The Union Church in Waban                
Friday, April 27 2018
This Sunday 
 8:00 a.m.:   Practices of Prayer for All Ages  (details below)

 9:00 a.m.:    Choir Rehearsal
 
10:00 a.m.:   Sunday Worship  
This Sunday, Rev. June Cooper from our partner City Mission joins us at church. After church, meet with June on the stage to discuss preventing family homelessness and poverty, and how CM is responding in Boston.
11:15 a.m.:    Bell Choir Rehearsal
11:30 a.m.:     City Mission:  Join us on the stage  for a reception on Stage                                                    with  Rev. June Cooper
Featured








A Note from our Partner: The A. Jean Brugger Foundation.


Dear sponsors and friends of Fundacion A. Jean Brugger:
 
We want to thank all those who have taken our Nicaragua, students and the Foundation
in your prayers. The Staff, students, Jean and our families are well and healthy. Trusting in God that our Nicaragua continues to be visited and loved by all and that it continues
to shine!!! We love you and we are proud to count on all of you, with your love, 
patience and support. On behalf of our beloved Jean Brugger, we say THANK YOU
for your prayers!
Hugs and blessings to everyone!
 
Vilma V. Bustos G.
Executive Director
Fundacion A. Jean Brugger, 
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. 

 
 
Children, Youth and Families
This Sunday - Youth Ministry Team Meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The Youth Ministry Team will gather tonight at the home of Susan Hunt Stevens, as we look ahead to the coming year, and our hopes for our Middle and High School youth. If you are a parent, youth, or member of the community interested in supporting our youth, and you would like to join the conversation, please be in touch with Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org, 617-938-8112). We'd love to have you gather with us!  
Upcoming Youth Events! Common Cathedral May 5th and 6th
Today's Outdoor Adventure Day has been postponed as we await sunnier weather, but please plan to join us next weekend as we prepare to serve lunch and worship with the Common Cathedral congregation (see details above in the Mission section of this bulletin). Youth are invited to gather Saturday, May 5th at 6:30 p.m. to prepare food and ourselves for our visit the next day. We'll then finish preparations during Sunday School, before heading to Boston Common to serve lunch and worship at 12 noon on Sunday. This is always a favorite service event for our youth, and we hope you and yours will join us! Youth are invited to RSVP via the Evite sent to families, or to email Pastor Amy at amy@ucw.org.
Mission Outreach
Common Cathedral: May 6 
CALLING FOR DONATIONS OF SOCKS!

Join us as we worship and share lunch with the members of the Common Cathedral congregation on Boston Common! Youth will prepare food during Sunday School (see below), and then help serve lunch before joining their afternoon worship. Common Cathedral is an outdoor church, and a place of community for many experiencing homelessness. In addition to lunch, we will bring gifts of much-needed men's tube/athletic white socks, and are grateful for sock donations (please see the box in the Crocker Chapel). For more information, please contact Jane Purser or Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
Walk for Peace
May 13

Your generous offerings to the Easter Special Collection will support both the Mass Coalition to End Gun Violence and the Louis Brown Peace Institute.

Please follow the link below for information on the 22nd Brown Mother's Day Walk.  

Offering of Letters to Prevent Gun Violence

Our church has a 3-pronged response against gun violence in our society; the March for Life in solidarity with students who are continuing to advocate for gun control across the country, the Easter offering of funds contributed to the Coalition Against Gun Violence, and the forthcoming Offering of Letters to our Massachusetts legislators regarding laws on gun control.

On Mother's Day (May 13th), we will be signing and collecting letters to be sent to our legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives. Marching for a cause, contributing funds, and advocating for legislation reflect our concern for commonsense gun control.


UCW-GBIO  House Meetings: 
Come Share Your Story


The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization  (GBIO) is in the middle of a once-in-three-years "listening campaign," to identify issues for which there is widespread energy for action. As part of this campaign, UCW has pledged to have at least five house meetings before people disappear for the summer. (For a more fulsome explanation, please see last week's newsletter at http://www.ucw.org/weekly-newsletter/).

House meetings are focused,   small-group conversations in which eight to ten people share their defining stories and concerns. Like the one-to-one "relational" meetings we had last fall, they're a wonderful opportunity to deepen our relationships with each other and strengthen our church community.

Please sign up for a house meeting!   next one is scheduled for Sun., May 6th, at 6:15 p.m ., at the home of Carol Bascom-Slack. Go HERE for the full schedule and to sign up. One individual name per numbered slot, please!

Questions? Contact one of our house-meeting co-captains, Mark Smith ( mark@dogwoodlanefarm.org ) or Jaap van Reijendam ( jaapvanr@gmail.com).

