UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Community Clergy Training for Veterans Brockton

The “Community Clergy Training” is an initiative of the VA National Chaplain Headquarters to help Clergy meet the needs of Veterans and their families. Learn more about this program on the VA Community Clergy Training Program website or email Melonie.Bradley@va.gov.

The “Community Clergy Training” is a free One-Day Training at a local parish or house of worship.

You are invited to join us, please choose the date and location that best suits your schedule and REGISTER TODAY.

Lunch, beverages and snacks will be provided for free, through a benefactor who believes in this training.

We are grateful for these congregations that have graciously offered to host this event for our Veterans.

To register, hold down the control key and click the Blue link below or paste it into your web browser: https://cctp_ccc_brockton_ma.eventbrite.com

 

Date: Tuesday October 30th 

Location: Converge Christian Center

Rev. Dr. Mark Oliver, Host Pastor

1367 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301

2018 UniteBoston Worship Night Photo Gallery

On August 18, 2018, an estimated 1,000 people came out to the second-ever UniteBoston Summer Worship Night in the Boston Common. The worship team was intentionally diverse, with Christians from all different ethnic and denominational backgrounds. There was incredible music, 13 sponsored tables by local churches and organizations, Lori Dupre painting with our theme “One City / One Love,” great fellowship, and even a spontaneous dance party!

Special thanks to Koo Chung and Elijah Mickelson for the incredible photographs here; they have superb photography skills and are highly recommended!

Check out the photos below, and you can view more on the UniteBoston Worship Night Facebook Gallery.

Also, click here to watch the highlight video that Luke Zvara put together!

Personal Stories

“You’d be hard pressed to find as diverse a crowd of believers worshiping together in Spirit and Truth as were gathered that night. Some have moved to Boston because they believe the Holy Spirit is not at work. Strange how those people never attend events where the fullness of the Church is being expressed in the diversity of God’s people!”
-Rev. David Wright, Black Ministerial Alliance

“The August 19 evening worship on Boston Common was as filled with God’s Spirit perhaps as the Common has been on a number of historic moments over many years, such as the First Great Awakening there in 1740 or the Billy Graham meetings there in 1950.  We pray God is increasingly filling Boston with His Spirit now in 2018.”
-Ralph Kee, Emmanuel Gospel Center Church Planting Collaborative

Our awesome team of vocalists. Photo Credit: Koo Chung

 

Group photo to begin the day! Photo Credit: Koo Chung

“As we gathered on the Boston Common, our “common neighborhood backyard,” the vibrancy, joy, diversity of our common faith came alive. It was truly incarnational, if one had to use a theological term. Although much of the style of the event was different from my Catholic style, I felt welcomed and engaged. Christ is our Center, our Life. Thank you so much.”
-Fr. Michael McGarry, The Paulist Center

“The Unite Boston Worship Night was a great gathering of believers all across Boston. I sensed God was reconnecting a lot of people to Him through the Holy Spirit during the worship. It was humbling seeing people surrendering to worship just like David did in the Old Testament! God Bless UniteBoston!”
-Tinuola Ajayi, River of Life Church

“This gathering demonstrated how Christ is able to bring all kinds of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to worship Jesus together in the city of Boston!”
-Rebekah Nyakairu, Grace Chapel Watertown

Worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung

 

A great crowd at the event! Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson

How were you impacted by the worship night?

We’d love to hear from you – Submit your feedback here.

 

Worship Night Endorsement

“A diverse group composed primarily of smaller urban congregations of color is gathering for a worship night, and has asked all Christians in Greater Boston to join them. Too often larger churches ignore these invitations because we already have our own busy calendars, but this only perpetuates our division. This is a chance to change that…I believe that this is a moment to be led by brothers and sisters in Christ for the sake of the unity of the Body of Christ.”

Our team was so encouraged this week to see the way that Pastor Dave Swaim from the Highrock Church Network has encouraged participation in our worship night! I appreciate his wisdom that the Church in Boston needs more followership, especially among larger churches and movements, in order for God to lead us towards greater unity.

The incredible thing is that there were three completely independent events that aligned together:

  • Highrock’s Lead Pastor Dave Swaim committed to getting behind our worship night through funding and support
  • That same Sunday at Highrock Arlington, an outside speaker was in town who was preaching a sermon on Christian unity
  • Chloe Gaydos decided that Tom Baskett, a member of Highrock Church, would be our worship team director

Wow – how awesome is God! Our team said “yes” in faith for hosting the worship night before we knew where all the funds would come from. We praise God for Highrock’s generosity in helping us to provide for the expenses to host this worship night. I believe that Highrock churches are modeling God’s intention for the giving-and-receiving synergistic functioning that is indicative of the body of Christ that we are called to be:

“But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:24-27).

A movement across churches is emerging, a united song is rising up: May we come together to worship the One who gives life and love to the city!

 

 

Kelly Fassett

UniteBoston Team Leader


Dear Highrock,

Short story: on Thursday, Aug 16, 7-9 PM Christians from all over Boston will be gathering for united worship on Boston Common, and we’d like Highrockers to join this celebration.  Learn more at www.uniteboston.com

Longer story:
For years many of us have lamented how fragmented the Christian community is in Boston.  I’ve always believed that it is due to a lack of leadership, but recently I’ve wondered if the real problem is too much leadership, meaning that everyone wants unity so long as it means everyone else following or agreeing with me.

Perhaps what we need now is more “followership”, meaning churches willing to NOT be in charge.  I think this is an especially essential spiritual growth edge for larger movements like Highrock.

A diverse group composed primarily of smaller urban congregations of color is gathering for a worship night, and has asked all Christians in Greater Boston to join them. Too often larger churches ignore these invitations because we already have our own busy calendars, but this only perpetuates our division. This is a chance to change that.

This group will include Christians of every ethnic, economic, and denominational stripe, so it’s probable that not all the songs or styles will be your favorites, but I believe that this is a moment to be led by brothers and sisters in Christ for the sake of the unity of the Body of Christ.

I encourage you to come if you can, and please forward this invitation to all your friends in every other church around Greater Boston, charismatic to Catholic and everything in between, so that the Church can be represented in her full diversity and splendor.

I don’t know what this event will be like, but I am looking forward to a new experience while building new relationships as we worship with our spiritual family whom I don’t yet know.

Many Blessings,

Pastor Dave
Highrock Church

Summer Worship Night

Everyone is invited to DaySpring Chapel’s night of unending worship!

This event is open to all ages and even families – This will be a fun-filled night with games, snacks and fellowship! We hope to see you there!

Summer Lovin’

The Boston Projects is one of many churches and ministries that are engaged in youth ministry this summer. Check out Boston Projects’ Facebook Page to see photos from their recent Summer Love Campaign and meet their summer staff!

The Black Ministerial Alliance also partners with churches and community agencies to provide 8 weeks of safe, healthy summer programming, which includes Vacation Bible School, Fit Church/Fit Community Health Fairs and outdoor fitness, Victory Generation Summer Kids Camps, and Teen Café Youth Violence Prevention activities!

Susan Butterworth from St. Michael’s Episcopal in Marblehead shared that their church is doing a Wednesday evening Picnic and Prayer on the lawn. In this initiative, they gather as a community for food and fellowship, then read Evening Prayer, in full view of the neighbors!

Also in the news:

How Serving the Community Transformed a Dwindling Church>>

How is your church involved in sharing the love of Christ this summer? Email photos and stories to kelly@uniteboston.com and we may include it on the UB newsletter!

 


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