The New Life Presbyterian Community Church was founded in January 1999; originally, its congregation was a small community of several Brazilian families in northern Framingham, and it moved to its present location near downtown Framingham in January of 2003. Rev. Dr. Manoel Oliveira Jr. has been part of the church since its founding through the present day.
Forestdale Community Church, located on Forest Street across from the cemetery, is a little white church in the north of Malden. The church schedules a full week's worth of activities, from youth groups to bible studies to Sunday services and fellowship meetings. This evangelical church is associated with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
First Presbyterian serves a small congregation from its Harvard Street Church, which it shares with the Korean Church of Boston. The church traces its roots back to 1890's and provides parishioners with a variety of musical and educational opportunities.
The United Church of Christ was founded in 1957 as a union of the evangelical and reformed branches of the protestant church and now comprises 6,100 churches and 1.4 million members—including President Barack Obama. The Somerville UCC states that members "believe many different things about God, and about the person of Jesus Christ. Many of us hail from other traditions…We find common ground in our yearning to build beloved community."
The church is noncreedal, stating "there is nothing you have to believe in order to belong," and also has a strong commitment to diversity. Rev. Molly Baskette is pastor and Ian Holland is support pastor, but nonordained persons also lead prayers and sometimes preach as part of the church's commitment to share everyone's religious experience.
Music is a key part of services. In addition to adult and children's choirs, members also play in the Strings of Glory bluegrass band, the First Church Marching Band, the Project SOUL funk band, and occasional brass or classical ensembles. A coffee hour and potluck follows Sunday services. Nursery and Sunday school are offered, as are Night Outs, where parents drop off kids for evening activities at the church so they can have a free evening.
Events and volunteer activities are strongly focused on social justice issues. The church participates in and supports a number of efforts to help feed the homeless and others in need.
Park Street Church has been conducting worship services at the same place at the foot of Beacon Hill for more than 200 years. The Evangelical Congregational church is well established in Boston with a congregation size of more than 1,500 people, 60 percent of whom hail from Boston proper.
The church at 0 Park Street is connected to a large church office building at 1 Park Street that also houses Park Street Kids, a local preschool started by Park Street parents 10 years ago.
Church officials describe services as liturgically oriented and traditional. Four services are held every Sunday, with traditional services at 8:30am and 11am and contemporary-style services at 4pm and 6pm.
ESL and TOEFL classes and homeless outreach number among the many programs based at the church's Park Street office. On Friday the church holds family night and college ministry night.
Hancock is home to one of two United Church of Christ (UCC) locations in Lexington. The United Church of Christ is a Protestant Christian denomination that formed in 1957, when the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united. Hancock offers a variety of programs, from lecture series and adult study groups, to children's groups and organizations. The church is also a member of the UCC movement of Open and Affirming Churches.