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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, March 9, 2018
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Daylight Saving Time
Begins This Weekend!
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8:00 a.m.:
Bible Study in Stacy's study. All are welcome.
9:00 a.m.:
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.:
Special
W
orship Service.
This Sunday our Nicaragua Travelers will lead us in worship sharing the highlights and learning from their recent service trip.
11:15 a.m.:
Bell Choir
11:30 a.m.:
Congregational
Conversation/ faith and the World
5:00 p.m.: Capital Campaign Executive Committee
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This Sunday!
Congregational Conversation regarding Faith and the World Continues:
After Service at 11:30 a.m.
Please join us after church for a congregational conversation as we consider
"How are we as people of faith to respond to the challenges of our time? How are we as followers of Jesus, to engage with the world and how can the church help us to do so?" These questions touch on all aspects of our life together - adult education and spiritual formation, CE for kids/youth, worship, fellowship and of course mission/outreach. These conversations will be broad and long but we hope also will be specific about what we as church are doing well in supporting you and giving you opportunities to put your faith into action, as well as surfacing what else we may need to think about. Like last year's congregational conversations regarding worship, these conversations are not in response to anything that is wrong or problematic but instead are a sign of our health and vitality as we continually lean into trying ever more faithfully to assure that we as a church are responding to the needs of our people and what the times are calling forth from us. Child care will be provided.
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Saturday, March 24
at 10:00 a.m.
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T
he voices of the youth of our nation are speaking loudly. Now is the time for action. Now is the time to stop gun violence in our schools, in our streets and in our homes.
We will be offering an opportunity to gather at UCW for a time of centering, prayer and music on Saturday, March 24
at 10:00 a.m.
Following the gathering, all are invited to board the "T" and travel to Boston to participate in the March for Our Lives in support of our local youth.
Youth organizers have said "change is coming ... it starts now".
Help their voices be heard.
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Children, Youth and Families
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PALM SUNDAY
Kids and Youth lead us in Worship and a Walk Through Holy Week!
March 24
th: Pizza and Prep from 4-7:00 p.m.
(come for all or part)
March 25th: Kids lead Morning Worship
This year, mirroring our telling of the Christmas story in Advent, our children and youth will lead the congregation in remembering the story of Palm Sunday and the week leading up to Easter - of how Jesus gathered with his friends at the last supper, and how God works in ways beyond our imagining in the darkest of places. It is a story of courage and doubt; forgiveness and hope; evil and the deep Love that overcomes it, and we hope you and your children and youth will be a part of our sharing of it this year. We will continue preparations on March 18th in Sunday School, and then gather on Saturday, March 24th for a fun time of pizza, prep and rehearsal! If your child or youth would like to participate, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
Youth Ministry Events Coming up: Youth Overnight!
Friday, March 16
th- Saturday, March 17
th:
Lenten Sleepover at the Church
The Youth Group is excited for our wonderful Lenten Overnight, when the kids are invited to spend the night in the church, eating, playing games, working on art installations for youth-led service on March 25th, and maybe getting a bit of sleep! The kids love this time to be together and explore the church, and we hope you and/or your youth will be part of it! For a complete listing of Youth Ministry events, please see the calendar on the Youth and Children's table in the Crocker Chapel, or contact Amy (
amy@ucw.org
).
Youth Ministry Team Meeting - March 18
th
The Youth Ministry Team will gather on the evening of March 18th from 6-8:00 p.m. in the home of Erika and Kyle Pond. If you would like to join us as we look over the fall, and ahead to the spring and coming year, please connect with Kyle Pond or Susan Hunt-Stevens, or Pastor Amy (
amy@ucw.org
).
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Calling for Easter Egg Candy!
Easter is almost here, which means our beloved Easter Egg Hunt! We have many plastic eggs, but are grateful for nut-free candy or other goodies to put in them. Donation may be left outside Amy's office. Thank you!
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Faith Formation and Education
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Java Gents:
Friday Morning, March 16th at 7:00 a.m.
JAVA Gents is our informal monthly breakfast hour for the men of the UCW congregation (and community). The group aims to provide friendly fellowship and mutual support to the men. We meet the third Friday of each month in the church reception room at 7:00 a.m. We will have snacks, fruits, lots of hot coffee, etc. Along with good food and coffee, we share a lively and supportive discussion of timely topics as well as personal goings on in our lives.
Newcomers and non-Union Church members are always welcome!
If you can spend the whole hour with us that is great, however if it's only for a few minutes we truly understand and would love to see you. Hopefully we get a good combination of regulars, part timers, and new guys.
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Women's Retreat: May 4th - 6th.
Our Wellspring Women's Group that meets monthly on the third Wednesday invites all the women of the church to come away! It has been many years since the church has had a women's retreat, but the time has come! All women, of all ages and all stages of life are invited to this time away to rest, reflect, share and be strengthened by a time together in the beauty of the New Hampshire woods. The retreat will begin on Friday evening May 4th and conclude with worship on Sunday morning May 6th. We will be gathering at Toah Nipi ("Quiet Waters" ) which is only a little over an hour away in Rindge, New Hampshire (car-pooling will be available). The cost for two nights lodging and 5 meals (Friday night, three meals Saturday and Sunday breakfast) is $116. If you are interested in sharing in this time or have any questions, please speak with Priscilla Kelso or Pastor Stacy.
