by UPB Editor, August 26, 2026
9:30am – Children’s Choir resumes with an “Open Sing” in the Choir Room. All kids interested are invited to come check it out! 9:45am – Chancel Choir Rehearsal: If you’re interested in joining the adult choir, come to an “Open Sing” rehearsal on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm in the Choir Room to check it out! 10am – Church School Orientation: Children and caregivers gather on the front lawn (rain location: Room 204) for a greeting, then kids head to their classrooms with their teachers. 11am – Worship returns to the Sanctuary 12pm – Please join us for a potluck… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, August 25, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. This week we hear from member Deborah, who will share the Good News of how she grew her awareness of the moments when we encounter heaven here on earth. Deborah writes, What is your view of heaven? Do you think about it? Is it a big part… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, August 21, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. This week we hear from member Casey, who will share the Good News of how they found, and continue to find, hope amidst grief as they mourn the death of a friend. Casey writes, “The word for gospel is translated as good news, but it also… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, August 13, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. This week we hear from longtime member, Louise, who is generously sharing her story of depression, recovery, and the role that United Parish has played in bringing the Good News to life for her. Louise writes, “People here at United Parish played an… Read More
by Kent M French, August 06, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. Twenty-five years ago, Merle P and I shared the stage together in theatrical productions around Boston. At the time, we were both full-time actors and singers. Merle has continued in that work, as well as an educator. And I became an actor-singer-pastor, showing up as… Read More
by Kent French, July 30, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. Over the past decade, our building has increasingly become a hub for many community groups doing great work in around Brookline. It’s one of the reasons we were able to land that big Community Preservation Act grant (more here and here). We now number 35+… Read More
by Kent French, July 23, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is about an unexpected person, someone from the wrong side of the tracks, helping someone in desperate need. There was a man in a ditch who had been beaten and robbed. And the people who should have… Read More
by Kent French, July 16, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. During the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus tells his listeners: you are the light of the world! And just as you wouldn’t hide a lamp under a basket, we shouldn’t let our lights be dimmed. Instead, Jesus exhorts us boldly: let your light… Read More
by Kent M French, July 09, 2026
This summer’s worship series features members and friends Reporting the Good News, however they see it in the world around them. We look to Jesus’ inaugural sermon (Luke 4:14-19) and Isaiah 61 for our guidance about what God’s kind of Good News looks like: liberation for all of us. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall. On July 21, we kicked off this series with a helpful sermon-conversation about how Jesus and Isaiah describe the Good News. And how we see it in the world around us, in contrast to how our media outlets sell us the news. The next Sunday,… Read More
by UPB Editor, July 06, 2026
Thank you to all of our donors, shoppers and volunteers! We have thus far earned over $120,000 (which is way more than we had earned at this point last year). In fact, every single month of 2026 saw higher earnings than the equivalent month of 2025. In terms of donations sent out, we passed on 891 bags this quarter for a total of 1653 bags so far this year. This is the equivalent of over 17,450 pounds of clothing that we kept out of a landfill and rerouted to people in need. This is the size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex!! … Read More
