The Islamic Center of America has been serving the needs of area Muslims since 1963. The center traces its roots back to 1949, when its founder, Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri, first traveled to the United States at the request of the then small Muslim community in the Detroit area. Formerly located in Highland Park, Mich., the Islamic Center opened the doors at its current location in 2005. The center's mission is not only to preserve and teach the religion of Islam, but also to educate the American public about Islam and the Arab culture. The symbolism and design of the Islamic Center are examples of Islamic-inspired architecture. The 70,000-square-foot facility houses the main prayer room, a full-service banquet hall, offices and the adjacent school building for the Muslim American Youth Academy (MAYA). The center offers tours for groups and individuals.
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, located on Mason Street at Monroe, has been serving the Dearborn community since 1859. In 2009, the church celebrated its 150th year at the same site. The original church structure was replaced in 1921, and expanded in 1968 with the addition of an education wing. Good Shepherd offers study and fellowship programs for both adults and youth, including outdoor and retreat ministries. The church also supports a number of outreach projects and organizations locally and around the world. Support group meetings are held weekly for Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Alateen, Overeaters Anonymous and Nicotine Anonymous.
Dearborn Congregational Church is located on Rotunda Drive, just east of the Southfield Freeway. Formerly know as Greenfield Congregational, the church is located on land originally donated by Henry Ford to help serve the spiritual needs of the community. Dearborn Congregational is a member of the United Church of Christ, a denomination of 5,600 churches and 1.2 million members worldwide. The church has a women's group that meets the first Tuesday of each month, as well as a book club, a men's group and an outreach committee.
This Catholic ministry serves young adults. It is located between the campuses of University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford Community College. The center is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Detroit. At the center, young adults gather to serve, to pray, to learn and to play. In addition to mass, activities include social gatherings, art studio time and guest speakers. The center also supports outreach programs such as Habitat for Humanity and Gleaners Food Bank. The center is named for Father Gabriel Richard, Detroit's "pioneer priest," whose contributions included establishing Detroit's first public library, printing Detroit's first newspaper and being a co-founder of the forerunner of the University of Michigan.
The First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn has been serving the community since its founding in 1834. The congregation moved to its present location on North Brady in 1965. The modern, triangular design repeated throughout the building emphasizes the Trinity, a basic Christian belief, while the open, airy feel and green carpeting of the main sanctuary are designed to remind worshippers that they are “part of God’s world, not apart from it.” The church supports numerous mission and outreach programs locally and around the world.
St. Paul American Lutheran Church has been part of the Dearborn community since 1870. The church has been at its current location on Beech Street since 1929. In 1954, an educational wing was added, and in 1961, the original church building was expanded.
St. Paul's services offer worshippers a blend of music, prayer and scripture. Page magnifiers and hearing enhancement receivers are available upon request. Communion is celebrated at all services each weekend.
Sunday School classes for children ages two-and-a-half through twelfth grade are centered around Bible stories and supported by crafts, music and games. Study opportunities for adults and young adults include Bible study, forums and discussions groups.
St. Paul provides community support both locally and around the world through its missionary and outreach work.
The American Moslem Bekaa Center is located on Chase Road, south of Hemlock in East Dearborn. In addition to Friday prayer in both Arabic and English, the center offers Qur'an teaching for children on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2pm, Sunday Arabic school from 10am until 1pm, and women's lectures on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm.
Atonement Lutheran Church has been serving the Dearborn community for more than 80 years. Located on Mead Street in East Dearborn, the congregation describes itself as a "vibrant fellowship of believers, living our traditional faith in a modern world." The church offers fellowship and study through its Men's Bible Class, which meets on the first Saturday of each month at 10am, and its Women's Bible Class, which meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:30am. Atonement's Ladies Aid and Senior group actively support local mission and outreach programs. The church also offers ESL classes to area residents.
Warrendale Community Church is a non-denominational church that focuses on the teaching and preaching of the Bible. The church offers numerous fellowship and study opportunities weekly and monthly for both children and adults, including the Men's Basketball Ministry, the Ladies' Bible Study group and Kids 4 Truth, a program for children age 4 to 18. Warrendale has been in its current location on Ford Road since 1969.
Established in 1928, St. Barbara Parish is a member of the Detroit Archdiocese. In addition to English, mass is also celebrated in Polish. The parish campus is shared with St. Barbara's Rectory and the current church building was dedicated in 1955.
St. Clement Roman Catholic Church has been serving the Dearborn area since 1927. Originally located on Michigan Avenue and Schaefer, the church has been at its present location since 1968. A parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit, St. Clement also offers mass at the nearby Henry Ford Village retirement community on Tuesday and Friday at 2:30pm and on Sunday at 9am. Today, more than 700 families are registered parishoners of St. Clement and the church services and activities include religious education, Women's Fellowship, the Usher's Club and a senior's group. The church also hosts meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the Knights of Columbus.
The American Moslem Society (AMS) was established in southeast Dearborn in 1937, making it the oldest mosque in Michigan and one of the oldest in North America. As the Muslim population in the area has grown, so has the mosque. First expanded in 1952, the mosque was doubled in size in 1986, and again in 2000. Today, the 48,000-square-foot facility can accomodate up to 2,000 worshippers. The AMS also has a community center with a computer lab, a library, a large multi-purpose room and a learning center for youth and adults. The AMS Outreach Committee, established in 2004, works toward strengthening ties between the Muslim community and its non-Muslim neighbors. The Sisters' Committee provides prayer, educational and social programs for Muslim women and children.
Founded in 1866, Christ Episcopal Church has been serving area residents. A member of the Episcopal Church USA and of the worldwide Angelican Communion, it has been at its current location since 1949. The services are traditional, yet relaxed. Christ Episcopal also houses the Chapel Day Preschool, established in 1969, which is open to members and non-members alike.
The First United Methodist Church of Dearborn traces its roots back to 1810, when Michigan's first Methodist Society was founded. In 2010, the congregation celebrated 200 years of serving the community. Today, that mission continues through the support of numerous local, national, and international ministries and outreach programs. The Church has been at its present location at Garrison and Mason streets since 1926.
Emmanuel Lutheran School, which is connected to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, offers a Christian education for students in grades kindergarten to eighth grade that centers around Christian music and lessons as well as a rigorous academic schedule. Though Emmanuel Lutheran does not house high school classes, most students go on to attend Lutheran High in Westland.
Full tuition assistance is available to families in need who agree to join the church on a trial basis.
The Dearborn Free Methodist Church has been part of the community since 1938. A member of the Free Methodist Church of North America, Dearborn Free Methodist has a strong focus on fellowship, outreach and spiritual growth. Early morning worship on Sunday features a traditional structure while the later service is more contemporary. The Education Hour includes Sunday School for children from preschool through grade 5. A program for older youths is also offered.
Littlefield Presbyterian Church (USA) grew out of a Sabbath School at a storefront on Warren Avenue in 1929. Following the appointment of a pastor, the congregation was established in 1930 with a charter membership of 95 people. Early worship services were held at nearby McDonald Elementary School. About 10 years later, the congregation moved to its present location on Littlefield Boulevard. Today, the Littlefield congregation focuses on healing, reconciliation and learning to "transcend the barriers that separate God's people." To that end, Littlefield holds a Peace Camp for local youth each year to help promote understanding and acceptance. Littlefield also offers a monthly Taizé worship service, which features prayer and music woven together in a contemplative prayer. Taizé is an ecumenical Christian monastic order founded in 1940 in France.