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Weekly Update
Friday, April 25, 2025
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The Second Sunday of Easter
April 27 at 10:00 a.m. (Hybrid)
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Eastertide worship continues with the story of the disciples who meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Come, and see the Risen One revealed to us anew this season.
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Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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The bulletin is available HERE
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Celebrating Generosity - An Invitation!
This Sunday April 27, Coffee Hour
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This Sunday the committee charged with helping to implement the Janet Holly legacy is seeking your input. Janet left a remarkable and generous bequest to the Union Church and the planning committee hopes to insure that the funds are used in ways consistent with Janet’s expressed interests and that everyone has an opportunity for input.
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The Committee has identified four areas that reflect Janet’s passions during her lifetime:
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- the financial health and wise stewardship of church funds,
- maintaining and beautifying a garden at the church,
- accessibility for all, including accessible worship space, a place for coffee hour and other gatherings
- music-Janet ,a long time choir member, loved our church music
Consistent with financial stewardship, 80% of Janet’s bequest has been invested in our church’s long term endowment and our line of credit has been paid off in full! The committee (comprised of Judy Nagle, Tom Humphrey, Karen Weisgerber, Frank Laski, Alison McCarty and Diane Tillotson), is looking for your ideas and inspiration on funding Janet’s remaining three passions: the church garden, music, and an accessible sanctuary and meeting and gathering space
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So please join members of the committee at coffee hour on Sunday, April 27th to share your thoughts and visions!
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On Easter morning, we sang the hymn “Now the Green Blade Rises,” with its refrain: “Love is come again like wheat that rises green.” While it raises questions for me every year about how much pronunciation has changed in the last hundred years (did been/green and again/lain really rhyme?), it so beautifully captures the confluence of Easter and the coming of Spring in the Northern hemisphere.
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As the weather warms, the trees bloom, the grass and crops all begin to sprout their leaves, we are daily surrounded by signs of new life. The orchids in my office, a gift from our friends in BTCC for my installation last year, have buds ready to bloom in the growing sunshine. The animals are out and about, making nests and finding food. All of these signs of new life are beautiful on their own, but particularly so when we think of them as more than just the signs of spring’s arrival.
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May we understand them to be symbols of God’s love: always rising again, even from being buried in the dirt or resting through the long cold winter. Surrounded by new life, this spring, may we remember the promises of Easter and the triumph of God’s love, life, and hope in the world.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community.
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- In gratitude for the joy of gathering together at Easter, for the music, flowers, food, egg hunt, warm welcome, and so much more that made our worship together such a wonderful source of Eastertide joy and hope.
- For all in our UCW community who are ill, or who are caring for loved ones. For all who grieve, God, we ask for the comfort of your presence, especially in this tender season.
- We pray for peace for your people all throughout the world. Teach us to beat our swords into plowshares, O God, and to sow wisdom and reap peace, justice, and joy.
- We pray for our friend Yarisleidy. We are grateful for her safe arrival in the Dominican Republic, and pray for God's continued presence with her.
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We pray to you, grateful for your accompaniment with us in all things. Amen.
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If you have other prayers of concern or celebration you
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would like lifted up in community, please email
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Making Space
Annual Stewardship Campaign
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This year our Stewardship theme is Making Space, as we open our hearts and lives to greater humility, discernment and generosity - The full Stewardship letter from Chair Kent Wittler and the Stewardship Committee is availabe here .
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Our Annul Pledge Form can be found HERE - Thank You!
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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Tomorrow!
Urban Gardens for Eco Justice
Local Climate Change Initiative
Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 - 1:00 p.m. (In Person)
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Carpooling from UCW at 9:15 a.m.
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On Saturday, April 26, the UCW Mission team, led by Brita Gill Austern, will participate in our local climate change initiative in partnership with the Boston Food Forest Coalition (BFFC). We will go to The Ellington Community Food Forest Garden at 103 Ellington Street in Dorchester, where we will be working on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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We will carpool from the church leaving at 9:15 a.m. All you need is a water bottle, garden gloves, appropriate dress for yard work and readiness to make new friends and help to build a sustaining commitment to BFFC and this Dorchester community.
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Take a moment to go to Bostonfoodforest.org and learn about this amazing organization that is creatively addressing climate issues, eco justice, and fresh food to build healthy neighborhood communities . BFFC has started twelve forest gardens in Boston.
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Please confirm with Brita at 617-851-6871
or by email at [email protected]
if you can join us and if you want a ride or can offer one.
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Save the Date! Saturday, May 17th
Upcoming Concert at
The Union Church In Waban
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(More about Boston City Singers HERE)
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Out of the Darkness Campus Walk
Join UCW College Student Emily Spertner in Supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) - TODAY, Friday, April 25th
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Emily Spertner, a UCW student, is in her second year organizing the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk at Lasell University.
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Please click below to learn more and to consider donating to her walk.💙
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Emily has been involved with AFSP for years, driven by the deep impact suicide has on individuals and communities. She’s passionate about raising awareness and supporting those who need hope and help.
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You Are Not Alone
Are you in a crisis? Call or text 988
or text TALK to 741741
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Newton for Everyone Presents:
Housing and Climate Change: What's the Connection
Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m.
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Online and in person at the Scandinavian Living Center
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Nordic Hall at the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham St., West Newton
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Where we live matters. It affects our access to jobs, schools, amenities, and overall quality of life. But location profoundly impacts our environment too, influencing everything from traffic patterns to the preservation of our natural landscapes.
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More Details and Registration HERE
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Live the Love & Justice Jesus Taught
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If you’re seeking ways to live out God’s love and justice at this moment in history, I invite you to look through the Southern New England Conference of the UCC’s new “Take Action” page on their website.
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Coffee Host Needed
Thank you to Susan Hunt Stevens for hosting this Sunday's reception.
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Please consider volunteering!
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Hosting a reception is a thoughtful expression of our hospitality, and it’s easier than you think! If you’re new to hosting, help is always available. Please consider volunteering for two dates this year.
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If you have questions, Kathy Malone is the point of contact : 617-365- 4960; [email protected].
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Sharing the Stories of Our Faith
Reading Scripture in Worship
For generations the stories and wisdom of our faith were only shared orally, and reading scripture out loud is still a central part of our worship and community. Please consider sharing your voice in worship this spring.
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Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
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Pastoral Care Connections
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz, or Associate Pastor for Youth & Families, Rev. Amy Clark Feldman for prayer or pastoral support.
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and her phone is 617-965-3893
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Most weeks, Friday is a day of Sabbath for Pastor Megan; Monday is Pastor Amy's day of Sabbath. With a pastoral emergency, please don't hesitate to reach out.
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We, the members of The Union Church in Waban, true to our founding principle of being an inclusive church, covenant together to nourish and to sustain in our common life and practice a fully welcoming and affirming church for all persons. Welcoming all persons who seek to join with us in a commitment to love God and our neighbors, affirming the inclusive love of Jesus, we are open to all, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nationality, ability or economic circumstance. We invite all to full participation in our worship, membership, leadership and life of this church.
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