UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Breathe Life!

In this week’s UB Newsletter, we are featuring a devotional entitled “Breathe Life,” inspired by artist Rob ProBlak Gibbs’ wall mural in Roxbury. He describes that, “More than just a title, ‘Breathe Life’ is a philosophy, meant to share energy, and lift-up images that reflect the community back to itself, to greater flourishing.” This message aligns closely with Jesus’ mission as described in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

This devotional is an excerpt from Reservoir Church’s Advent Devotional. As we enter 2025, we invite you to prayerfully use the images and reflection questions below to reflect on what God has done in your life this past year and where you are seeking places for God to “breathe life” in the coming year.

Sankt-Martins-Umzug

This Saturday, November 9th, at 4:00 p.m. in Danehy Park, Cambridge, we will have a lantern parade to celebrate St. Martin’s Day! Bring lanterns or candles, and come see what this German tradition is all about. We will sing German songs, experience the story of St. Martin, and enjoy the colorful lights on our short walk through Danehy Park; we should be done by 6:00/6:30 p.m. (just in time for dinner). The weather is supposed to be cool but nice, so come join us! Some snacks traditional to St. Martin’s Day will be available for purchase but the event itself is free; it is also geared toward children, so bring your families!
Feel free to email us with questions: info@faithcambridge.org, and see you there!

New Book Alert! A Woman’s Journey With God

As women, we know the importance of self-discipline for achieving our goals in life, be it career, fitness or relationships. But what about our spiritual life? Spiritual disciplines exist for the sole purpose of building character conducive to Christ’s teachings, but we must be willing to make the journey.

-Rev. Moreen Hughes

Today, we want to share about a new book that was just released by local Pastor Rev. Moreen Hughes, entitled “A Woman’s Journey with God: Engaging in the Spiritual Disciplines.” As an associate pastor and women’s minister at Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton, Pastor Moreen is passionate about helping women become the best that God has created them to be. In her new book, she presents a set of spiritual disciplines to help women develop Christlike character and become the best version of themselves.

Click below to read an excerpt from her book. You can purchase her book here!

“Practices such as reading Scripture and praying are important – not because they prove how spiritual we are – but because God can use them to lead us into life.”

John Ortberg, The life you’ve always wanted: Spiritual disciplines for Ordinary People

In today’s culture, we are seeing a renewed interest in the spiritual disciplines. People are looking for the connectedness into those things that are meaningful and can bring them into greater relationship with God. 

Having developed a personal interest in topics of ‘Christian spirituality’ and ‘Christian spiritual formation,’ I have researched and studied the impact of the spiritual disciplines in the lives of women specifically. These results, done in correlation with my doctoral academic studies, strongly suggest that those who regularly engage in practice of the disciplines have more of a spiritual consciousness and connectedness to Christ, than those who do not, including the formation of their character, spiritually and morally. The practicing of the spiritual disciplines has the potential to aid in the practice of God’s redemptive interactions within each of us.

It is my belief that for the inner self to be spiritually shaped and formed, and the mind to be renewed and transformed, it takes more than a casual knowledge of the Word of God, or an occasional engagement with the disciplines. These practices must become common place in the everyday lives of each of us. There must be a commitment to intentionally setting aside time and developing a lifestyle, which includes interaction with the Word, earnest daily prayer, engaging in the disciplines and an external demonstration of faith that will make one worthy of being called a ‘Christian’ – a disciple of Christ. 

If change and spiritual formation is to be experienced on this Christian journey – It is not about saying so, but knowing so, and doing so. 

Paul said in Philippians 3:10, that knowing Christ is the most important thing he could have ever done in all his life regardless of social standings or interactions, educational attainment, economical resources, or familial ties. We too have access to the principles for knowing Christ, but we must daily set aside the necessary time daily from our over-crowded schedules in order to do so. Refraining from always saying ‘yes’ to others and saying ‘no’ at times, allows us the time to say ‘yes’ to engage in the disciplines and gain a greater understanding of who God is. 

Embarking on a spiritual journey is no easy task. It is an intentional pursuit that requires the individual to purposefully engage in those things that allows for the attainment of such. There is the preparatory stage. Preparing the heart, mind, and soul for the journey.  Being on this Christian spiritual journey requires intentionally learning how to seek after the things of Christ.  

