Dear Church,
We’re drawing to the close of our Stewardship season for this year, and we’ll mark Stewardship Sunday in worship this week with a testimony and a focus in scripture and sermon on generosity. Stewardship season is always a call to discern what generosity looks like for each of us in this time, this place, this community; yet it’s also a time to celebrate generosity. Each one of us in the community builds our church out of our generosity, and enjoys the gifts of generosity from not just the others around us but also the many past generations whose faith, tradition, and gifts we have inherited in the church in so many ways.
We live it out every day, in every aspect of our shared lives. The children and youth learn from Sunday school and Youth Group to be generous with their time for others who are in need, and generous in their listening to and learning from each other. Bible study shares generously of ideas and questions; Deacons help us to share generously of our care and concern for all among us who are in need (and opening ourselves to such care can be a generous act, as well!); Wellspring and Java Gents share generously in food and faith and laughter. I’m sure you can offer more examples from your experiences, as well.
So, this Sunday in worship, we can celebrate that we’ve come this far by faith, and that in faith we can make space for ourselves and future generations to live in the gift of that generosity. As we close this season, I encourage you to read the Stewardship letter [here] from Chair Kent Wittler and the rest of the Stewardship Committee; to discern on your own or with your family how you can be generous this year; and to fill out the pledge card [here] and the gifts and talents inventory [here], if you haven’t already. Finally, I encourage you to come to church on Sunday so we can celebrate a community built on generosity, together.
With Lenten Peace,
Pastor Megan
Past Posts
- From Our PastorsRev. Megan Berkowitz
March 28, 2025 We’re drawing to the close of our Stewardship season for this year, and we’ll mark Stewardship Sunday in worship this week with a testimony and a focus in scripture and sermon on generosity. Learn More - From Our Pastors: March 21 2025Rev. Megan Berkowitz
March 21, 2025 I gave up social media for Lent this year. I’ve tried it in past years, and it never quite stuck. I always found reasons to log back in: an urgent question for a group of colleagues, a video of Rosey that was too good not to share, or even just an accidental slip. It’s sticking this year, though. Learn More - From Our Pastors: March 14, 2025Amy Clark Feldman
March 14, 2025 We are almost beginning the second week of our Lenten journey, walking in the wilderness together. It is always amazing to me how the liturgical seasons map onto the events and seasons in our world and lives. What wisdom and support we have in these deep traditions of our faith! This year it does indeed feel like Lenten wilderness times – each day with new revelations, challenges, news, and worries. Learn More - From Our Pastors: March 7, 2025Megan Berkowitz
March 7, 2025 It was a gift to pray with so many of you throughout the day on Ash Wednesday and at our ecumenical evening service. I appreciated how thoughtful and open everyone I spoke with was about the intentions they were setting for Lent. Learn More - From Our Pastors: February 14 2025Megan Berkowitz
February 14, 2025 I had the great privilege of visiting the new FamilyAid Family Navigation Center on Washington Street for the first time this week. Speeches were made, a ribbon was cut with many giant scissors, and people from throughout the Commonwealth who care about supporting homeless families gathered to celebrate and network together. The most inspiring part of the day for me, though, was the tour. Learn More - From Our Pastors: February 7, 2025Amy Clark Feldman
February 7, 2025 I’ve been especially grateful this week for our eight-week series on Spiritual Resiliency. Truth-be-told, I’ve had moments of doubting my resiliency in the face of the on-slaught of news this week, with a desire to pull the covers over my head. Learn More - From Our Pastors: January 31, 2025Pastor Megan
January 31, 2025 We’ll read in this Sunday’s scripture passage about conflicts between Jesus and other Jewish religious leaders at the time over the observance of Sabbath restrictions. This, and other similar passages, have given rise to generations of interpretation that sets Jesus against religious authority, against Judaism, and against the Law. Learn More - From Our Pastors: January 24 2025Pastor Megan
January 24, 2025Staying Grounded
Given the tremendous outpouring of news this week, beginning with TikTok and the Presidential inauguration and continuing through executive orders and new wildfires, I have been feeling overwhelmed. I’m working to take it all in a little bit at a time, to stay open and stay grounded. Learn More