Tools for Audacious Living: Church Service
The UCW Nominating team asks everyone in our church community to prayerfully discern how you will give your time to our beloved church as we move forward this spring and to act upon our visioning priorities.
This week, three church leaders have agreed to tell their stories about how church service has deeply connected them with our wonderful UCW community and nourished their faith and commitment to our shared covenant.
David Burgess
Serving on a committee at church has been more than just a responsibility, by David Burgess – it has been a meaningful pathway to deeper connection and spiritual growth. What began as a simple way to contribute gradually became a space where relationships formed naturally. Working alongside others toward a shared purpose created a sense of belonging that extended beyond Sunday services. Conversations during meetings, collaborations, and even small acts of service has built genuine community. Such ministry work has also nourished my faith in subtle ways. Being part of the building committee has helped me see the church not just as a place I attend, but as a living body that I can actually help sustain. It has made my faith more participatory. It has shown me that faith grows not only in quiet reflection, but also in shared effort, mutual support, and the willingness to serve something greater than myself.
Alan Cody
Thank you for giving me the chance to serve our congregation, by Alan Cody. As I complete my first year as Co-Moderator, serving Union Church in Waban, I am sincerely grateful that you have called me to deepen my fellowship with all of you through service to our community. Our congregation thrives on its volunteers and I am proud to be one. I have learned with you in the Book Group, joined with my fellow Worship Team members to help make our worship services meaningful to as many as possible and served on our Transition and Governance Teams. With our Council, I have learned valuable perspectives from every fellow member of Council as we serve you in working toward realizing our Mission and Covenant. Retired for many years now, I am so fortunate to be able to continue to learn, contribute and serve with you. That has meant so much to me!
Molly Owen-Kiristy
Inclusive and Welcoming, by Molly Owen-Kiristy. UCW’s covenant is exemplified through Lunch Bunch, a monthly gathering of folks that has been a constant at UCW for more than 15 years. Bev Hadley, Janet Holly, Jean and Dick Husher, and so many others gathered around the table each month sharing good food and thought provoking conversation. Although we have sadly lost some friends, and been interrupted by Covid, we have resumed our monthly Lunch Bunch gathering with old and new members. It has gained momentum and offered important elements of community for participants, including myself. Helping to organize and attend Lunch Bunch has brought me many blessings. The sense of community within this group nourishes me and I see UCW living out its covenant of being a place that is inclusive, welcoming and intergenerational in its offerings. A highlight of my month!!
Nominating team members Susan Gedrick, Brita Gill-Austern, Frank Laski, Karen O’Beirne, and Pastor Megan would love to hear from you!
Please reach out to one of us if you feel called to take on a leadership role at UCW.At this Sunday’s May 3rd Congregational Meeting, we will post and circulate open leadership roles. New nominations for church leadership will be presented to the congregation for approval at our Annual Meeting on June 14th.
Past Posts
- From Pastor Megan
Rev. Megan Berkowitz
July 24, 2026Big 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, 2026Rev. 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, 2026Rev. 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, 2026Rev. Megan Berkowitz
June 19, 2026I 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, 2026Rev. 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, 2026Rev. 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 - From Pastor Megan: May 29, 2026Rev. Megan Berkowitz
May 29, 2026 Things remain busy at UCW in these last few weeks of the church year! We are in the final contract negotiation stage with our new settled music director (so keep an eye out for an official announcement and bio soon!), continuing Visioning work with more to be presented at Annual Meeting, and of course preparing the annual budget review, nominating slate, and other Annual Meeting business. Learn More - From Your Stewardship ChairTools for Audacious Living: Church Service The UCW Nominating team asks everyone in our church Learn More
