A Church on Broadway Since 1893
Bellevue Reformed Church sits on Broadway in the Bellevue neighborhood of Schenectady, New York, where it has been a presence in the community since Christmas Eve, 1893. Charter members organized the congregation that December night to promote what they called "mutual, intellectual, moral, and spiritual benefits, and provide Christian work in the neighborhood," and more than 130 years later that local, neighbor-focused ministry continues to shape the church's identity.
Today the congregation describes itself as an open and affirming community that welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. It belongs to the Room for All roster of affirming churches, and its stated mission is simply this: "Attract our neighbors to life in God's kingdom." Visitors walking through the doors on a Sunday morning will find a casual, traditional service rooted in the Reformed tradition, a children's program that runs alongside the service, and a building that quietly does some of its own teaching through its architecture.
A Sanctuary Built to Point Upward
By 1900 the original chapel had already been outgrown, and a larger building went up on the same Broadway site. That structure served the congregation for nearly ninety years, until a 1989 fire and problems with the stained glass windows made replacement necessary. The building that stands today was designed as a deliberate departure from traditional church architecture. Its beams thrust upward to convey a reaching toward God. Twelve ceiling lights hang in the nave, representing both the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples. The pews are angled inward so that the congregation gathers around God's word and around the table of the Lord, with the baptismal font serving as a focal point.
Instead of a steeple, three crosses are cut into the tower above the narthex, symbolizing the hill on which Christ died. The traditional stained glass was replaced with modern panels reflecting themes from 1 Corinthians 12: conflict, the Holy Spirit, hope, love, faith, and resolution, the last shown as the hand of man in the hand of God. To this day the building itself is treated as part of the congregation's witness, used to fulfill a calling the church describes as being "a community of hope for our neighbors, being fully devoted to Jesus Christ and spreading the good news of God's reconciling love."
Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM
Worship takes place every Sunday at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary. Greeters meet visitors at the doors before they enter, and the service follows the traditional Reformed order: a welcome, call to worship, prayer of confession, children's message, Scripture reading, and sermon, with music woven throughout. Communion is offered once a month, on the third Sunday, and all are welcome to participate, including children of any age. Membership is not required. As the pastor explains the sacraments, the congregation is invited to come forward at the music, receive the bread into cupped hands, and then move to either side to take the non-alcoholic grape juice. Servers also walk through the sanctuary to bring Communion to anyone who prefers to remain in the pew.
The dress code is intentionally relaxed. On any given Sunday visitors will see a range from jeans and t-shirts to full suits and ties, and the pastor dresses casually along with everyone else. For those who would like prayer after the service, two members of the Prayer Team are stationed at the baptismal font in the front of the sanctuary. Blue Prayer Request cards are tucked into the back of each pew, and a small prayer box sits in the narthex for written requests.
Children in Worship and Sunday School
Families with young children will find a thoughtful setup on Sunday mornings. A nursery room is available for children under age 3, equipped with a speaker linked to the sanctuary so parents can follow along with the service. From September through May, Sunday School classes meet during worship for children ages 3 through 6th grade.
Children ages 3 through 1st grade attend a program called Children in Worship, which uses touchable characters and props to retell Bible stories. The children are then given time to re-tell the stories themselves using the same materials, or to complete a craft that ties into the lesson, and a small snack is provided. Children in 2nd through 6th grade meet in a separate class for age-appropriate learning, with a unique curriculum each year designed to reinforce the same message heard in the weekly Children's Message. Children whose parents prefer they stay in the sanctuary for the full service are welcome to do so.
Bible Study, Prayer, and Small Groups
Two weekly Bible studies give the congregation a chance to dig into the readings before they are heard on Sunday. One meets on Mondays at 7:00 PM, the other on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. Each session stands on its own, so newcomers can drop in at any point without feeling behind.
