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Worshippers at Marble Collegiate Church are called to "go forth to serve" at the end of each Sunday worship experience, because service to others is an essential part of our spiritual journey. This looking ever forward, ever outward with our faith has been a significant part of Marble’s history.
Since the Collegiate Church's founding in the early 1600s our forebears opened their arms to others regardless of their faith traditions, creating an atmosphere of inclusiveness and community outreach. The custom of action-oriented ministries dates from the Revolutionary War, and includes sewing brigades during the Civil War and both World Wars, and the creation of early empowerment for immigrant women, who were given work opportunities throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s.
In the 1920s, the noontime Open Air Pulpit from the church’s doorway at 29th Street and Fifth Avenue attracted crowds of thousands. Recognizing the importance of spreading the Word, Marble’s broadcast of sermons and services "from Fifth Avenue to the World," first through radio, then television, has meant an outreach that continues to increase its global scope. MarbleVision, the church's media ministry, now encompasses a program of publications and broadcasts to a worldwide audience.
We are an outward-looking congregation, conveying a message of hope to create a better world. Initiatives in recent years include:
Action Volunteers
Feeding the homeless, visiting AIDS patients, donating food and clothing to city shelters, cleaning up New York City parks and schools -- these are just a few of the many opportunities available through Marble’s vigorous ACTION Volunteer program. Our Director of Volunteer Ministries provides members and friends with short or long term ways to meet the needs of the church family or the community at large.
A Partnership of Faith
Co-founded in 1991 by Dr. Arthur Caliandro, interfaith clergy from across New York City come together regularly to talk about issues of concern. Arising from that association, our annual Thanksgiving “trialogue” sermon, in which an imam and a rabbi join our Senior Minister on the chancel to discuss the intersections of faith in the world, has become a Marble tradition.
Easter Offering
A committee of church members conducts thorough research of prayerfully-selected ministries in New York City and beyond to receive distributions of Marble’s Easter Offering. In recent years the offering has surpassed $160,000 and contributed to the support of such agencies as Seeds of Peace, Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Aid Society, and numerous others.
I Have A Dream
Marble became the first church to adopt a class through Eugene Lang’s “I Have A Dream” program, providing disadvantaged grade school students in Harlem with a way to make college a realistic goal.
South Africa Partnership
In 2002 Marble Church entered a partnership with three churches in Soweto, SA, that continue to suffer from the damage of apartheid. We explore ways to develop the spiritual and physical growth of our partners through programs such as building and repairing African churches, creating revenue-generating projects, sponsoring AIDS-awareness events, and more.
Becoming a part of Marble Collegiate Church means becoming a part of its tradition of mission in the world. As Christ showed us by example, we know that service to others may be our most relevant act.
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