Sunday Worship at Ten in the Sanctuary

On Sunday mornings, members and visitors gather at 148 Haverhill Street for worship at ten o'clock. The service moves at a steady pace through scripture, prayer, song, and proclamation. Communion is shared on the first Sunday of each month and on Worldwide Communion Sunday in early October. The bread is gluten-free so that everyone at the table can participate fully.

Music carries a central role. The Chancel Choir sings anthems spanning classical, contemporary, and spiritual traditions, and the North Parish Ringers add the sound of handbells once a month. On Christmas Eve, the bells accompany candlelit singing of "Silent Night," a tradition that holds particular weight at Union Congregational Church. Ushers seat worshippers, take attendance, and collect the offering; acolytes light the candles; the Senior Deacon, the Worship Ministry, the pastors, and the Music Director plan each service together.

For those at home, the service is livestreamed at ten o'clock on the church's YouTube channel, and recordings remain available to watch back afterward. The Worship Ministry has overall responsibility for the weekly Sunday services, special services for the Sacraments, and all other celebrations during the liturgical year, including weddings, funerals, baptisms, ordinations, and installations of members.

An Open and Affirming UCC Congregation

Union Congregational Church is part of the United Church of Christ and carries the denomination's Open and Affirming designation. The congregation affirms that every person has been created in the image of God and, without exception, welcomes all who desire to deepen their relationship with their Creator, as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be Full Members of this body of Christ, entitled to all of the rites and Sacraments afforded thereto.

The church seeks to be a place that fosters a welcoming and safe environment for all of its members and visitors regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, and commits in prayer and action to the day when all people will know God's unconditional love.

Visitors often notice what the congregation calls its intergenerational rhythm. People come from many different walks of life and backgrounds, and each has found a place to belong. Church membership is not required to attend any event or program, and guests frequently find themselves folding into coffee hour or a Bible study without ceremony.

S*H*I*N*E, Holy Hangouts, and the Children's Choir

After the Children's Message during the worship service, children move into age-appropriate rooms in the Hilltop Wing. The program for children in PreK through fourth grade is called S*H*I*N*E, standing for Serving, Honoring, Inspiring, Nurturing, and Embracing. SHINE groups meet during the second half of worship on Sunday mornings, roughly from 10:30 to 11:10. While the program carries a new name, the same dedicated teachers and engaging lessons continue.

For older children, Holy Hangouts offers a dedicated tween and teen space for grades five through eight. Holy Hangouts also meets during the second half of worship and is set on the stage with age-appropriate, cozy furniture so that fifth through eighth graders have a place of their own.

The nursery is staffed to care for infants and toddlers throughout the worship service, so parents can remain in the sanctuary without worry. A Children's Choir performs on the last Sunday of each month and during the seven o'clock Christmas Eve service, with rehearsals scheduled for Sunday mornings about fifteen minutes after worship ends. Children are encouraged to be available to sing on the last Sunday of each month.

The Christian Education Ministry, which oversees SHINE, Holy Hangouts, Confirmation Classes, the Young Disciples program, and the Youth Ministry groups, makes sure the nursery is staffed and that the entire Christian Education program runs smoothly. The ministry consists of six members who meet on the first Sunday of the month after worship from September through June.

Bible Quest and Bibles for Third Graders

Every March, the Christian Education Ministry hosts Bible Quest, an engaging, hands-on experience for children in third grade and above that helps them grow comfortable navigating their Bibles and discovering the stories within. The following Sunday, the church celebrates this milestone during worship, where each child is presented with their very own Bible. The gift from the church serves as a companion for them as they continue their unique faith journeys.

Each year on the Sunday before Christmas, the children and youth bring the story of Jesus' birth to life in the Christmas Pageant. From the humble manger to the bright star of Bethlehem, families pause during the busy holiday season to witness the timeless journey of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, and to reflect on the true reason for the season.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving brings the Advent Workshop, a Christmas-Craft event with a chosen theme and a variety of crafts - one year the theme was "Starry Night," with star-themed and glow-in-the-dark crafts including luminaries, waving star wands, star-shaped ornaments, tin foil stained glass, and sheet music luminaries crafted by children and adults alike. The Advent Labyrinth tradition, observed on the longest and darkest night of the year, draws on a Christian custom of contemplative walking prayer dating back to about 1200 AD.

