. Four adult classes serve a wide range of ages and interests:
- Ignite Class - younger adults aged 20 and older, with rotating teachers leading discussion on a variety of topics. The class begins at 10:00 a.m.
- Pathfinders Class - adults aged 55 and older, with rotating teachers covering a variety of topics through books and discussion.
- Rainbow Class - adults with special needs, taught on rotation by Becky Buckley and Betty Cherry.
- Wisdom Seekers Class - adults aged 65 and older, with rotating teachers using the quarterly Adult Bible Studies series in a lecture and discussion format.
Children and Youth Ministries
Aldersgate provides a nursery for children newborn through 3 years old during all Sunday morning activities and services, as well as for other church events such as Bible studies and special music offerings. Kaycie Ouelette serves as Nursery Coordinator, and the church maintains a Safe Sanctuary policy with background checks and training for nursery and Sunday School workers.
The Children's Team Leader, Taylor Ann Johnson, leads the children's ministry. During worship each Sunday, the pastor invites children to the front of the church for a special time of learning about that week's sermon at an age-appropriate level. After the children's moment, children may attend Children's Church, where Taylor Ann Johnson teaches lessons that tie to the Sunday School lesson of the day.
Youth ministry brings grades 6 through 12 together to explore biblical topics with an adult counselor. Vacation Bible School is held annually for children ages 3 through 5th grade, with teen volunteers assisting. The church also hosts a Children's Festival each Easter, a community event featuring music, a message, and an egg hunt.
A Place for Special Needs Friends
Aldersgate has built one of the most visible features of its ministry around people with special needs, both children and adults. The Friendship Group is a monthly fellowship that meets on the fourth Sunday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall for adults with special needs in the Jackson community. Programs and activities fill each meeting as attendees and partners build bonds and grow in fellowship. The Rainbow Sunday School Class welcomes adults with special needs into Sunday morning learning. The church also maintains a Talk to a Friend line for families who want to talk with a congregation member who has walked a similar path through life challenges.
For those looking beyond the church for support, Aldersgate connects families to local special-needs resources, including public education information, everyday life and therapy providers, daily life support, and employment services for Madison and Haywood counties.
Fellowship Groups Throughout the Week
Aldersgate offers a range of small groups and fellowships for adults across the week. Methodist Men gathers on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall for dinner, fellowship, and mission opportunities, usually with a guest speaker from the community. All men of the church are welcome.
The Martha Circle, the church's women's fellowship, meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in members' homes to experience Jesus Christ through fellowship and missions. All women are welcome to join.
Daytime Fellowship gathers on the third Wednesday of each month at noon in the fellowship hall for a potluck meal, a program, birthday celebrations, and prayer requests. The Ladies Who Lunch is open to all women and meets at a local Jackson restaurant or at the church on an alternating weekday and Saturday rhythm.
For women in the broader Jackson community, Explorers Bible Study meets every Tuesday morning during the school year at 9:20 a.m. The Adult Ministries Team also coordinates small-group Bible studies at varying times, led by the pastor or lay members; recent studies have covered the books of Daniel and Galatians.
Serving Jackson: Mission and Outreach
Under the banner of "Serving Others," Aldersgate runs a wide portfolio of mission work, mostly rooted in the Jackson area. The most established partnership is with the Regional Interfaith Association (RIFA). On the fourth Thursday of each month, the church prepares and serves an evening meal at RIFA's Soup Kitchen, which provides hot meals to those in need 365 days a year. The church also contributes to the Just Desserts outreach, providing monthly desserts for the soup kitchen, and Aldersgate is home to one of Jackson's Blessing Boxes, where church members and community members can leave or take non-perishable food and essentials.
Aldersgate supports Reelfoot Rural Ministries through the Christmas Toy Store, back-to-school collections, disaster relief, and single-day mission trips throughout the year. The children's Sunday offering, gathered in the Angel Bank during Children's Time, goes directly to Reelfoot Rural Ministries. In the period between Mother's Day and Father's Day, the congregation collects change for Birthchoice, the local crisis pregnancy center.
Other ongoing mission efforts include the Read Team, a partnership with Jackson-Madison County Schools to provide tutors to assigned 2nd grade students; Love Packages, which sends donated Bibles and Christian literature around the world; Meals on Wheels, providing drivers to deliver meals weekly; and Project 20/20, which collects used eyeglasses, checks their prescriptions, and distributes them to people who cannot afford new glasses. Since 2014, a Community Prayer Box in the parking lot has offered a place for written prayer requests from neighbors and passersby.
The church also opens its Wesley Hall for Al-Anon meetings every Monday at noon and Saturday at 11:30 a.m., providing a space for anyone affected by someone else's drinking.
Shepherding and Pastoral Care
The Shepherding Team at Aldersgate oversees pastoral care for the congregation. Members visit homebound members and provide Communion monthly to those in retirement homes. The team coordinates bereavement meals for families following a funeral, sends cards for birthdays, anniversaries, get-well wishes, and thinking-of-you moments, and hosts a New Member Orientation for those joining the church. A yearly stewardship campaign each fall encourages members to give of their tithes, time, talents, and ministry, in connection with prayer, Bible reading, and worship.
What Aldersgate Believes
Aldersgate summarizes its identity in three missional commitments: Seeking God, Serving Others, and Sharing Christ. The church seeks God through worship, study, and prayer. It serves others both outside the church walls and within the congregation. And it shares Christ through the biblical commission to make disciples.
The congregation affirms the historic Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, and worship centers on traditional affirmations of faith and scripture. Since May 2023 the church has been affiliated with the Global Methodist Church.
Anyone curious about the church can plan a visit or give online.