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Weekly Update
Friday, September 12, 2025
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Welcome Back Sunday
Sunday, September 14!
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It’s Gathering Sunday! We’ll enjoy a communion worship together in the sanctuary and then head outside (weather permitting) for reception.
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Please feel free to invite friends and neighbors to share in our joyful return to worship and community together.
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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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Welcome Back Pizza, Potluck & Picnic
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This Sunday Following Service.
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Join us after worship this Sunday for pizza, a potluck and a picnic. Pizza and drinks will be provided. You are invited to bring your favorite church potluck side dish or dessert. We'll also have lots of kid-friendly activities and intergenerational games.
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Sunday School Notice
We will once again have an all-ages worship service this Sunday, with options for kids who need a little direction or room to wiggle both in the Prayground and in the Littlehale room.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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 Jandi Strong Dennis and her family as they grieve the unexpected death of Jandi’s son Alvin last week, and for the loved ones of Anita Robers following her death last week as well. Receive Alvin and Anita into your eternal embrace, O God, and may all who love them feel the peace, comfort, and strength of your Holy Spirit uplifting them in this season.
- We pray for the families and loved ones of those harmed in the most recent school shooting in Colorado, and for families everywhere who send their children to school each day not just with the joyful anticipation of new learning but with the fear of senseless violence. May our prayers for peace and lives free from violence compel us to action around sensible gun control laws and better supports for those suffering in our communities.
- 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.
- 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 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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Java Gents Kickoff Cookout!
Thursday Evening, September 18 at 5:00 p.m.
(At 189 Langley Street in Newton Centre)
This month, Java Gents will gather on Thursday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. , at 189 Langley Street in Newton Centre for “Java Gents Kickoff Cookout.” Newcomers and long timers alike are welcome!
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JAVA Gents is the informal get-together of the men of the UCW congregation (and community). The group aims to provide friendly fellowship and mutual support. We will enjoy a lively discussion of timely topics as well as personal goings on in our lives.
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Please contact Dan Heffernan if you have any questions or would like to be added to the Java Gents mailing list.
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Volunteer Opportunies with FamilyAid in October
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FamilyAid Update
FamilyAid is looking for volunteers to help transport essential clothing, winter gear, and hygiene kits for children and parents to help them stay warm over the winter. Four Volunteers are needed to transport clothing from Cradles to Crayons to FamilyAid HQ (3815 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02130), where a team of volunteers has signed up to sort and fold the items into bags for children and families. Then, two volunteers will help take the sorted clothes the following day to FamilyAid shelters in Newton and Brookline.
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- Thurs., 10/2/25 - 4 volunteers, afternoon drive, Newton to JP
- Fri., 10/3/25 - 2 volunteers, afternoon drive, JP to Newton or Brookline
- Thurs., 10/23/25 - 4 volunteers, afternoon drive, Newton to JP
- Fri., 10/24/25 - 2 volunteers, afternoon drive, JP to Newton or Brookline
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Volunteers will help ensure that kids are warm and have access to new clothing, as well as help FamilyAid serve as many of our clients as possible. All that is needed is a car, the ability to lift 10 pounds, and a big heart! If you’re interested, please contact Maggjie Cooper ([email protected])
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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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A Note From Our Treasurer
I hope that everyone has enjoyed a great summer. As we resume our regular church activities, we also need to turn our attention to the financial aspects that make our church possible. So if you have not turned in your pledge, or if you are not sure whether we received it, please come see me on any Sunday in September after worship. I will have my laptop with me and I can help you confirm your pledge or get it entered into our systems.
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Also, if you are interested in putting your pledge-payments on a schedule, I will be happy to talk to you about that and discuss various options!
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Jaap van Reijendam (treasurer)
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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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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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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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