Mount Carmel UMC Celebrates 135th Anniversary

Since 1884, Mount Carmel United Methodist Church (UMC) has been “The Guiding Light on the Hill” in the Lake Shore area of Pasadena.

The community is invited to share in a day of celebration Sunday, October 20, to recognize the 135th anniversary of the church.

The day of celebration will begin during the 10:00am church service. There will be a special presentation from the church-sponsored Mount Carmel Child Development Center and will include music from both the church choir and praise band. There will also be a special Sunday school for children.

A variety of activities will be available following the service. From 11:00am to 12:30pm, there will be face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, vintage games from 135 years ago, and entertainment from the local magician Wild Willy Woo Woo. At 12:30pm, the church will host a luncheon - open to all - featuring special guests, such as former pastors of Mount Carmel UMC, and family members of original founders of the church.

The Rev. Mike Fauconnet shared why he believes Mount Carmel is a vibrant congregation and continues to be a strong church after 135 years.

“People have all sorts of political positions, but they manage to work well together,” he said. “They keep their minds open to new ideas and are not afraid to go in new directions in exploring their faith. Openness is rare in congregations.”

Parishioner Deb McMurtrey believes the many strong outreach programs of the church help maintain its vitality.

“Global missions and local missions are the heart of what we do,” she said.

The outreach ministries range from serving meals monthly at Sarah’s House in Odenton and weekly at the Seventh Day Adventist Church soup kitchen in Pasadena, to participating in the Anne Arundel County Schools Back-to-School program. They also provide donations to local organizations such as Arundel House of Hope, Winter Relief, Be More Caring, and globally to United Methodist worldwide missions.

Many and varied traditions also keep the “Guiding Light on the Hill” flourishing. The choir presents annual Christmas and Easter cantatas. The child development center, which began 35 years ago as a nursery school, also continues to grow. Today it includes a full-time day care, preschool, and before- and after-school care. Recently, a new group called Girls Night Out was formed, encouraging women to meet monthly at the church for food and fellowship.

Mount Carmel UMC is proud of its rich history. Land for the church was donated by the Linthicum family, and the church was built in 1884. The original church was lit by kerosene lamps hanging from the ceiling, and was heated by a wood stove. Music was provided by playing a reed organ with a foot pump, and parishioners came to church by both boat and horse. A public wharf was nearby for boats, and horse hitch posts were constructed in front of the building for those coming by horseback.

Relics from the original church are still present today, including the pulpit, three sanctuary chairs, a Bible and a silver communion set. The two stained glass windows at the front of the sanctuary are original and are known as the “founders windows.”

The Guiding Light on the Hill will likely celebrate many more anniversaries as the church continues to grow.

“We're looking at the future,” Fauconnet said. “We're in the midst of a five- to 10-year strategic plan about what direction we want to be going. It's a watershed moment.”

Mount Carmel UMC is located at 4760 Mountain Road in Pasadena.