Take me to temple in Wellesley — Temple Beth Elohim

July 6, 2018 by Caleb Brown Leave a Comment

Part of a weekly series of posts profiling places of worship in Wellesley

Temple Beth Elohim Glass, Wellesley

Wellesley’s Jewish community does not have many local houses of worship compared to the plethora of churches in town, but Temple Beth Elohim has stepped up to the challenge of serving not just the Wellesley community, but much of the surrounding area as well.

The temple began as a Jewish community organization in 1949, however the group did not establish its own building for a temple until 1961. The current temple was built in 2010 in light of a steady increase in membership, and can be found at 10 Bethel Rd. near Schofield Elementary School.

Since 2000, Temple Beth Elohim has been headed by Senior Rabbi Joel Sisenwine. He has been widely recognized as a leader in the larger Jewish community, having served on several statewide and national councils.

Temple Beth Elohim is affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism, a popular branch Judaism which boasts over 800,000 members.

Summer Services:

Shabbat Services:

Fridays 6:00pm

Saturdays 10:30am & 5:00pm

Candlelight vigil in Wellesley draws large crowd

July 2, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Religious and community groups in Wellesley took place in an organized a candlelight vigil over the weekend in front of Wellesley Village Church at 2 Central St. The vigil, attended by about 100, was in support of keeping families together in light of the recent events on the United States – Mexican border in which over 2,000 children were separated from their families as they tried tor cross the border from Mexico to the US.

Wellesley candlelight vigil — At Wellesley Square. Photo credi: Nell Simister

In Boston protesters gathered at City Hall plaza and marched, over 15,000 strong according to organizers, through the streets to Boston Common. They held signs and shouted their message of zero tolerance for President Trump’s zero tolerance immigration policies that allow families to be separated at the United States/Mexico border. Under the administration’s policies, due process for those detained at the border is not ensured.

Hundreds of similar events were held in other cities throughout the US.

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Take me to church in Wellesley — St. John the Evangelist Church

June 30, 2018 by Caleb Brown Leave a Comment

Part of a weekly series of posts profiling places of worship in Wellesley

St John is one of two Catholic outposts in Wellesley (along with St. Paul) and is located at 9 Glen Rd., just off Washington Street. St John Church holds the distinction of being the oldest religious building in Wellesley, having been established in 1881 as an offshoot of St. Mary’s in Newton — it assumed its independence and current name nine years later.

The pastor at St. John is Reverend James Laughlin, who works as a a part of the St. John – St. Paul Collaborative to oversee services at both churches. Laughlin took over in 2016, having previously worked as pastor at Good Shepherd Parish in Wayland. Laughlin was reassigned by the Archbishop of Boston in hopes his experience overseeing the merger of St. Ann’s and St. Zepherin’s parishes into Good Shepherd Parish in 2011 would be relevant in establishing the new collaborative between St. John’s and St. Paul’s.

St. John is known in town for its K – 6 school, which provides a private Catholic education to 185 students from around the Greater Boston area.

St. John Summer Services, starting July 1:

Saturday Vigil: 5pm (confessions heard 3pm – 345pm or by appointment)
Sunday Masses: 7:30am & 9am
Daily Mass: Monday – Saturday, 7am

Candlelight vigil in Wellesley on Friday, June 29

June 28, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Religious and community groups in Wellesley have organized a candlelight vigil to take place on Friday, June 29 at 8pm in front of Wellesley Village Church at 2 Central St. The vigil is in support of keeping families together in light of the recent events on the United States – Mexican border in which over 2,000 children were separated from their families as they tried tor cross the border from Mexico to the US.

The families were separated due to the Trump administration’s policy that all adults who attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally (i.e., without documentation such as a passport or visa — here are the documents needed to cross the border) must be criminally prosecuted. When a parent is criminally prosecuted, that parent must wait in a federal jail until his or her date to appear before a judge, likely a period of weeks. Because children cannot accompany parents to jail, the family is separated.

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Take me to church in Wellesley — St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

June 23, 2018 by Caleb Brown Leave a Comment

Part of a weekly series of posts profiling places of worship in Wellesley, MA

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Wellesley MA

St. Andrew’s, located just off of Washington St. (79 Denton Rd.), is part of an abundant community of 180 such parishes in the Massachusetts area. An Episcopal parish, its roots stem from the Anglican Church, although the Episcopalian Church prides itself on being more socially progressive than its more orthodox English cousins. The Episcopal Church is known for supporting LGBT rights and ordaining women.

St. Andrew’s is led by Reverend Adrian Robbins-Cole, who took over as rector in 2013. The church has a variety of programs for children and youth, and engages with the Wellesley College community as well, inviting students to be active in several of their ministries.

St Andrew’s Summer Services:

Every Sunday:

8:00 AM — Holy Eucharist

10:00 AM — Holy Eucharist

Midweek Services:

Wednesday, 7:30 PM: Holy Eucharist and Healing

Monday-Friday, 8:45 AM: Silent Contemplative Prayer

MORE: Wellesley church gets furry and fluffy with blessing of animals

Where to worship in Wellesley