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Weekly Update
Friday, October 17, 2025
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Sunday Worship & Congregational Meeting
October 19 at 10:00 a.m. (In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday, we will read the story of Jonah in worship and sing, pray, and share together. After worship, our work as the church will continue with a special congregational meeting to review and approve a revised budget for this year.
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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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Following Worship
11:00 - 12:00 p.m
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Recent changes in our staffing and utility costs have made our budget for this church year out of date.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.
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Gathering lunch and welcoming prayer
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Budget review and congregational vote
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Visioning update - listening sessions
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Financial Documents Preview
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The meeting will be available over Zoom using the same worship link above.
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Did you see Wednesday’s Save-the-Date for the All Comers Dinner a week from tonight? All Comers Dinner is one of my favorite UCW traditions: part party, part loaves-and-fishes dinner, all community fun. We’ll share in a potluck meal at the Lynch-Johnson home at 6:00 p.m. on Friday the 24th (thank you for hosting, once again, Linda & Kevin!) and just spend time in fellowship and social fun together. All Comers really means ALL: all ages, all members and non-members, long-tenured and new to the community.
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Please use the link in the announcement below to RSVP and note what you’ll bring to the potluck. But as always, please don’t let whether or not you can bring a dish determine whether you join! Your RSVP helps us plan, either way.
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I can’t wait to see you all and share a meal together!
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All-Comers Dinner
Next Friday, Oct. 24
6:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m.
Linda Lynch & Kevin Johnson
131 Windsor Road,
Waban, MA 02468
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- As the weather turns colder and the light fades in the evenings, 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.
- 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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We have been engaged in a Vision and Strategic Planning initiative and want to invite YOU to join us and help us chart UCW's journey!
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We've talked over more than a year about the importance of taking stock of the good work we have been engaged in together and discerning our call for the future. This is not the first time such planning has happened in our congregation, and this work builds upon all that has already been discerned and gathered.
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Many of you were present for our consultant, Rev. Dr. Claire Bamberg, launching the official start of this initiative in worship and a congregational meeting. If you weren't there in person and haven't yet been able to watch the recordings, they are still available HERE .
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Our facilitators have been trained and are ready to welcome you into small-group listening sessions over the next several weeks, in which all who want to participate can make your voices heard in this process.
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Please choose three times in the coming weeks that will work for you, and rank them in order of preference (1= most desirable). We are committed to making sure you get one of the three time slots you choose. If slots all fill, we will add more until everyone who wishes to participate has done so.
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Reminders: Do not plan to be in a group with a spouse, partner, child, SO, or dear friend. Please fill this out ASAP -- sessions will begin this weekend! -- and please watch for the notice of the time you have been assigned. There are both in-person and online options. Finally, please be on time. There will be no more than five other people in your group, and it cannot start without you!
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The Visioning Team is grateful for your engagement in this process and looking forward to sharing the anonymous information collected in these sessions with the whole congregation later this fall.
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Questions? Reach out to Pastor Megan, Susan H.S., Amy M., or Alan C.
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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Wellspring Gathering
Wednesday, Oct. 22
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
(In-Person, Littlehale Mtg. Room)
We will be spending time at this gathering discussing the purpose of Wellspring and what each of us would like to get from this small group ministry. Pastor Megan will be leading this discussion.
This is a potluck, so please email Amy and let her know what you might like to bring.
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Women of all ages and backgrounds are welcome, including non-binary and trans women. If you’re interested in attending, please email Amy McMahon to be added to our reminder list. Amy’s email is: [email protected]
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JAVA Gents
Friday Morning, October 24 at 7:00 a.m.
(In-Person, Littlehale Meeting Room)
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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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Newcomers are always welcome. 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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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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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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