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Weekly Schedule | Eucharistic Liturgy | Worship Leaflet

common cathedral

Photo by Daniel McAfee 

 

Common cathedral is the outdoor church of Ecclesia Ministries. We gather every Sunday at 1 p.m. by the Brewer Fountain on Boston Common as well as for week day programs and pastoral care throughout the week. On Easter Day 1996, when The Rev. Debbie Little first gathered people who live on the streets of Boston to form a worshipping community on Boston Common, the participants named the service common cathedral. (Click here for the story of the birth of common cathedral).

It is a lively service, beginning with Kumbaya, and ending with "We Shall Overcome." This very accessible celebration includes scripture reflection by the minister, as well as by the congregation, prayers, celebration of birthdays, the sharing of Eucharist, and lots of singing. After we are fed with spiritual food at God's table, then we are fed from the same table the food that nourishes our bodies. People from housed congregations participate in our ministry by bringing sandwiches and other goodies to distribute immediately following the service.

Common cathedral provides a regular community of housed and unhoused congregants with a simple worship service followed by a meal, Gospel reflection, and assistance from volunteer nurses and lawyers. The service includes members from traditional parishes and those without church affiliations, as well as tourists, volunteers from urban and suburban parishes, and local residents - many of whom volunteer time, clothing, and food.

Common cathedral serves as an important community for homeless people, for street youth, and for suburban parishes who want to be involved with people who are experiencing homelessness. About one-fourth of Sunday worshippers are from housed congregations.

ALL are welcome! And ALL are welcome to participate!

Ecumenical Ministry

Common cathedral welcomes everyone to participate fully in our worship and extended hospitality. Youth and adults from Protestant and Catholic churches, as well as people who are not affiliated, join us for worship on the Common and participate in CityReach and other Ecclesia programs.

Because common cathedral is a church and exists as a community with folks who are homeless, who have been homeless or are housed calling themselves regular members, there is a particular spirit of dialogue which surrounds how we preserve the feeling of community among those who worship with common cathedral.

Over 100 suburban and urban churches of many denominations have contributed to this ministry, invited us to speak or preach, worked on Ecclesia projects, participated in CityReach, and/or have worshipped at common cathedral. We seek opportunities to engage and invite new people to be with us.

Related Ministries (see weekly schedule below):

We offer pastoral care, healing and memorial services in hospitals and respite facilities without regard to religious background. And over the years, several people have been baptized at our Sunday services . Following our outdoor service and lunch, every Sunday we gather inside the Cathedral church of St. Paul's for Gospel Reflection.

On Monday, representatives from Ecclesia Ministries attend the Monday lunch sponsored by St. Paul's to mingle with guests and offer various services and referrals. The midday Eucharist and healing service at St. Paul's is led by a priest from Ecclesia Ministries and continues with common fellowship. Later in the week we gather for common art on Wednesdays at Emmanuel Church and for common cinema, the free weekly movie showing at St. Paul's.

Weekly Schedule:

For a pdf copy of our schedule, click here. To obtain copies of our Eucharistic Liturgy and Worship leaflet, use the links on top of the page.

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The first time I ever encountered common cathedral was the very first day you started ... I just happened to be cutting through the Common like I normally do ... and the thing I could hear from the distance by Park Street station was, "Come, listen. I have some good news." So I thought to myself, this ought to be thrilling, 'cause I haven't heard any good news for a long time.

Gary