The Prayer Team is one of the church's most visible commitments. Members meet monthly to share concerns, gather after Sunday worship to pray with anyone who comes forward, and remain available throughout the week. Requests can be left on the blue cards in the pews, placed in the prayer box in the narthex, or written on cards near the Little Free Food Pantry.
On the first Wednesday of each month at noon, the Women's Circle gathers for fellowship, devotions, and shared laughs over a bag lunch. On the second and fourth Wednesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, the Craft Ministry meets in the Emmaus Room. Crocheters, knitters, sewers, and others work on personal projects or create handmade donations for a rotating list of recipients that has included Things of My Very Own, the Animal Protective Foundation, Van Corlaer Elementary School, Young Parents United, the Bellevue Women's Hospital NICU, and the Schenectady City Mission. Beginners are welcome, and some basic supplies are on hand.
On Mondays at 6:00 PM, Celebrate Recovery offers a Christ-centered discussion and support group for anyone affected by addictions, emotional wounds, or harmful patterns. All are welcome.
Feeding and Clothing the Neighborhood
Two long-running outreach efforts put the church's mission into daily practice on Broadway. In 2017, Bellevue Reformed launched a Little Free Food Pantry just outside the church doors. The concept is intentionally simple: there are no open hours, no photo ID, no proof of address, and no paperwork. Anyone in need can stop by and take what is on the shelves. The congregation asks only that visitors consider others and take a couple of meals at a time so the next neighbor also has something to choose from. Donations come from church members and the wider community and include canned vegetables, fruits, beans, soups, pasta, cereal, snacks, drinks, and hygiene items. Sexton Janet Kolner keeps the pantry stocked and is a friendly face outdoors when she is putting food away. A prayer box beside the pantry extends the prayer team's reach beyond Sunday morning.
A few blocks up the street at 1910 Broadway, Ruth's Place, the church's thrift store, is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Run entirely by volunteers, the shop offers low-cost clothing for all ages, coats, footwear, accessories, dishes, glassware, small appliances, towels, linens, books, DVDs, CDs, and craft supplies. Each month Ruth's Place also donates $100 to a local charity. Donations of clothing and home goods in fair to good condition can be dropped off during open hours; furniture, electronics, large appliances, and VHS tapes are not accepted.
An Open and Affirming Congregation
The phrase "open and affirming" appears throughout the church's own description of itself. The congregation embraces and celebrates people of all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations, and it considers itself a safe place for the questions, doubts, and love of Jesus that anyone brings through the door. Its core values commit the church to reflecting God's compassionate and generous heart through service, mission, worship, fellowship, and prayer; to generously loving and serving its Bellevue neighbors; to valuing children as the future of Christ's kingdom; to nurturing leadership and the gifts God has given; to caring for the Earth as stewards of creation; and to following Jesus as disciples wherever they live, work, play, and learn.
Reformed Governance and Wider Mission
The church is led by Reverend Heather Kramer, the first woman minister in its long history. A graduate of Western Theological Seminary, she grew up in Michigan, has lived in the Schenectady area since 1997, and came to ministry as a second career after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Technology from Northern Illinois University. She and her husband Paul live in nearby Rotterdam. The Consistory, made up of the minister, elders, and deacons, governs the life and ministry of the congregation. Standing committees guide worship, mission, property, the building that houses Ruth's Place and four apartments, fellowship, Christian education, and the Prayer Team. Beyond the neighborhood, the Mission Committee supports Camp Fowler, Bread for the World, and other efforts near and far.
Visiting and Staying Connected
Sunday worship at 10:00 AM is the heart of the week, with services livestreamed on YouTube for those at home. Children are welcome in the sanctuary, in Sunday School during the school year, or in the nursery for those under 3. Dress is casual, communion is offered once a month, and prayer is available after every service. The church office can be reached at 518-393-1341 or bellevuereformedchurch@gmail.com. Donations to support the church's ministry can be made in person, by mail to 2000 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12306, or online through the church's giving page.