Middle School and Senior High Youth Group

Two youth groups meet on different nights so that young people from sixth grade through twelfth grade can find a community. The Middle School Youth Group gathers on Friday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 and is open to anyone in grades six through eight. The Senior High Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 and welcomes youth in grades nine through twelve.

Neither group requires church membership, and friends are always welcome. Both rotate through four kinds of evenings. Fellowship Nights are built around team-building and games and deepening relationships with God and one another. Game Nights feature board games, active games, mysteries, and something different every time. Service Projects serve neighbors through food, crafts, and hands-on help. Big Bang outings take the group to local attractions - recent months have included Boda Borg, Kimball Farm's flashlight corn maze, the Putnam Pantry for ice cream, and movie nights with blankets and pillows. The only rule is that youth must participate in the monthly service project or complete another act of service before attending the Big Bang.

Service projects in recent months have included baking cookies for Lazarus House Ministries, decorating lunch bags for My Brother's Table, making pumpkin tray favors for Meals on Wheels, drawing pictures to accompany Thanksgiving meals, creating Valentine's cards for the North Reading Fire Department, and decorating cookies for the North Reading Police Department. The youth also host Trunk or Treat each October and a Welcome Back Carnival in the church parking lot with a dunk tank, moon bounce, cotton candy, popcorn, and pizza.

Confirmation: Classes, Field Trips, Retreat, and Stewardship

Confirmation at Union Congregational Church is built around eighth graders and runs for ten weeks of classes covering the Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, Lent, church history, and the inner workings of the modern church. Confirmands are paired with mentors, take part in stewardship activities, and join field trips designed to deepen their faith. The goal is to equip students with a deep understanding of the roots of the tradition and the "why" behind what the church believes.

Each year the class visits Salem to reflect on the events of 1692 and to consider what it means to protect the marginalized and to maintain moral courage under peer pressure. The class also visits a local synagogue, where the students learn about Jewish rituals, symbols, and stories and discover the Hebrew roots of the Christian tradition. The UCC motto, "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here," works both ways, and the confirmands learn to enter another sacred space with respect and curiosity, becoming "bridge-builders" between communities.

A cornerstone of the program is a confirmation retreat held in Laconia, New Hampshire, hosted by former church members at their property. The weekend balances guided group sessions, individual reflection, and free time for games and shared meals, with the goal of letting faith move from the head to the heart. Confirmands also help lead worship, usher, run coffee hour, assist with Sunday School, and light the candles each Sunday. They plan and lead their own fundraisers - movie nights, candy sales, and game nights in recent years - learning how to turn their gifts into resources for the community.

Music Ministry: Chancel Choir, North Parish Ringers, Children's Choir

Music fills the sanctuary throughout the year through three ensembles, all led by Music Director Marcia Cutlip. The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 and sings each Sunday morning, performing a range of anthems from classical to contemporary to spirituals. The choir also prepares special music for Christmas and Easter. Reading music is helpful but not required; the choir welcomes new voices at any point in the year, and rehearsal before Sunday worship is also an option for those who cannot make Wednesdays.

The North Parish Ringers bell choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 and plays during worship once a month. The Christmas Eve bell ringing, accompanied by candlelit "Silent Night," is a long-standing tradition. Reading music is helpful but not required - the only skill needed is the ability to count.

The Children's Choir sings on the last Sunday of each month and during the seven o'clock Christmas Eve service. Rehearsals take place about fifteen minutes after worship ends on Sunday mornings.

Marcia Cutlip came to Union Congregational Church after thirty-five years as Director of Music at Saint Athanasius Parish in Reading, and has also served in music ministry at parishes in Andover, Hamilton, and Woburn. She is the founder of the North Reading Senior Echoes, a community singing group for seniors. As she puts it, "Every time I try to retire, I seem to wander back. Music just won't let me go!"

