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Weekly Update
Friday, September 26, 2025
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Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m.
(In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Dr. Claire Bamberg, who is facilitating our Vision & Strategic Planning process, to lead us in worship and then answer questions for the congregation over lunch afterwards. We hope you’ll join and bring your curiosity about the visioning process with you!
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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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Vision and Strategic Planning Meeting
This Sunday immediately following worship
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Please join us at our Congregational gathering this coming Sunday, September 28 after worship. Food will be provided!
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Did you miss Pastor Megan’s update about our Vision and Strategic Planning process? Read it here here, and be sure to come to our congregational gathering this Sunday after church. Our consultant, the Rev. Dr. Claire Bamberg, will preach and lead in worship and then present and answer questions about the process.
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Sunday School Notice
Kids who do not want to stay in worship will be welcome to play, craft, and read in the Littlehale room with a parent. Though Sunday School hasn’t yet started, Nick, one of our new Children’s Ministry Associates will be present to help and guide during the service. He will also stay through the congregational meeting for extra childcare support.
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I have another exciting staffing update to share with you all! As I mentioned in last week’s Pastor’s Blog, the Co-Moderators, Council, HR, and I have been working to hire for both a Bridge Music Director and Bridge Associate for Children, Youth, and Families. I am delighted to announce officially that Karen Harvey, longtime friend of UCW (and former UCW Music Director), will take on the Bridge Music Director position.
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Many in the congregation already know Karen and her considerable gifts, whether from her time at UCW over 30 years ago or through her family’s deep history with our church. For those who do not, you will be blessed to meet her and experience her thoughtful worship leadership soon!
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Karen recently retired after over 30 years as the Minister of Music at UCC Norwell. She has extensive experience in playing and composing sacred music, conducting vocal and bell choirs, and leading worship. Truly, our congregation is very fortunate to welcome Karen back in this transition period in our music ministry. She will lead us in worship beginning with the service on 10/12, but those of you in the choir will likely hear from her before then. I hope you will join me in welcoming Karen with gratitude and excitement.
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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 healing for Jean Wellington and Jon Bassett as they each recover from recent hip replacement surgeries.
- We continue to pray for the families of Alvin Dennis and Anita Roberts in their grief.
- 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.
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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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Update from Nicaragaua
For those who may not know, our church has had the joy of sponsoring university students in Nicaragua for the past 15 years.
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We recently received a wonderful letter from one of our current students, Lorena, who is studying public accounting and finance. She talks about how our Church support is not only giving her hope, but also changing the future for her, her family and her community. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read her letter to us — it’s inspiring, and it shows the real impact of our ongoing partnership.
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San Juan del Sur, Rivas
July 15, 2025
Dear members of Union Church,
I address you with the most sincere gratitude for the invaluable support you have
given me. Thanks to your generosity and commitment to education, I am delighted
to share with you that I have successfully completed the first quarter of my Public
Accounting and Finance degree at the National Polytechnic University of Rivas.
This achievement not only represents another step toward the goal I have worked
so hard to achieve, but it is also proof that behind every goal achieved are people
like you, who believe in the potential of others and lend a helping hand with
solidarity and love for their neighbors.
......continue Lorena's letter HERE
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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 Maggie Cooper ([email protected])
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Welcome to the new church year! Sign-ups are now open!
Almost all Sundays are currently available, you are invited to pick a date!
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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 spring.
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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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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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