Two local Unitarian Universalist congregations have decided to collaborate and create something new and stronger. Both congregations have a long tradition of working on social justice issues in the community and are open and welcoming of people from all religious faiths and backgrounds. Both churches have rich and long histories going back to the founding of their communities. On May 3, the congregations took a historic and important vote to formally merge as of July 1.
The two congregations have names that represent earlier mergers, and the new name will continue and broaden that tradition. Since all these communities are in the Assabet River valley, it seemed natural to name the combined church after this river that is important to us all. Members now come from not just the historical towns of Acton, Stow, Hudson, and Marlborough, but most of the surrounding towns in the Assabet Valley, as well.
There were concerns on all sides about the merger, said a longtime member from Acton who preferred not to be named because she can’t get up on Sunday mornings early enough to get to church. She said the congregations did a great job of soliciting feedback from their members “and, in the end, Reverend Cindy focused on the grief process, noting that it would affect not only the churches that were closing but the First Parish UU also, as change is a type of grief. Basically they did a really good job of letting everybody express their feelings. In the end, the votes to merge were overwhelmingly positive.”
In the year ahead, you will see new services and activities coming from this combined congregation. The historic First Parish of Stow and Acton church building will be the home base for the activities and traditions of both congregations on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. All are welcome and encouraged to watch for announcements and join for Sunday services, religious education, spiritual and community programs, music and special concerts, and special times.
The congregation will now be known as the Unitarian Universalist Church in the Assabet Valley. The combined congregation is based at 353 Great Road in Stow. The individual congregations’ social media sites are available until July 1: http://www.fpc-stow-acton.org and ucmh.org.
For more information, contact Rev. Cynthia Landrum at 517-897-9565 or minister@fpc-stow-acton.org.
