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Weekly Update
Friday, October 10, 2025
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend
Sunday, October 12 at 10:00 a.m. (In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday, as we worship together over the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday weekend, we will explore two more stories of God’s faithful people from the Bible who can inspire our own lives: Esther and Paul. Both people who, in different ways, found the courage needed to leave comfort behind in order to forge a better path for their (and God’s) people.
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Katie and Emily will be ready and excited to explore these stories with kids during Sunday School, as well!
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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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I wanted to offer a brief update from our vision and strategic planning process this week. The second group of facilitators is scheduled to be trained this weekend; after they complete their training, we will begin scheduling listening sessions for the remainder of October and, if needed, the beginning of November. We still expect to have results from this portion of the process, and to determine our next steps together, throughout this fall.
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Remember that everyone is encouraged to take part in this process, no matter how long or short your affiliation with the congregation has been; all voices are needed for us to understand the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s movement among us at this time. Please keep an eye out for emails with sign-up information, and expect that someone from the Visioning Team or facilitators may reach out to invite you personally as well.
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There are specific questions and specific circumstances that our church faces now – what is our call in the current conditions of the world, and how can we staff our church and set up our building to answer that call, among others – that we will be able to address with the information from these listening sessions. That said, the Council and, later, the Visioning Team, have all reviewed previous iterations of this kind of vision work from within the congregation, from before our most recent Capital Campaigns and before the Senior Pastor Search. All of that information is being considered as the groundwork for our current vision and is shared with the consulting team. We carry the voices of spiritual ancestors and past versions of this congregation with us as we seek to meet the needs of today and the future.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- This Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend, we pray for indigenous communities in Massachusetts and throughout the country. May we be moved to listen to indigenous voices as the original and ongoing stewards of the land we call home.
- 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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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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A Note of Gratitude
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Jandi Strong-Dennis and Family
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Dear brothers and sisters of the Union Church,
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I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each of you for the compassion, support, and kindness you have shown during the incredibly difficult time of losing my son, Alvin. Your generous contributions, your thoughtful messages, and your presence (in person, in writing, or in spirit), have brought great comfort to my family and I. In overwhelming grief, your words and gestures reminded us of the strength of community and the goodness of people. Whether you helped with planning, attended the service, sent condolences, brought over a meal, allowed me to speak about my son, or called/text/emailed to check in - please know that every act has meant more than I can express.
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Thank you for walking beside us during this painful process. Your support helped honor my son’s life in a meaningful way and brought light to a very dark time. I am deeply grateful.
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Jandi Strong-Dennis and family
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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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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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