Plan Your First Visit

first things first: all are welcome

When we say that you’re welcome here NO MATTER WHAT, we really do mean it. We’re not going to pull the rug out from under you once you walk in the door.

The Christian faith begins with wrapping your head and heart around that fact that you are unconditionally, irrevocably, ridiculously loved by God just as you are. As ambassadors of that love, Hillside Community Church seeks to be a safe space for all of God’s children, no matter you age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background.

Whoever you are, we hope you’ll join us!

Rev. Tom Hathaway, Pastor

we meet every sunday from 10:30a to 11:30a

online

You can join in Hillside’s services online using Zoom.

You can access our Zoom link and get call-in info by clicking the link below or the “ONLINE WORSHIP” button from anywhere on the website.

on-site

Our on-site Sunday morning experience takes place at 144 North Street in Medford, MA. You’ll find yourself warmly welcomed from beginning to end!

You can click the link below or just keep scrolling for all info you’ll need to feel at home.

Here’s a play-by-play of what you can expect on your first visit

Arrive at Hillside Community Church

We're located at 144 North Street in Medford, MA. On-street parking is available all around the church. On Sundays no permits are needed anywhere. While regulars tend to arrive right at our service's 10:30 start time (or, more honestly, a few minutes late), we recommend arriving about 10 minutes for your first visit.

Come On In

You can enter our building by using either the accessible ramp at the side of the church and taking our elevator to our sanctuary, or by using our front stairs. If you're coming with kids who would like to participate in our Sunday School program, please enter our building via the ramp door and check them in with our Sunday School staff at the check-in station. They will stay downstairs for ridiculously fun, age-appropriate activities with our Sunday School teachers. After your kids are checked in, you can use the lift or the stairs to go upstairs to our sanctuary.

Check your kids in

We have a check in station right in front of the sanctuary for kids who want to attend our Messy Church Sunday School program. Kids will leave for Messy Church with one of our teachers after we've all had communion together!

Grab a bulletin and grab a seat

When you enter the sanctuary, you'll find a welcome table front and center. We invite you to grab a worship bulletin and a double-sided plastic cup with bread and juice in it (you can grab some of the GF crackers there too if that's your preference) from the table, and then grab a seat. If you've never been to church before - that's okay! Your worship bulletin will tell you everything you need to know.

Enjoy!

Our goal is for you to leave our worship services spiritually refreshed and uplifted, with an enhanced understanding of how much you are loved by God and how to share that love with others.

COVID Safety

Here are the steps we’re taking to keep you and your family safe in these pandemic times.

Ventilation

Throughout worship, windows will be opened, ceiling fans will be on, and our HVAC system, equipped with heavy duty MERV-13 filters, will be circulating air in the sanctuary.

CO2 Monitoring

Both our sanctuary and our church hall are equipped with CO2 monitors to provide realtime data about how well air is being circulated.

Vaccinations

Our entire staff is vaccinated. We encourage everyone to get theirs too – it’s an easy way to your love your neighbor!

Social Distancing

During COVID peaks, we invite in-person worshippers to maintain distance from each other by sitting in a staggered fashion throughout the sanctuary.

Masks Recommended

Masks are recommended while in the church building, especially when COVID numbers are on the rise. Disposable masks are available at both our entrances.

frequently asked questions

Is this a cult?

Hardly! We’re a member of the United Church of Christ, the most progressive Christian denomination in the U.S. and the largest denomination in New England.

Are you going to make me feel bad about myself?

Hillside Community Church is a church centered in the radical and inclusive love of Jesus. Because we’re grounded in love like that, we will NEVER guilt trip you or make you feel ashamed of who you are.

Are you one of those crazy, Bible-thumping churches?

At Hillside Community Church, we take the Bible seriously but not literally. We do not believe the Bible to be inerrant or infallible. Rather, we follow generations of Christians in looking to the very human words of scripture for how God might be speaking to us in our current time and place.

For a fuller explanation of our view of scripture, you can check out this recent sermon on the topic.

Where is Hillside Community Church?

We are located at 144 North Street in Medford, MA.

What time does worship start?

Our worship services start at 10:30am. If it’s your first time visiting, we recommend coming about 10 minutes early. However, you will notice that regulars tend to slip in on the half hour (or a little after!).

What should I wear?

There is no dress code – come just as you are. If you are comfortable enough to walk around in public in what you’re wearing, you are dressed just fine!

What are your worship services like?

Our services are joy-filled, interactive, and use down-to-earth language and illustrations. Each follows a similar format, mixing prayers, great music, and a reading from the Bible.

The centerpiece of every service is a 15-to-20-minute sermon that draws insights from the day’s Bible reading to explore the depth and breadth of God’s love for us and question how we might better love ourselves and others in response to it.

It’s our commitment that you will leave our worship services spiritually refreshed, with a clearer understanding of how the Christian faith and the wisdom of scripture is relevant to your life.

Do I have to bring money for an offering?

No, there is no formal offering taken during our worship services. However, if you feel are inspired by your time with us and would like to make a donation, there is a collection plate at the back of the sanctuary. You can also make an online donation via Venmo or PayPal by going to our donation page.

What programs do you offer for children on Sunday mornings?

We offer our Messy Church program for kids at the same time as our worship service (Sundays @ 10:30a).

When you enter the sanctuary, our greeter will introduce you to our Sunday School staff and help orient you to the space where our Messy Church program takes place. Then, after communion, your child can follow the Sunday School staff downstairs for age-appropriate music, games, and lessons.

If your child would like to stay up in the sanctuary during worship, that okay too!

Can I take communion?

Yes! At Hillside we celebrate communion every week. We believe that communion is a representation of Jesus’ radical, inclusive love. If you have a desire to know or experience this love, you are welcome to come forward and participate – there are no prerequisites.

Watch Our Latest Sermon

To get a taste of what the Hillside community is all about, you can check out our latest message.

Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade - March 17, 2024

Table Talk

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