The North Parish Ringers play a vital role in our music ministry. Once a month the sound of bells can be heard offering praise to God during the service of worship.

The tradition of bell ringing on Christmas Eve, accompanied by the candlelit singing of 'Silent Night,' holds special significance at Union Congregational Church.

Reading music is beneficial but not required. If you have the ability to count, you can participate in this music ministry. Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings from 6 – 7 p.m.

For any inquiries, please reach out to Marcia Cutlip, our Music Director.

 The Care Ministry is responsible for providing support to congregation members in need of compassionate assistance. This support may involve delivering meals to individuals who have recently been discharged from the hospital or paying visits to those who are confined to their homes.

The Care Ministry also organizes collations for funerals when required and distributes altar flowers to individuals who are either sick or commemorating a significant occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary.

If you're interested in joining the Care Ministry, they meet once a month after church from September to June.  One of the benefits you’ll get is a deep satisfaction from the thoughtfulness of your generosity to be kind and caring. 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2

Each week, the Chancel Choir graces our Sunday morning worship services with the gift of music, performing a diverse range of anthems that span classical, contemporary, and spiritual genres.

The Chancel Choir performs special musical pieces during the Christmas and Easter seasons.

If singing is your passion, consider joining the Chancel Choir. While the ability to read music is beneficial, it is not mandatory. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday afternoons at 12:00 p.m. A few of the benefits are the joy of singing and being a part of the worship service. You will also enjoy fellowship with others who have a passion for singing.

For any inquiries, please reach out to Marcia Cutlip, our Music Director.

Parents whose children enjoy singing are welcome to encourage them to join our Children's Choir. The choir performs on the last Sunday of each month and also during the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

Children's rehearsals are scheduled for Sunday mornings, 15 minutes after worship service.  We encourage your child (children) to be available to sing the last Sunday of the month.

For any inquiries, please reach out to Marcia Cutlip, our Music Director.

The Christian Education Ministry works together to listen to the needs of the congregation and the guidance of God and to provide high quality and diverse Christian education opportunities to the entire congregation. This is achieved by working with the Associate Pastor to oversee the weekly Sunday school program.

The Christian Education Ministry extends its oversight to Confirmation Classes for eighth graders, the Young Disciples program for middle school students, and the Youth Ministry groups for high school seniors. Additionally, the ministry ensures the nursery is staffed to care for infants and toddlers throughout the worship service.

The ministry consists of six members who meet on the first Sunday of the month after worship service (September – June). This ministry contributes to annual events such as the Advent Workshop, the Heifer Project Birthday Bash, and the Christmas pageant. They also lend their support to the innovative Summer Sunday School program.

For any inquiries, please reach out to Pastor Gayle.

Fellowship holds great significance at Union Congregational Church, and the coffee hour after Sunday morning services is a key opportunity for it. In conjunction with the Faith & Fellowship Ministry, hosts of the coffee hour assist in the setup and serving of coffee. This provides an excellent opportunity for newcomers to the church to meet others and form new friendships.

The mission of the Faith & Fellowship Ministry is to nurture and deepen relationships among the congregation and in the North Reading community with an emphasis on intergenerational friendships. Social gathering are family centered and all ages are involved in the planning of these activities. A variety of events are planned both at the church and around the town of North Reading.

The Faith & Fellowship Ministry also coordinates the coffee hour responsibilities for the church members who volunteer. They have successfully made it into a joint venture where no one person takes on all the responsibility. The ministry also supplies lemonade and cookies during the summer months.

Faith & Fellowship works closely with our Associate Pastor of Faith & Fellowship and they meet on the fourth Sunday of the month.

Annually, on the first weekend of December, the Union Congregational Church holds Frosty's Fair. This event is a cherished tradition that attracts hundreds from the local community and surrounding areas. The Fair Ministry oversees the organization and execution of the fair, which is a major source of revenue for the church. The Ministry begins its meetings in early September, typically convening 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. The expectations of this ministry are:

—Attend meetings to plan and review tasks that need completion. 

—Assist in publicizing the fair and recruiting volunteers.

For any inquiries, please contact Nadine Belisle in the church office.

The Finance Ministry bears the primary responsibility for maintaining a complete financial overview of the Church, encompassing both its operating accounts and investments. The Ministry is committed to ensuring the Church's solvency, the transparency of financial matters, and compliance with relevant financial reporting standards.

The Finance Ministry is responsible for:

-Providing recommendations on financial matters for Council and Ministries
-Providing the Council with a written quarterly report on the financial status
-Regular review of the Church's revenues, expenditures, balance sheet, and other financial matters is essential for its ongoing solvency
-The development of the annual budget is conducted with contributions from the Council and various Ministries
-Ensuring proper oversight of financial processes
-Conducting an internal review annually to assess performance.

