Young Israel of Brookline claims to support one of the largest Orthodox congregations in New England. The congregation dedicated its new synagogue on Green Street in 1996, after an electrical fire destroyed its previous home two years earlier. The new facility includes a sanctuary with room for 527 people, beit midrash and Judaica library, banquet hall with kosher catering facilities, bridal room, classrooms and offices.
Founded in 1849, the community of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is built around a "spiritual commitment to social justice." In addition to its musical and educational programs, the church operates a variety of ministries, including the Brookline Emergency Food Pantry. The Rev. Jeffrey Mello serves as the church's rector. To find out more about the activities and programs organized by St. Paul's, visit the church's Web site.
Located just off Beacon Street in Coolidge Corner, Temple Sinai draws a Reform Jewish congregation from around the Boston area. The temple welcomes everyone to participate, "no matter what their approach to embracing Judaism or degree of Jewish literacy."
The temple offers a full religious education curriculum for kindergarten through high school, as well as life-long learning programs for adults. Youth programs are available for grades 3 through 12.
Andrew Vogel serves as the temple's rabbi.
The Chinese Christian Church traces its roots to 1896, when Baptists and Congregationalists founded a mission in Boston's Chinatown. The church was eventually joined by Methodist, Episcopalian and Presbyterian congregations and relocated to Brookline in 1975.
Founded in 1842, Temple Ohabei was the first congregation in Massachusetts and the second in New England. After moving between a variety of locations in Boston over several decades, Ohabei commissioned its present temple on Beacon Street in the 1920's.
Temple Ohabei also operates the Ansin Religious School, a Jewish education program for students in kindergarten through high school and the Diane K. Trust Center for Early Education.
Episcopal Church of Our Saviour hosts a worship service every Sunday morning at 10:30 at it's location on 25 Monmouth Street. It welcomes individuals from all walks of life - liberals, conservatives, college students, families and older people - who are looking to create deeper relationships with God. The church's one-hour worship service includes a full choir, a Hook and Hastings organ, a selection of English cathedral music and a spiritually-based sermon with a coffee hour following in the Lawrence Room. The Rev. Joel Ives has served as rector since January 2007.
Episcopal Church of Our Savior offers infant/toddler child care and a K - 12 Sunday School program that many children look forward to attending.
The Boston Shambhala Meditation Center combines Buddhist and Shambhala teachings to offer a wide range of classes and events. It emphasizes the practice of meditation but also explores other methods of spirituality. It offers yoga and tantra workshops, and also has frequent lectures. The center is one of 180 located around the world.
Founded as Brookline's first synagogue in 1917, Congregation Kehillath Israel continues to be a pillar in the town's thriving Jewish community more than 90 years later. The congregation offers regular opportunities for adult religious study, youth groups for children and teens between 10 and 16 years old and nursery school programs. A variety of events are held throughout the year on the grounds of Congregation Kehillath's synagogue in Coolidge Corner.
This church was founded in 1953 by Korean immigrants, and in September 2003, the church became Bethany Presbyterian Church, a church for all followers of Christ. It is focused on creating a community and evangelizing the word of God. The church offers retreats and Bible study classes.
Teachers and staff at the Diane K. Trust Center for Early Education at Temple Ohabei offers toddlers and tikes an education that fosters individuality, independence and the tenets of the Jewish faith. This preschool's curriculum is comprised of large, small-group and one-on-one learning sessions, indoor and outdoor activities and supervised play. This pre-school is open to all children in Brookline. Parents of prospective students may download an enrollment application on the Temple Ohabei Shalom website. There is a non-refundable $50 application fee and a two-month tuition deposit. Parents of students seeking financial assistance will receive referrals to reliable resources.
The Christian Community was founded in 1922 to recognize Christ's life and death as the pivotal point in humanity's history. There are many locations across North America and Europe, and The Christian Community publishes Perspectives, a quarterly journal. Each location is supported independently by its local members.
The Chai Center is dedicated to providing "accessible Judaism for all." It offers celebrations of Jewish holiday events, Jewish culture, Hebrew school and spiritual guidance. It focuses on creating a meeting, socializing and networking place for young Jewish professionals in their 20s and 30s, but also has events and meetings for seniors and children.
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 congregation of All Saints seeks to create a parish that is "first of all a spiritual center, a place where people can find God, be nourished in their spiritual journey, and grow in their life of faith." The church offers a variety of ministries, a highly acclaimed choral program and children's education for pre-K through 12th grade students. The Rev. David A. Killian serves as the church's rector. To find out more about the activities and programs offered at All Saints Parish, visit the church's Web site.
With its relatively small Latvian population, the Greater Boston area is blessed to have this church that observes the Lutheran faith in Latvian and has served the community since 1951. Join Pastor Mingina for services and Bible study sessions in Latvian.
One of Brookline's oldest churches, First Parish in Brookline traces its roots back to 1717. It still meets in Brookline's original town hall, which predates the town itself, and an adjacent church building constructed in 1893.
Though nearly three centuries old, First Parish is "passionately dedicated to responding meaningfully to the world here and now and to spiritually nurturing ourselves and our children for the challenges of the future." The Rev. Martha Niebanck and Rev. Jim Sherblom serve as the congregation's co-ministers.