Faith Formation and Fellowship
Wellspring: Wednesday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m.
WELLSPRING for women will meet on Wednesday April 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Reception Room. We start with a simple meal, followed by sharing and a reflection on how God knows us by name, based on the Resurrection narrative. All women are welcome.
Practices of Prayer for All Ages over Eastertide

Why do we pray? Who are we praying to? 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 on Sunday mornings during Eastertide on the Stage from 8-9:00 a.m. If you have any question or for more information please be in touch with Brian Donovan, Brian@ucw.org



What: We cannot live without water. Water is essential to life. In biblical times (as in many cultures around the world today), the source of water was a well and women were the ones who came to the well to draw water for their families. As such, wells were a meeting place, a place of encounter where women gathered not only to draw up the water but also to share with each other, to hear the news of their lives, to be friends in their community. We invite the women of the church to "come to the well" on May 4 - 6th.

Why:    This will be a time to enjoy each other's company, share our stories and grow together in love and hope -- a time to draw deeply of the nourishing waters of our faith and to be refreshed and renewed by God's word and presence.

Where: Toah Nipi, 252 Old Ashburnham Road, Rindge, NH 03461, toahnipi.office@intervarsity.org , Phone: 603-899-5464 . Toah Nipi (which means "Quiet Waters") is a lovely and rest-filled setting in the spring for walks and activities by the lake.

When: 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 4 to 11:00 a.m., Sunday, May 6.

Cost: $120 includes four meals, and two nights lodging. If the cost of the retreat is a barrier to you, please feel free to contribute whatever is within your means. Also, if you would like to make a donation to a common fund to help make it possible for others to attend, it would be very much appreciated. 


If you have questions or would like more information about the retreat please reach out to Priscilla Kelso, plkelso@verizon.net / (617) 965-5399 or Pastor Stacy at 
Stacy@ucw.org
  (617) 965-3893.

UCW Community News

Newton Nomadic Theater 
presents t he American premiere of 

DRACULA: The Bloody Truth.
by Le Navet Bete and
John Nicholson 

Performances at the Unoin Church in Waban: 
April 27, 28 and May 3, 4

T his lightening quick comedy has 4 actors portraying over 40 characters in the age old tale of DRACULA like you've never seen before. First performed in England last year by Le Navet Bete company, this smash hit comedy swoops its way to Newton M
A for the its American premiere. Its a comedy your want to sink you teeth into, Count on it!

The first two weekends of the show( April 27, 28 and May 3, 4) will be performed at the Union Church in Waban in the Vestry. The following two weekend will be performed at the Sacco -Pettee Mill in Upper Falls and Gregorians Rugs in Lower Falls.
 
For tickets and information please contact Linda Goetz ( goetzlinda@msn.com) or website.
   

The Newton Nomadic  Theater is dedicated to producing simply staged, high quality theater in interesting and unconventional theater spaces in and around Newton.

UCW Member Seeking Resources and Referrals  

Adam Betters Reed, member of UCW and current Newton resident is a 30-year-old on the autism spectrum with experience living on his own who is looking for both housing and for an apartment/condo mate starting approximately August 2018.   

There is no expectation of coordinating meals or social life.  Adam has a strong preference for living in Newton, MA with access to the Green Line and near stores.  He grew up in Waban and is currently living in Newton Center in a house that is closing this summer. 

Adam's interests include:  history, politics, Fan Fiction, Anime, walking, dogs/animals, food.  Adam is currently enrolled in Pathways to Employment JF&CS program, but this too will discontinue in early fall.  

His mother Bonnie is coordinating these multiple searches, and can be reached at 
617-281-4224 or  bonitabetters@gmail.com .  

Any suggestions, resources or referrals are greatly appreciated. 

The Week Ahead at UCW

Sun., April 29
8:00 a.m.
Prayer Group (Stage)
 
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
 
10:00 a.m.
Worship
 
11:15 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
11:30 a.m.
City Mission Conversation
 
5:00 p.m.
Capital Campaign/Evaluation Meeting
 
6:30 p.m.
Youth Ministry Meeting
Mon., April 30
7:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
Tue., May 1
6:00 p.m.
Deacons
Wed., May 2
6:00 p.m.
Council
Fri., May 4
6:00 p.m.
Women's Retreat Begins
Sun., May 6
8:00 a.m.
Prayer Group (Stage)
 
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
 
10:00 a.m.
Worship
 
11:15 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
12:00 p.m.
Common Cathedral
 
6:00 p.m.
Exploring Our Faith/Confirmation

For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,  please 
visit our website,  www.ucw.org 
 
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!  
From the Wider Community 
"Moral Courage in Public Policy"

Thursday, May 10, 2018, 6 - 9:00 p.m.
Temple Ohabei Shalom
1187 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446



"Moral Courage in Public Policy": What does this mean? Why do communities need to be a part of shaping public policy? What areas do they want involvement in? What are some examples in communities already? How do WE participate in society? It will be a  night of musiccommunity awards, and a  great way to meet people
 across our different constituencies.

Reverend Liz Walker,  Roxbury Presbyterian Church's senior pastor, joined them in December of 2011. Rev. Liz, an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal tradition is a 2005 graduate of Harvard Divinity School and a veteran television journalist, the first African-American weeknight news anchor in Boston. Rev Liz can be heard on the radio Monday - Friday on WROL 950AM at 8:15am. Listen to her previous radio sermons in Roxbury Presbyterian Church's  Audio Archive or subscribe to them on  iTunes
.