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Weekly Update
Friday, October 3, 2025
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World Communion Sunday
Sunday, October 5 at 10:00 a.m. (In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday, we welcome Katie Brown-Bright, our new Bridge Associate for Children, Youth, and Families! Be sure to scroll down to read Katie’s bio, and come to worship Sunday to welcome her well. This also means kids will have Sunday School this week, and parents do not need to stay with children during the service.
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It is also World Communion Sunday, and we’ll gather around the table and tell the stories of our faith: of Jesus calming the waters, of Jesus sharing bread and cup for those who need them, and of Noah and his family navigating the floodwaters.
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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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What a joy it has been to be the bearer of good news where our staff is concerned these last few weeks! And what a joy it is to welcome Katie Brown-Bright, our new Bridge Associate for Children, Youth, and Families on to the staff this week, in particular. Whether you are a parent of a child or youth in the church’s program or not, Katie wants to meet you, so greet her in worship or arrange some time with her for a walk or coffee in the coming weeks. We are experts at ‘welcome,’ dear church, so I hope you’ll flex those welcome muscles and extend a warm UCW welcome to Katie! Katie’s new email address is [email protected].
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Welcoming Katie Brown-Bright
Bridge Associate for Children, Youth, and Families
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Katie Brown-Bright is a recent graduate of Boston University School of Theology. She spent the last three years working as the Student Minister for Children and Families at Hancock United Church of Christ in Lexington and is very excited to continue doing ministry with children and youth at The Union Church in Waban!
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Originally from Texas, Katie has lived in the Boston area for over a decade. She has a lifelong love of working with children and has 5 years experience of working with kids with disabilities. She currently works as a program assistant at Cotting School in Lexington, MA. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, playing board games, and spending time with her spouse Rhea and her cat Curtis.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- 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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Council Update - October, 2025
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Each month, Alan Cody or I will provide a brief update from Council in Friday Updates focusing on an issue of interest brought to us from the congregation. Today, we would like to share that after nearly a year of negotiations, the UCW-Riverside team has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines favorable conditions for a pending 10-year lease.
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UCW members Kent Wittler, Diane Tillotson, and David Burgess have participated in negotiations with Riverside to finalize the terms of the 10-year lease starting in fall of 2025. The new lease will be crucial to the financial health of UCW. In addition to an increase in rental income, Riverside will contribute significantly to utility bills and repairs of the building.
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At the Annual Meeting in June, church members raised continuing concerns around Riverside’s use of the former reception room. The use of the reception room is essential to Riverside’s continued residence at UCW, and the new lease continues Riverside’s exclusive use of that space. Council recognizes the need for better gathering/meeting space and use of space for our needs will be thoroughly considered during the visioning process, which we expect to wrap up by the end of the year. We will continue experimenting with spaces throughout our building during this process.
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Last Sunday, the visioning process began in worship and our congregational gathering. One of the primary goals of our visioning process is to address the changing space needs of our congregation while accommodating our financial and neighborly relationships with Riverside and our other tenants. We hope anyone who calls this church home will participate in the congregational conversations called this month.
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Also at the Annual Meeting in June, we discussed the budget for this new church year. Given the unexpected sharp increase in utility cost, related to the heat-pumps, and the departure of our Associate Pastor Rev. Amy Clark-Feldman and our music-director Mijin Choi, this budget is already outdated. As discussed at that meeting, we are inviting you all to a Congregational Meeting on Sunday October 19th, after church, to discuss our financial situation and hopefully approve a new budget.
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Congregational Meeting! (With Lunch!)
Please mark your calendar for a congregational meeting immediately after worship on Sunday, October 19. Recent changes in our staffing and utility costs have made our current budget out of date, and we need to discuss and vote on a new budget that reflects these changes. Lunch will be served. We look forward to seeing all of you there!
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FOOD! FELLOWSHIP! VOTING!
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The Union Church in Waban
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Special Luncheon Meeting of the Congregation
Recent changes in our staffing and utility costs have
made our budget for this church year out of date.
Please join us to discuss and vote on an updated budget.
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Immediately Following Worship
The meeting will also be available over Zoom
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Visioning Process Update
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Video Recording Now Availabe!
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Did you miss Rev. Dr. Claire Bamberg’s worship leadership and congregational gathering introducing us to the Vision and Strategic Planning process? Watch the recordings HERE, with gratitude to Alex Brown and Jaap van Reijendam for running the technology for the day so everyone could have access.
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Interested in learning more about interfaith social justice action in
partnership with 42 Boston area congregations?
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Join us at Union Combined Parish on Sunday, October 5, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. for the GBIO Delegates Assembly! We are calling on ALL of GBIO to be part of a
conversation to prepare for a Listening Session/House Meeting Campaign to build our power further.
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When: Sunday, October 5, 2025, 7:00 PM
Where: Union Church, 485 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA
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To register (optional) sing up at GBIO Delegate Assembly.
If you need a ride we will meet and car pool at UCW at 6:15 p. m.
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Volunteer Opportunies with FamilyAid in October
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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.
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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., 10/23/25 - 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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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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Christian Nationalism
Second Church in Newton: October 10th-12th
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Our neighbors at Second Church in Newton invite all who are interested to take part in the latest event in their series on Christian Nationalism, a weekend symposium taking place October 10th-12th. Find out more and register on their website 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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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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