Rev. Megan
Berkowitz
Rev. Amy
Clark Feldman
Pastor Megan
September 12, 2025
Dear Church,
Friends and Members alike (really!): we want to hear your thoughts, visions, concerns, and aspirations for UCW. We do not know what the future holds, of course, but we know Who holds the future, and we trust that future is bright with promise. But how do we find our part?
The Congregational tradition is built on the premise that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, that God is in every living thing, and that we are called to listen for the “still, small voice” in order to hear the heart of God calling to us. At UCW, we are entering into a time of discernment, trusting in the Holy Spirit to inform our being-in-the-world here at UCW. We hope to answer the question, “Who are we called to be in this time and place, under the God we serve?” Finding those answers will take time, will take a deep dive, and will take each and every one of your voices.
The month of October will open up opportunities for all who wish to have a voice in our discernment process. Online and in-person listening sessions will be held throughout the month. These sessions will be facilitated by trained volunteers in groups of no more than six plus the facilitator, with each member of a family or partner taking part in their own session. The same questions will be asked in each group. The results will be anonymously compiled, question by question, and sorted to identify themes and the movement of the Spirit. Although all responses will be kept anonymous, the results will be made available to all participants in a variety of ways. Members of the wider community, community representatives and elected officials will also be invited to facilitated listening sessions.
Once everything has been compiled and distilled, we will use the findings and results to help guide us towards a future under God in ways we believe will help those who watch, collaborate and participate with us.
We want to hear from you. Without your voice, our discernment will be incomplete. Please join us for worship on 9/28, after which there will be a congregational gathering during which we can meet and greet our consultant for this process, the Rev. Dr. Claire W. Bamberg. She will have met with and provided training for the facilitators the day before. They will also be able to answer questions! Come one and come all!
Peace,
Pastor Megan
Past Posts
- From Pastor Megan
Rev. Megan Berkowitz
December 24, 2025 Warmest Christmas wishes to you and all your loved ones. As we celebrate the Light of Christ coming into the world, may your life be filled with that light and all of the peace, joy, love, and hope it brings. It is no small thing to celebrate God’s presence in a world in need, or to remember God’s faithfulness in accompanying us in all things. Let us dwell in that grace and goodness together this week. Learn More - From Pastor MeganRev. Megan Berkowitz
December 12, 2025 I attended the “fall” meeting of the Metropolitan Boston Association of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ (say that three times fast) on Sunday afternoon. Interestingly, the Association is engaged in a very similar kind of vision and strategic planning work as we are. Learn More - Hanging of the GreensRev. Megan Berkowitz
December 5, 2025 What a joy it was to gather for the annual Hanging of the Greens service last Sunday! That’s a tradition that has been stewarded by first the Deacons and now the Worship Team over many years in this church, and it is always such a beautiful way to welcome in the Advent season. Learn More - From Pastor Megan: Novemeber 30, 2025Rev. Megan Berkowitz
November 30, 2025“‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’”
Matthew 25
I pray that you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones, and that those who are traveling return home with ease and in safety.
Learn More - From Pastor MeganRev. Megan Berkowitz
November 21, 2025 In the professional development training where I spent the last week, the core curriculum for my cohort this year was about faith-based, relational community organizing for congregations. This congregation has plenty of experience with this community organizing model thanks to GBIO, Learn More - From Pastor Megan: November 14, 2025Rev. Megan Berkowitz
November 14, 2025 There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at UCW these days! I wanted to be sure everyone is up-to-date, even on processes that are in quieter phases right now. Learn More - From Pastor MeganRev. Megan Berkowitz
October 31, 2025 It’s All Saints Sunday this week, and we’ll be singing many favorite hymns about the saints that we usually save for this one Sunday a year. As we bless the children on their way to Sunday School, we’ll sing “When the Saints Go Marching In,” with an extra verse Karen and I came up with based on this Sunday’s scripture readings: Learn More - From Pastor MeganRev. Megan Berkowitz
October 24, 2025 Many of you have heard me quote Julian of Norwich, a mystic nun from the 14th century: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” I often repeat this phrase in a lighthearted way, but in truth, I do not mean it flippantly, and Julian of Norwich certainly did not. Learn More
