Serving Upper Falls Since 1847
Salem United Methodist Church sits along Bradshaw Road in Upper Falls, a small community in northern Baltimore County, Maryland. The congregation has gathered at Salem since 1847, when early settlers in the Kingsville area organized a Methodist society on this stretch of rural Maryland. For nearly 180 years, the church has shaped the spiritual life of the surrounding neighborhoods while the surrounding landscape has filled in around it.
The church building reflects that long history. Sunday worship takes place both in the original Chapel and in the larger Sanctuary. Lower level spaces house Salem House, where the Helping Hands Food Pantry operates, and the office suite where staff welcome visitors. Throughout the property, there are quiet corners for small groups, a parlor that hosts community meetings, and a narthex that becomes a refuge on rainy evenings.
Pastor Stacey invites anyone, anywhere, to pause each day at noon and pray the Lord's Prayer alongside the congregation, a small daily discipline that connects Salem to Christians across the world.
Two Sunday Services for Two Styles of Worship
Salem offers two in-person Sunday services and a livestream option so worshipers can join in the way that best fits their week.
The 8:00 a.m. service gathers in the Chapel. It is an early, quiet, traditional hour that suits early risers and those who want a shorter time in the pew before the day begins. The 10:45 a.m. service is the congregation's main worship hour, held in the Sanctuary with music led by the chancel choir under the direction of Director of Music Katy Stevens.
At the 10:45 service, children in pre-K through fifth grade are invited forward for a special Children's Message that ties into the day's scripture lesson. After the message, the children step out for Junior Church, with programming designed for their age group. Child care during the Sunday School hour is available on request through the church office.
For those at home or traveling, the 10:45 service is livestreamed, and recordings of recent sermons live on Salem's YouTube channel. The weekly bulletin is also posted online so anyone can follow along with readings and announcements in real time.
Vespers Under the Sky on Wednesday Evenings
On Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., Salem gathers for Vespers, a contemplative prayer service that takes place outdoors whenever weather allows. Worshipers bring their own chairs and settle in for a meaningful time of prayer and reflection as the evening cools. When the forecast turns severe, the service moves into the narthex, but the candles, the readings, and the quiet stay the same. If a service must be called off, an announcement goes out on the church's social media channels.
Children and Youth at Salem
Salem invests in its youngest members through a layered Sunday morning program that begins well before the sermon.
At 9:30 a.m., the Children's Sunday School class gathers for interactive learning geared to younger children. Across the hall, the middle and high school youth meet for their own class, exploring faith through discussion and activities designed for their stage of life. During the 10:45 service, the Children's Message draws kids forward, then releases them to Junior Church for programming tailored to their ages.
The church describes itself as embracing new ways to help youth continue their faith journey beyond Sunday mornings, working with families and partnering with parents as the primary teachers of faith at home. Families needing child care during the Sunday School hour are encouraged to call the church office in advance.
The Choir and the Handbell Choir
Music is a cornerstone of the 10:45 Sunday service. Director of Music Katy Stevens leads and accompanies the chancel choir, which also prepares anthems and special music throughout the church year. The choir rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary, with extra rehearsals scheduled as needed, usually on a Friday evening. New singers are always welcome.
Salem is also home to a longstanding handbell choir that has, over the years, expanded into a flexible ensemble. The handbell group currently functions as a quartet, with regular players Karen Fisher, who directs, Carla Frisch, Robin Iannucci, and Angela Spinner, supported by substitutes Amy Krebs, Katy Stevens, and Karen Sersen. Each ringer covers two bells in eight-bell music, and the group adds extra layers to worship several times a year. Highlights from the handbell choir are posted on Salem's YouTube channel.
The Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands Food Pantry, located in the lower level of Salem House, began operations in 1992 and has become one of the congregation's signature ministries. It serves families in northern Baltimore and Harford Counties and is staffed by volunteers from a coalition of local congregations, including Fork United Methodist, Grace Community, Franklinville Presbyterian, St. John's Episcopal Church, St. Stephen Roman Catholic, St. Paul's Lutheran, and Salem United Methodist itself.
The pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for regular food distribution, with extra bags provided for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, Helping Hands was able to assist 577 households, providing food for 1,503 adults and 627 children. Stock comes primarily from monthly deliveries by the Maryland Food Bank, supplemented by donations from businesses, schools, churches, and individuals.
People who want to help can sign up to work on Wednesday or Friday mornings by emailing the pantry or calling (410) 592-2226. Checks to support the ministry are made payable to Helping Hands Food Pantry and mailed care of Salem United Methodist Church.
