Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors on Main Street
For nearly two centuries, Farmingdale United Methodist Church has gathered on Main Street in the Village of Farmingdale, New York, opening its doors to neighbors and newcomers alike. The congregation's motto - Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors - captures the spirit that has shaped the church since its earliest days. Visitors arriving for the first time are welcomed as warmly as longtime members, and the church invites everyone who comes through its doors to participate fully in its life together.
A Long Witness on Main Street
The congregation traces its roots to March 29, 1842, when the Farmingdale Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the home of Philip Ketcham. A year later, in 1843, a one-room church seating 150 people was built on Main Street south of the railroad tracks on land donated by Ambrose George. That small building was the second house of worship in the area, and it drew settlers to the growing depot community. Over the decades the church moved from the Huntington circuit to the Amityville circuit, and by about 1920 had become a single-station charge.
In 1873 a musical instrument was introduced to accompany the hymns. After a number of congregants rose and walked out - declaring that the devil had been brought into the church - the dissenting group formed a Free Methodist Church on Washington Street. The remaining congregation embraced the new music, and by 1874 a youth drive had raised the funds for an actual organ. In 1883 the building was remodeled and a steeple added; in 1886 a bell was hung that also served as the alarm for the local fire department.
In 1907 the present site on Main Street was donated by Nathaniel Ketcham. The first building was sold in 1925, and the proceeds funded the construction of the current sanctuary, designed by Julius Gregory of New York City and built by church member Christopher Bierling. The cornerstone was laid in 1926, and the building was dedicated in 1927 by Bishop Luther B. Wilson. Memorial stained glass windows, the Gethsemane window given by Peter Ketcham in 1929, and later donations of colored glass in the 1980s have given the sanctuary its vibrant character. The Education Building was added in 1956, and a Gonsert Austin pipe organ was donated in 1962 by J. Walter Denton in memory of his wife Mae. A tower elevator installed in 1990 made the sanctuary accessible to all.
The flame in the church logo represents the work of the Holy Spirit, with its two parts recalling the predecessor denominations - the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren - joined at the base to symbolize the 1978 merger that formed the United Methodist Church.
The Sanctuary and Sunday Worship
Worship is held every Sunday at 9:30 AM, both in person and online via Zoom. The historic sanctuary is bright with stained glass, and the altar, baptismal font, pulpit, cross, hymnals, and Bible together create a worshipful environment. The service is described as a blend of traditional and liturgical elements with reverence, warmth, variety, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Each service gathers the church family for music, scripture readings, announcements, and offertory, and includes a nontraditional time of fellowship during the service in which visitors are welcomed and members share their joys and concerns. The Chancel Choir offers a weekly anthem, with the Hand Bell Choir and Cherub Choir joining regularly. A Children's Moment each week highlights young participation in the service. After worship, members and visitors gather downstairs for a coffee hour and morning fellowship. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month and is open to all who wish to receive.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is woven into nearly every aspect of life at FUMC. The adult Chancel Choir sings every Sunday, presenting anthems that range from classical to contemporary and from traditional to jazz and gospel. Worship hymns and choir anthems are accompanied by a 20-rank Austin pipe organ and a Yamaha piano or synthesizer, with trumpet, flute, violin, or percussion joining occasionally. During Advent and Eastertide the choir presents full-length cantatas. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at 8 PM.
The Wesley Choir, for children ages 9 to 14, sings at Christmas, Easter, and on other special days, and offers an anthem about once a month during the school year. Young musicians have opportunities to accompany the choir or perform solo pieces during the summer. The Hand Bell Choir, with eleven ringers covering four octaves on Schul-Merick bells, plays about two anthems a month, and beginners are welcome. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings at 7 PM. The church also periodically presents special concerts for the congregation and the wider Farmingdale community, some of which are fundraisers or benefits for particular outreach concerns.
Director of Music David Majoros grew up in a musical family south of Pittsburgh where hymn singing and choral music shaped his spiritual life. He earned a master's degree in vocal performance and literature from West Virginia University and a doctorate in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. He has performed major baritone roles with opera companies across the country and toured with a self-produced musical portrait of American composer Charles Ives. In addition to leading the music program at FUMC, he teaches piano and voice.
