Clergy & Staff

[email protected] – 617.527.6221

Rev. Megan Berkowitz came into ministry in the UCC out of an interfaith upbringing (Catholic and Jewish), and draws on this interfaith and ecumenical grounding in every aspect of her work. She was immediately drawn to the ecumenical history and current story of welcome at the Union Church in Waban. Some of Megan’s passions in ministry include ecological justice, storytelling, strengthening partnerships with the communities our churches are part of, and living out Christ’s love to bring our world closer to God’s vision for all to be ‘on Earth as it is in heaven.’

Most recently before coming to UCW, Megan served Wellesley Village Church and the Congregational Church of Weston as a Pastoral Resident. She has also served First Church Somerville, Church of the Covenant, Cathedral High School, and Neighborhood Counseling and Community Services in Somerville in various pastoral and counseling roles in the past. She is an alumna of the Boston University School of Theology and School of Social Work’s dual MDiv/MSW program, and brings her training as a therapist and passion for supporting people’s minds and spirits into her congregational care and preaching.

Rev. Megan and her wife Leila Quinn have both lived in the Boston area for over 10 years. Leila is a member of the Reconstructionist Jewish community Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, which meets at Second Church in Newton. They are caregivers to a real live (and really mischievous) Prayer Bunny named Rosey. Megan is also an avid crafter and textile artist, former butterfly researcher, and aspiring triathlete. Prior to her call to parish ministry, Megan worked as a Marketing Director for a local rock climbing gym chain and as a technical writer for a PR firm in Boston.

[email protected]

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!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.

Karen Harvey has served in a Minister of Music capacity for over four decades, most recently for 31 years at the United Church of Christ in Norwell, where she directed four vocal and handbell choirs in a vibrant music program. The Sanctuary Choir performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and for high mass at the Vatican in Rome, where she also conducted. The Celestial Ringers performed at Epcot Center in celebration of Disney’s 50^th anniversary.
 
Ms. Harvey is an accomplished pianist, composer and conductor and a two-time recipient of fellowships to the Tanglewood Music Center.  She has been a featured soloist with numerous orchestras and premiered dozens of compositions; her solo recital at the Wang Center under the auspices of the Griffin Music Ensemble was hailed as “brilliant work by pianist with an infinite supply of fingers.” (Josiah Fisk, the Boston Herald)
 
As a collaborative artist, Ms. Harvey has performed and recorded with many area ensembles, including in Boston’s Jordan Hall and Symphony Hall with the Cantata Singers.  She has served as pianist for the Boston Pops Holiday Chorus and the Boston Ballet Company, and for several years directed the Holiday Chorus at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
 
Ms. Harvey is currently an Affiliate Artist at M.I.T., where she is pianist and assistant conductor of the Chamber Chorus.  She has recorded two solo piano CDs entitled Musical Meditations for the Christmas Season I and II.versity.