Bible Study on Wednesday Mornings

Bible Study meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 and offers a welcoming environment for people at every stage of their faith journey, whether someone is new to Scripture or has read it for decades. Sessions explore the biblical text together with time for questions and discussion. Bibles are available for anyone who needs one. The study is open to all, no church membership required.

The Bible Study is part of the rhythm of a Wednesday morning at the church: Bible Study at 10:00, Chancel Choir rehearsal at 11:00, and the bell choir in the evening at 6:00. It provides a place to dig deeper between Sundays and connect with others who love the Word.

Hilltop Nursery School

Housed in the church's education wing, Hilltop Nursery School has been part of Union Congregational Church since 1955, when the congregation established it to provide a preschool experience for children in the community. The school is governed by a ministry made up of church members and Hilltop parents and has earned an excellent reputation for giving children a solid educational foundation before they enter kindergarten.

Director Melissa Grew, who joined Hilltop as a teacher in 2010 and previously taught first grade in Lunenburg, has expanded the program by adding a classroom and an extended-day option to meet the changing needs of local families. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Boston College and a master's in Education from Lesley University, and is licensed as a Director by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Her own oldest daughter attended preschool at Hilltop before she joined the staff.

Hilltop students use the church's Fellowship Hall for enrichment activities including music, movement, and indoor play, and the school shares a long-standing partnership with the congregation. The Hilltop Association of Parents meets in the Fellowship Hall, and the first day of school is a calendar event that fills the building with new energy each fall. Church members are asked to check the calendar or coordinate with the office before entering the Fellowship Hall during school hours so that students have a safe, focused learning environment.

Frosty's Fair and Year-Round Outreach

Each year on the first weekend of December, the church hosts Frosty's Fair, a North Reading tradition since 1945. The fair has drawn hundreds from the local community and surrounding areas for generations and remains a major source of revenue for the church. Tables feature jewelry, pet gifts, silent auctions, raffles, farm-fresh gifts, Elegant Elephants, White Elephants, Christmas Again, baked goods, holiday greens, a gift-wrapping station, a children's shopping room, a children's game room, photos with Santa, Frosty's Cafe, and food-to-go. Every purchase supports the church's mission in the community and beyond.

The Fair Ministry oversees the planning, beginning to meet in early September and gathering every other week leading up to the fair. It consists of the Church Administrator, a chairperson or possibly two co-chairs, and six additional members, all of whom help with publicity and recruiting volunteers.

Outside of December, the Outreach Ministry allocates pledges from the congregation to mission work. The church partners with Christian Community Service in North Reading to assist neighbors in need and works through the United Church of Christ and Church World Service to support communities abroad. A booklet listing supported organizations is available on the Welcome Table in Putnam Hall.

Each December the church runs Christmas-in-a-Box in partnership with the North Reading Food Pantry. Congregants decorate boxes and fill them with wrapping paper, hot cocoa, toys, and other holiday extras that often fall outside a family's budget. Dozens of boxes are collected and delivered to the food pantry each year. A similar summer program, Summer Fun Boxes, fills decorated boxes with kites, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, pool noodles, and sand toys for families in need.

Each spring the Christian Education Ministry also runs the Heifer Birthday Bash, three weeks of cow-themed skits and a fundraising campaign for Heifer International that culminates on Palm Sunday with cake for every month of the year. Themed devotionals are hosted throughout the year as well, offering opportunities to grow deeper together in faith.

Faith & Fellowship, Care Ministry, and Hosting AA

The Faith & Fellowship Ministry nurtures intergenerational relationships across the congregation and the wider North Reading community. Family-centered gatherings are planned both at the church and around town, with all ages involved in the planning of activities. The ministry also coordinates coffee hour after Sunday worship, sharing the responsibility so that no one person carries it alone, and supplies lemonade and cookies during the summer months.