Children, Sunday School, and the Nursery School
FUMC takes seriously the care and formation of its youngest members. The Sunday School offers six age-grouped classes from Pre-K through twelfth grade, with curriculum appropriate to each level. Children begin in worship with their families and are dismissed to their classes after the opening prayer and hymn. Throughout the year, students participate in an annual Christmas pageant performed during worship, Lenten programs in the spring, and Christian Education Sunday when the children take a fuller role in the service.
The Sunday School also serves beyond its own walls, participating in food drives for the church's Soup Group and for the St. Killians food pantry, collecting school supplies for children in need, and supporting a yearly crayon initiative. The Change the World Ministry collects change on the first Sunday of each month to support outreach around the world. The Pre-K class is offered for children from birth through age five while their parents attend worship, and introduces little ones to God through stories, felt board activities, crafts, and other age-appropriate experiences.
The church also operates the Farmingdale UMC Nursery School, founded in 1965 and serving children ages 18 months through four years. Director Diane Mormino, who holds a master's degree from the State University of New York at Albany and has been with the school for more than 20 years, leads a qualified staff of certified head teachers and experienced assistants, all certified in infant and child first aid and CPR by the American Heart Association. The school is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Programs are offered two, three, or five days a week, with a separate toddler program available any weekday. The Tiny Tots Together Program adds a parent-and-child experience for toddlers aged 12 to 24 months, with art, free play, music, movement, and fellowship.
Bible Study and Small Groups
Throughout the year FUMC offers several opportunities for Bible study and small-group fellowship. On Wednesday mornings from 10:30 AM to noon, the pastor leads a study on different books of the Bible via Zoom, with hymns, prayer, discussion, and sharing. On Saturday mornings at 8 AM, a men's Bible study and prayer group meets via Zoom. On Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, the Ladies Covenant Group gathers via Zoom to share life experiences, God Moments, and explore scripture together.
During the six weeks of Lent, a special Lenten program begins at 5 PM with a potluck dinner followed by a study that includes singing, video, Bible reading, and discussion. The church welcomes anyone who wishes to grow in faith through study, prayer, and fellowship.
The New To You Thrift Shop
Just down the street at 401 Main Street, the New To You Thrift Shop has served the community since 1976. The shop offers clothing and home goods at modest prices, with hours on Wednesdays from 10 AM to 1 PM, Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 PM, and on the last Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 1 PM. Proceeds support the work of FUMC and a number of local benevolences, including the Interfaith Nutrition Network, the Center for the Developmentally Disabled, Habitat for Humanity Suffolk County, the YES Community Counseling Center, Anchor House Residential Treatment, Hope for Youth, the Children's Home, the Walter Hoving Home, and the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center. Volunteers are always welcome.
A Door Open for Recovery
Since 2003 the Soup Group has gathered to feed those who are hungry, and the church continues to support youth mission workers, summer camp attendees, and CROP walkers. The church also opens its Grant Street entrance to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on Fridays at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM, providing a steady and welcoming place for those in recovery.
United Women in Faith
FUMC is home to a chapter of United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women), a community of women committed to improving the lives of women, children, and youth locally and around the world. The local group supports international and local missions, prepares health and school kits for Church World Service, collects gifts for local schools and community organizations, donates teddy bears to the fire department to comfort those in trauma, and supports church ventures. Members stay connected through social media and gather several times a year for mission projects, programs, and celebrations.
Weddings, Baptisms, Confirmations, and Funerals
The church hosts weddings, baptisms, confirmations, and funerals as part of its pastoral care. Weddings are described as a sacred promise to love and cherish for a lifetime, with couples invited to celebrate at FUMC. Baptisms are open to anyone wishing to commit to God and accept Jesus Christ as savior, from infants to seniors. Confirmation classes are offered for those wishing to affirm the Christian faith and become full members of the church. Funerals can be held at the church, a funeral home, a cemetery, or at home, and the pastor works with families to design a meaningful service that may include scripture readings, family remembrances, and favorite hymns.
Visiting Farmingdale United Methodist Church
The church is located at 407 Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735, with the church office open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM. The office can be reached at (516) 694-3424 or office@farmingdaleumc.org. Sunday worship begins at 9:30 AM, with the service also available via Zoom (Meeting ID 516 694 3424, Password 11735). Visitors are encouraged to come as they are and to enter into the service fully - whether attending for the first time or returning after many years. A coffee hour downstairs follows the worship service, and members are always glad to share conversation and answer questions about the life of the church. Online giving is available through Tithe.ly.