The Sewing Samaritans and the United Women in Faith
Inside Salem, a group called the Sewing Samaritans gathers to turn donated fabric scraps into lap quilts for residents of nursing homes and people who are homebound. The group was founded by Chris DeMent and Susan Walker, who brought their love of sewing and a desire to share it with others. The Samaritans started sewing together in early 2019, learning from each other, sharing snacks, and dedicating their quilts during worship before delivering them to places like Joyous Assisted Living in White Marsh. The quilts are blessed in church and then sent out to bring comfort to those who receive them.
The Sewing Samaritans are one piece of Salem's United Women in Faith (UWF) circle. The UWF, formerly the United Methodist Women, gathers women of the church for Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, fellowship, and mission. Salem's UWF carries out several hands-on projects at any given time:
- Prayer Shawls. Knitted and crocheted shawls are donated to Franklin Square Hospital, where they comfort patients and staff. During the pandemic, shawls are dropped off curbside and quarantined before distribution.
- Baby Beanies and Blankets. Handmade items in carefully chosen sizes support premature babies and their families in local NICUs, with patterns chosen to keep little fingers and toes safe.
- Lap Quilts. Made by the Sewing Samaritans and dedicated during worship, then sent to nursing homes and homebound members of the community.
- Rada Fundraiser. An ongoing fundraiser through Rada Cutlery and Products helps fund all the UWF missions.
Reaching Out Across the Community
Salem's mission statement calls the church to welcome one another, grow in grace, serve neighbors, and care for all God's people. The congregation puts that vision into practice through partnerships that reach well beyond Bradshaw Road.
The church supports the Rotating Emergency Shelter, an outreach of the Harford County Hope for the Homeless Alliance that provides safe overnight lodging for people in need. Salem joins other area churches in hosting the shelter for one week each during January through March. Salem also supports Welcome One and Manna House, contributing financially when in-person volunteering is limited.
At Magnolia Elementary, Salem partners with staff to support the school community, including volunteering and providing holiday gifts for families. The congregation also supports the Board of Child Care, a United Methodist-affiliated organization serving families across the mid-Atlantic region, sending handmade birthday cards each month to the young people in their care.
Each January, Salem joins other Kingsville community churches for a Day of Service honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Past projects have included assembling hygiene kits for disaster relief, work at Jerusalem Mill, making toys for animals at the Humane Society of Harford County, and writing cards for deployed soldiers.
The congregation also honors local first responders in prayer and in person, sharing treats with hospital, police, and fire personnel and holding a special prayer service on Patriot Day each September 11.
Bible Study, Book Club, and Open Doors for AA
Salem takes seriously the invitation to keep learning and growing in faith, and the church offers several small group Bible studies throughout the week. Pastor Stacey leads a Monday evening Bible study at 7:00 p.m. over Zoom, currently walking through a study of Acts. A Wednesday morning Bible study meets at 10:00 a.m. in the church office, and a Sunday morning Adult Bible Study meets at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Rev. Dr. Marcelena Holmes also leads a Bible study over Zoom for those who want to join from farther afield.
The Salem Book Club, founded in 1999, gathers on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. for discussion and fellowship. Over the years, members have read more than 200 books across nearly every genre, and a few charter members still come. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Salem also opens its doors to the wider recovery community, hosting an Alcoholics Anonymous group on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Parlor. There are no fees or requirements to attend, and the church is glad to provide a steady meeting place for this long-running group.
A Place at the Table for First-Time Visitors
The congregation describes Salem with the image of a table where families gather for a meal. The church teaches, laughs, fellowships, and cares together, and there is always room for one more.
First-time visitors are invited to fill out a visitor card so the church can thank them personally for joining in worship. Those watching online are encouraged to send a message through the livestream link so the congregation can extend the same welcome. The pastor and lay members make a point of recognizing newcomers and helping them feel at home.
The church's mission is to be active in God's blessing of the world by welcoming one another, growing in grace, serving neighbors, and caring for all God's people. Salem treasures humor and spontaneity as part of its worship experience and celebrates the diversity of its members as gifts from God.
Rooted in the United Methodist Connection
Salem is part of the United Methodist Church, a connectional denomination that links congregations through an appointed clergy system, shared mission giving, and a network of conferences. Salem sits within the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. The congregation also supports ministries of the wider denomination, including the United Women in Faith and the Board of Child Care.
Resources for spiritual growth, such as The Upper Room daily devotional, Bible Gateway, and United Methodist podcasts, are shared with members who want to deepen their prayer life during the week.
For nearly 180 years, Salem United Methodist Church has been a steady presence in Upper Falls, gathering a community of faith around a table that has always had room for one more.