Altar Guild 

Contact Susan Blanchard (S2Blanchard@alum.mit.edu)
 

The Altar Guild helps to enhance our worship experience by beautifying the sanctuary and
chapel altars with seasonally appropriate items, making sure that paraments and banners are
changed in accordance with the liturgical calendar, and caring for candlesticks, baptismal brass
and other sanctuary appointments.

ASP (Appalachia Service Project)

Contact Sue Graham (sg1413@aol.com)

NUMC ASP is a Christian ministry open to high school youth that fosters spiritual growth
through completing home improvement projects in Central Appalachia. Our goal as volunteers is
to give hope and help to impoverished families while making homes WARMER, SAFER and
DRIER, and offering transformational experiences for volunteers and homeowners alike.
Additionally, this youth ministry program empowers students to grow in faith and fellowship
through their service.

Binky Patrol

Contact Nancy Busch (nancinator1952@gmail.com)

The Nichols United Methodist Church is proud to sponsor the Binky Patrol Southern CT Chapter
in supporting their mission to bring comfort to those in need. Come join us to create cozy no-sew
blankets, which are lovingly donated to local charities, and hospitals while spreading warmth and
care throughout our community. Every blanket crafted is a tangible act of kindness, showing that
small efforts can make a big difference. All you need is a pair of sharp scissors and a kind heart.
 

Blueberry Festival

Contact Emery Filmer (emfilmer@aol.com)

The festival is held on a Saturday in July. It was a tradition at Long Hill UMC and one year after
the merger it was held here on the NIA green. The church sells blueberry pies: fresh, frozen and
slices and other blueberry items. We have over 25 vendors on the green, as well as food trucks. It
has been enjoyed by NUMC members as well as all of Trumbull and our surrounding
communities. It truly takes a village of volunteers to make this festival a success! Look for
volunteer opportunities in the spring/early summer.

Chancel Choir 

Contact Gregory Horton (gregorymhorton@comcast.net)

The Chancel Choir sings at the 10 AM service every Sunday from September through mid-June,
as song leaders and choral music providers. We currently rehearse every Thursday from 6:30 to
8:00 PM. The health and social benefits of singing in a choir are well documented! We sing a
wide range of music from traditional through contemporary. New members are always welcome!
You can even join on a “trial” basis to see what is involved in the group.

Children’s Ministry Team 

Contact Kate LaPietra (kate.lapietra@gmail.com)

The children begin worship with their families in the sanctuary and participate in the Children's
sermon with the Pastor. They then come to Sunday School where they take part in a lesson!  We
are always looking for new teachers and assistants.  We also plan children’s special activities
either after the service or monthly family events during the week. 

​

Communications Team

Contact Cindy Nigro, Kate LaPietra, Carole Chameides – (communications@nicholsumc.org), Ella Calcote and Marija Elkins (carillon@nicholsumc.org),
Brett Sanford (bcsanford@nicholsumc.org)

The Communications team develops and maintains the church website, church e-newsletter
Weekly Nichols’ Notes, Facebook and Instagram pages. The team supports all our ministries and
make our presence more visible in the community.

Flower Delivery 

Contact Nancy Busch (nancinator1952@gmail.com)

Flowers are delivered after worship each week to our home bounds. If you like making people
smile and bringing them joy, then consider delivering flowers! It’s a wonderful way to let those
members who can’t join us on Sunday morning know they are loved and remembered.
 

Golden Hill Community Suppers 

Contact Roland Redin (rredin3063@aol.com)

NUMC has been involved in the “community suppers” program for many years. What it entails
is preparing and serving a meal to many of the homeless and needy people in the Bridgeport area surrounding Golden Hill Methodist Church. Prior to Covid, we would prepare the meal as well
as serve the meal in the church’s fellowship hall. Since Covid we are preparing a meal that
consists of bread, salad, vegetable, a starch, a protein, and some form of desert. We package the
meal to be taken as a carry out. We are always looking for new people that would be interested in
helping out.

Handbell Choir

Contact Gregory Horton (gregorymhorton@comcast.net)

The Handbell Choir plays at the 10 AM service on selected Sundays during the year. You do not
need to read music to participate but do need to “count”. We use four octaves of Schulmerich
handbells and three octaves of Malmark chimes. The group currently rehearses on Tuesday from
6:30 to 7:45 PM. New members are always welcome! You can even join on a “trial” basis to see
what is involved in the group.

