In This Edition:

• Civil Rights Pilgrimage Opportunity

• October CIA

• Lift is Fixed

• Neighbors in Need Collection

• All Saints Sunday - November 2

• Messy Church - November 9

• Voices United Event

• Music Notes

• Sunday School Volunteers

• Bible Study

• Holding in Prayer

Civil Rights Pilgrimage Opportunity

United Church in Walpole is organizing a group to travel to Alabama in February 2026 for a Civil Rights Pilgrimage. You can read more in the attached PDF of the trip brochure below. Organizers at United need to know by October 26 if you might have an interest in going on the trip (note: no firm commitment or deposit is required at this point).

October CIA

Lift is Fixed

Dave and Rich fixed the lift to the sanctuary. It is now available for Sunday mornings.

Neighbors in Need Collection

Outreach is collecting for the UCC Neighbors In Need fund that is a special mission supporting justice initiatives throughout the United States.  Feel free to visit UCC.org for more information.  

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice.

All Saints Sunday - November 2

Our annual memorial and commemoration of those who have died in the past year will take place on All Saints Sunday. If you have a loved one who has passed away in the last year and would like them named in the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, please send their name to Pastor Shepherd.

This year, the Diaconate invites members of the church to bring a framed picture of a loved one they would like to commemorate (they do not need to have died in the last year). Pictures will be displayed at the front of the sanctuary as a visible sign of the communion of saints.

Messy Church - November 9

Voices United Event

Music Notes

Happy Autumn to all!  Our music program is in full swing.  If you're passionate about choir or handbells feel free to contact Jim.  You don't have to read music, but you do need to be able to count to 4. 😆

Mark your calendars now:  our FIFTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT is Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm.  We'll celebrate at our own Union Congregational, and will be joined by sisters and brothers from neighboring communities.  It features our choir and handbells, jazz vocalist Victoria Eggleston from NYC, 7 local professional singers, harp, trombone, cello, accordion, organ, piano, and dynamic selections from Band Together.  Let's all celebrate the season together through festive music of all styles!

One housekeeping note:  we'd encourage the community to refrain from talking during preludes. The prelude is an integral part of worship, is carefully selected and prepared, and helps eyes and hearts turn heavenward.  

Thank you from the Music Team!

Sunday School Volunteers

Thanks to those who have already volunteered for this important ministry of our church. This year, we are using a new one-room-schoolhouse style curriculum called Whirl, which introduces kids to biblical stories and themes through videos, songs, and fun activities. Our CE Committee (Joanne Grant and Deidre Donaldson) is ready and willing to help train teachers and familiarize folks with this new curriculum. We will also be able to provide materials in advance through our new online digital subscription (hard copies can also be made available from the church office), which will make preparation even simpler.

You can see the schedule of lessons for the Fall/Winter of 2025 and sign up to be a leader or helper by clicking here.

Bible Study

Weekly Bible Study with Pastor Shepherd is off and running! Each week we meet on Zoom on Fridays from 9:30-10:30 am. This Fall, to accompany the sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit, we will be reading an accompanying text, Tending the Wild Garden, by Rev. Eugenia Gamble. If you’d like to participate and would like a copy of the book, please see Pastor Shepherd. This week, we’ll be discussing “Tending the Shoots of Joy” and “Tending the Shoots of Peace.”

Here is the Zoom Meeting link:

Holding in Prayer

This week, as a community of faith we pray:

• for Pam, as she mourns the death of her dog

• for Anne Totten, who is recovering from a broken hip

• for Sue’s brother, who is recovering from knee replacement, and for his wife as she provides care

• for Sue’s niece, who is on bedrest for the last month of her pregnancy

• with joy, for Mary’s mentee who is thriving at Blue Hills Community College

• for Shirley’s friend Diane, who is recovering from back surgery

• traveling mercies for Laurie’s dad, who came to see the Head of the Charles race last weekend

• for peace in Gaza, and with joy, for the return of hostages and exchange of prisoners

• for Jack, as he faces a cancer diagnosis alongside Alzheimers, and for his son, John and his wife Tammy.

• for Phyllis’s friend Paula, as she enters hospice care

• with joy, that Margie’s sister’s eyes were used to help restore vision for two people

• for Padraig, as he heals from an injured hip

• for Charleen’s family, as they mourn the death of her uncle, and for her mom, recently diagnoses with Parkinson’s disease

• with joy, for Lauren’s friend’s daughter Liddy having a son, Jonah, and for Jonah as he is being treated at Children’s

• for Shirley’s niece Karen, who passed away after a long battle with cancer, and for all who mourn.

• for Lew’s brother Richard and his wife Paula, for health.

• for Barbara Carroll, for healing after a couple of falls

• for Kerry’s friend Diane, who is undergoing a difficult course of treatment for cancer

• for Pam’s friend Cookie, as she battles cancer

• for Lew’s friend Dan, as he faces kidney disease