Welcome to Payson Park Church, United Church of Christ
Payson Park Church is a caring and faithful, hard-working and diverse congregation. On most Sundays about eighty adults and youth from Belmont and its surrounding area gather for worship and Sunday School. Our liturgy offers to God an excellent ministry of word, prayer and music, which draws from both the traditional and the contemporary. Seeking to grow in Christian faith that meets social needs, we also nurture a significant mission and outreach program throughout the year, and sponsor a number of educational events from September through June.
What Brought Us Here
Our congregation gathered in 1913 as a Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) to serve the growing areas of Payson Park and Harvard Lawn in Belmont and Winsor Park in Watertown. One of the daughters of one of the original fourteen founders is still a member of our congregation and recalls the evening that the church was established! In addition to some who grew up in our church then subsequently raised their children here, our membership includes others who have come to us much more recently. Together we unite “to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ and to bear witness to the Gospel through worship and service, empowered by the Holy Spirit.”Finding Us
Our church buildings are conveniently located at the corner of Belmont Street (Trapelo Road) and Payson Road in Belmont, across from the Oakley Country Club in Watertown and not far from Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Our church building is Tudor in style and proclaims over its entrance, “Rejoice in the Lord” and “Love Never Faileth.” A bell given by the community in appreciation of our congregation’s ministry of outreach stands out front. The church is handicap accessible with an elevator, and includes not only a handsome sanctuary, chapel, children’s chapel, parish hall, parlor, nursery, and other meeting rooms, but also a gymnasium! Convenient on-street parking is available and the Waverly Square MBTA trolley bus stops steps away.Worshipping with Us
We worship on Sundays from September through June beginning at 10:30 am, and from July through August at 9:30 am. Our service consists of preparation and prayer, offering and service, and scripture and word. Communion is offered on the first Sundays of every month and is open to all Christians. Baptisms are performed within the regular Sunday services. Confirmation is offered on Pentecost Sunday. We sing primarily from the United Church of Christ’s New Century Hymnal and the Pilgrim Hymnal, and our music represents a variety of traditions, periods and styles. We also include occasional Power Point presentations.How We Govern Ourselves
Believing that God speaks through each of us, our church government is congregational (democratic), tracing its roots to the Cambridge Platform of 1648. The members of our congregation make the key decisions of the church. These include, for example, the call of a Pastor, election of lay officers, raising the budget, selecting Christian education curricula and identifying the church’s mission and outreach projects. There are four church officers-- the Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. In addition, a variety of committees and groups make possible the necessary work of the church. Revised Bylaws were adopted in April, 2003, to guide us. The free spirit of volunteering provides the energy for Christ’s ministry among and through us.Christian Education for All Ages
For young people we hold our “God’s Garden” Sunday School grades K-12 from September through June. Our curriculum is based on the Rotation Workshop model, which uses a variety of learning stations. During Sunday and special worship we provide a trained adult caregiver for infant and toddler care in our second-floor nursery. We also offer a Youth Choir and Youth Group. In 2003 our congregation adopted a Safe Church Policy to protect against any possible problems of abusive behavior. Adult education programs have included Bible study every other week, a six-week series of discussions based on Gomes’ The Good Book, a weekly Lenten practicum on “Meditative Chants for Busy People,” a lecture about Passover by the Cantor from the local Jewish Temple, a Labyrinth workshop including the use of a 37’-octagonal canvas labyrinth from Andover Newton Theological School, and the showing of Spielberg’s film, “Amistad,” in anticipation of the ship’s visit to Boston in October, 2003.Mission and Outreach
Mission and outreach account for nearly 15% of the church’s budget. This currently includes service and support to the Belmont Food Pantry, Belmont Affordable Housing, Bristol Lodge in Waltham, the City Mission Society in Boston, Back Bay Mission, Pilgrim Church in Dorchester, MA, Seafarer’s Friend, Cottage Hill Academy in Baldwinville, MA, H.O.M.E. in Orland, Maine, Heifer Project International, a variety of programs of the United Church of Christ, such as Neighbors in Need, One Great Hour of Sharing and the Amistad, as well as other organizations. This past October the Mission & Outreach Committee sponsored a successful weekend mission trip for our members to H.O.M.E.Fellowship and Community Events
We welcome guests and regular worshippers alike to gather for a Fellowship Hour following worship. A small senior women’s group meets on Tuesdays. As a community we host a Harvest Fair in November, a Christmas Party and an Easter Breakfast. This past February we held a Chinese New Year’s luncheon, followed by storytelling and a performance of the Gund Kwok Women’s Lion Dance Troupe of Boston.We Offer a Newsletter
Placing a high priority on keeping our members and friends informed about church life, we publish a bi-weekly newsletter, “The Messenger.” We invite you to contact the Church Office at (617) 484-1542 if you would like to receive it on an introductory basis.Exploring Membership
After you have worshipped with us and begun to take part in church life, you are invited to become more fully a part of the congregation. Membership in Payson Park Church, United Church of Christ, is open to any who profess their faith or present a letter of transfer from another Christian church. From time to time the Pastor and lay leaders offer membership discussions. These gatherings explore questions about faith and practice, and offer a chance to become better acquainted with other members.
Please contact the Pastor at (617) 484-1542 about membership. Rev. Lael Invites You to Join Us