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OUR VISION

OUR VISION

OUR MISSION

 

Welcoming All. Caring for the World. Growing in the Spirit.

OUR VISIONING JOURNEY

Our mission statement has remained the same for over a decade. What it means to our congregation has evolved over time as we respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Our Physical Space as a Catalyst

A decade ago, we recognized the need for major repairs to our historic meeting house and Community Center. This led to the Open Doors campaign of 2018. Founded on the vision of the church as a central resource for the community, Open Doors meant not only that we welcome all, but also that we reach out to the wider community. After a successful fundraising effort and an on-time, under-budget renovation, we planned a grand reopening for March 2020. However, with the arrival of COVID-19, we had to close our doors and pivot to serving the community in new ways. In addition to supporting one another and creating meaningful online worship, we started raising funds to support our neighbors and looking for ways to keep people connected during isolation.  

A Community Response: Supporting Our Neighbors in Crisis

On February 10, 2021, a fire in Boxborough displaced 24 families. With limited local support available, the congregation partnered with volunteers from several towns, the Boxborough Select Board and other Town Services as well as with area nonprofits to create a task force and a volunteer network that provided essential aid. We raised over $100,000 and coordinated efforts to support these families with advocacy, housing, food, furniture, and other necessities.

Responding to Food Insecurity and Sustainability Needs 

In responding to the needs of the fire survivors, we came face-to-face with the reality of food insecurity in the Acton-Boxborough community alongside the resource of gleaned food. The volunteer network created the Saturday FreeBee markets on the front lawn of our church, where attendees and volunteers all take home free, rescued food, helping to reduce the environmental impact of wasted food. People are invited to bring seedlings, baked goods, and home-grown vegetables to share alongside the supermarket food. All is free, and everyone is encouraged to take what they need. During the pandemic, these markets became a safe, joyful space for connection. With grant support, we enhanced the FreeBee markets with additional resources, including a freezer and outdoor activities for kids,  FreeBee Market days truly reflect the ethnic, economic and age diversity of our community and help build connections.

Our Glean Team now partners with local supermarkets to rescue food that’s still fresh and distribute it to local food pantries. Additionally, our Little Free Pantry, located on the church’s farmer’s porch, provides nonperishable foods 24/7. 

Looking Toward the Future: Our Evolving Vision

We continue to work towards making our church a place where all feel truly welcome.  We know that God is calling us to be intensively involved in the community, bringing God’s love to all.  As we continue to welcome all, care for the world, and grow in the spirit, we look forward to weaving together old traditions with new ideas and energy to build a vibrant, inclusive future.

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Memorial Day 2019

Interim Ministers

We are excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Jill Edens and Rev. Richard Edens who will be serving as co-ministers for twelve months during our time of transition, starting April 15, 2024! The Interim Minister Search Team was impressed with Rev. Jill’s and Rev. Richard’s spirituality, experience, and creativity. With many years of experience in both settled and interim ministry, Rev. Jill and Rev. Richard demonstrate a keen understanding of issues facing churches today. They bring a wonderful blend of hope and pragmatism to their interim work. We quickly realized that this duo will bring energy and joy to the tasks ahead, as we prepare for the search for our next minister. Members of churches they have previously served raved about their sermons, open-minded wisdom, and administrative skill. The Edens are inspiring leaders and pastors. They served as Co-Senior Pastors for 38 years at the United Church of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, until their retirement in 2017. They relocated to the greater Boston area to be closer to their daughter, the Rev. Ruth Edens, and her family. Since arriving, they have served together at the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Concord (TriCon), the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, the First Parish of Westwood, and the Congregational Church of Weston, in Interim capacities. They are both graduates of the Yale Divinity School, with Jill receiving her Doctorate in Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Regarding her approach to interim ministry, Rev. Jill tells us “I have a deep faith in the wisdom of congregations and their ability to formulate their calling and then identify the resources they will need to be faithful to that call.” Rev. Richard’s ministry encourages the faithful to “Strive for justice, share joy, befriend the lonely. Prepare for laughter, be willing to cry. Love simply, generously, playfully. Choose sparingly, live modestly, dream big. Speak the truth, pray, have fun. See rightly. Proclaim the mad love of God.” Their years of experience in leading a variety of faith communities will be a great benefit as we navigate our upcoming transition.

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Church Admin

Our Church Administrator is Jenn LaCross. She grew up in Greenfield and settled down in Lunenburg after graduating from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She began her career as an Exercise Physiologist working in corporate wellness in Boston and then moved into Pharmaceutical Sales. In 2002 she gave up working to stay at home and raise a family. Her and her husband, Richard have two children, Derek (21) and Bella (18). As the kids got older and more self-sufficient, she jumped back into the workforce here at UCCB in the fall of 2017. Jenn enjoys the opportunity to utilize her bookkeeping skills as well as tap into her creative side producing church communications. She continues loves visiting with and helping the church community. She can be reached at the office at 978.263.7387 or via email at boxborochurch@verizon.net.

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Choir Director

Cindy Blanchard is the Sr. Choir Director at UCC. She joined the church and choir in 1997 and has been the choir director for over 10 years. She earned a BA in music at Bowdoin College, a MA in conducting/music at Trenton State and did advanced grad work on trumpet and voice at Juilliard. I have sung since I can remember! Jr. Choir, school groups, college groups and various adult ensembles. Working with the adults in the choir is such a rewarding experience. We are a family! From our Tues. night rehearsals, our Sunday worship service singing, Music Sunday, our annual dinner and Christmas parties-it is a wonderful group of people that I’m so grateful to be able to work with every week. We also provide special guest musicians throughout the year. Recent guests have been a flute ensemble, harpist, violinist, clarinetist, Dixieland Band, and the Saturdays! I hope you enjoy our musical offerings and please know you are always welcome to join the choir!

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Organist

Joe Camara, the son of a music teacher, began piano lessons early in elementary school. Within a few years he was already accompanying choruses. He went to Lowell State College beginning as a piano major but changed to organ major. He graduated with a BA in music. He taught in the Lowell public school system for almost thirty years and received a Master Degree in education from UMASS Lowell and finally a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in administration from Fitchburg State University. He has played piano and organ in many groups and churches throughout the area. He is also the former director/accompanist of the Lowell High School Alumni Chorus which awards scholarships to students at Lowell High School going into the arts. He also was the pit director and accompanist for many of the high school shows presented at Maynard High School.

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Custodian

Our custodian is Lenny Connolly. Our buildings put his repair and maintenance skills to good use. He’s particularly popular with the kids at Boxboro Children Center, who love to watch him work!

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