The Hilltop Ministry is responsible with overseeing the operation of the Hilltop Nursery School which is housed in the church’s education wing. Hilltop Nursery School was established in 1955 by the Union Congregational Church of North Reading to provide a preschool experience for the children in the community and is governed by the Hilltop Nursery School Ministry, made up of church members and Hilltop parents.

The school has an excellent reputation for providing a solid educational foundation for children before entering kindergarten. 

The Hilltop Ministry meets with the Director as needed to make sure the school is running smoothly and to address any issues, needs, or concerns.

 The House Ministry has the primary responsibility for overseeing the general maintenance and any improvements to the facilities and grounds of the church.  

The House Ministry is specifically responsible for:

—Coordinating general care activities for the church buildings and grounds, including planning for maintenance and improvement needs;

—Recommending approval of contracts with vendors;

—Recommending expenditures of the Major Repairs Fund;

—Planning and organizing work projects and coordinating the work of volunteers;

For any inquiries, please contact Amy Thorn.

The Nominating Ministry is responsible for matching people’s talents with the tasks that are the responsibilities of the various ministries of the church.  If a person is an accountant, he or she may be an excellent addition to the Stewardship Ministry, Finance Ministry or the Planned Giving Ministry.  If a person does carpentry for a hobby would the House Ministry offer a better fit and change of pace?  These are some of the questions that the Nominating Ministry tries to answer as it finds individuals for the various ministries that make Union Congregational Church a vital Body of Christ.

The expectations of serving on this ministry are:

—Attend meetings which are usually held every other week in the Spring

—Be a people person who isn’t afraid of calling and asking others to serve  

An important part of any healthy church is a vigorous ministry to those who are the “least among us.”   The Outreach Ministry takes that job very seriously and is responsible with allocating pledges that people in the congregation dedicate for missions.  The Outreach Ministry works with Christian Community Service in North Reading to help those in need and through the United Church of Christ and Church World Service works to assist those in need in countries around the world.  A listing of the organizations that are supported by Union Congregational Church can be found in the Outreach Ministry Booklet available on the Welcome Table in Putnam Hall.

The expectations of serving on this ministry are:

—Attend a one-hour meeting monthly

—Oversee the Outreach portion of the church’s budget

For any inquiries, please contact Janet Nicosia.

Did you know that most people do not have a valid current will?  Did you know that without one the state will decide how to distribute your assets and if you have children who will care for them?  The Planned Giving Ministry was established to encourage people to give proper attention to their estate planning.

They do that through periodic seminars that provide information on subjects that range from wills, health care proxies and long-term health care insurance.  The Planned Giving Ministry is also available to answer questions from those who wish to include the Union Congregational Church in their estate planning.  The Planned Giving Ministry also works with the church’s trust fund custodian and the investment and management of the church’s endowments.

The expectations of serving on this ministry are:

—Attend quarterly meetings 

—Plan seminars

—Oversee investments

—Help people who wish to include the church in their estate planning

The purpose of the Stewardship Ministry is to ensure that there is a year-round effort to promote financial stewardship among the Church’s members and friends.  This includes organizing and running the annual stewardship campaign.  The Stewardship Ministry prepares quarterly giving statements.  

The expectations of serving on this ministry are:

—Attend monthly meetings

—Be available to count the Sunday collection once each month

—Assemble materials for the annual stewardship campaign

Usher teams provide an important ministry before, during and after the Sunday morning worship service.  Their presence helps to make sure things flow smoothly as people arrive and leave the sanctuary. 

The expectations of serving on this ministry are:

—Serve once a month

—Seat people as they arrive

—Take an attendance count

—Collect the offering

—Assist with any emergencies that may occur during the service

—Do a quick check and cleanup of the pews following the service

The heart of any corporate life in a church is found in its morning Worship Service. The Worship Ministry is in charge of developing and presenting services that are both dynamic and faith filled as we praise God in song, read scripture, celebrate the sacraments, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished by the Worship Ministry working closely with our Pastor, the Music Director, and the Senior Deacon as well as with the ushers, acolytes, and the congregation at large as we plan for the services each year.

The Worship Ministry has overall responsibility for the weekly Sunday services and their organization, special services for the Sacraments, and all other celebrations during the liturgical year, including weddings, funerals, baptisms, ordinations, installations of members, and other such services. 

The expectations of serving on this ministry are:

—Attend a one-hour monthly meeting (September – June)

—Oversee the needs of the choirs

—Secure substitute organists and preachers

For any inquiries, please contact Tom Parker.

For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, consider speaking with our pastors about opportunities to teach Sunday School or serve as an advisor for a youth group. Our Sunday School classes operate on a team-teaching basis, allowing you the flexibility to teach without the obligation of being present every Sunday.

Union Congregational Church implements a safe church policy, ensuring that all individuals working with children undergo a CORI check, and mandates the presence of two adults during any activities involving children.