This church features Sunday school, youth and children's ministries, a library with Christian literature and videos, readings, free karate classes and other community services.
St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church is a congregation located on Jefferson Street in Nyack. The church holds daily masses, in addition to offering youth and adult religious education programs.
Nyack's Marydell Convent is home to nuns who dedicate themselves to the community; the sisters act as nurses, Sunday School teachers, home-care professionals, immigration counselors and more. The sisters also help operate the Marydell Faith and Life Center, which can be used for religious and spiritual retreats.
Located a few blocks from downtown Nyack, Pilgrim Baptist Church offers parishioners scripture scholarship and ministry in addition to its weekly services.
Grace Episcopal Church was founded in 1861 by Franklin Babbitt. Under Babbitt's tenacious commitment, the church evolved from a classroom in a boarding school to an independent wooden structure on Franklin Street and, finally, to the towering, stone structure that stands today. Today's stone church was built around the wooden church, which now serves as the Sunday School.
Grace Episcopal Church is involved with the community in a variety of ways; parishioners volunteer at the Nyack Center, YMCA and Rotary Club. Through the Midnight Run program, parishioners donate and make food to deliver to the homeless throughout Westchester, Rockland and New York City. Residents interested in helping should visit the church on the second Saturday of each month at 10am.
Grace Episcopal Church runs the Grace Thrift Shop, which sells second-hand clothing and generates approximately $60,000 per year. All proceeds are donated to various community groups; for information on donating or volunteering with Grace Thrift Shop, call (845) 358-7488.
The church also features adult and children choirs and several recovery and support programs.
The First Reformed Church of Nyack was founded in 1853, and has been in its current structure—known for its brick bell tower and close proximity to downtown—since 1901.
The church's congregation, some 40 members, participate in the choir and Sunday School.
The Holy Virgin Protection Church is a Russian Orthodox church. It holds worship services on Saturdays at 6:30pm and at 9:30am on Sundays. Children of all ages are welcomed, and child care services are not provided. The church also provides religious instruction on Saturdays from 9am - 1pm to children and young adults through high school age. All programs are taught in Russian and include instruction in the language, history and culture of Russia.
Congregation Sons of Israel has been serving the Nyack Jewish community for more than 120 years. It was founded in 1891 and settled in its current location in 1967. Sons of Israel is warm, welcoming and inclusive, and is Rockland County's only "Big Tent" congregation. It welcomes members of the LBGT community and interfaith families.
The main synagogue building features a sanctuary, a modern, spacious social hall, main office, library, office, rabbi's study, and a large meeting room and an atrium. A new educational center was recently completed. Completed in 2011, the educational center includes a large multi-purpose room and classrooms.
Congregation Sons of Israel is led by Rabbi Jeffrey M. Abraham, who received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2011. Its cantor is Cantor Michael Kasper.
In addition to weekly Shabbat services and Sunday morning minyon, CSI offers an award-winning Adult Education program and the Visions Lecture Series for adults.
Housed at CSI and in collaboration with Temple Beth Torah, the Jewish Preschool of the Nyacks began welcoming 2-year-olds in the fall of 2012.
CSI offers Gan Katan programs (which provide enrichment for young kids) that include Tot Shabbat, Munchkins and Mishpacha (mommy/daddy/caretaker and me program), Shabbat Club, Hebrew for Little Ones, Boppin' with Bonnie and Yoga for Kids. Both Tot Shabbat and Shabbat Club are free of charge and open to all members of the community.
CSI also offers a boutique Hebrew school for kids in Pre-K through seventh grade with small classes that provide individualized instruction.
The Berea Seventh-Day Adventist Church was founded by Sister Emma Elizabeth Faulden. It began as a mission, and evolved into an inclusive church in the 1940s. The church's first structure was erected in 1944; it has since moved to its current location. The church offers adult and children's choir programs, religious education and youth programs.
Hollingsworth Temple Church of God In Christ features music, youth, children's and dance ministries with the goal of promoting worship and the gospel. The Church also outreach projects based on hospitality, family enrichment and civic involvement.
The pastor is Eugene Jones, who received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Virginia Theological Center and received a Master of Divinity at the Manhattan Bible Institute.
St. Philip's African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in 1859 by John W. Towt, an American philanthropist and abolitionist.
Towt came to Nyack in 1859 with the goal of creating a Sunday school and place of worship for African Americans. In 1886, Towt's Sunday School -- by then a thriving A.M.E. Church -- moved to its current location. In recognition of Towt's tenacity and goodwill, the third Sunday of each November is known as "John W. Towt Memorial Day." The church's current pastor is Rev. Isidoa Branch, Jr., a native of Mount Vernon, New York.
The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) is an international, interfaith, tax-exempt organization with a headquarters in Nyack. It is linked to the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), which has divisions in over 40 countries.
FOR's roots date back to World War I, when European Christians gathered amid the conflict to promote and seek peace. One year later, in 1915, FOR's United States program was born.
FOR undertakes various programs and educational initiatives to promote peace and justice and eradicate violence, racism and economic injustice. The Fellowship trains and educates individuals of all religions, races and creeds to engage altruistic actions locally, nationally and globally. Programs include, but are not limited to:
- Jewish-Muslim Peace Walk
- Disarmament initiatives
- Anti-torture initiatives
- Diplomacy programs in Iraq and Iran
- Bosnia war relief efforts
St. Thomas Lutheran Church was founded in 1898 as St. Paul's Lutheran Church. It was first located in downtown Nyack, in what is now the Elmwood Playhouse. In 1958, the congregation was renamed St. Thomas Lutheran Church and moved to its current location in Central Nyack. St. Thomas offers adult Bible Study, Sunday School (pre-K through high school), First Communion classes, Confirmation education, a "Healing Hands" health and wellness group and more. The current pastor is Ulf Lunow, who attended seminary in Germany and was ordained in 1987. The church's outreach programs include work with Rockland Family Shelter, Nyack Sunday Suppers and People to People Food Pantry.