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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, December 2, 2016
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NOTE
:
Change to Previously Announced
Greens Pickup Schedule
Due to a delay in delivery, our greens will not arrive at church until tomorrow morning. This means that greens will
not be available for pick-up this evening (Friday) as previously announced. Apologies for the inconvenience and the short notice.
The pick-up schedule is now
:
Tomorrow
, Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 8.30-10.30 a.m. and
Sunday
, Dec. 4th, after 11:00 a.m.
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Bible Discussion at 8:00 a.m.
All are welcome to join in this conversation. We are reading our way through the book of Deuteronomy. Come with curiosity and questions and we will provide the coffee/tea. Come when you can. All are welcome.
Choir Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.
Singing at UCW is a musical form of prayer. Singing at UCW is not performance. One of our fundamental values at the Union Church in Waban is that we are an inclusive faith community and we do not sort people by any secular standards of worth. That goes for our choir as well. So if you want to sing. Sing! Forget any voice that has told you that you don't have a good voice, or any ability, or cannot carry a tune. If you want to lift your voice and praise God through music then let no one stand in your way. Come on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am and Sing! You will be a blessing to all who gather. Truly!
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Meditation and Movement at 9:35 a.m.
"Then the Lord God formed a human from the dust of the ground and breathed into the human's nostrils the breath of life, and the form became a living being." Genesis 2:7
From creation, we are closely connected to the earth and to the breath. With God's very own hands, we are borne into existence. We are but dust. God gently shapes our bodies, intimately placing some of God's own life into us. As we move our bodies, we continue to breathe in this life-giving spirit, bringing all of ourselves into communion with God.
Come join body and soul in prayer on Sunday before worship. We will gather in the
Memorial Chapel (the side chapel off the sanctuary).
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WORSHIP at 10:00 a.m.
This Sunday, December 4th is the second Sunday in Advent. Jenny and John Weisz will light the candle of Peace on the Advent Wreathe. Andrew Heintz, our ministerial intern will be giving the sermon on Mary's song of praise called the "Magnificat" from the Gospel of Luke. We will come together for communion sharing in an Advent Liturgy written by Rev. Mary Luti.
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Christmas Pageant Rehearsal - During Sunday School
One of the great joys of the season is the telling of the Christmas story by our kids and youth. Our Christmas Pageant will take place during worship on Dec. 11, but we will be rehearsing and assigning parts during Sunday School this Sunday, Dec. 4th. If your child or youth would like to participate, please come! If he/she would like to participate, but are not able to join us this Sunday, please just email Amy at
amy@ucw.org so that we can be sure to include him/her. Thank you!
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Bell Choir Rehearsal at 11:15 a.m.
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Christmas Cards for Children at the Alpha Omega Church
Our children and youth made Christmas notes for 85 children at Alpha Omeg
a church in San Juan
del Sur. See Photo of the colorful greetings that were mailed in time
for Christmas! This "pen pal" idea was
suggested by La Pastora as
one way for our churches
to stay connected until we see each other
again on another trip to Nicaragua.
Feliz Navidad!
Stamped on the back from Union Church, our
partner Jane Mirandette will deliver them for us - to the NEW Sunday school building that our travelers helped build in February.
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Bread For the World Thanksgiving Offering
Thanks to the generous response of our church family to the Thanksgiving Offering for Bread for the World (www.bread.org). The total collection was $1103.00. We will contribute this amount to support the work of Bread for the World, a faith-based collective of over 2,000 churches across America to advocate for the end of hunger in the United States and abroad. In 40 years of advocacy, Bread for the World has gained the bipartisan support of Congress to enact laws that create effective and efficient ways of delivering food aid, as well as helping subsistence farmers deal with climate change and food production in the developing world. In addition to the Global Food Act, which was recently passed in Congress, we will take part in Feeding the Future with an offering of letters in early spring.
Our direct link with Bread for the World is with Adlai Amor, communications director, who preached on Bread for the World Sunday in October 2014. He also led a workshop on how to connect with our congressional representatives in support of hunger-related legislation.
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The Union Church Mitten Tree Is More Beautiful Than Ever
!
A pillow, a sweatshirt, costume jewelry, a throw blanket...simple gifts that m
ake life a biteasier.
Our friends at Waban Health will be receiving our Mitten Tree g
ifts this year! We are thrilled to receive their requests for the things they need, as we have grown close to the folks at Waban Health over these 5 years. We love that our tree will be filled wit
h the mittens from our neighbors at Waban Health who we have formed relationships with through our worship services at Waban Health, and in other ways.
