What is worship like?
Worship at Duke Memorial UMC is traditional, dynamic, and hopeful. Every Sunday our congregation gathers to hear God’s Word through scripture readings and dynamic, engaging preaching, to praise God through music, song, and dance, and to lift our voices in prayer and thanksgiving. We celebrate Holy Communion monthly.
We worship in our large historic sanctuary, an inspiring worship space in which the stained glass windows surround the congregation and help to tell the story of our faith.
Click here to see the latest sermon series and watch past sermons.
What about my kids?
Children are welcome in worship!
Families with young children may choose to have their children in worship with them or to use our nursery care located on the upper level of the Education Building. If young children during worship need attention, parents can use the Lullaby Room, located off the back hall of the sanctuary, to watch a live feed of the worship service while consoling, feeding, or changing diapers for their children.
Children are invited to pick up activity bags to use during worship. On most Sundays, worship includes a “Time with the Children,” during which children come forward and learn more about the scriptures for the day. After this time, children in grades K-3 are invited to “Children’s Church” to explore the scriptures through crafts and activities; the children are returned to the front pews of the sanctuary during the final hymn. On Sundays which include Holy Communion or Baptisms, children are invited to remain in the sanctuary with their families for participation in the sacraments.
We often enjoy children helping to lead worship through singing, dancing, playing bells, helping to usher, reading scripture, and in other ways. Our congregation desires that children feel welcome and a sense of belonging in our worship, that our children at a young age participate fully in worshipping God, and that they have opportunities to use their gifts to help lead worship in dynamic and meaningful ways.
Where is the Sanctuary?
The sanctuary is located in the Sanctuary Building on the east side of the campus along Duke Street between West Chapel Hill Street and Memorial Street. Worshipers can enter through the main front sanctuary doors off West Chapel Hill Street or through the downstairs Soul Café entrance off Memorial Street. Disabled access can be found from the West Chapel Hill Street side of the building by using a ramp at the breezeway between the Sanctuary and Administrative Buildings and entering through a hall behind the sanctuary, or from the Memorial Street side of the building by entering under the long awning between the Education and Administrative Buildings on the Ground Level, using the elevator on the left to go to Level 1, then turning left to walk through the Administrative Building to the breezeway and into the back hall of the Sanctuary Building.
Where can I park?
The main parking lots are behind the church building off Memorial Street and a side parking lot next to Gregson Street. A limited number of spaces reserved for guest and handicap parking are in the Gregson Street lot.
Street-side parking is permitted on both sides of West Chapel Hill Street in the bike lanes, along Duke Street on the east side of the campus, and along Memorial Street behind the church. Parking is also permitted in the parking lot of the Durham Police Department across from the church on West Chapel Hill Street.
For more maps and directions, go here.
Accessibility
Duke Memorial strives to be an inclusive congregation, providing for different needs.
A limited number of spaces reserved for handicap parking are in the Gregson Street parking lot. Disabled access to the sanctuary can be found from the West Chapel Hill Street side of the building by using a ramp at the breezeway between the Sanctuary and Administrative Buildings and entering through a hall behind the sanctuary, or from the Memorial Street side of the building by entering under the long awning between the Education and Administrative Buildings on the Ground Level, using the elevator on the left to go to Level 1, then turning left to walk through the Administrative Building to the breezeway and into the back hall of the Sanctuary Building.
Large-print bulletins and hearing assistance devices for worship can be accessed by checking with an usher before worship.
