Redeemer Community Church Moves to Needham

The new church in Wellesley, Redeemer Community Church, is on the move again and, this time, the right space opened up in Needham, making this inter-denominational church an inter-town church, too.

Having outgrown its borrowed space in the Glavin Family Chapel on the campus of Babson College, Redeemer is now holding worship in the Fellowship Hall of the Presbyterian Church in Needham, at the intersection of Great Plain Avenue and Central Avenue.

On an average Sunday about 120 people are in attendance, coming from Needham, Wellesley, Westwood, Dover, Weston, Roslindale and Concord. Redeemer Community Church holds its worship services at the Presbyterian Church at 10:00 a.m.  The Presbyterian Church holds its service in its own sanctuary at 11:00 a.m.

From a space and facilities point of view, the move to the Presbyterian Church of Needham makes sense to this group of worshipers that calls itself Redeemer Community Church.  The PCN has a large facility with a number of classrooms. 

"We have 61 children in our church family," said Redeemer Co-Pastor Doug Calhoun. "Our families notice and appreciate that their children will have their Sunday School in the same building, for a change." 

At Glavin Chapel the children walked to other buildings for their Sunday School.

 "At the Presbyterian Church, the space is wonderfully kid-friendly." Redeemer will also have use of the kitchen facility at the PCN, which is helpful in the preparation of food for coffee hour and for larger projects like serving at soup kitchens.

Beyond the facilities aspect, Redeemer Community Church is excited about their new home.

 "I am also grateful to live alongside another church community in this facility.  I look forward to learning from the Presbyterian Church through their engagement with and service to the communities surrounding us," continued Calhoun.

Pastor Elliott Hipp of the Presbyterian Church of Needham echoes the sentiment.

"This really feels good; this is more than a tenant/landlord situation," he said. "It feels like a good relationship and I feel our churches can enhance one another and create fertile ground for new areas of service to the community."

The Presbyterian Church is already known for its very effective outreach to those who have been displaced, professionally, in the recent economic downturn.  Its "Transitions" program offers consultation, office space, hospitality and weekly speakers on career change to any individual in the surrounding communities that need support and encouragement as they seek new employment.

One of the things that Redeemer is working hard to retain, as it moves two miles and across town lines, is its population of college students.  The four years the church spent on the Babson College campus brought the attendance of college students—first from Babson College, then from Brandeis College, then Wellesley College and Olin College of Engineering. Initially, they may have been attracted to Redeemer due to the contemporary style of the worship music.  Since then, the college students seem to have become an integral and important part of the Redeemer community itself.