The Care Ministry provides practical support to congregation members in need, delivering meals to those recently discharged from the hospital, visiting those who are homebound, organizing collations for funerals when required, and distributing altar flowers to people who are sick or commemorating a birthday or anniversary. The Care Ministry meets once a month after church from September to June.

Each Saturday morning at 9:30, the church hosts a weekly AA meeting in its space. The meeting is open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income, or profession, and is free to attend. Participants can just sit and listen, or share about their own situation. Resources listed include Wakefield's Recovery Coach Tracy Ascolillo Rizzo, the Bridge Recovery Center in Malden, and the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline.

The church also opens its Fellowship Hall to local Cub Scout packs, which meet on select Sunday afternoons, and serves as the home for various community gatherings throughout the year. Stewardship Ministry prepares quarterly giving statements and runs the annual stewardship campaign. Planned Giving Ministry offers periodic seminars on wills, health care proxies, and long-term care insurance, and works with the church's trust fund custodian on the investment of endowments. The Nominating Ministry matches people's talents with the right ministries, while the House Ministry oversees the maintenance and improvement of the buildings and grounds.

The Pastors and Staff Who Lead the Church

The Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes has served as Senior Pastor since March 1, 1992, after earlier ministries at the First Congregational Church in South Portland, Maine, and an interim year at the First Congregational Church in Grey, Maine. A native of Whitman, Massachusetts, he holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in pastoral counseling from Andover Newton Theological School. He is known for a hands-on approach to ministry that has included everything from sleeping on the church floor at youth sleepovers to making his famous lobster bisque for Lenten Luncheons. He sings with the choir and plays bells with the North Parish Ringers, plays piano in his free time, and lists cruises to over fifty countries and an unapologetic love of chocolate among his passions. After more than three decades of ordained ministry, he sums up what matters most with a simple answer: "The most important thing when it comes to being a really good minister is to make sure that your congregation loves you - and you know what the best way is to make sure your congregation loves you? You make sure they know that you love them!"

The Rev. Gayle McGlauflin serves as Associate Pastor of Faith & Fellowship. A native of North Reading, she joined Union Congregational Church in high school and was active in its youth ministry. She holds a bachelor's in psychology, a master's in teaching from Northeastern University, and an MDiv from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. After nine years of teaching elementary school in Boston, she returned to the UCC as Christian Education Director. During COVID, her role expanded into church-wide leadership, and in 2021 the congregation voted unanimously to expand her role to become Minister of Discipleship. Upon her ordination in 2025, she was installed as Associate Pastor. She leads the townwide Easter Egg Hunt, organizes the Christmas Pageant and Confirmation, teaches Children's Sunday, and plans Paint Night, charcuterie board events, service projects, and small discussion and book groups. She lives in Topsfield with her husband Rob, their daughters Savanna and Ayla, and her dog Baylee.

Marcia Cutlip directs the music ministry across all three ensembles. Church Administrator Nadine Belisle has served in the office since 1997. Amy Thorn chairs the House Ministry, Andy Graham serves as Head Usher, Tom Parker (Senior Deacon Emeritus) is the main point of contact for the Worship Ministry, and Janet Nicosia leads the Outreach Ministry.

What Union Congregational Church Believes

The congregation confesses belief in the triune God - Creator, resurrected Christ the sole Head of the church, and the Holy Spirit who guides and brings about the creative and redemptive work of God in the world. Each person is held to be unique and valuable, and the church believes that it is the will of God that every person belongs to a family of faith where they have a strong sense of being valued and loved.

Worship follows the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith: belief in the Eternal Spirit made known in Jesus our brother; in God's call of the worlds into being and the setting before us of the ways of life and death; in God's seeking in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin; in God's judgment of all humanity and all nations by the will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles; in Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, in whom God has shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator; in the gift of the Holy Spirit creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races; in the call into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, and to join him in his passion and victory; and in God's promise to all who trust in the gospel of forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

Holy Communion is open to all, members and visitors alike. The bread is gluten-free.