Rev. Megan
Berkowitz
Rev. Amy
Clark Feldman
Pastor Megan
October 11, 2024
Dear church,
So much in the world at large and within our own community and families feels like it is in upheaval, right now. War, storms, the coming election, health challenges, grief, transitions, and more make it feel as though the ground is shifting for so many of us. I was reminded in a conversation this week of the framework offered by Joanna Macy in The Work that Reconnects. In it, she explains that how we choose to tell the story – of the world and society at large, but also of our lives – affects how we feel and how we act.
The three options for the story of the world right now she offers are: Business as Usual, The Great Unraveling, and The Great Turning. Do we accept things as they are? Fear for everything coming apart? Or believe that out of upheaval comes a new beginning, and creative actions along with it? The way we tell the story of now, what story we invest in for the future, determines how we act.
Though it is challenging at times, I believe our faith can help us to invest in The Great Turning. This doesn’t mean denying the difficulties of the moment, the challenges and upheaval, but rather calls on us to be active participants alongside God in turning all that is towards the good. In this season of connection, we lift up how connecting with one another turns us towards community, towards God’s Spirit, towards good and hope for the future.
Peace,
Megan
Past Posts
- From Our Pastors
Pastor Megan
January 17, 2025Spiritual Resilience
Last Sunday was the first in an 8-week worship series on Spiritual Resilience, where we will together explore how tools from Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects and from Christian scripture and tradition can help us all to foster spiritual resilience through challenging times.
Learn More - MOSAIC
Pastor Amy
January 10, 2025 Last week, nearly 40 youth came from all around Newton and Boston, almost exactly one-third from the Muslim Al-Huda Society in Chelsea; one-third from the Jewish community; and one-third from Christian churches. Learn More - From Our PastorsPastor Megan
January 3, 2025 The new year is a time when many of us choose to reflect on what is behind us and what is ahead. I have a few traditions at the new year: Learn More - From Our Pastors: December 20, 2024Pastor Megan
December 20, 2024Baking Christmas Cookies
Advent is the season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love; it is the season of anticipation and joy in the gift of Christ we already know has entered the world and is eternally present among us; it is, for many of us, a season of parties and gift-giving and whirlwind celebrations. Learn More - From Our Pastors: December 8 2024Pastor Megan
December 8, 2024
Advent is the season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love; it is the season of anticipation and joy in the gift of Christ we already know has entered the world and is eternally present among us; it is, for many of us, a season of parties and gift-giving and whirlwind celebrations. Learn More - From Our Pastors: November 29, 2024Pastor Megan
November 29, 2024
UCC Professional Development Program I returned last week from the fall gathering of NGLI, the UCC’s professional development program for young clergy. We gather each fall in Arizona for a time of creative learning, prayer, worship, music, and more. The setting, in the desert outside of Phoenix, is an intentional choice by the program organizers. Learn More - From Our Pastors: November 15, 2024Pastor Megan
November 15, 2024
Congregational Meeting Recap Thank you to everyone who joined in the Congregational Meeting last Sunday, and particular thanks to co-moderators Susan Hunt Stevens and Susan Gedrick for leading us, and to Jaap van Reijendam for ensuring those on Zoom could take part as well. The brief workshop Leila led on 1:1s, in the GBIO and community organizing model, gave us a tool for connecting with one another more deeply. Learn More - From Our Pastors: November 8, 2024Pastor Megan
November 8, 2024
Post Election Interfaith Gathering I want to share with you a small portion of how I opened our interfaith post-election gathering, as we prepare to gather in community together this Sunday for worship and the congregational meeting. Learn More
