The Union Church in Waban               
Friday, February 14, 2020 

This Sunday
          8:00 a.m. - Bible Study (Stacy's study)
  9:00 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal  
10:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship 
  Prayers and Notebooks for our Nicaragua Travelers

This Sunday morning, twenty members of Union Church, along with Pastor Amy, are worshiping with our partner church Alpha-Omega in San Juan del Sur.  Pastor Amy is preaching, and our children and adults are helping lead their Sunday School. We'll share the notebooks our children created as gifts, as well as crafts, songs, and food for reception. As part of Sunday School, we hope the children of Alpha-Omega may write letters back to our children too!  During the week, this group will help to repair a school, and create a usable space outside for the kids to eat lunch and play.  We'll also spend meaningful time with our partners at the Mobile Library and Brugger Foundation, and visit the communities of our former work sites.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we travel and build relationships in Nicaragua!  We look forward to sharing photos and experiences from the trip during worship on March 15 th . 
   
Ash Wednesday Service - February 26th at 7:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of our Lenten Journey towards Holy Week and the Glory of Easter Morning.  

This contemplative service creates space for us to examine our own hearts and longings.  It invites us to name that which may be keeping us from the One who has come to show us The Way and to pledge ourselves to a journey of transformation.  

During the 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday service Pastor Amy will meet with children for their own service, including prayer, art, and time with the labyrinth.
CRADLES TO CRAYONS COLLECTION
THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

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Please bring in new or gently-used donations for Cradles to Crayons! Donation bins are located in the chapel and will be available until this Sunday, February 16 th.  Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive - at home, at school, and at play. 

 
Most Needed Items:    
  • Everyday shoes/sneakers    
  • Boys clothing  
  • Sweaters/sweatshirts
Other Accepted Items:
  • Clothing and coats (youth sizes 0-20 and adult sizes small & medium)
  • Baby equipment, especially strollers and car seats within five years old
  • New and like-new toys (Gently-used toys must have all pieces. We do not accept stuffed animals, ride-on toys, or plastic play structures. No large toys please.)
  • Shoes, boots, sneakers, and sandals (infant/child sizes 0-13 and adult sizes 1-10)
  • New socks and underwear
  • Pajamas (can be new or gently used)
  • Books, especially baby board books
  • Brand new arts and crafts/school supplies
  • Baby supplies and bedding (up to size twin)
  • Diapers, all sizes
  • New hygiene supplies for ages 0 to 12 
  • New batteries
Go  HERE for more.

Save the Date!
The Penalty for Success
My Father was Lynched in Lowndes County, Alabama
Po tluck & Conversation with Speaker & Author 
 Josephine Bolling McCall
Sunday, March 8 th at 6:00 p.m.


Sponsored by the Advocates of Racial Justice, Josephine will tell the story of how her father's success as a businessman in Alabama led to his lynching and how that impacts his descendants and the community even today. She will provide updates on the Legacy Museum and the Memorial in Montgomery both of which honor her father as one of many victims. Jo will also challenge us to rethink the reality of life for Blacks and Whites in the mid-20th century rural South by considering joining a literacy campaign. Research shows that children who have learned to read by the third grade have a much better chance of completing high school. Alabama has a new law that children will be retained if they do not successfully complete the third grade. The speaker hopes her presentation will set the stage for dialogue on creative ideas for participants to help improve literacy in Lowndes County, Alabama.    

If you are interested in sharing in this evening with Josephine,
please rsvp to Pastor Stacy.
                   

Adult Education, Spiritual Formation and Fellowship
Wellspring/Women's Group
Wednesday, February 19th at 6:30 p.m.   
Wellspring is our women's group at the Union Church in Waban.  Each month we gather for a potluck meal as we share in conversation about that which is on our hearts.  For more information please be in touch with  Pastor Stacy .
Norwood Health Worship
Thursday, February 20th at 10:30 a.m.  
Once a month, we join with the residents of Norwood Health Center for a spirited worship service.   If you are interested in sharing in the service this Thursday, please be in touch with Pastor Stacy.   

Also, if you are interested in learning more about this ministry please join us for a conversation on the stage after worship on February 23rd at 11:30 a.m.
Java Gents
Friday,  February, 21 st , 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.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 hot breakfast, snacks, juice, 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. Hope many of you can make it this Friday.  For more information please be in touch with Buz Bedford or Jay O'Beirne.
February Book Group
SUNDAY,  February, 23 rd , 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. 
Our next book is " The Soul of America " by Jon Meacham.

Our February read is the Pulitzer Prize winning "The Soul of America: The Battle for our Better Angels" by New York Times bestselling author, Jon Meacham. 