Practices of Prayer for All Ages over Eastertide
Why do we pray? Who are we praying too? Is anyone listening? Have you ever found yourself asking these questions? Do you still practice daily prayer? During the season of Easter, let us come together to explore any, and all, questions about prayer that weighs heavily on your heart. In our journey together as a community devoted to mindful prayer, we may each discover a daily prayer practice which may add to our spiritual wholeness. Each practice will be explained on one week; then, we will explore together how this form of prayer from various faith traditions rejuvenates the spirit, or if the practice does not help you reach God. This is a multigenerational exploration into the communal and individual prayer practices of humankind. Please join us Sundays for Eastertide in the Memorial Chapel from 8-9:00 a.m., starting on April 8th.
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HOLY WEEK OFFERINGS at UCW
Palm Sunday, March 25th.
P
alm Sunday marks the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, with waving palms and shouts of Hosanna. This year the children and youth will lead us in worship and walk us through the story of Holy Week. As they do, we are invited to consider our own walk of faith, and how we too may experience God's love in the death-dealing places of our day.
Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae Service, March 29, 6:15 p.m
.
Our worship begins with a light meal as we join with Jesus' Last Supper. As the light fades, we move into our Tenebrae portion of the service where we move through scripture and song with Jesus and the disciples as the events of Holy Week unfold. "Tenebrae" is the Latin word for "darkness" and it is therefore during this time that we contemplate our own brokenness and weakness in the light of God's powerful message of redemptive love. Child care will be available. Suggested donation of $5/individual or $20 cap for families.
Good Friday, March 30.
The sanctuary will be open from 4-7:00 p.m. giving us space in this Holy Week to light candles of prayer or sit in silence as perhaps we feel called to contemplate, not only all that Jesus endured on that first Good Friday so long ago, but the crucifying powers of our day as well. This time of quiet will include a contemplative prayer gathering from 6-6:30 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Service, April 1, 6:15 a.m.
,
outside Wilson Chapel at Andover Newton Theological School, 210 Herrick Rd, Newton Center.
As we gather at the dawning of the day, we will give God praise for the Risen Son, Christ our Lord.
Easter Sunday Worship, April 16, 10:00 a.m.
With joy and thanksgiving we will celebrate the enduring power of Love and the affirmation that there is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God. Children are invited to stay in the sanctuary for the entirety of our Easter worship, though we will have nursery care available. Immediately after worship, the children will have their much beloved Easter Egg Hunt.
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Cairns are piles of rocks laid down over the years by passersby on mountainous trails or paths, and used as way-finders when weather is bad or darkness falls, or on trails above tree line. Often years in the making, hikers leave stones on the piles left by others;insome areas of the world they are also known as
prayer towers, as the stones and rocks left by hikers and pilgrims represent a prayer or petition. Cairns help us find our way in difficult conditions and difficult times; they also remind us that we are not lost as we navigate through darkness or barren landscapes.
This Lenten season, stone by stone together, we will build a cairn in Memorial Chapel. We will build a cairn to help us find our way as we journey through Lent, seeking to walk in the way of Jesus. Stone by stone, prayer by prayer it will grow throughout the six weeks of Lent. We will have stones available in Memorial Chapel but you are also invited to bring stones from your travel whether that be in your own back yard or as far away as Nicaragua.
We are building a cairn during Lent to help us find our way, but also because a cairn is what we hope this church is and will continue to be into the future for people out in the community and in the world. Build stone upon prayer-filled stone, we hope that this church on the corner of Collins Road and Beacon Street will be a signpost for all who are trying to find their way. A signpost leading to a welcoming community of healing, servant-hood, truth telling, witness, trust and new life.
Photo by Mark Smith
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Sun., March. 11
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8:00 a.m.
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Bible Study
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9:00 a.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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10:00 a.m.
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Worship (Led by Nica Travelers)
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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11:30 a.m.
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Congregational Conversations/
Faith in the World
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5:00 p.m.
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Capital Campaign
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Mon., March 12
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7:30 a.m.
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Living Waters Prayer in Memorial Chapel
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Wed., March 14
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6:30 p.m.
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Nimbus/Moderator's Team
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Thur., March 15
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10:30 a.m.
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Waban Health Worship
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Fri., March 16
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7:00 a.m.
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Java Gents
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5:00 p.m.
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Youth Overnight!
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Sun., March. 18
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8:00 a.m.
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Bible Study
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9:00 a.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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10:00 a.m.
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Worship
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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6:00 p.m.
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Youth Ministry Team Meeting
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For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,
please
Note
: Material for inclusion in the Friday e-Blast newsletter or our Sunday Announcements insert should be e-mailed to the office at
ucw@ucw.org
, by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning. Please specify whether for e-Blast, Sunday Announcements, or both. Thank you!
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