Welcome to FBC in Newton!
We're glad you are here! Perhaps you are new to the area and looking to connect to community, or perhaps you visited a music or arts event at the church and are curious to learn more. Maybe you grew up in church; or maybe you didn't, but are longing for something deeper - a way to find rest, connection and meaning in the week's busyness. Wherever you find yourself on life's journey, we're glad you are here and look forward to meeting you.
FBC is an inclusive community of faith, creating spaces outside the busyness of our days, where we can encounter God and find connection with others, as we seek the wisdom and faith we need to build lives of meaning.
"We're a Christian church with some twists – a mash-up of skeptics and devoted, young and not-so-young; brought together by a curiosity to understand more, learn from each other, and try to live as Christ did."
- Jonathan, FBC member from Lincoln
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A Welcoming Church
We are a progressive church that believes in inviting, welcoming and respecting ALL those seeking to grow in their relationship with God and experience our community of faith. This means we are an open and diverse church, whose members speak different languages and represent different cultural, political and religious backgrounds and sexual orientations. We welcome the diversity of opinion that accommodates our diverse backgrounds and learn from each other’s experiences and ideas. We are members of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, American Baptist Churches USA and the Alliance of Baptists.
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Thinking Critically & Growing Spiritually
We are an educationally-oriented church that believes we can deepen our faith and understanding of God as we thoughtfully and intelligently question, study and explore the Bible and other spiritual writings. We take the scriptures as holy guidance from God, only truly understood through prayer and contemplation, and not necessarily through literal interpretation. We rely on the teachings and loving example of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, to challenge us to grow in our faith and to put our faith into action.
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Loving and Supportive Church Community
We are a church whose members care about and take care of one another. In times of joy and trouble, we are a loving and supportive church community. Fellowship is something we do particularly well, with regular fellowship hours following worship, as well as occasional social events and casual get-togethers. Hospitality and joyful fellowship are found in abundance here.
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Living Out Our Faith
We believe that living a faith-full life means putting that faith into action by serving God’s people and the world. We value outreach and mission work, in our church, in Greater Boston, around the country, and throughout the world. We strive, through the example of Jesus Christ, and in the tradition of American Baptist leaders such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to seek justice, peace, and love for all people and to serve as a voice of openness within our denomination, community and world.
FAQs
What is available for my children on Sunday mornings?
We love kids and value them as full members of our community. Infants and children are always welcome to stay in worship. During the worship service, children in Kindergarten through 5th grades are invited to gather for a time of connecting, creating, and interacting with stories from the Bible. All of the adults who work with our kids are well established participants in our community, are CORI’ed (fully background-checked), and very experienced with kids.
When you say “All Are Welcome,” what does that really mean?
It means you - you - are welcome. How you dress, what gender your partner is, what you believe about God, your experience of church (good, bad or nonexistent) - it all adds to our community. We are on a journey together, learning from one another. Your presence, experiences and perspectives enrich us all. Our Communion Table is open to all who wish to gather around it.
Where should I park?
There is a parking lot behind the church that all are invited to use. The entrance is off Centre Street directly alongside the church. Once you are parked, you may enter through the entry door to in the more modern building. The Sanctuary and Chapel are up the stairs to the right.
What if I don’t have a car?
The Green Line (Riverside) Newton Centre T Stop is a very short walk from the church. On Sunday mornings, join us through the big front doors, or come around to the parking lot entrance.
Is your building wheelchair accessible?
Yes. There is a ramp in the front lawn (facing the corner of Beacon and Centre Streets) and an accessible restroom right outside the Chapel.
Other information:
There are coffee, drinks, and snacks set up in the Chapel. You are invited to come early, stay late, and fully connect with our community.