The Union Church in Waban |
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Worship (In-person and Online)
Sunday, Oct. 31st, 10:00 a.m.
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Pastor Wendy will preach and we will celebrate the saints in our midst and in that great cloud of witnesses.
The biblical story of Ruth and Naomi will center us in asking the question - how shall we go together? Ministry in a time of transition has always been a challenge. Layer the havoc wreaked by the pandemic and discerning a way forward in an upended world adds more challenge. What stories of people of faith can help us find our way? We'll explore these themes in the next few Sundays as we come together, build relationship and set on a path towards new pastoral leadership. The sermon is inspired in part by this song - feel free to check it out in advance. See you in worship in-person and online.
To join Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 832 2059 8969
Passcode: 458322
Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656
The bulletin is available HERE
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YOU ARE INVITED - Following Worship this Sunday!
Gather after worship on Zoom and at our outdoor reception together as we welcome Pastor Wendy!
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To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings,
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Meet and Greet with Pastor Wendy |
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I am thrilled to be on board with Pastor Amy serving UCW. It may not be surprising that a key element of Christian community is actually building relationships! In an effort to join this community more fully and get to know your stories, I am offering times for 1 - 4 people to meet with me gathering on Zoom or in person.
The Sign-up Link can be found HERE
Setting this up as small groups dedicates time outside of the usual gathering spaces as well as foster connections between friends and members of Union Church. I hope these times work for you. Please email me if you cannot find a time that is suitable and we'll make another plan.
Please review the available slots and click on the button to sign up.
Blessings all. Thank you!
Pastor Wendy
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Church Photographer will be Available
Sundays, November 7th and 14th after Service
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As we come back together in-person and as a way to help Pastor Wendy get to know UCW, Jim MacDonald will be available on Sundays after worship on November 7 + 14 to take pictures of people. These photos will be uploaded into the church database and ultimately will become a church directory accessible through an app. For now, you can take advantage of Jim's skill or send your own pics to Aidan to upload at ucw@ucw.org
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Pastoral Care Connections
During this time of transition, please know that your church is here for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Revs. Wendy Vander Hart or Amy Clark Feldman for prayer or pastoral support:
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Pastor Wendy's email is seniorpastor@ucw.org and her office phone is 617-965-3893
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Pastor Amy's email is amy@ucw.org, and her cell phone for calls or texts is 617-938-8112.
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Please note: Both of our pastors take Mondays off as a day of rest and Sabbath. If you are in need of urgent pastoral support on this coming Monday, November 1st, you can reach out to Pastor Wendy, who will be available for emergencies.
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Upcoming Sundays & Gatherings |
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10:00 a.m. Worship - Coming Up!
We hope you will join us online or in-person following Covid safety guidelines!
Come, and find reconnection, renewal, hope, and joy as we gather together
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Pastor Wendy Preaching - Communion
Sunday, November 7th
Pastor Wendy will preach and we will share in the fellowship of Communion. We will also continue our celebration of the saints in our community. As a reminder, it will be Daylight Savings time weekend, so be sure to set your clocks back one hour!
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Save The Date!
Saturday, November 13th at 9:00am
All-Church Helping Hands
Clean-up & Service Day
Help with the Community Thanksgiving Dinner!
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Join in as we serve our beloved church and community together!
Bring your rakes and garden tools.
We'll have fun and re-connect while we:
- Clean-up and work on projects inside and outside our church building
- Lend a Helping Hand to members of our church community who could use help with fall clean-up or other projects
- Prepare and Pack Meals and gifts to share for our Community Thanksgiving Dinner!
For more information, please contact:
Thank you for being part of this meaningful and important day!
All ages (including kids and youth) are welcome and needed!
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Pastor Amy leads Sunday School on
Sunday, November 7th
This Sunday, our younger kids are invited to join our Children's Ministry Staff member Olivia for Sunday School as we celebrate All-Saints day. Then, on November 7th, Pastor Amy will resume leading the kids and youth during worship with a special all-ages Sunday School before returning to share Communion. We hope you and yours will join us!
Exploring Our Faith:
Next meeting, Sunday Nov. 7th
Gather from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Youth Room!