Live Nativity 

Contact Marcie Rockwell (marciebeth86@gmail.com)

The Live Nativity is a live-action, outdoor retelling of the Christmas story occurring on a
December evening on the church’s lawn. Complete with a stable backdrop, actors and carolers,
live farm animals, hot cocoa, and cookies, this yearly performance is becoming a memorable
annual Christmas tradition not just for NUMC, but for all of Trumbull and our surrounding
communities. Volunteers are needed for actors (no need to memorize lines because we have a
narrator!), carolers, refreshment help, technology help (spotlight, sound system), set up, and
clean up.

Merton House Sandwiches 

Contact Dee Blewett (howdee50@sbcglobal.net)

For over thirty years, NUMC has been preparing sandwiches for the Merton House program. A
group of people come together on the third Saturday of each month to make and bag 300
sandwiches to deliver to the Thomas Merton House soup kitchen to be distributed to people who
rely on the soup kitchen for their meals.

​

Neighborhood Breakfast Program 

Contact Sue DelVecchio (delvecs523@gmail.com)

We have partnered with Stratford UMC and their Neighborhood Breakfast Program. This
ministry brings needed food and fellowship to a number of people in the Stratford area. A nice
hot meal is served, usually, eggs, sausage, pancakes and hash browns, yogurt, juice, coffee and
tea. Also provided are non-perishables such as breakfast bars, granola bars, peanut butter
crackers, instant oatmeal packets, and individual cereal boxes. We currently serve breakfast the
first and third Saturday of the month.. If you’re interested in participating and aren’t available on
Saturdays or are physically unable to help, there is a box placed in the hallway leading to
Fellowship Hall that non-perishable items can be placed in.

Operation Inasmuch 

Contact Randy Chase (randalldchase@gmail.com) Laurie Birch (flatirons78@gmail.com)

Operation Inasmuch is a wonderful day of ministry by a church to its neighbors in need: one
church; one day. The ultimate goal is a single service day each year in which 50-75% of those
attending Sunday services volunteer to serve the “least of these” in their communities. Our
Community Impact Committee identifies several local ministries that we as a church family can
work with. A flyer listing these Inasmuch Outreach Opportunities and a way to sign up for the
specific outreach is created each year. We are excited to extend our opportunity of being the
hands and feet of Jesus Christ beyond our church doors and getting to work hands on with
Community Organizations in need. Operation Inasmuch (https://www.operationinasmuch.org/) is a worldwide ministry that comes alongside churches and pastors to equip and motivate them to obey the biblical mandate to minister to the “least of these.” Using the Inasmuch model of compassion ministry, they empower believers to live out their calling to serve others and experience the joy that comes from serving.
 

Prayer Angels 

Caryn Hammond (caryn3u2d@gmail.com)

The Prayer Angels is a network of people who pray for the needs, concerns, and joys of our NUMC family and friends. This ministry has been an incredible place of peace for literally
hundreds of petitions that have come to us. Prayer is one of the most valuable gifts we can give
to each other.

Prayer Shawl Ministry:

Contact Vicki Wilmot

The Prayer Shawl Ministry (Knit One, Pray Two) creates shawls, lap robes, scarves, and baby
blankets as a physical representation of our prayers and the prayers of the congregation. These
are handmade by members of the congregation, blessed during a Sunday worship service, and
delivered by the pastor or other visitation members. A baby blanket is given to each baby that is
baptized in the church. We are making scarves for those in need in Bridgeport.

​

Spaghetti Suppers 

Contact Lydia Schober (lydiawschober@gmail.com) and Laurie Birch flatirons78@gmail.com

Spaghetti Supper and Concert series is an opportunity for our church family and the local
community members to come together for food, fellowship and music. This ministry provides a
delicious meal at an affordable cost and a diverse musical program that is a free will
donation. Folks 10-100 years young are welcome to volunteer their time. The monthly schedule
draws from the pool of volunteers and is very flexible. No experience is needed. Looking
forward to you becoming part of this fun experience.

Ushers

Contact Diane Perachio (diri53@aol.com)

 

For the 10:00 a.m. service, ushers ensure orderliness of the worship by handing out bulletins,
collecting offerings, answering people’s questions and guiding the congregation in Holy
communion. Ushers usually serve once a month, but the schedule is flexible.
 

Youth Ministry 

Contact Chrissy Ferrante (chrissy842001@comcast.net)

Our Youth Ministry is for students in grades 6 – 12. The first weekend of every month we have
an outing and then every Sunday thereafter we meet from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. The schedule for
Sundays consists of games, dinner, prayer, and a faith-based lesson. We also have movie & game nights and we are always seeking opportunities to connect with other youth groups and
participate in other faith-based activities. We have 2 retreats every year. During the summer
months we meet for pool parties.

​

Updated 4/1/26