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Weekly Update
Friday, February 27, 2026
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March 1, 10:00 a.m.
The Second Sunday in Lent
(In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday we continue our Lenten journey through the wilderness, being nourished in body and spirit along the way and continuing our travels though John’s Gospel.
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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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We are now a week and a half into Lent, which means that it’s just the right time to commit to a Lenten practice if you haven’t already. Perhaps our sojourn through the wilderness is inspiring you to reflect on your own ‘tools for survival’ list and focus on one of those, or even to commit to time outdoors in nature to reflect and pray (yes, even with the snow on the ground…). Perhaps you want to set aside your busyness for an evening a week and join the Lenter group on Thursdays (you still can!). Perhaps you want to dedicate more time to real conversations with those you love. Whatever it is, I encourage you to sink deeply into some practice for this season. It is a spiritually rich time when we open our hearts to the possibilities of the season.
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Living with Loss
New Supportive Group for Adults beginning at UCW this Spring
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All of us live with loss in our lives in so many ways: the death of spouses, children, parents, and other loved ones; the loss of our own or loved ones’ capacity due to illness and aging; the loss of work or other roles that give us a sense of meaning and purpose; and so many more losses. If you are in a season of living with loss and would like to be in supportive spiritual community with others, please join us.
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This group will gather and discuss personal experiences of past, present, and ongoing loss. Important themes will be woven throughout sessions as we share in silence and meditation, prayer, ritual, music, art, scripture, other readings, poetry, podcasts, and more as helpful tools through which we come to understand, process, and live with our loss. This group will not be focused on fixing or solving anything, but rather with understanding loss as a companion in our lives and with being companions to one another in our journeys.
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We will begin meeting monthly in late March through June, take a break with just one Zoom meeting over the summer, and then resume in September. Meetings will last 90 minutes and will take place in person at church. We ask those who are interested to commit to the group (not necessarily every single session, but an intention to attend most months for continuity of community). If you are interested, please let us know your preference for days and times: Sundays 11:30-1pm, weekdays during the day, or weekday evenings.
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This group will be led by Pastor Megan, Brita Gill-Austern, and Molly Owen-Kiritsy; Megan and Molly will begin the group this spring, and then Brita will join Molly in leading during Pastor Megan’s parental leave this fall. If you are interested, please send Pastor Megan ([email protected]) an email to let us know.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- We pray for Tom Humphrey, recovering from hip replacement surgery; may your healing grace surround Tom in the days and weeks to come.
- We pray for Jim MacDonald, preparing for surgery next week; guide his medical team and shepherd him through recovery.
- God, we ask that you would strengthen and care for our immigrant neighbors of all legal statuses who continue to live in fear and uncertainty amidst current immigration policies. We pray for all who are standing up to injustice and witnessing to the dignity of all life in the face of violence and dehumanization.
- As the weather remains bitterly cold and the dark nights persist, we pray for all our siblings who are unhoused and sleeping rough. Protect and shelter them, O God, and may we be part of a great effort of providing shelter and safety this fall and winter.
- 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.
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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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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Mark Your Calendars!
Intergenerational Board Game Night
Sunday, March 8 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
(In-Person, Littlehale Meeting Room)
Join us for a fun night of games! Bring your favorite game or just come ready to play. We’ll meet in the Littlehale room and have pizza and snacks.
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All ages are welcome! This is a great chance for intergenerational connection, and a great way for families to spend time together!
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Community Dinner at
Union Church in Waban
Thursday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m.
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Union Church is planning to host a community dinner for our congregation and our neighbors who share our church with us. This includes:the Riverside Preschool, the Scouts, the Taiwanese Church and the Winchester School.
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Sponsored by the Communications Committee, we'd like to welcome one and all of you to share in our mac and cheese supper! We need volunteers to help by bringing their favorite mac and cheese creations, side dishes, desserts and drinks! We also need folks to help with setup, serving, and cleanup.
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Dinner will be at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 downstairs.
If you are planning to attend,
please RSVP HERE
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We will send out a sign-up link for volunteers in the coming days, or you can tell
Amy McMahon (MYAMCM58 @Gmail.com) what you would like to bring or do.
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Thanks to everyone who plans to come! We hope that you can make it!
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The Communications Committee of Union Church in Waban
(Linda Lynch, Nancy Zollers, Amy McMahon, Susan Hunt Stevens and Pastor Megan Berkowitz)
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Tools for Survival in the Wilderness
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Sunday Worship
Each Sunday throughout Lent, we'll gather around sacred stories and traditions to explore the tools our faith
offers us for surviving the wildernesses of our lives and the world around us.
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Small Groups
Meeting Tuesdays at noon on Zoom or Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. at the
church. The groups will give an opportunity for learning, fellowship, and spiritual deepening. Contact Pastor Megan to join.
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Download our Family guide with at home activities to explore our Lent theme as a family. This guide has weekly guided conversations that are designed to help you talk as a family about injustice in the world and start to show your kids some of the tools they will need to navigate the wilderness.
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Download the Lent Guide HERE
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WAR MEMORIAL
Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave.
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SAVE THE DATE!: March 11, 7:oo-9:00 p.m.
The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN) will be sponsoring a citywide training by the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts to help Newtonians learn how to protect and support our immigrant neighbors.
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LUCE is a coalition of immigrant-led, grassroots organizations who build people power for everyone across Massachusetts. "
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Cosponsoring congregations include: NewCity Church, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, and The Union Church in Waban. Donations of cookies for a reception to follow the service are very welcome.
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To RSVP, please use link below,
Registration is required for entrance to training.
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Reading Scripture in Worship
Sharing the Stories of Our Faith
Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
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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 fall.
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Coffee Host Needed
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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Making Space - Stewardship Campaign
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This year’s Stewardship theme is Making Space. Read the full letter from Chair Kent Wittler and the Stewardship Committee here .
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Submit Your Pledge HERE - Thank You!
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Pastoral Care Connections
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz for prayer or pastoral support.
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and her office phone is 617-965-3893
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Most weeks, Friday is a day of Sabbath for Pastor Megan. 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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