"While the American story has not always-or even often-been heroic, we have been sustained by a belief in progress even in the gloomiest of times. In this inspiring book, Meacham reassures us, "The good news is that we have come through such darkness before"-as, time and again, Lincoln's better angels have found a way to prevail."* - Amazon Review
Praise for The Soul of America
"Brilliant, fascinating, timely . . . With compelling narratives of past eras of strife and disenchantment, Meacham offers wisdom for our own time." -Walter Isaacson
"Gripping and inspiring,  The Soul of America is Jon Meacham's declaration of his faith in America." -Newsday
"Meacham gives readers a long-term perspective on American history and a reason to believe the soul of America is ultimately one of kindness and caring, not rancor and paranoia." -USA Today.  

 
Save The Date!
Boston City Singers
Sunday, March 15 th at 3:00 p.m.

Performing at The Union Church in Waban
Join us for a memorable concert featuring Luke and Elisabeth van Reijendam and the talented Boston City Singers' 35-voice choir in a program of music and dance from around the world, in collaboration with Naledi Masilo and Chi-Wei Lo. This will be your last chance to hear Luke sing with this choir as he will be graduating from high school this spring!
 
Your donation will support the Scholarship Fund for our upcoming Global Voices Tour to Ecuador, in the summer of 2021. Your support ensures that all chorus members, regardless of financial means, can participate. We never leave anyone behind! No tickets required. Free-will donations at the door.  More details here.  Thank you, Jaap van Reijendam. 

Mission Outreach 
Public Voice Speakers from City Mission
Sunday, March 1 st , following worship
  We are privileged to host two speakers from City Mission's Public Voice program on Mar.1 st  after fellowship. Public Voice provides trained storytellers/speakers whose lived experience gives insight, understanding and perspective to the issues underlying homelessness. City Mission's Public Voice Project customizes storytelling training and presentations to help participants find and share the stories which break down barriers and build understanding within oneself as well as across groups, cultures and communities.
CYFChildren, Youth and Families
Growing in Faith and Community 
PARENTS' GROUP - RESCHEDULED FOR
Monday, February 24 th , 7:30-9:00 p.m.
To accommodate the public school February vacation week and the Nicaragua service trip, we will meet a bit later in the month. All are invited to join us as we share the joys and challenges of parenting, and find moments of peace and support together.

TEACHER BREAKFAST - POSTPONED TO 
Sunday March 1st, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
  We hope anyone who teaches in our Sunday Schools, or who is interested in our Children's Ministry will join our monthly teacher breakfast - postponed a week due to the Nicaragua trip -in Pastor Amy's office. This month we will talk about the season of Lent, intergenerational relationship-building; and the service the kids will lead on Palm Sunday.

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUPS - More Events Coming Up!    
Please save the date for upcoming Middle School and High-School get-togethers:
  • Feb. 28th, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.: Cookie Baking and Delivery - Middle and High Schoolers will have dinner together, and then bake and deliver cookies to members of our congregation who could use a little extra sweetness!
  • March 1st: High School Youth Group @ Boda Borg! - We have a reservation at Boda Borg from 2:00-4:00 p.m., and then will come back to the church for pizza and Exploring Our Faith
  • March 8th: Common Cathedral - All ages are invited to help prepare food in Sunday School, and then to serve lunch and worship with our friends experiencing homelessness on Boston Common.
  • March 27th-28th: Middle School Overnight! We'll gather for an awesome night of fun, games, food, connection and worship.
                                                
                                      Our Covenant
 
We, the members of The Union Church in Waban, true to our founding principle of being an inclusive church, covenant together to nourish and to sustain in our common life and practice a fully welcoming and affirming church for all persons. Welcoming all persons who seek to join with us in a commitment to love God and our neighbors, affirming the inclusive love of Jesus, we are open to all, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nationality, ability or economic circumstance. We invite all to full participation in our worship, membership, leadership and life of this church.


Performing at The Union Church
BCS

It is the hope of the Union Church to always have our sanctuary open on Sunday mornings for worship and fellowship. We also realize that conditions may be such that the safest option for staff and congregants is not to travel. We ask that all use their best judgment. As such, in inclement conditions, the church will remain open - however we cannot assure that there will be childcare, Sunday School, professional music or pulpit coverage. Every effort will be made to keep walkways and stairs clear, although this cannot be guaranteed. Congregants will find an open door, a worship service and sanctuary together with others.

In the extreme situation in which the church is unable to open, notification will be on the church website ( ucw@ucw.org ), and a message will be on the church phone  - 617-527-6221.     

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 should be e-mailed to the office at ucw@ucw.org , by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning.