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Weekly Update
Friday, May 1, 2026
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. (Hybrid)
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Our Eastertide communion worship service will be followed by even more gathering around the table, with a congregational meeting and lunch.
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Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Congregational Meeting!
This Sunday, following Worship
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Lunch and Childcare will be Provided!
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Please mark your calendar for a congregational meeting immediately after worship on Sunday May 3. We will be discussing our financial picture, the visioning data and crafting priorities for next year’s budget, so your voice is needed!
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Opening Prayer
2025-2026 Financial
Overview 2026-2027
Budget Proposal
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Visioning Priorities and Planning
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Congregational Votes
- Carpet replacement
- Treasurer term
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Responses to Vision process questions.
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Stewardship 2026 - Tools for Audacious Living!
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From Your Stewardship Chair
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Our stewardship campaign, Tools for Audacious Living!, is successfully underway, having launched on April 26. We greatly appreciate all who have pledged and encourage everyone to get their pledges in via the QR code or by completing the pledge cards.
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As a reminder, we are running a compact campaign this year, so please submit your 2026-2027 pledges on or before Pledging Sunday, May 10. One of our major goals this year is to have everyone pledge, so please pledge no matter what the amount.
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As pledges make up approximately 40% of our budget, knowing as soon as possible what programs we can support and what salaries we can pay is essential in determining our budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
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You can also submit your pledge information using this link below.
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Thank you for your support.
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Dan Heffernan and the UCW Stewardship Committee
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From Your Nominating Committee
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Tools for Audacious Living: Church Service
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The UCW Nominating team asks everyone in our church community to prayerfully discern how you will give your time to our beloved church as we move forward this spring and to act upon our visioning priorities.
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This week, three church leaders have agreed to tell their stories about how church service has deeply connected them with our wonderful UCW community and nourished their faith and commitment to our shared covenant.
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Serving on a committee at church has been more than just a responsibility, it has been a meaningful pathway to deeper connection and spiritual growth. What began as a simple way to contribute gradually became a space where relationships formed naturally. Working alongside others toward a shared purpose created a sense of belonging that extended beyond Sunday services. Conversations during meetings, collaborations, and even small acts of service has built genuine community.
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Thank you for giving me the chance to serve our congregation. As I complete my first year as Co-Moderator, serving Union Church in Waban, I am sincerely grateful that you have called me to deepen my fellowship with all of you through service to our community. Our congregation thrives on its volunteers and I am proud to be one. I have learned with you in the Book Group, joined with my fellow Worship Team members to help make our worship services meaningful to as many as possible and served on our Transition and Governance Teams
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Inclusive and Welcoming - UCW’s covenant is exemplified through Lunch Bunch, a monthly gathering of folks that has been a constant at UCW for more than 15 years. Bev Hadley, Janet Holly, Jean and Dick Husher, and so many others gathered around the table each month sharing good food and thought provoking conversation. Although we have sadly lost some friends, and been interrupted by Covid, we have resumed our monthly Lunch Bunch gathering with old and new members.
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Nominating team members Susan Gedrick, Brita Gill-Austern, Frank Laski, Karen O'Beirne, and Pastor Megan would love to hear from you!
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Please reach out to one of us if you feel called to take on a leadership role at UCW. At this Sunday's May 3rd Congregational Meeting, we will post and circulate open leadership roles. New nominations for church leadership will be presented to the congregation for approval at our Annual Meeting on June 14.
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Note: Pastor Megan will be leading in worship both this Sunday and the following one, but is away from Monday, May 4 to Saturday, May 9. If you have an emergency arise during this time, please speak with our deacons, or reach out to Rev. Jana Yeaton, Pastor at First Baptist Church Newton, at [email protected]. Rev. Jana has agreed to be on call during this week.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- We pray for our partner organization FamilyAid, who hosted their annual gala last night, for all their holy work in supporting homeless families and those at risk of homelessness in our area.
- We pray for an end to war, an end to violence, an end to the harms of Empire that we see in our scriptures and in our world.
- 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.
- 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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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Tonight!
“Petite Talent Show”
Friday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m.
(UCW, In the Vestry)
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Twin sisters Lili and Ally Lowe will give a “Petite Talent Show” including dance performances and singing, to raise donations for their invitation and opportunity to dance in Paris, France this coming July! They will be dancing in front of the Eiffel Tower with dancers from around the world and learning shared choreography.
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For this Talent Show offering, they are planning their own choreography, as well as handmade crafts for sale, and a raffle basket. We hope you can join us to support their passion of dance, and you are welcome to bring friends and family that may be interested!
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If you would like to make a donation but are unable to attend the event in person, please email [email protected] for cash or check donations, and/or Venmo @LoweFamilyTwins
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Mark Your Calendar!
Baby Shower for Megan and Leila!
Sunday, May 31, Reception Following Worship.
Mark your calendar for Sunday, May 31, reception following worship. If you would like to help plan the festivities or contribute to a group gift, please reach out to Alicia Collins, [email protected].
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This event is hosted by your Pastoral Relations Committee (Alicia, Kathy, Kent and Julie C.)
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Community Blood Drive
Every blood type is needed!
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To donate, you must be over 16 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs., be in good health, and have not donated in last 56 days.
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Join the Next Stand Out at ICE in Burlington
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Wednesday, May 13th
Carpooling from UCW at 10:45 a.m.
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Union Church joins Stand Out in solidarity with incarcerated neighbors in Burlington Ice Detention Center. Car pool with us from UCW as we join with other faith communities to receive updates on the brutal conditions inside; and to pray, sing and walk.
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Members of the Union Church have been gathering monthly to pray, sing, and stand in solidarity with those detained by ICE at the Burlington Detention Center.
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GBIO Announced a New Campaign
Join us Sunday, May 17th, after church
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Join us Sunday, May 17th, after church,to learn about the GBIO campaign to persuade Citizens Bank to stop investing in ICE detention centers.
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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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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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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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