Congregation2017Welcome!

I’m Reverend Dominic Taranowski and I’d like to welcome you to the First Congregational Church in Melrose, United Church of Christ. A lot of churches say “come as you are,” but we really mean it. It doesn’t matter your age or your background or your story: you are welcome here.  We’re an intergenerational church with something for everyone: from our vibrant worship service on Sunday morning, to our Sunday school program, to our mission work, to our public advocacy presence.  We’re always about the work of faith formation and discipleship.

We strive to create a deeper relationship with God but also an outward expression of that faith in the wider world. The church provides opportunities for both of those.  You can renew and strengthen your relationship with God and also find ways to live out that faith on a daily basis. We are a casual, committed, progressive church and we welcome you here.

See you in church!


Join us weekly at 10 am for worship

Join us in-person Sundays at 10 am, beginning on September 11, 2022! We can’t wait to see you again! Previous livestreams are available on YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCMelrose, and we are broadcast MMTV (local channel 3) at 10 — rebroadcast at 6 pm. Links to view individual services may also be found on this website, here.

News

Pray Big, Worry Small

“Pray big, worry small.”

There’s a wonderful saying that I think can help guide us through the challenges of 2023:

I recommend you keep those four words in your pocket today and always because they can calm your fears and enliven your faith.

Prayer is a central feature of most religious traditions.  There are people, however, who keep their prayers small because they don’t feel it is “okay” to pray for big things.  They feel that it would be presumptuous to ask God to rectify big problems because they feel unworthy to do so.

Another reason people keep their prayers small is because they don’t want to be disappointed.  If you pray for an end to the climate crisis and the climate crisis persists, what happened?  Did my prayer go unheard?  Was the answer “no”?  What gives?  It’s better to be realistic and pray for more manageable things.

Pray big, worry small.

Those words say don’t hold back.  Shoot the works!  Name the biggest, huge-ist thing that is hounding your soul and this world, and pray about it!  Because when you do, something more important than solving the difficulty happens: You realize that you are praying to someone who is bigger than even the biggest problem you can name.

And you belong to that someone.

Prayer isn’t a magic wand for resolving big things or little things.  Prayer should start always with gratitude; thanksgiving for the gift of life and for being a product of the divine.  

And when it comes to solving the major problems of life and of the world, it is enough to turn things over to God.  Doing so will keep your worries small because you will realize that there is a bigger picture in play than you are aware of and you can trust that picture; that source and originator of all that is.

Prayer isn’t so much about solving problems as it is bolstering your relationship with the one who holds you no matter what happens.

Pray big, worry small.  Give it a try.

See you in church,

–Rev. Dominic

Chalk Messages for our 2021 Grads

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Black Lives Matter at FCC (click to read more)

Rev. Dominic’s weekly article

What Goes on During Holy Week? - We are about to enter the last week of Lent and the most sacred time of year in the Christian faith:  Holy Week. To prevent you from… Read more "What Goes on During Holy Week?"
Straw Poll: Lent or Advent? - Which do you prefer: Lent or Advent?  I’ll go out on a limb here and say that, hands down, most people would vote for Advent over Lent.… Read more "Straw Poll: Lent or Advent?"
In the Wilderness - The 40 days of Lent are meant to mirror the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness of Judea following his baptism by John in the… Read more "In the Wilderness"

Click here to see ALL of Rev. Dominic’s weekly articles (present & past)

Audio and VIDEO Updates

Here’s a great way to check in:  Reverend Dominic is posting regular updates to connect with the congregation.  You can find these under the “AUDIO & VIDEO MESSAGES” tab at the top menu on any of our website pages. 

Mariko’s music recordings

Want to experience our music ministry from home?  Please go to the tab “WORSHIP AND MUSIC” at the top menu to listen to recordings made by our music director, Mariko Matsumura.  You can view Videos posted on our private friends-and-members Facebook page, the Virtual Narthex of First Congregational Church in Melrose UCC. You are invited to join us on our public Facebook page, located at www.facebook.com/FCCMelrose.

In depth review

Church blogger George Parks recently attended our congregation and had this to say: “This is a warm, active, community church, that provides space for personal growth and contemplation, as well as advocacy for the greater good of the community. Melrose and the surrounding communities are very lucky to have FCC of Melrose contributing to the greater good.”  Read his review here.

Get to Know Us

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We seek to foster the joy, love, and fellowship that are part in parcel in our Christian community. We have a great time when we’re together. Our hope is that our church will brighten lives and not subtract joy.

These are exciting days for our church as we grow in the spirit and love of Christ. We have much to celebrate at First Congregational Church. We are an Open and Affirming Congregation with a growing membership. Our youth are engaged and eager to contribute to our church missions. We have innovative and exciting ministries that involve both new and lifelong members of our church family. We have a wealth of history that reflects our members’ desire to make a difference! Please click one of the links below to find out more.

Children & Youth

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From newborns to graduating high schoolers, our church provides a dynamic programs with an active enrollment of children and youth. Taught by members of the congregation, our church school teaches the basic values and stories of our faith and encourages a questioning attitude on the part of students. The goals of the program are to help children claim the Christian faith as their own and instill in them the truth that they are valued by God and the community.

Our church has two youth groups for Middle School and High School aged youth. Recreation, service and faith development hallmark this important ministry.

Find us/Contact us

Address
First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
121 W. Foster Street
Melrose, MA 02176

 

Church Office Hours
Monday through Friday 8:45 am – 1:45 pm

Where to Park on Sundays – see highlighted areas belowoverhead church view for maps website w parking highlighted

From Route 93 South:

  • Exit 35 “Park Street/Stoneham/Melrose” (Two exits south of Rt. 128)
  • Left at the bottom of the ramp, under Route 93, right at stop sign.
  • Continue straight through set of lights at Friendly’s
  • Road becomes two lanes at Zoo, stay left.
  • Take first left after Zoo onto Pond Street. (Don’t take the Pond Street before the zoo.)
  • Continue straight through set of lights.
  • At next set of lights, turn left onto Main Street.
  • Follow Main Street to second set of lights, turn left onto West Foster Street.
  • Church is on right after stop sign.

From Route 93 North:

  • Exit 33 “Rt. 28 Stoneham/Melrose”
  • Follow Route 28 signs staying to the right. Turn right on Elm Street.
  • Continue to rotary, “turn left” by going three quarters of the way around the rotary.
  • Road becomes two lanes, stay right.
  • Take second right after Hospital onto Pond Street. (If you go past the Zoo, you’ve gone too far.)
  • Continue straight through set of lights.
  • At next set of lights, turn left onto Main Street.
  • Follow Main Street to second set of lights, turn left onto West Foster Street.
  • Church is on right after stop sign.

From Route 1 South:

  • Exit “Essex Street, Saugus/Melrose” at Walgreen’s and Dunkin Donuts.
  • Follow Essex Street over Route 1, past Square One Mall and into Melrose.
  • Essex Street becomes Upham Street in Melrose.
  • Take left at second set of lights onto Main Street.
  • At next set of lights, turn right onto West Foster Street.
  • Church is on right after stop sign.

From Route 1 North:

  • Exit “Essex Street, Saugus/Melrose” after Square One Mall and Corners.
  • Follow Essex Street, past side of Square One Mall and into Melrose.
  • Essex Street becomes Upham Street in Melrose.
  • Take left at second set of lights onto Main Street.
  • At next set of lights, turn right onto West Foster Street.
  • Church is on right after stop sign.

Contact Us:

Office phone: (781) 665-2111
Office email: info@fccmelrose.org
Reverend Dominic email: revdominic121@gmail.com
Click here for all staff members email addresses