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Weekly Update
Friday, November 28, 2025
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Block Print: Pastor Megan
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The Hanging of the Greens
November 30 at 10:00 a.m. (In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday, Advent begins with our annual Hanging of the Greens Service! We’ll join together in story and song as we prepare our sanctuary for this season of worship and waiting.
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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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“‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’”
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I pray that you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones, and that those who are traveling return home with ease and in safety.
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Church, when the Mission team let us know that there was a need to help fill in the gaps for our hungry neighbors, you all SHOWED UP! Thank you to everyone who donated food, brought food to the Newton Food Pantry, contacted your lawmakers about SNAP benefits, and made donations to Project Bread. In just a few short weeks, this congregation made a big impact in the lives of our neighbors. Thank you!
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Now, the food drive has ended, and our annual Mitten Tree begins. With so much need all around us, it is good to work to ease the burden on some of our neighbors this holiday season, and ensure that those in our community are warm and safe as well as fed.
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Eagle Scout Responsible for Accesible Pews!
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Congratulations to Luka Smith, who returned from their first semester in college to be officially recognized as an Eagle Scout last Sunday! Luka’s project to create an accessible pew in our sanctuary continues to bless the UCW community and others who use our sanctuary.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- Prayers for strength and healing for Betty O’Beirne as she navigates medical challenges, and prayers for Jay, Karen, Aiden, Buz, and the rest of their family as they support her.
- As the weather turns cold 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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Our Visioning and
Strategic Planning Initiative
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Throughout October and into November, 45+ UCW members and friends participated in listening sessions facilitated by Claire Bascom-Slack, Alan Cody, Kathy Malone, Kent Wittler, Brita Gill-Austern, and Amy McMahon. Thank you to all of our facilitators and participants!
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Responses will be studied and synthesized by our visioning consultants to find three to five themes or centers of call to guide the rest of our visioning process and strategic plan. Notes on the breadth of responses will be compiled, as well. Council and the Visioning Team soon will announce a date when results and recommendations from the listening sessions will be shared at a Congregational Meeting.
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If you were unable to attend a listening session before Thanksgiving, please contact Susan Hunt Stevens ([email protected]) by December 1st to indicate interest and availability for a session in early December. Newton community leaders will also be asked to attend listening sessions in the first two weeks of December. We hope to complete the listening part of the process by mid-December.
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We hope you’re all enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday with family, friends, and neighbors.
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Alan, Amy, Susan and Pastor Megan
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Our Advent Season Preparations Have Begun
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Please Donate to UCW's Mitten Tree!
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It is once again time for our annual holiday mitten tree. Please look for the mittens adorning our tree as of Sunday, Nov. 30 or use the link below to make a donation to our "virtual" online mitten tree.
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All gifts should be left under the tree at church by noon on Sunday, Dec. 14th. Please contact Erika Pond ([email protected]) if you have any questions. Thank you for giving generously this holiday season!
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Who are the recipients of our Mitten Tree gifts?
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The gifts you bring to our Mitten Tree are delivered to two separate organizations supporting our neighbors who were once homeless or at risk of being homeless. Your gift may be the only Christmas present they receive. With it you are sending love and an acknowledgement that you see them as worthy this Christmas season.
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Project Care & Concern (PCC) supports those who were once homeless and are now living in supported, congregate housing. They are elderly and/or disabled and usually without any family. The housing was created as alternatives to homeless shelters. For many, these rooms were to be a transition opportunity to achieve housing, however the critical lack of affordable housing availability has left these neighbors without opportunities to transition.
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Boston Healthcare for the Homeless (BHH) works to provide high-quality, compassionate care to Boston families experiencing housing insecurity. In addition to medical services, the team helps families navigate critical resources, including clothing, food, toiletries, housing support, and childcare. By partnering with shelters and community organizations, the Family Team ensures children and their parents receive not only healthcare, but broader, ongoing support.
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Thank you for joyfully giving in support of our neighbors in need!
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Christmas Poinsettias & Dedications
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Our Advent season preparations have begun! Our annual Hanging of the Greens service will be on Sunday, November 30, when we will decorate our Sanctuary with live plants. We are also preparing our annual Family and Friends Dedications list for inclusion in our Advent Sunday bulletins on December 14 and 21.
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Please submit by This Sunday, November 30.
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- Each donation of $25.00 will be used to purchase an 8" Poinsettia.
- You will have the option to take the poinsettias you have dedicated home with you after the Christmas Eve evening service.
- Payment can be made online when submitting your order or by mailing or
dropping off a check at the church office (payable to The Union Church in Waban, memo: Poinsettias).
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Thanksgiving Activities
& Community Meals
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Thanks to everyone who helped nourish our neighbors this Thanksgiving. We had a youthful crew prepare 21 meals for the men at Newton Corner Place on Saturday. UCW members made at least three deliveries to the Newton Freedge over the course of the last week. And then on Tuesday, a small but mighty crew heated up and packaged five Thanksgiving meals for families and seniors who requested them. Grateful for you all!
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Stand Out at Burlington Ice Detention Center
Join us on Wednesday, December 10, from 11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Recently, Brita Gill-Austern, Alison McCarty and Nancy Zollers joined almost 500 Faith leaders and concerned citizens for a Stand Out in front of the Burlington Ice Detention Center. The purpose of the Stand Out is to support the disappeared and detained incarcerated there and to decry the ICE actions in our communities. We heard about the treatment of the immigrants inside this facility, how we can support families, and we were read the rights we are entitled to as declared in our Constitution.
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If you would like to learn more or join UCW folks at the next stand out on
December 10, see Brita Gill- Austern.
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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 fall.
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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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