First Church Somerville

08/07/2026

08/06/2026

05/15/2026

On Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, First Church Somerville in partnership with Somerville Homeless Coalition will open a homeless shelter on the first floor of our church building. The shelter is the first and only accessible shelter in the city of Somerville and increases the capacity of the previous shelter from 10 to 26 beds.

This is the story of how we got here.

We invite you to support this vital work by donating:

https://www.firstchurchsomerville.org/donate

https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/giving/

Dreaming, discerning and planing for this shelter began in 2021 as we sought to deepen our partnership with SHC and to live out God’s call for our church to be a radically inclusive sanctuary.

After completing renovations of our church building in the summer of 2024, the shelter was set to open in the fall, but was then held up by a year and a half of litigation brought by our geographic neighbors.

On April 7th, 2026, the Massachusetts Land Court ruled that housing the homeless is a religious use of our building and that the presence of the shelter in our building is protected under the Dover Amendment — a state law that prohibits municipalities from restricting land use for religious or educational purposes.

We’re grateful to God for calling us to this work and guiding us in this process. We’re grateful to SHC for their decades long work with our unhoused neighbors, their partnership on this shelter, and their steadfastness throughout these last few years.

It is our hope that this partnership and the land court’s ruling paves the way for more churches to welcome the stranger and share their space and their resources as Jesus calls us to. May it be so!

04/11/2026

12/24/2025

Looking for a place to spend Christmas Eve?

You and all those you love are welcome at First Church Somerville!

And if there’s a part of you that wants to go to church on Christmas, but you aren’t sure where to go or what to expect, let me tell you what you’ll find at First Church Somerville this Christmas Eve.

You’ll find q***r pastors and laity of all orientations and a mixture of backrounds leading worship. You’ll hear the sounds of children romping around in their Christmas story costumes. You’ll sing Christmas hymns old and new. You’ll hear how the ordinary and courageous people of the Christmas story helped birth a moment of radical love that can still guide us today. You’ll hear how in this dark moment in our nation’s history the light of Christ comes to us again and helps sustain us in our pursuit of justice and peace.

The 4PM service is a family designed for families where we all help act out the Christmas story. People of all ages love this service!

The 7PM service is filled with candle light, singing, story-telling and reflections.

Wherever you find yourself on Christmas Eve, may the peace, joy and radical hope of Jesus meet you there.

08/25/2025

Here is our full press statement following this morning‘s Globe article:

First Church Somerville feels called by God to help support our
neighbors experiencing homelessness. The Gospel teaches us that our neighbor is the person in front of us in need. You do not have to look far from our church steps in Davis Sq. to see that our neighbors need our help, now.

We are ready and waiting to share our building, time, and resources with those who need sanctuary by partnering with the Somerville Homeless Coalition. This partnership will increase the beds available in Somerville and open the first wheelchair accessible shelter in our city. If we do not prevail in
the lawsuit our freedom to practice our religion will have been infringed upon and we will continue to fight for our right to follow Jesus’ instructions to center the needs of the most vulnerable.

The church remains more committed than ever to this project and to our mission to be a sanctuary space for those who have been historically marginalized. More accessible beds in the city will increase the amount of support for our unhoused neighbors.

The church and coalition engaged in mediation with the plaintiffs for six months, after several community based meetings which occurred previously to the law suit being filed. Per our counsel’s advice, we cannot convey the substance of anything discussed during the mediation process but the FAQs here (https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/adult-shelter-relocation/) addresses all the things that have already been agreed upon as accomodations, many at the neighbor’s request, and each has the full backing of the church and the coalition. We are committed to being a part of a safe and equitable neighborhood where we all belong.

Being unhoused does not make someone inherently dangerous, but being unhoused is dangerous. Somerville Homeless Coalition’s “housing first” model is consistent with First Church’s
theological understanding of the worth and dignity of every human person no matter their current life circumstances. Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep, food to eat, and the support they need to live their healthiest life. While there is no one solution to homelessness, support for the members of this community who need it will make all of Somerville a safer and more equitable place to live.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/25/metro/somerville-homeless-shelter-lawsuit/?event=event12

Arguments begin this week in the case about a planned 26-bed adult facility in a residential neighborhood.

04/20/2025

Christ is Risen!

Easter Sunrise Service: 6am
Powderhouse Park, by tower

Festival Easter Worship: 10am
First Church Somerville
Easter Egg Hunt to Follow

03/26/2025

An emergency rally is being held today, March 26th at 5:30PM, a block from the church, in Powder House Square, to protest ICE’s abduction of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts PhD student, last night.

A contingent from the church will be attending the action. Let’s meet at FCS at 5:30PM and walk over together.

01/29/2025

Please join us to celebrate the life of Rev. Tony Kill on Saturday, February 1st at First Church Somerville. Rev. Tony was a beloved member of this church, and a long time servant of the church universal. We look forward to gathering in community to share stories, songs, and bless him into life everlasting.

Street parking restrictions will be lifted on College Ave, and all surrounding side streets. No one will be ticketed between 10am-4pm and funeral attendees can park in “resident parking” zones. Please obey all other parking laws.

12/24/2024

Christmas Eve Services:

4pm: Family friendly with an unrehearsed Christmas pageant.

7pm: Carols, candlelight and story.

Come and be a part of the old, old story.

Whoever you are, you are welcome here.