UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

AMERICA RESET 2026

ABOUT AMERICA RESET:

America Reset 2026 is a divine mandate given to God’s servant, Pr. Frank Mwebesa of His Voice Church calling for the gathering of generations across the United States. This historic meeting is a convergence of the ancient and the new oil—a sacred space where spiritual fathers and mothers, sons and daughters come together to heal generational gaps and realign the nation with God’s original intent. This is more than a conference. It is a prophetic convocation marked by repentance, reconciliation, prayer, worship, and apostolic impartation.

UniteBoston’s Annual Fundraising Celebration & Community Gathering

You are invited to UniteBoston’s Fundraising Celebration and Community Gathering on Friday, May 29 from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm at the Bruce C. Bolling Building in Roxbury. This will be an evening of celebration with food, joy, and an opportunity to partner with us in our bridge-building work across Greater Boston.

Our theme this year is “Illuminate.” In a time when division and uncertainty can feel heavy, we believe Christ calls us to shine (Mt 5:16)—bringing light to hard places, clarity to confusion, and hope to weary hearts. At UniteBoston, we are committed to equipping Christians to be peacemakers and bridge-builders—agents of unity, reconciliation, justice, and repair. Illuminate reflects our prayer that the Church would not hide its light but embody it boldly and beautifully for the good of our city. Here is our Fundraising Letter

This year’s keynote speaker is Rozella Haydée White, a public theologian and “Love Big” coach. Dedicated to nurturing a love that is life-giving, justice-seeking, and restorative, she has authored a book entitled Love Big: The Power of Revolutionary Relationships to Heal the World.

Rozella’s work deeply aligns with UniteBoston’s mission to heal divisions and strengthen the Church’s collective witness. Over the past year, she has also played a vital role behind the scenes, working directly with Rev. Kelly and Rev. Devlin as a coach for a capacity-building grant initiative. We are thrilled to have her voice guide us faithfully illuminating the gospel and bearing witness to Christ’s reconciling work in our beloved city.

The evening will also include a conversation with Rev. Kelly and Rev. Devlin, stories of impact from our UniteBoston community, and creative expressions that reflect the heart of this year’s theme, including:

  • Convene: The Power of Collaborative Conversations for City-Wide Gospel Movement by Rev. Melinda Priest
  • Testimony about Beloved Community Lab by Rev. Gina Tillotson-Cordy
  • Poems on “Illuminate” by Bill Ivanov and Dzidzor Azalgo
  • Closing Song led by Rev. Devlin Scott

Join us to connect with friends old and new—and to discover how you can participate in God’s reconciling, restoring, peacebuilding work through UniteBoston.

We’re excited to offer FREE childcare during the event, provided by safe and vetted volunteers. Children do not need a ticket to the event, but advance registration is required.

This gathering will take place at the Bruce Bolling Municipal Building in Nubian Square, 2300 Washington St, Roxbury, MA 02119. Local parking lots include the large City of Boston Municipal Parking Lot #33 around the corner of the building.

We can’t wait to gather, celebrate, and shine together.  REGISTER BELOW

Ticket Options:

  • General Admission: $50
  • Student Admission: $25
  • Volunteers: Free (Register Here)

Our Goal: Raising $40,000

Your generous contributions will directly support our efforts to fortify Christian unity in Boston through strategic planning, staff and consultant support, and partnerships with local ministries.

Thank you for partnering with us to God’s work towards reconciliation, justice, and peacemaking in our city. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out. We are deeply grateful for your friendship, encouragement, and support, and look forward to seeing you at the event!

Boston Sankofa Storytelling Showcase

The Boston Sankofa Journey is working to cultivate a common memory and nurture the spiritual vitality that has sustained the Black freedom movement—past and present—rooted in the liberating heart of the gospel.

This year, our team has been working to record the stories of twelve Black Christian leaders whose faith in Jesus has shaped their own faith journeys and fueled the work of racial justice and reconciliation in our beloved city. 


This gathering will bring these testimonies to life through a powerful evening of film premier, spoken word, art, and communal reflection. This gathering is co-hosted by Twelfth Baptist Church, which is known as a “Fugitive Slave Church” for its central role in the abolitionist movement and as a key stop on the Underground Railroad.  

