Hurricane Relief

Rev. Megan
Berkowitz

Rev. Amy
Clark Feldman

Pastor Megan
October 4, 2024

Dear church,

As I’m sure many of you have been, I have been devastated to see the pictures and reports coming out of communities in the Southeast that have been affected by Hurricane Helene, and wanting to find ways to help. One of the blessings of being affiliated with our two denominational partners is that our impact to help when disasters like this occur can be magnified by the existing systems of support that the denominations have in place. As such, I wanted to share with you the UCC and ABC’s recommendations for where to send aid for victims of Hurricane Helene at this time:

• UCC Hurricane Helene relief efforts
• ABHMS Hurricane Helene relief efforts

In addition, Pastor Amy and I have decided to change our Blessing of the Animals collection to go towards pet shelters in the affected areas, as rehoming animals is one of the many challenges communities face in recovery and cleanup processes.

Finally, we can continue to pray for all who have been affected by the storm – those who lost their lives, their loved ones, their homes, communities, and senses of safety – and vulnerable people throughout the world who are affected by natural disasters and our changing climate.

Peace,

Megan

Past Posts

• 
  From Me to You
  Rev. Rich Chrisman
  September 11, 2026
  The genesis of us all.

  Oh Lord, you made such a good start
  having deemed Creation very good
  But discovered soon
  It wasn’t perfect
  Not the human part anyway.
  We went from a kiss to murder,

  Learn More
• 
  From Me to You
  Rev. Rich Chrisman
  September 4, 2026
  Hi UCW friends and members,  my name is Rick Chrisman, and I am an old friend of yours, once upon a time a member, way back before Covid, when Stacy was still minister here.  Way past retirement age, I’m just a preacher who has to have a congregation, so thanks for inviting me to fulfil my vocation with you, even if just for a few months. Learn More
• 
  From Pastor Megan
  Rev. Megan Berkowitz
  July 24, 2026
  

  Big news from our partners at GBIO! The “Not with our money, Citizens!” Campaign has succeeded, and Citizens Bank has committed to severing ties with the private prison companies building and operating ICE detention facilities. Read more about it on the GBIO website: HERE

  Learn More
• 
  From Pastor Megan: July 17, 2026
  Rev. Megan Berkowitz
  July 10, 2026
  Introducing our Bridge Pastor
  I am delighted to share that Rev. Rick Chrisman will be joining UCW as the parental leave Bridge Pastor this fall, from September 1st until my planned return at the start of Advent. Rev. Rick’s bio is below, though some of you may know him from a period some years ago when he was a member of UCW while serving as an interim pastor elsewhere. Closest to home for UCW, Rev. Rick has twice served as interim at the Eliot Church in Newton. Learn More
• 
  From Pastor Megan: July 3, 2026
  Rev. Megan Berkowitz
  July 3, 2026
  We had a lovely first summer service this past Sunday! Though we won’t meet this upcoming Sunday, 7/5, summer services resume the following week, 7/12 at 10:00 a.m. Worship Committee Chair Julie Heffernan will lead us in worship that morning. And though Katie Brown-Bright is off from her role as Bridge Associate for Children, Youth, and Families for the summer and there’s no Sunday school, she did put together an amazing activity cart for kids to participate in worship (crafts, streamers for some liturgical dancing, and more!). Learn More
• 
  From Pastor Megan: June 19, 2026
  Rev. Megan Berkowitz
  June 19, 2026
  

  I want to thank everyone who presented, contributed to, engaged in, and attended last Sunday’s Annual Meeting. You took seriously the invitation to let the Holy Spirit speak through you to others, and to you through others, and our church is better for it. For those who were not present, you can still engage with the Annual Meeting via the Annual Report, which we sent in this email last week, and by looking over the presentation from the Vision Team that was offered during the meeting: view HERE or click on image below.

  Learn More
• 
  From Pastor Megan: June 12, 2026
  Rev. Megan Berkowitz
  June 12, 2026
  My goodness, it has been a busy year at UCW! I hope you take some time to sit with and read the annual report for 2025-2026. Come to the Annual Meeting ready to discuss the budget and nominating slate, yes, but also to thank our committee chairs and members, to connect with someone over something you didn’t even know had happened at church this year, or to learn more about how you can get involved in different projects and programs. Learn More
• 
  From Pastor Megan: June 5, 2026
  Rev. Megan Berkowitz
  June 5, 2026
  Though it turned out to be quite a hot night, it was a joy to join with Katie, members of the congregation, and our siblings from other affirming faith communities in Newton at the annual Newton Pride flag raising celebration and resource fair this past week. In a season in our country when the rights of LGBTQ+ people are under attack and public support for our rights is waning rather than increasing for the first time in decades, we gathered to remind ourselves and the world that LGBTQ+ people are deeply and beautifully woven into the fabric of our community. Learn More