by Kent M French, April 30, 2026
In these weeks following Easter, we are learning alongside our church school students how the good news of Jesus’ resurrection begins to spread. As more and more see the risen Messiah, their doubt changes to belief and they share the story of Resurrection. Through the faithful service of disciples, those who are least likely, come to follow in the hope of Jesus’ ministry and teachings. During my 2022 sabbatical, I made a point to visit the Areopagus (Greek for “Ares’ Hill” also called “Mars Hill”) in Athens, because I remembered hearing about it growing up in Sunday School. I was… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, April 23, 2026
In these weeks following Easter, we are learning alongside our church school students how the good news of Jesus’ resurrection begins to spread. As more and more see the risen Messiah, their doubt changes to belief and they share the story of Easter. Through the faithful teaching of the disciples, some people who are least likely to be a part of this movement, come to follow in the hope of Jesus’ ministry and teachings. As we continue to explore the still-unfolding story of how the Good News spreads in the years following Jesus’ resurrection, this Sunday we’ll hear the story… Read More
by UPB Editor, April 16, 2026
Update May 1, 2026: You can still join in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, even if you have not signed up. Walk with the United Parish Team by coming to the church parking lot (210 Harvard St) by 8:15am or outside Tatte Bakery (1003 Beacon St, Brookline) at St. Mary’s Green “C” Line stop (where trolley emerges from under ground) by 10am to walk the 3.2 or 0.8 miles with us back to church. Contribute to the campaign’s anti-hunger programs at Sunday’s Coffee Hour or online at https://give.projectbread.org/UnitedParish. The Missions Giving Team has promised to match your contributions up to $5,000. We… Read More
by Kent M French, April 16, 2026
In these weeks following Easter, we are learning alongside our church school students how the good news of Jesus’ resurrection begins to spread. As more and more see the risen Messiah, their doubt changes to belief and they share the story of Easter. Through the faithful teaching of the disciples, some people who are least likely to be a part of this movement, come to follow in the hope of Jesus’ ministry and teachings. One of the most powerful concepts in the Christian story is the idea of repentance. The Greek word in the scriptures is metánoia, meaning “a profound,… Read More
by UPB Editor, April 10, 2026
Join the Thrifty Threads volunteers and members of the community in showing off affordable, sustainable fashion trends on Saturday, April 25 at 12:30pm in the Sanctuary. Models wanted! No experience needed. Please contact thriftythreads@upbrookline.org. Come strut down the runway, cheer on the models, admire new fashions, and shop local. Stop by and check out this fun, free community event!… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, April 09, 2026
For the next three weeks, we’ll be learning alongside our church school students how the good news of Jesus’ resurrection begins to spread. As more and more see the risen Messiah, their doubt changes to belief and the story of Easter is shared, that all might believe this good news. Through the faithful service of disciples, those who are least likely, like Saul and the jailer, also come to believe in the hope of Jesus. This Sunday, we welcome United Parish member Kate Baker-Carr as our guest preacher. Kate writes, This Sunday’s text, John 20:19-31, begins in a state of… Read More
by Kent M French, April 01, 2026
We warmly invite you to join us for Holy Week worship. Maundy Thursday, 7pm Our Maundy Thursday worship commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus’ command to his disciples to “love one another as I have loved you” (“maundy” is derived from the Latin mandatum meaning “command”), as well as Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. Remembering that Judas received 30 pieces of silver for his act of betrayal, we remember the people that we have betrayed. In that spirit, we will collect an offering for the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA. During worship, we welcome all people to partake in Holy Communion, which we serve… Read More
by Kent M French, March 26, 2026
This Lent (February 18-April 4), we are following A Sanctified Art‘s “Tell Me Something Good,” in our worship and Church School. We’re looking at what was central to Jesus’ life and ministry: radical welcome, love for neighbors, care for the vulnerable, nourishment for the hungry, nonviolence in the face of injustice. We usually enter Palm Sunday enthusiastically waving our palms, remembering that enigmatic moment when Jesus re-entered Jerusalem. In some years, we’ve even circled the block around our church to re-enact the enthusiastic procession. We don’t know how many people were at that first Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-11). But we know they yelled… Read More
by UPB Editor, March 17, 2026
Join us on Saturday, April 11 at 7pm for United Parish’s final Jazz Sanctuary concert of the season featuring British composer, saxophonist, and a regular singer in our Chancel Choir, Sam Knight. Joined by Lois Majors and Ben Fig on double bass and drums, and members of our Chancel Choir. They will present a collection of original works from Sam’s debut album, Knight Life, as well as his upcoming project, Eden Unfinished that explores the subtle systems of truth, power, fear and desire that shape human behavior from the inside out. Rather than pointing outward at political structures alone, the music asks… Read More
by Kent M French, March 16, 2026
This Lent (February 18-April 4), we are following A Sanctified Art‘s “Tell Me Something Good,” in our worship and Church School. We’re looking at what was central to Jesus’ life and ministry: radical welcome, love for neighbors, care for the vulnerable, nourishment for the hungry, nonviolence in the face of injustice. On this fifth Sunday in Lent, we remember how Jesus valued mercy over legality. Being compassionate and forgiving over being punitive. It’s a famous story about the religious leaders about to stone a woman caught in an act of adultery (John 8:2-11). We don’t know anything about how this happened. Was she… Read More
