Sunday Worship at Ten
Each Sunday morning at ten o'clock, the people of Marlton United Methodist Church gather at 2 Marlborough Avenue for a blended service that draws from a wide musical range. The congregation hears contemporary worship songs, classic hymns, classical pieces, and occasional monastic chants, all woven together by a traditional choir, a praise band, and the voices of children and youth music groups. A scripture-based sermon is given most weeks, with artistic or special presentations rounding out the calendar.
On the first Sunday of every month the congregation celebrates Holy Communion at an open table: anyone is welcome to participate, whether a member of the church or not, because, in the words the church uses to describe the practice, Jesus invites all to his table. The service is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who cannot attend in person.
Visitors who pull into the lot on a Sunday morning will find reserved parking spaces marked for guests and greeters ready to walk them to the door. The church asks only that worshipers wear whatever makes them comfortable, from suits and ties to shorts and sneakers, and reminds newcomers that they are joining "a church of imperfect people who are doing their best to love God and love others."
A Story That Begins with the Circuit Riders
Marlton United Methodist Church traces its roots to 1823, when the first worshippers in the area gathered under the direction of the Methodist Circuit Riders. The first church building went up in 1838, and since then the congregation has met under several different roofs as the community grew and changed around it. Beginning in 2016, the church relocated into its family life center while the sanctuary underwent repair, a season the church describes as a reminder that "the church at Marlton UMC is not the building where it meets, but a community of imperfect people committed to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ." By October 2025 the congregation had returned to its newly renovated sanctuary, where it now gathers for its ten o'clock service.
Through worship, fellowship, service, and discipleship the church is committed to "making disciples for the transformation of the world," the mission statement it inherits from The United Methodist Church as a whole. That long horizon shapes the congregation's life in the present.
Beliefs in the Methodist Tradition
As a congregation of The United Methodist Church, Marlton UMC stands within a global denomination whose mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The congregation draws on John Wesley and the early Methodists' emphasis on "practical divinity," placing faith and love into action in everyday life.
The church teaches that God is one, revealed in three distinct persons, and that salvation comes through the mystery of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection demonstrate God's redeeming love. The Holy Spirit is at work whenever God's leading, challenge, support, or comfort is sensed. Human beings are made in the image of the Creator, with the capacity to love, communicate, and create. The church is described as the body of Christ, an extension of Christ's life and ministry in the world today. The Bible is the primary authority for faith and practice, and the reign of God is both a present reality and a future hope.
Baptism is practiced for infants as well as adults as an outward sign of God's grace, love, and forgiveness, and baptisms are scheduled into the celebration of Holy Communion rather than held privately. The congregation offers an open table at communion and welcomes all who come to either sacrament.
Children at the Center
Children are woven into every layer of life at Marlton UMC. Sunday School meets from nine until 9:50 in the morning during the fall, taught by many current and former professional educators. Every teacher and volunteer who works with children and youth has passed a background check, which is renewed every three years, and has completed Safe Sanctuaries training, renewed every two years, to reduce the risk of harm.
For families worshiping together, the Pray-Ground sits at the front of the sanctuary. It is a space set aside for young children from infants through fifth grade, with a floor play mat, soft blocks, small tables and child-sized chairs, coloring sheets, crayons, and sensory and quiet activities. A separate Family Room on the first floor, near the church administrator's office, is designed for infants through age three who need a quieter space with a parent, and the service is livestreamed into that room so families stay connected to the service. Pray-Bags with quiet activities are also available from the ushers for children who would rather sit with their grown-ups.
On Wednesday mornings at 10:30, Little Listeners invites toddlers and other little ones to a storytime that includes stories, crafts and activities, a light snack, and a free book for every child to take home. Children also regularly take on leadership roles in the worship service itself, from singing with music groups to reading and serving.
Youth in Grades Six through Twelve
The youth ministry at Marlton UMC welcomes students in grades six through twelve with the simple promise: "Together, we're learning what it means to love God, to love ourselves, and to love each other. It's a safe place to ask questions, make mistakes, and to learn from each other." Youth group meets on Sunday evenings at 5:00 PM and alternates between short devotionals and lessons, fun seasonal outings, parties, and other activities. Students are welcome to bring a friend. Parents and youth can sign up for text threads to keep up with what is happening.