Join us on Thursday, March 26 at Twelfth Baptist Church as we honor and learn from the testimonies of:
– Rev. June Cooper
– Rev. Dr. Willie Bodrick and Twelfth Baptist Church
– Rev. Valerie Copeland
– Rev. Dr. David Wright and Tenpoint BMA
– Bishop Larry Ward and Rev. Dr. Virginia Ward
– Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond and Rev. Dr. Gloria White-Hammond and Bethel AME Church Boston
– Mrs. Karen Haywood and The Historic Myrtle Baptist Church in Newton
– Dr. Geoffrey Hicks Sr.
Video testimonies from the above leaders will be interspersed with live elements of spoken word poetry with Rose Piercy, Storyteller Sister Alma Wright, Storyteller Rev. Charmayne Cook, a song by Minister Isaiah Briggs and Jaronzie Harris, and Storyteller Deacon Robin Nobles, with Dzidzor Azalgo as the event host.
*Note that only some of the storytellers will be present at the showcase itself. The rest of the stories are viewable on our Boston Sankofa Journey website here.*
Through spoken word, art, and storytelling, this evening will bridge past and present—inviting us to listen deeply, honor the wisdom of these elders, and discern how we carry the work of truth, healing, and reconciliation forward in our city.
Dinner begins at 5:30 PM | Showcase at 6:30 PM

We invite you to sit at the feet of these elders as we look back together to shape a faithful future together—for Jesus, toward shalom.

Registration is not required, but helpful for our planning purposes. This is a free event – Please help us spread the word!

Fill out the form below to register to attend

Six Ways to Celebrate Boston’s Black History

This is the 100th anniversary of celebrating Black History Month, and UniteBoston celebrates Black History Month by honoring the rich legacy of Black leaders, churches, and communities who have shaped Boston. We recognize the pivotal role of the Black Church in the Civil Rights Movement, whose faith and resilience followed in the footsteps of Jesus Christ to champion racial justice, equality, and shalom.

This month, we invite you to join us to celebrate Boston’s Black History with the opportunities below:

1. Glean From the Stories and Perspectives of Black Pastors

In his powerful sermon on Psalm 78, entitled “What Will We Tell the Next Generation?”, Pastor Willie Bodrick II of Twelfth Baptist Church reminds us that remembering our history is a spiritual responsibility: “Black history isn’t just something we celebrate – it’s something we need to survive our present. The moment we are living in is trying to make us forget who we are. Remembering is our spiritual responsibility and we tell our history so people can put their hope and trust in God.”

Click above to watch Rev. Bodrick’s sermon preached on February 1, 2026 beginning at 1:30

We also commend a message by Rev. Sabrina Gray from Bethel AME Church on how Black history isn’t only what we remember. It’s what we live, what we carry, and what we continue.

2. Dive into EGC’s Fact Friday series

Jaronzie Harris explores the church’s history and legacy in Boston, one short video at a time. Click below to watch their Instagram videos!

  • Did you know that the African Meeting House on Beacon Hill was co-founded by Cato Gardner, a formerly enslaved man born in Africa? 
  • Or that Twelfth Baptist Church was the spiritual home of Wilhelmina Crosson, a pioneering Black school teacher in Boston, who also was instrumental in launching the precursor to Black History Month? 
  • Why is a church on Warren Street in Roxbury called “The Historic Charles Street AME Church?”
  • How about this gem? The founding pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev. Peter Randolph, led a group of 66 freed slaves from Virginia to Boston before the Civil War and also obtained a lawyer to win their rightful freedom! His autobiography is available online!
  • And Union Methodist Church was a stop on the Underground Railroad as well as the home church of David Walker, author of one of the most important early attacks on slavery, Walker’s Appeal. 

3. Take a Black Theology course

This course is part of the Theology Lab at Highrock Church and features scholars, musicians, and church leaders, including Prof. Tom Baskett (Highrock; Berklee College of Music), explores how the faith experiences of Black Americans open up distinct ways of reading Scripture, shed light on the gospel’s liberating power, and model the importance of social engagement for all Christians. Central to this class is the theological claim that the faith of Black Americans is a gift to the whole church. There are six videos and a discussion guide is available here.

4. Learn about Boston’s Black History

Experience Boston’s Black History Firsthand:

  • Use this guide from WBUR to experience the history firsthand in downtown Boston, Cambridge, or Roxbury
  • Use this Map to go on a Boston Greenbook Tour, compiled by Rev. June Cooper, Sankofa cohort member and Theologian in the City at Old South Church. The Boston Green Book was part of The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide published from 1936 to 1967 that listed safe businesses for Black travelers during segregation. Featuring hotels, restaurants, and social hubs along Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street, it highlighted key establishments like Slade’s Bar and Grill and Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe, which remain cultural landmarks today.
  • Use this guide to discover places associated with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Boston.

