common cathedral Sunday worship
We gather every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for outdoor worship by the Brewer Fountain on Boston Common. It is a lively service and includes scripture reflection by the minister, as well as by the congregation. We pray, celebrate birthdays, share Communion, and SING! We share food for our bodies as well as, from God’s table, our spirits. Guests include those from traditional congregations (or no church affiliation at all); tourists and other visitors; local residents; and additional volunteers who give their time, clothing, and other supplies.
common cathedral serves as an important community for people experiencing homelessness, and for parishes who want to be in community with unhoused people. About one-fourth of Sunday worshippers are from housed congregations.
ALL are welcome! And ALL are welcome to participate!
common art
common art is a program of common cathedral which provides space, materials and caring support staff to support unhoused and low income individuals as they develop their artistic abilities. People who live in shelters, rooming houses, on unclaimed couches and benches, and on Boston's streets, gather every Wednesday at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street to draw, paint, sculpt, make crafts, and to share with other artists in like circumstances.
A typical gathering includes 40-50 artists along with volunteers, interns and staff people. Artists are provided with materials and space to draw, write, paint, sculpt, make stained glass, jewelry and other crafts. They are served breakfast and lunch.
common art is open to all.
common art meets once a week, on Wednesday from 8am to 2pm at Emmanuel Church Parish Hall, 15 Newbury Street, Boston.
BostonWarm
BostonWarm is a weekly Day Center program that focuses on relationship building, leadership development, and offers healthy meals to guests. Come and be with your neighbors and play games, laugh together, and learn from one another! Participation at BostonWarm has been strong and continues to grow, now numbering more than 50 guests per day.
BostonWarm is held every Friday in the Summer at Old West Church in Boston from 8am - 12pm and every Monday and Friday in the Winter from 8am - 12pm at Emmanuel Church Boston.
CityReach
CityReach is an overnight urban outreach program begun in March 1996 for youth (with accompanying adults), young adults, and college students from churches or schools of any denomination. The program gives these young people the opportunity to learn first-hand about homelessness from people who have experienced it. During the 20 hour session, participants join CityReach staff in street ministry and offer hospitality, food and clothing. This is followed by times of sharing and reflection.
CityReach, offered up to 8 times per academic year, is recommended for participants 14 years of age and older. For more information please read our informational packet or email lucio@commoncathedral.org.
Healing Institute
The Healing Institute is a new program designed to deepen our connections within our community and model the style of healing through storytelling with our wider network. On the third Friday of each month we hold Can We Talk sessions designed to be a space of deep listening, trauma-informed practices, and healing through storytelling. The on-going development of the Healing Institute will include ways common cathedral can model its philosophy of ministry to our wide network of unhoused ministries.