Mittens are now available on our mitten tree. Please be sure to register the mitten(s) you choose with either Molly Owen Kiritsy
( mollymok4@gmail.com )
or Betty O'Beirne. Gifts are due back to the tree by December 18th. Please be sure that your package has the mitten
attached to it so that we know for whom the gift is intended.
AND -- Some of you may remember that in the past our mitten tree has supported Project Care and Concern. This year, we can be joyful in the news that all 45 folks in this transitional housing program will receive Christmas gifts this year from The Engine 6/Livable Newton. This affordable housing advocacy group, who meets at our church will provide the gifts to each of these folks. They considers this opportunity to give both a gift of gratitude to our church and an opportunity to support formerly homeless neighbors.
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W
orship and Music - Advent and Christmas
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Missed Worship?
Did you know that the sermon is recorded and posted along with the manuscript on the website every Sunday afternoon? So if you happened to miss church and want to listen in, just go to the worship tab and then sermons at
www.ucw.org.
(A very heartfelt thank you to Jaap for this ministry of recording and posting).
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For a scheduele of Advent and Christmas services offered at the
Union Church in Waban please go
HERE
or click on the image above.
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Adult Education, Fellowship, and Spiritual Formation
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to
download or read on line
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This booklet is intended as a resource to you as you move through these four weeks in Advent and make your way to Bethlehem.
The booklet is arranged in four sections corresponding to the four
weeks in Advent. You are encouraged to take your time and make your way slowly through the pages. You will find an opening with Scripture, followed by reflections of those among us, and each section concludes with a prayer.
Go slowly through the readings each week. Read with your heart as well as your mind. Listen for an invitation that may be present to you this season.
May this booklet be a blessing to us in this time of preparation.
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January Book Group
Book group will not be meeting in December, but all are invited to
begin reading our January selection which is
Hillbilly Elegy
by
J.D. Vance. We look forward to our discussion of this timely book
on Tuesday, January 31st which will be led by Anya Bassett.
All are welcome. We meet in the reception room at the church.
To read a review of Hillbilly Elegy go here.
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Coat Drive for the Waban Health Center Residents
We've been presented with a wonderful opportunity to help provide some used but no longer needed warm winter coats for our senior friends at the Waban Health Center. Many of the residents there don't have a warm coat to wear when traveling out to doctor appointments. Please look through your closets and bring in any women's and men's coats that are in good condition and place them on the coat rack in the chapel. We are so grateful for your help and we know the residents will make such good use of the donated coats. Questions? Please contact Molly Owen-Kiritsy (781-300-1135). We will be collecting coats through this Sunday, Dec. 4th.
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Wednesday Morning
Bible Study will
continue on
January 4th.
Our Wednesday morning Bible study was such a success this fall that we decided we don't want to stop! We have decided to continue and on January 4th at 10:30 we will begin the second course in the three part Exploring the Bible series developed by the Massachusetts Bible Society. The second course is an introduction to the Old Testament. We will meet every other week for 1.5 for a total of six sessions. If you are interested in joining this lively time of learning and fun, please be in touch with
Pastor Stacy
by December 20th so that she can order materials.
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Help lay the table during fellowship hour
One of the many ministries of UCW is hosting a fellowship hour after worship on Sunday morning. This table, laid with love and a simple spread is (as Adam Hearlson said in his mission moment a few weeks ago) very much a communion table. It not only nourishes our bodies, but it also nourishes the relationships that make us one Body, one with each other and with God. If you would like to share in this ministry and host this time of communion, please go
here.
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Mission
Matters
"Let us love not in word or deed, but in truth and action"
(1 John 3:18)
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Ancianos Holiday Party in Nicaragua
This year again the Nicaragua team here at UCW has donated $200 to help
sponsor
the December
Ancianos
event.
This event was started by Jean A Brugger, founder of the Brugger Foundation for seniors in the San Juan del Sur community to have a fun filled time with other seniors in the community. They provide transportation to and from, a hot midday meal, dancing, and games. As many of the travelers know this is a big hit in the community, enjoyed by all because we have both attended, and supported this event in the past.
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White Privilege:
Let's Talk -- A Resource for Transformational Dialogue.
White Privilege: Let's Talk -- A Resource for Transformational Dialogue is an adult curriculum that is designed by the national office of the United Church of Christ (UCC) to invite church members to engage in safe, meaningful, substantive and bold conversations on race. We will begin the six session conversation at the start of the new year and have penciled in Thursday evenings beginning January 5th. If you are interested in learning more about this offering or if you would like to participate, please be in touch with
Pastor Stacy .
(If you would like to participate but Thursday evenings are not good for you, please reach out to Stacy anyway. Once we know who is interested in participating we can settle in on a time/day.)
