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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, December 16, 2016
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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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Christmas Offering at the Union Church
T
his Sunday and again on Christmas Eve we will have a special Christmas Offering
On October 23rd, Dr. Elshaar and his daughter Ala'a spoke on behalf of the Syrian American Medical Society; otherwise, known as SAMS. You may remember the fruits of their efforts: 2.6 million patients treated, the establishment of 106 medical facilities, 25,000 recipients of psychosocial services, 92,000 patients served by mobile clinics and 24,000 babies delivered.
A month and a half has passed. During that time, all of Aleppo's hospitals have been bombed out of service. The largest trauma hospital in Aleppo, supported by SAMS, was bombed out despite its underground location. The current aerial campaign has increased the casualties and wounded civilians to the highest number since the beginning of the conflict in 2011.
Though SAMS is unable to serve in Aleppo, they continue to provide medical relief throughout Syria and for refugees in Jordan, Turkey, Greece and Lebanon. They serve the needs of all regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or political affiliation.
This is our opportunity to help SAMS continue to train healthcare providers, deliver medical supplies, and provide lifesaving healthcare with our Christmas offering.
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Mitten Tree Gifts due this Sunday
Gifts are due back to the tree this Sunday, December 18th. Please be sure that your package has the mitten attached to it so that we know for whom the gift is intended.
A pillow, a sweatshirt, costume jewelry, a throw blanket...simple gifts that m
ake life a bit easier.
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.
...........continue reading
HERE
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Bell Choir Rehearsal at 11:15 a.m.
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Caroling and Gift-Giving at Waban Health & Rehab at 1:30 p.m.
This Sunday, all are invited to join in this wonderful tradition as we share the gifts of song and Christmas cheer with our friends at Waban Health. During this time, youth will also be helping to coordinate the delivery of the Mitten Tree gifts. Youth are invited to stay at the church following the worship service, or leave and come back! We will begin rehearsing our carols and preparing the Mitten Tree gifts at 12:30 p.m., and then begin our walk over to Waban Health shortly after 1:00 p.m. Caroling will begin at Waban Health at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome to join us either beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the church; or at the Waban Health Center at 1:30 p.m. Youth without parents will require permission slips. We hope to see you there!
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Union Church participates in "Out of Many; One".
Clerical collars, hajibs, yarmulkes, and faces of every color filled three floors of the Islamic Center of Boston Sunday night. Folks from the Union Church joined 2,600 people from Greater Boston at Out of Many; One, an event designed to roll out the rededication and renewal statement, against bigotry and toward working together to retrieve the seminal truth of our Founding Fathers - E Pluribus Unum. The statement, crafted by faith leaders of many faiths in Greater Boston, was signed by Mayor Marty Walsh and Senator Elizabeth Warren after their remarks; and now is available for all of us to sign.
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The GBIO
Dignity & Diligence
statement and
an NECN video of event can be found
HERE
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Pastor Stacy joined dozens of clergy at the podium to pray for every human being who is Divine and to accept our own responsibility for our future.
Senator Warren and Mayor Walsh pledged to live into the goals of the evening and signed the interfaith statement. Other speakers told their stories of fear, hope and love. Moving forward will require listening, relationships as well as resolve against bigotry and hate.
We were in awe sitting with thousands of our neighbors across all faiths and circumstances.
Complete text, and a list of signatories of the GBIO
Dignity & Diligence statement, plus an NECN news coverage video of event can be found on the Union Church website
HERE.
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W
orship and Music - Advent and Christmas
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Advent and Christmas Services
CHRISTMAS SUNDAY
: Sun., December 18th, 10:00 a.m.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
: Sat., December 24th, 6:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE
: Sun., December 25th, 10:00 a.m.
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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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Thank you Nagle Fisheries and Robert Nagle
"My tree is perfect". "Our tree is as beautiful as it always is from the church".
Again this year, our church is able to fundraise for mission work with the generous contribution of gorgeous Christmas trees from Nagle Fisheries - and from what we hear in the pews, we are also helping families have a beautiful, happy Christmas. Thanks, from a grateful church!
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Adult Education, Fellowship, and Spiritual Formation
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Wellspring Women's Group
WELLSPRING will meet this upcoming Wednesday, Dec. 21, 6:30 p.m. in the reception room. We will reflect on the Church as extended family in relation to the theme of "Home, the Heart's Deep Longing." Wellspring is symbolic of "the women at the well" -- looking for Living Water as we share our journey of faith.
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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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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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White Privilege:
Let's Talk --
A Resource for Transfor
mational Dialogue
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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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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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C
hildren,Youth, and
Family
Ministries
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This Sunday., Dec. 18:
Caroling and Gift-Giving at Waban Health.
See details above in This Sunday section.
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Sun., Dec. 18
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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1:30 p.m.
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Waban Health Carol Singing
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Mon., Dec. 19
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7:00 p.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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Wed., Dec. 21
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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 this week
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6:30 p.m.
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Wellspring Women's Group
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Fri., Dec. 23
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4:00 p.m.
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Baptism (Sanctuary)
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Sat., 24
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5:00 p.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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6:00 p.m.
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Christmas Eve Service
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Sun., Dec. 25
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10:00 a.m.
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Worship
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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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C
OURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS ON RACISM
Saturday, January 14, 2017,
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
United Parish in Brookline
210 Harvard Street, Brookline
drama activities and fellowship.
Lunch will be served as well.
Adults: $25.00
Children (Ages 7-18): $10.00
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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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