United Way

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The 220+ members of the United Parish are affiliated with United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and American Baptist denominations. A number of our congregants come from a variety of Christian and other traditions, or have limited experience with organized religion. All are welcome on our spiritual journey together. How did we come to be a United Parish? In the 1970's, three Protestant churches in Brookline merged and began a new life together. They brought together different traditions, styles of worship, and theological outlooks from the denominations. What they had in common was a faith in a God who was made known in Jesus Christ, a commitment to the church, and a belief that they were called to something new. Their ecumenical venture celebrated the unity of the Christian church and witnessed to its diversity. More than thirty years later, the United Parish in Brookline is a vibrant community that still celebrates and witnesses to that vision. We are a community of seekers that supports the spiritual growth of its members and reaches out to those in need. Shared worship is the core of our life together, and we have varied lay ministries of music, education, service and fellowship. While we honor our traditions, we are open to new ideas and are always looking for new leadership in shaping our program offerings to meet the needs and interests of the community. Pat Coughlin Patricia Coughlin grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, in a devoutly Catholic household. She attended Mass daily and came to treasure the rich liturgy and traditions of the Catholic faith. From a very young age, she knew that she wanted to serve God and the church. A month after high school graduation she entered the novitiate of a religious order to become a sister. After two years of study, she left the novitiate and enrolled at Clark University.