(Click the church’s name to go to the church’s website.)
6605 West Mount Drive
Rocky Mount, NC 27803
Telephone: (252) 314-9624
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Worship 11:00 a.m.
When I look out at my flock on Sunday I see about twenty to twenty-five people. Yes, right many of us have silver hair (including me), but there are younger folk, too. Four generations worship and serve together, enjoy one another’s company and care for each other. One of our members suggested that I tell you that many of us also dearly love animals, who are among God’s least ones needing our care.
As the sanctuary is the heart of the church building, prayer and worship are the heart of the Morton congregation. We have experienced the healing presence of Jesus Christ, and many of us have powerful stories to tell about what he has done for us. We tend to be on the gentle side, and some of us are shy. You will more likely hear our faith stories in small Bible study groups or one-on-one.
Our order of worship is traditional and simple. Its beauty resembles the warm, clean, straightforward beauty of handmade furniture. We love music. Our choir and congregation sing in a variety of styles from classic hymns (“Amazing Grace”) to gospel (“Soon and Very Soon”) to contemporary songs (“People Need the Lord”) and more. I love telling the Bible story when I preach, and I love pointing to “sightings” of God. Stained glass windows telling the story of Jesus surround us as we worship.
Prayer is central to our calling, and our prayer list is long. We long for healing not just for ourselves, but also for the community and nation and world. Periodically we hold all day Saturday prayer vigils in the sanctuary. Sometimes these days conclude with a fellowship supper, and then much laughter ensues. Our daytime fellowship group, the Morton Salt Shakers, is also a group of “prayer warriors,” while the Presbyterian Women’s prayer chain circulates immediate concerns.
What about children? We have a few at this time, and each one is greatly loved. We can’t offer a busy menu of children’s programming, but children among us do find lots of extra aunts, uncles and grandparents who enjoy hearing what’s going on with them, encouraging them, and celebrating their milestones. Young people growing up at Morton get to know Christian adults well and serve alongside them in ministry. One special tradition is a graduation party for each graduating high school senior. In 2012 it was my daughter’s turn. Our nursery stays ready for little ones, and quiet activities are ready for Jesus’ youngest disciples to use during worship. Click on the link to the church web site above to see more about our young people’s activities.
Accessibility for people with disabilities is important to us, and we have been working for many years to improve building accessibility while God continues working to make our hearts more accessible. In 2005 we experienced an “extreme makeover—church edition” when God made it possible for us to completely gut and remodel the fellowship wing of the building. Formerly it had three levels and two narrow staircases. Now the whole building is on one level. A wheelchair ramp welcomes you to the front door of the church building, and there is another around back.
Here is what caring looks like in this community: An interesting variety of viewpoints—theological, political and otherwise—coexist in our fellowship. Candidates from both parties find supporters in the congregation, for example. We certainly don’t agree on everything, and sometimes we get on each other’s nerves. But this is the bottom line: we are the family of Jesus Christ, traveling together through joy and sorrow. In the company of this family, the sick and struggling find prayerful support. If you get sick in the middle of the night, call a Morton member, and help will soon be on the way. When death is near, the dying and their families are cared for with tenderness.
Together this family of sinners is practicing the gifts of God, such as giving and receiving forgiveness. We want to go deeper as disciples of Jesus. We’ve got a ways to go, but we’re getting there with the help of the Spirit.
I enjoyed hearing about your church Mary. Chris Feno
bravo!
Thank you for this wonderful post. I grew up in a small church and now I serve in a small church. To me it is the perfect fit to living out my faith the God.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings on your ministry!