We'll meet at our regular monthly time on the first Sunday in November (7th) from 6:30-8:30p.m. Jay O'Beirne will join us, and we will talk about where God is when bad things happen. We'll also begin thinking about our June Mission trip. It will be great to see you then!
All (Youth, Kids & Families) Hands On Deck!
Saturday, Nov. 13th
We Need You and Yours for the Helping Hands and Thanksgiving Dinner Day (See above)
Come when you can, for as long as you can, but please plan to come! There will be all sorts of jobs for all ages, talents, and abilities. Pastor Amy will send a sign-up out to the youth groups and families soon, so please keep an eye out! It's going to be an awesome day!
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Fall Youth & Families Calendar Now Available! |
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Adult Formation and Gatherings |
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UCW Book Group
Tuesday, November 30th at 7:00 p.m.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.
Please join us on Tuesday, November 30th at 7:00 p.m. for our next book group meeting. This month we will be reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. You will find a zoom link and sign-in information below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alan Cody (almorrow@aol.com)
Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155
Passcode: 431699
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Tea Time
Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.
This Tuesday, we'll take a break from Bible Study, but gather for conversation and prayer, and a look at the weeks ahead. We hope you'll join us!
Meeting ID: 847 2838 1864
Passcode: 837512
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Newton Freedge: Volunteers Needed!
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Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. The Newton Freedge is one way we can help. A free, 24/7 outdoor refrigerator and pantry, the Freedge provides free food and personal supplies to anyone who needs them. We are in need of more volunteers to help on Saturdays.
Union Church Freedge Sign-up: HERE
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Common Cathedral Sandwich-Makers! |
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Common Cathedral
Sandwich-Making for November!
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Sandwich-Making for BostonWarm!
We continue to make sandwiches for our friends at Boston Warm every week. This month, we will bring sandwiches to the center on Monday mornings.
If you can help make 25 sandwiches, donate granola bars,
or drive in on Mondays, please sign up HERE.
With questions, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
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Book Buddies
We are continuing our Book Buddy program with elementary school children in Lowndes County, Alabama. Many of you are already involved in sending a new book to your Book Buddy each month. If you want to continue to send books please just let me know you are doing that so I can keep you in the loop on Book Buddy news.
Some of you would like to have a new Book Buddy. We will focus on third graders this year. We will have 10-15 students from each of the three schools who will need a new Book Buddy. The principals at the three elementary schools suggested we have all new Book Buddies mail books for their child to the school address. The principals will take a picture of the child with the new book each time you send it so you will know your book arrived safely. Plus you will get to see a picture of your Book Buddy with the new book! Please volunteer to be a Book Buddy! The kids love having a new friend, and a new book each month!
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Advocates for Racial Justice- Did You Know... |
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Revising 100 year old Zoning laws can
improve the opportunity for housing for all.
Here is the problem:
In Newton, 76% of “developable” land is zoned for residential use. On 80% of that, only detached single-family houses can be built “by right,” without a special permit. Getting a special permit to build a house for two or more families in a single-family district is only possible in the rarest of cases.
This regulatory exclusivity effectively bans multifamily homes, even small-scale, “infill” apartment buildings, in large swaths of the city. This has helped push up rents and home prices beyond the reach of far too many.
The impacts are hard to ignore. For example:
- -The median sales price for a detached single-family house has increased dramatically in thepast 10 years, from $737,750 to $1,260,000.
- -We are less racially diverse than Massachusetts as a whole: Only 3.1% of our population isBlack or African-American (vs. 6.7% statewide), and only 5.5% is Hispanic or Latino (vs. 11.statewide).
[ from Engine 6; and Kathleen Hobson ]
Join us at ARJ as we explore the impacts of zoning,
and all the ways we can support paths to more housing justice.
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
If you are joining our Sunday worship in person, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services
Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
Note: Previously we had hoped to include scripture readers who could join us from their home via zoom but unfortunately this is currently not possible.
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Host Reception - Sign-Up
Hosting Reception after Worship is so meaningful. This year guidelines are a little different e.g. individually wrapped snacks keep it simple and in lieu of coffee, lemonade or something that can be served easily is preferred. Please follow the link below to sign up or for more information.
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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.
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