Walking with Christ and engaging in the practice of the spiritual disciplines helps believers in all seasons and stages of life, including times of uncertainty and times of confidence. They revolve around our love for God and help produce Hope, Strength, Trust, Humility, Joy, and Compassion. They produce the ability to see and interact with others in ways God intends in loving our neighbor as self. 

The practice of the disciplines produces desirable qualities necessary to emulate positive interactions with others, self and God. My belief is that when we are obedient and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, we become more like Christ. When we are more like him, we become closer to God feeling whole and connected. 

Having a daily quiet time, praying regularly, fasting, and studying God’s Word are not things that people do naturally, they are not an automatic part of us, but they automatically come as a result of our spiritual maturity and when done with consistency. 

In an era where instant gratification is the way that people often approach life, the very idea of discipline does not seem appealing to many. Yet, God invites us on a journey with him that involves discipline. This spiritual journey helps us to find out who we are in life and in Christ. The purpose is not to become mystical or find profound and theological answers, rather, it helps in an individual’s transformational process, moving them toward spiritual development, while journeying on a quest to consciously deepen their spiritual insights. 

We are living in stressful times and there is concern that many persons including followers of Christ, are feeling the effects that are being manifested in the form of depression, anxiety, stress, and discouragement. These debilitating defects can be devastating and have the potential to lead a Christian out of the work ministry and away from the church. However, there is a school of thought that the spiritual disciplines can be beneficial and serve as an aid in helping to manage one’s emotions as well as serve as a deterrent in to helping persons to deal with the uncertainty of times. 

When the focus is shifted away from self, maintaining that connection with God, family and the church can be achieved. I believe that when practiced correctly, spiritual disciplines can be useful as we strive to maintain focus and balance in our lives. 

May our wills be lost in the will of God, as we seek to draw closer to him.

In ways that bring us into his presence – engaging in – the spiritual disciplines.

Honoring All Mothers

Connected Mother’s Day by GLOO

Happy Mother’s Day! Today we honor all of the mothers in our lives. Whether you come with hope or pain, in joy or in sadness, we see you. God sees you.

1. The Biological Mothers

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Samuel 1:27

We honor biological mothers because this is how God designed that each of us enters the world. We appreciate your sacrifices, acknowledge your pain, and thank you for instilling faith in us.

2. The Adoptive Mothers

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5

The process and intentionality of adoption is an honor of its own. You have chosen to adopt children and have a special calling to care for other children as if they were your own. We honor the sacrifices that you have made and recognize how we, too, have been accepted into the family of faith through Jesus Christ. 

3. The Single Mothers

“[Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13

Today we honor your faithfulness. Like Hagar who was forced into single parenthood; your circumstance may not be one you chose. As the church, we rally around you, we support you, and we recognize all that you do.

4. The Stepmothers

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

Today we honor your faithfulness to God in loving children that you did not bear. Like Ruth, you have chosen not only to love and unite with a spouse, but to also love and unite with your husband’s children as your own. We celebrate your choices as a reminder of the choice all believers have made to commit to Christ and to Christ-followers.

5. The Foster Mothers

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30

We honor your willingness to fill in the gaps, likely between a biological mother and an adopted one. You choose to show up for children however you can. We thank you.

6. The Expectant Mothers

“So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” 1 Samuel 1:20

This time of pregnancy is often filled with anxiety, especially for the first time mothers who don’t know what to expect, and it can be especially challenging for those who have experienced miscarriage or

7. The Grieving Mothers

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

For those who’ve lost children or your own mother, today we see you. God sees you. We make room for your grief and the healing power of God’s love at every stage of life and loss.

8. The Grandmothers

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1: 5

For the first time in many decades, our church is seeing mothers, grandmothers, and great- grandmothers all at the same time. Today, we celebrate the prayers and faith of grandmothers and great-grandmothers that allowed each of us to be where we are today.

9. Those Longing for Motherhood

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

We acknowledge your longing for children and honor your desires to the Lord. We pray for you and support you on your journey. God, show compassion to these mothers.

10. Our Church mothers

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases…These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3

To those who are mothers of all in our church, we thank you. You shepherd, guide, and care for us, and are models in the church. God recognizes the sacrifices you’ve made, and we do too.

UniteBoston’s Six Ministry Priorities for 2023

Where is God moving in the city and in the Church? What is God’s invitation for UniteBoston this year? These are the questions that our staff and board prayerfully considered in a recent retreat. Together, we came up with six ministry priorities for this year – We are grateful to have you as part of our mission as we are all UniteBoston!


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