More information about the curriculum is available
here
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C
hildren,Youth, and
Family
Ministries
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Coming Up for Kids, Youth and Families
There are many ways for kids, youth and families to come together for fellowship, fun and service. For details about these events and more, please see the Children, Youth and Families Fall Calendar, or contact Amy at
amy@ucw.org
.
Sun., Dec 11
th:
Christmas Pageant!
(Rehearsals during Sunday School on Dec. 4th,
and Sat., Dec. 10th , 9-11 a.m.)
The peace and hope of the Advent season is coming, and one of the special joys of the season is the telling of the Christmas story by our children and youth. If your kids would like to participate, or if you would like to join the team working on this fun, creative morning, please contact Amy at
amy@ucw.org
. Thanks!
Fri., Dec 16
th
Youth Christmas Party, 6:00 p.m.
At The Hunt-Stevens' home
(contact Susan Hunt Stevens or Amy at amy@ucw.org)
Youth are invited to gather with friends for food, Christmas-themed games, and a white-elephant gift exchange (bring something wacky, weird or wonderful under $10). We'll have a jolly good time!
S
un., Dec. 18
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Caroling and Gift-Giving at Waban Health & Rehab
Save the date and plan to join in this wonderful tradition as we share the gifts of song and Christmas cheer with our friends at Waban Health. On this day, the youth will also be helping to coordinate the delivery of the Mitten Tree gifts to Waban Health. Youth are invited to stay following the worship service to share in fellowship and activities; or join the group by 1:00 p.m., before we head over to the Waban Health Center. We plan to return to the church by 2:30 p.m.
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Sun., Dec. 4
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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Mon., Dec. 5
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6:30 p.m.
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Mission Outreach Meeting
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7:00 p.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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Tue., Dec. 6
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6:00 p.m.
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Deacons
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Wed., Dec. 7
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7:30 a.m.
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Prayer Group
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9:00 a.m.
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Coffee w/Stacy at Starbucks
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6:30 p.m.
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Nimbus: Moderator Team Meeting
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Sat., Dec. 10
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9:00 a.m.
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Pageant Rehearsal ( to 11:00 a.m.)
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Sun., Dec. 11
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8:00 a.m.
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Bible Discussion Group
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9:00 a.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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9:35 a.m.
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Body and Soul - Exercise / Meditation Group
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10:00 a.m.
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Pageant Sunday
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,
please visit our website calendar HERE
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Union Church in Waban
Inclement
Weather Advisory
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.
I
n the extreme situation in which the church is unable to open, notification will be on the church website (ucw@ucw.org), a message will be on the church phone, and media announcements can be found on WBZ-TV.
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Haley House Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary
50
TH
ANNIVERSARY FORUM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 10:30AM-2:30PM BRUCE C. BOLLING MUNICIPAL BUILDING (ROXBURY)
Four panels exploring themes of social justice, featuring local community leaders
Morning panels | 10:30AM-12:00PM
* Food Access & Health * Community & Activism
Afternoon panels | 1:00PM-2:30PM
* Housing & Homelessness * Mass Incarceration
Stay connected!
#HH50 #HaleyHouse50
Questions? Contact:
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A Holiday Party
at
Home Suites Inn
for the
Families
Transitional Housing
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Holiday Party Sunday, December 4th, 3-4 p.m.
Home Suites Inn
Join us for a sing along
holiday treats
and crafts Sponsored by the Eliot Church of Newton
and 2nd Church of Newton
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To learn more A flier for the event information is available
HERE
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A Way to Support the Newton Food Pantry
Thursday, December 8th
On Thursday, December 8th, the Newton Food Pantry will receive 5% of total store sales at Whole Foods in Newtonville and also at Four Corners.
Spread the word! Ask your friends, family, and neighbors to shop at Whole Foods on that date, and post on any local e-lists you subscribe.
Thank you patronizing our generous partner Whole Foods in its commitment to help put food on our hungry neighbors' tables
this holiday season.
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Seeking Kidney Donor
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Looking for life saving kidney donor for a young woman in our community. She graduated from University and recently got married. She received news of her kidney failure and is on dialysis. She is on the national kidney donor list and the waiting period is lengthy due to limited donors. Therefore, we seek your help for a kidney donation.
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All costs will be paid for
and the transplant will be conducted at
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Please consider getting tested for a chance to save someone's life.
About the The National Kidney Foundation
The foundation is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and their families, and tens of millions of Americans at risk. The National Kidney Foundation helps navigate the challenges of kidney disease, organ donation and transplantation. 26 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk. The National Kidney Foundation Serving New England is the office that services the Greater Boston Area.
To learn more please visit their website
HERE
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