Other resources on Boston’s Black History:

Hidden in Plain Sight is a new documentary that tells the history of the Black Catholic community within the Archdiocese of Boston through interviews and archival footage of people and meaningful places within the community. This 30-minute documentary explores the contributions, experiences, and enduring faith of Black Catholics. Watch Video Trailers Here: Trailer #1 Trailer #2

They are hosting screenings in Boston on February 10, February 22, and March 21! More info here

5. Incorporate Black History into your daily devotional time

The Evangelical Covenant Church has just published a Love Your Neighbor: A Black History Month Devotional Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. This seven-day devotional explores biblical texts on sacrificial love, justice, and Christian neighboring through the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beginning with young Martin’s painful encounter with racism and his parents’ affirming response, it moves through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, examining what it means to truly love our neighbors—including our enemies. Drawing on Dr. King’s sermons and Scripture, this plan invites readers to address both immediate needs and systemic injustice, ultimately calling Christians to embody Christ’s countercultural love in a divided world.

6. Join us for the upcoming Gospel Experience Tour & the “Boston Sankofa Showcase“event!

 The United Gospel Experience Tour concert on February 21 will be from 3:00 to 5:00pm at UMass Lowell, 220 Pawtucket Street, Lowell, MA 01854, hosted by New Purpose Gospel Choir.

Centered on the theme “Come together, stay together, worship together” (Mt. 18:20), the tour centers on Jesus’ promise that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” In these challenging times, our prayer is that, through this united worship, God’s Spirit will move mightily to bring healing, reconciliation, and new life. We’ve discovered that when students from across New England join their voices in one choir, gospel music rises as a powerful proclamation of hope and freedom.

Click here to read the story behind this year’s tour and how you can be part of it. And don’t miss this documentary of highlights and testimonies from last year’s gospel experience tour!

Also, please plan to join us for a Moth-style storytelling night on Thursday, March 26 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at Twelfth Baptist Church. As part of the Boston Sankofa Journey, our team has been working to record the stories of twelve Black Christian leaders whose faith in Jesus has fueled the work of racial justice and reconciliation in our beloved city. This gathering will bring these testimonies to life through a powerful evening of spoken word, art, and communal reflection. The showcase is designed to bridge the gap between history and the present, inviting the broader community to sit at the feet of these elders and discern how to carry the work of truth and repair forward.

Boston Sankofa Journey Luncheon we hosted in January 2026 with many of the leaders who are being featured in our story archive

It also serves as a launchpad for a city-wide season of story-collecting, encouraging others to record the living histories in their own neighborhoods to ensure that the leadership and spiritual vitality of the Black freedom movement continue to illuminate our path towards racial healing and shalom.

Sankofa teaches us that we cannot move forward unless we look back. By honoring those who paved the way, we carry their courage, conviction, and faith into what’s next. We’re grateful for every story shared and excited to preserve this living legacy for generations to come. 

Black history IS Boston’s history! There are so many onroads here… we encourage you to choose one or two of these this month!

As each of us take steps to learn and experience Boston’s Black history, we discover how remembering the past can help us pursue racial justice, reconciliation, and shalom in our city today.


Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international initiative where Christians worldwide are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Locally, UniteBoston coordinates evening collaborative gatherings of fellowship, prayer and worship from January 18-25 annually.

This Year’s Theme: Drawing from the resilience and liturgical richness of the Christians of Armenia—Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical—this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites us to reflect on Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” As the first nation to officially embrace Christianity in 301 CE, Armenia offers a profound witness to unity that has survived centuries of persecution and displacement. The materials for 2026 highlight that our shared identity is rooted in a ancient covenant, symbolized by the safe arrival of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat and the promise of the rainbow. By focusing on our common vocation and the “one hope” of salvation, we are challenged to move beyond historical divisions toward a conversion of heart, practicing a unity that embraces diversity while remaining steadfast in the love and mission of Christ.

Mark Your Calendars – You are invited to mark your calendars and plan to attend the evening gatherings! In this time of Epiphany, we encourage you to receive the manifestation of Jesus Christ through those of different denominations, races and cultures. Let’s make the most of these opportunities in order to truly be the family of God and serve as the body of Christ in the world. Let’s also pray with our feet – consider how our beliefs can come together in common action and witness.

Spread the Word – We also appreciate help spreading the word to people in your congregation, family, friends, and neighbors. A personal invitation goes a long way.

UB Board Devotionals – This year for the Week of Prayer, the UniteBoston Board and Staff will be sharing video devotional and prayers, which will be shared on our social media. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Calling to mind our common commitment to ‘love thy neighbor,’ may the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2025 be full of moments of conversion of heart through our encounters, so that “all may be one.”

Resources for Your Week of Prayer Experience

Litany for Christian Unity

Christian Unity Daily Prayer Guide – Created by the Greymoor Institute or The Initiative

Introduction on the Theme from Greymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Initiative

As you are able, please also share this invitation with other churches and communities in your network so that more communities may gather to pray at this pivotal time in our country and city.

