The Union Church in Waban
Friday Updates, March 4, 2022
This Sunday
First Sunday in Lent - Communion
Hybrid Service (In-person and Online)
March 6th,10:00 a.m.
The season of Lent begins a series on the next question in our Transition journey - Who Is Our Neighbor? Pastor Amy will preach on the story of Saul and his life-changing experience on the road to Damascus. We will find nourishment for our Lenten journey as we share the bread and cup of Communion. Those joining on Zoom are invited to bring their own cracker or bread, and juice or water.

Our new Lenten Prayer Station, "God's Doors Are Open to All," will be available, along with our labyrinth.

Children and Youth are invited to in-person Sunday School before returning to share Communion. They'll start their Lenten journey by planting bulbs and creating Alleluia butterflies.

We look forward to seeing you!
To join Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom:  
Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 832 2059 8969
Passcode: 458322
Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656 

The bulletin is available HERE
To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings,
you may also go to our website at www.ucw.org.  
Mission & Service
Newton Freedge: Urgent Need! TOMORROW
The Union Church in Waban is a Freedge partner responsible for helping connect with local businesses, stock, and monitor this needed local resource two Saturdays a month. We are in need of volunteers tomorrow, Saturday, March 5th, and in the coming weeks.

The work is easy and rewarding, with multiple slots throughout the day. 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. 

To learn more, contact Vinita at vinita.leslie@gmail.com, or sign up below.

Union Church Freedge Sign-up: HERE
Upcoming Sundays & Gatherings
Sunday, March 13th - 2nd Sunday in Lent - Nicaragua Service - Hybrid
As a way to address the question, Who is our Neighbor? we will celebrate our ministry partners in Nicaragua. As most know, our church has a more than 20 year relationship with the community of San Juan del Sur. While we aren't able to travel this year to serve in-person, we will join them with Spirit, commitment, story, and prayer. Please join us for this special service.
Sunday, March 20th - 3rd Sunday in Lent - Stewardship Season Begins
This Sunday begins our Stewardship season, and we will gather in-person and online. As we continue exploring the question, "Who Is Our Neighbor," we will hear stories of how this church has shared God's love with its members and neighbors.
Church Matters
Church Council News
 
During this pandemic time nearly all the Union Church Council monthly meetings have been virtual on Zoom. On Ash Wednesday, Council went hybrid- meeting in person in the Reception Room and connecting with members remotely. Here are important highlights from Council on new Covid guidance and our new website:
Phase Forward Team Updates
Council received additional advice and recommendations from UCW Phase Forward based on the most recent CDC criteria for low-risk communities. Phase Forward guidance indicates that it is now safe to ease some of our pandemic mitigation measures and allow for additional indoor in-person activities. For example, now our full choir will be able to sing together with masks and Deacons can pass the offering plate. It will be possible to offer church fellowship in our reception room. Keeping in mind that in- person reception may not be safe for everyone and there is no zero risk, we will encourage distancing for those who are low risk and vaccinated to join in reception fellowship. At this time of individual choice, we are aware that some do not feel safe in joining in person so we will continue extend fellowship to all remotely. Council will continue to be vigilant in assessing risk and hopeful that as rates continue to drop, it will become safer to move freely unmasked.
New UCW Website Launch Countdown.
Associate Pastor Amy led Council on a preview tour of the new, revamped UCW website. We viewed an improved modern site design, intuitively organized content and easily accessible up to date information throughout the site. Council members were all impressed by the high-quality design and technical sophistication of the site. Now after some proofing by Jean MacDonald, testing and final review, we can look forward to the imminent launch of the website with a proper celebration and congratulations to Alex Brown, Jill Coull, Pastor Amy, Annie Gatewood and others who volunteered their skills and persisted over the long term in hard and complex labor to produce a website that will truly reflect the warm welcoming intergenerational spirit of the UCW community.
Children, Youth & Families
The Lenten Journey for Families - Sundays Mornings
We hope you and your kids will join us as we walk together through the six-week season of Lent toward the light and hope of Easter. Below is a full calendar of each Sunday in Lent. As gathering becomes safer as Covid numbers decrease and as the weather becomes nicer, we hope to offer even more gatherings for families and youth, so please stay tuned!
This Sunday - 1st Sunday in Lent - March, 6th - Beginning the Journey
  • Find nourishment for the journey around the table with Communion 
  • Catch up and pray together 
  • Bury our Alleluias, remembering God is with us in good and trying times 
  • Plant Daffodil bulbs to take home or give to our neighbors, remembering that God does amazing things in dark places 
  • Walk the Labyrinth (optional) following worship
Families - Observing Lent at Home

