"...nothing can separate us from the love of God"
Romans 8:39
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Out of concern for the most vulnerable among us and for our wider community in this time of pandemic, our building is closed. But we will continue to BE CHURCH together in ways new and old.

Rev. John, Rev. Maddie, & the Members of The Congregational Church of Needham, UCC

The Return of Trunk-or-Treat!
Sunday, October 25 @ 3-5pm
in the parking lot behind the church 
at Great Plain off Linden St., opposite the Post Office

Some things may chance, but kids will always want to show off their Halloween costumes and go trick-or-treating. We aim to give them the opportunity to do just that among our decorated cars in the parking lot behind the church.

We are taking all the precautions necessary to make this as safe and fun an event as possible for our neighbors in Needham, including:
  • Medical-style Masks required for all adults and kids over 2yo (We'll have some if you need one!)
  • Social distancing will be maintained
  • One-way route for visitors
  • One family at a car at a time
  • No-touch candy distribution

Connect with Worship THIS SUNDAY, 10/25 @10am

Flooded with Tears
pick your god carefully

The enduring popularity of the story of Noah and the ark among children's Bible stories can be summed up in one word: animals. But if we take a step back and listen again to the story itself--about God destroying all life on earth in outrage over our sin--we need to ask, Is this really a story we want to tell children, all the cute animals aside? Is this the god we want to worship? Or maybe there's another, more grace-filled way to read even this epic tale?

​Download the Order of Worship for this Sunday - 10/25
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​HOW TO JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ONLINE
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We are gathering for worship LIVE! via Zoom each Sunday @ 10am EDT using this link:
https://zoom.us/j/907548568. 
​You can also join via your landline telephone by calling (253) 215-8782 or (301) 715-8592). You then will be asked to enter this Meeting ID number: 907 548 568.  
CONNECT with NeedhamUCC
As the saying goes, "Where two or three are gathered together... there are at least five opinions among them." And that's certainly true of our church. But in this time of when the world around us feels so divided, the Congregational Church of Needham seeks to be a community where people can come together, talk together, worship and wonder together, and share our lives, our joys and concerns, our questions and our answers.

In short, we strive to be a community that does justice, loves mercy, and walks humbly with God together (Micah 6:8). Some days we do better than others, of course, but this remains our goal. If any of this resonates with you, or if you're simply curious what such a community might look like, we invite you to join us for worship any Sunday.

At the Congregational Church, we are committed to being open to and affirming of all persons, "including those of every age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; every racial, ethnic and cultural identity, and country of origin; every faith background, family configuration and economic situation; every mental and physical ability and health status; every life experience and circumstance."

We hope you'll come give it a try, and that you'll walk away feeling warmly welcome and spiritually well-fed. And regardless, we trust that God will continue to walk with you on your spiritual journey, as on ours. No matter who we are or where we are on life's journey, we are in this together.

Coming Up in Worship

New Sermon Series 10/18-11/22
More than a Fairytale Faith
You’ve changed since your elementary school days. Shouldn’t your faith? In this sermon series beginning October 18, we’ll take a second, more mature look at some Sunday school Bible story classics, including Adam and Eve, Noah and the Flood, the Fiery Furnace, Manna in the wilderness, the Feeding of the 5000, even the idea of heaven itself, with an eye toward not just deconstructing but deepening our understanding. As the poet says, “Careful the tales you tell—Children will listen.” And so will adults. Let’s listen again, together.

Music from Our Recent Online Worship

"We Are the Church"
"Hope is Alive"
"Love Your Neighbor"

In life and in death, we bear witness:
Love Persists

As of 10/21, COVID-19 has claimed 133 more lives in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, bringing the total deaths to 9,780.

Giving to Do Good

DONATE SAFELY & EASILY WITH PAYPAL --->
A Truly Global Pandemic
COVID Relief in Guatemala
​For more than three decades, our congregation has had a relationship with the people of the village of Santa Maria-Tzeja through the Guatemala Partnership. Now, as the global pandemic of COVID-19 arrives in their midst, our neighbors in the village need our. help. To make a donation, click on the PayPal link above and select "Guatemala Relief" from the pull-down menu.

For Children & Youth

Mindful Meditation Group ONLINE
In this unsettled and unsettling time, we have a particular duty--and, as always, a peculiar joy!--to minister to the needs of the youngest among us and their families. The old saying that "home is the first church" has never been truer than right now.

To keep in touch with activities for children and youth and their families, sign up for Rev. Maddie's children and youth newsletter. You can do that by clicking here.
Stressed? Worried? Scared? Bone-Tired?

There's never been a better time to lean into mindful meditation. It's a way to reel in all our frayed emotional-mental-physical feelers and ground ourselves again in the present moment.

Join us online on SUNDAY @ 7pm the Zoom platform via desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or landline. The direct link is https://zoom.us/j/149910611?pwd=M1ZFd2tqbCtXaTQrT1RwOSs3STNSUT09. The call-in number for phone-only is (888) 788-0099 and the Meeting ID is 149 910 611.

More Ways to Contribute Online

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The work of the church goes on! In fact, the work of the church has increased as we've put in many, many hours to move our operations and our ministries online to help keep us connected. And we need your financial help to keep doing it. The very best way you can help is to make your pledge contribution online, since we don't have a physical offering plate you can put it in on Sunday. That's something you easily can set up through your own bank's website, and they will send us a physical check, Even better, you can go through the very secure Vanco system at the link below and have that money sent directly, electronically, without anyone even having to go to the mailbox. You can use the same system to make an on-going gift or a one-time gift. Thank you for your generosity.

--> ClICK HERE TO SET UP A DONATION WiTH VANCO