Confirmation is offered each year that at least one seventh grader or twelve-year-old is ready, meeting on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, in person or on Zoom. Students explore their faith, ask questions, learn more about God, serve others, and at the end of the journey make a public commitment to Christ and become full members of the church. Students must be baptized before they are confirmed. Confirmation students are expected to attend church five times during the year of confirmation, take notes during the sermon to share with Pastor Jesse, and engage in a service project on their own or with a group.
No youth is turned away from an activity for lack of funds; financial assistance is available so every student can take part.
Small Groups, Foundations, and Discipleship
Small groups are a core part of the discipleship journey at Marlton UMC. Each group runs for six weeks and meets at a range of times, including Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings with dinner, and after-worship slots. Sessions run through the year, with Advent and Lent offering additional short-term groups.
Foundations, the church's Discipleship 101 course, is offered three times a year and is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Jesse Ruch. Foundations is open to new guests, new believers, and long-term members alike, and goes into detail on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, how the church does life together, and what is expected of members. At the end of the six weeks, participants have a Next Steps conversation with Pastor Jesse to develop their own plan for the journey ahead.
The church defines a disciple as someone growing in faith by deepening their relationship with God, with their neighbor, and with the community, and encourages members to worship every Sunday they are in town, attend a small group at least twice a year, serve both the church and the community twice a year, and share their gifts faithfully through a tithe or beyond.
Women in the Spirit and Men in the Spirit
Two long-standing fellowship groups give adults a place to build friendships and serve together. WITS, Women in the Spirit, is a sisterhood of women of all ages who share Christian fellowship, host mission projects, spiritual retreats and conferences, and offer regular opportunities to connect with one another. MITS, Men in the Spirit, gathers men who want to serve the community, build meaningful relationships, study the Word, and worship God through a relaxed rhythm of weekly book studies, conferences, and barbecues. Both groups are open to newcomers.
Music Across Generations
Music is described at Marlton UMC as both an offering to God and a means by which the congregation itself is blessed and transformed. Casey Shields leads the music ministry and brings a background in vocal music education from Rowan University to the role, directing a traditional choir, a praise band, and the children and youth music groups that participate in worship. The praise band rehearses at nine each Sunday morning before the service. Musicians and singers who would like to prepare something for special music are welcome to reach out.
Ministry Partners in Camden and Beyond
The congregation serves beyond its walls in deliberate partnerships. Kids Alley, the main program of One Accord Inc., is a faith-based nonprofit that reaches out to inner-city children and their families in Camden, New Jersey, an area the organization describes as one of the most violent and impoverished cities in the country. Kids Alley has been serving Camden children since 1998.
Marlton UMC also partners with the Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia, which provides a comfortable place for families to stay while their children receive medical care at area hospitals, as well as hospitality kiosks at CHOP and St. Christopher's Children's Hospital, and summer camp experiences for children facing illness.
UMCOR and Disaster Relief
Through its Flood Buckets ministry, Marlton UMC supports the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the humanitarian relief and development arm of the denomination. UMCOR works alongside those who suffer from famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire, and other disasters, providing relief, response, and long-term recovery grants, as well as technical support, training, and support for migrants through legal and humanitarian programs. The church helps members direct donations to UMCOR's United States and international disaster response efforts.
Pastoral Internship
The Pastoral Internship program offers seminary and college students, as well as recent graduates, a part-time, ten-to-fifteen-hour-per-week opportunity to shadow the pastoral team and take ownership of ministry projects. Interns meet one-on-one with the Senior Pastor for coaching, choose from potential opportunities that include community engagement, worship, children's ministry, preaching, evangelism and social outreach, communications, and small group coordination, and tailor the role to their own ministry goals. Stipends are available based on the length of the internship.
Safeguarding and Pastoral Care
The church takes seriously its responsibility to provide a safe environment for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Its Safe Sanctuary Policy is grounded in the words of Jesus in Matthew 18 and operates in compliance with the Greater New Jersey Conference Safe Sanctuaries Policy approved in 2005. Background checks and recurring Safe Sanctuaries training are required for anyone who works with minors and vulnerable adults, and the policy outlines practices for every ministry and program that touches their lives.
Giving
Members and friends can give online through Realm, by texting MARLTON to 73256 followed by the gift amount, by mail to the church office, or in person through the giving plate, the church office, or the white box outside the main entrance. Every gift, the church teaches, is part of a generosity that begins with the tithe and grows from there.