Pakachoag Church holds worship once per month and fully welcomes all who wish to gather. Formerly a member of the United Church of Christ (Protestant/Congregational), the church is now non-denominational. Worship is casual and incorporates many non-traditional aspects, including welcoming the children to serve communion.
Pakachoag Church has a long history of community involvement and social leadership, including:
Predecessor Support Group to AIDS Project Worcester
"During the early to mid-80’s, residents of the city of Worcester and its surrounding suburbs began to be infected with HIV in increasing numbers. With few government or community services available at the time, those early individuals and families found comfort and support particularly in Pakachoag Community Church in Auburn. As the numbers grew through the mid-80’s the complexity of needs expanded. As a result, the need for more services became clearly evident. Out of community discussions concerning how best to meet those needs AIDS Project Worcester, Inc. was born." Aids Project Worcester
The Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester
"Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester was founded in 1982 by Pakachoag Church in Auburn as Pakachoag Community Music School. The School was created in response to cutbacks in funding for public school music programs as an outreach mission. Programming included music lessons, early childhood music classes and musical theater programming, just as it does today.
In 1989, the school became independently incorporated and convened its own Board of Directors. The school remained housed in the Pakachoag Church building through 2017." Pakachaog Music School of Greater Worcester
Auburn Visiting Nurses Association and the Auburn Senior Center
Auburn VNA Health Network incorporated in 1919 as a nonprofit agency, the Auburn District Nursing Association, with a single public health nurse. Eventually changing its name to the Auburn Visiting Nurse Association, the organization found support and a home at Pakachoag Church, operating out of 191 Pakachoag Street before outgrowing the available space and moving to another. When the church moved to its current location of 203 Pakachoag Street, the organization was welcomed back to 191 Pakachoag, this time as a sole and permanent occupant. A fee was exchanged for the property, half of which was donated back to the VNA, and the remaining mortgage was held by the church as a way to further assist the organization. The VNA stayed at the property for many years before eventually consolidating with the VNA of Southern Worcester County. Similarly, Pakachoag Church's 191 Pakachoag Street location served as the first and only home of the Auburn Senior Center until they were able to build their own building.
1997 Dobson Organ
"The organ at Pakachoag was built and installed in 1997 by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd. of Lake City, Iowa and was designed for a relatively small (seating capacity 200), but acoustically live, room. The organ is a robust two manual, mechanical key action, electric stop action instrument that is large enough to support a full range of recital literature, in addition to fulfilling its roles as a service and teaching instrument." Brenda Salvi, Organist and Music Director, Pakachoag Church. Watch here for more.