Schedule for Gatherings in Boston & New England

*All events are free and open to all.*

Thurs January 15  – Taizé Prayer with the Sisters of St. Joseph 

7:00 to 7:45pm at Motherhouse Chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 637 Cambridge St, Brighton, MA 02135

Taizé prayer is a simple form of Christian prayer centered on scripture, silence, and song based on the daily prayer of the religious community in Taizé, France. As women rooted in the Gospel whose mission is to deepen relationships with God and neighbor, the Sisters of St. Joseph invite you to join in praying for unity and love in our world and in our own hearts.

Mon January 19 – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

We encourage you to join into many different opportunities to remember the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Events listed with Meet Boston, City of Cambridge. Various volunteer and service opportunities listed through Boston Cares and City Year.

Tues January 20 – Tuesday Noontime Prayer

12:00 to 1:00pm at Currie Chapel, Tremont Temple Baptist Church, 88 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02108

Based on the model of the 19th century noontime city prayer meetings preceding the Third Great Awakening, the Navigators host a noontime prayer meeting at Tremont Temple Baptist Church every Tuesday. We gather to offer prayers of adoration and supplication with an emphasis on awakening and revival in the city of Boston and beyond.  All are welcome. Contact: Craig Parker, craig.parker@navigators.org

Tues January 20 – ‘It Ain’t Over:’ Music for Hope, Joy and Justice 

6:30 – 8:30pm At First Congregational Church of Wareham, 11 Gibbs Ave, Wareham MA 02571

Join the First Congregational Church of Wareham, UCC and the Arts at the Stone Church ministry for an evening of music, story, and reflection with Rev. Devlin Scott on Tuesday, January 20 in the Greozinger Room (11 Gibbs Ave, Wareham). A singer-songwriter, pastor, worship leader, and choir director, Devlin Scott’s music bridges faith, culture, and justice with honesty and hope, featuring songs from his debut single It Ain’t Over, which speaks to resilience and God’s presence in both joy and struggle. Light meal at 6:30 PM, performance at 7:30 PM. Free and open to all; donations welcome, with free parking available.

Wed January 21 – Forgiveness: An Alternative Account 

 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Cathedral Church of St Paul, 138 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111

Rev. Dr. Matthew Ichihashi Potts explores the complex moral terrain of forgiveness from his book ‘Forgiveness: An Alternative Account.’ Though forgiveness is often linked with reconciliation or the abatement of anger, Potts resists these associations, asserting instead that forgiveness is simply the refusal of retaliatory violence through practices of penitence and grief.  Join us at 6:00 PM for refreshments; the talk begins at 6:30 PM. Free and open to all. Sign up HERE

Thurs January 22 – United as One Body Worship and Prayer Night

6:00 to 8:00pm at NewCity Church, 1135 Walnut Street, Newton MA 02461

Join us for a powerful worship and prayer night hosted by Rev. Devlin Scott from NewCity Church as we focus on the Ephesians vision of one body in alignment with the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Childcare will be provided; contact Rev. Devlin to request, devlin@newcitychurch.cc.

Thurs January 22 – Prayer for Christian Unity

7:00 to 8:00pm online – Zoom Link here

You are warmly invited to join pastors and leaders from the United Methodist and Episcopal Churches in New England for a prayer service for Christian Unity. We are honored that Bishop Thomas Brown, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, will preach and share the gospel with us. Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Bishop of the New England Conference (UMC), will also be present. Join via Zoom here

Sat January 24 – Building Bridges Workshop 

9am to 2:30pm at First Federated Church, 200 Central Street, Hudson, MA, 01749  

Grounded in Ephesians 2:19–22, this gathering celebrates our shared identity as “one household” in God, with Christ as the cornerstone. We are honored to welcome Dr. Virginia Ward as our keynote speaker. A dynamic pastor and educator, Dr. Ward will inspire us to build bridges of grace and unity across our diverse cultures and generations. $30/person or $100 for a group of any size. Register here.

Sun January 25 – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Prayer Service

7:00pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 61 Wood St, Hopkinton, MA 01748

Join pastoral leaders in the Hopkinton area for liturgical prayer using the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity worship service. Fr. Len Cowen from the Abbey of the Way will be the homilist.

Mon Jan 26 – Taize prayer with The Crossing

 7:00 to 8:00pm at the Cathedral Church of St Paul, 138 Tremont Street,  Boston, MA 02111

Join the Crossing Community for Taize prayer, a simple form of Christian prayer centered on scripture, silence, and song based on the daily prayer of the religious community in Taizé, France.


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