We have created special packets for you to use in your home and family this Lent that include: 
  • Sets of beautiful “Bless This Mess” devotional cards for each day of Lent;
  • Daffodil bulbs for indoor growing (see March 6th Sunday School above);
  • Alleluia butterflies; and
  • A finger labyrinth to color and use throughout the season 

Packets will be available at the church this Sunday, March 6th, and we are also glad to bring them to your home! Just let Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org) know if you’d like one!
Exploring Our Faith Calendar
Next Meeting, This Sunday, March 6th, 6:30 p.m.
Exploring Our Faith students and mentors will gather on Sunday March 6th for their monthly meeting. We are also pleased to share an updated calendar for the coming months, which you can see by clicking below:
All High Schoolers - Join CityReach Service Trip on March 25th-26th !
All High Schoolers (Exploring Our Faith and older), and mentors are invited to join our CityReach service trip with the community of Common Cathedral. We'll learn from and serve with our unhoused siblings downtown. Please mark your calendars for Friday evening and Saturday and stay tuned for more information.
Advocates for Racial Justice
The Newton Interfaith Coalition for Housing Equity
Monday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. at UCW
The Union Church ARJ turned our attention to housing justice in Newton as our primary work this church year. There is, of course, much work to do for people of faith in this beautiful, but broken world. However, our housing priority has reaped good outcomes. An interfaith coalition of Newton Houses of Worship have come together to explore how current zoning rules have created segregation and economic discrimination. We are called The Newton Interfaith Coalition for Housing Equity (NICHE). The coalition will meet at Union Church again on Monday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m.

You can watch Segregated By Design.com for a 17 minute animated film on surprising US zoning policies; and you can always join us as Advocates for Racial Justice.
*If you are interested in attending please reach out to Nancy Zollers (dr.nancy.zollers@gmail.com ) to be added to the participant contact list.
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
Tuesday, March 8th at 5:30 PM
Thank you UCW for supporting the continuing work of GBIO! Currently, GBIO is forming action teams and getting to work on three major issues:

  • Reentry from incarceration. The Reentry Action Team has begun meeting and as of press time for the Friday Blast is hosting an action to lobby Mayor Wu for $1.9 million dollar expansion of the Boston Office of Returning Citizens! We have several UCW members on this action team. If you are interested in being more directly involved, click HERE to sign up.
  • Increased Access to Mental Health Services
  • Affordable Housing (home ownership, rental, public housing)
Core Team Forming
In addition, your GBIO Liaisons Kathy Malone (j2kathleen@gmail.com)  and Brita Gill-Austern (bgillaustern@gmail.com)  are forming a congregation-level Core Team to help make the work of GBIO more visible in the congregation and help turn out people for the major assemblies. We will meet only a few times a year. If you would like to join the UCW Core Team or be connected to GBIO’s action teams around reentry, mental health or affordable housing, please reach out to Kathy or Brita.
Adult Formation and Gatherings
Wellspring
Wednesday, March 16th at 6:30 p.m.
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The next wellspring will be on Wednesday, March 16th at 6:30 PM.
We Will be gathering at church in the coffee hour area. Folks who cannot come to church we will add via zoom or FaceTime.

Wellspring is our women's ministry at UCW. We come together to support each other as we journey together in these times.  If you are interested in learning more about Wellspring, please contact Amy McMahon at:  amymcm@rcn.com .
UCW Book Group
Tuesday, March 29th at 7:30 p.m.
The Art of Living
Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
by Thich Nhat Hann
Please join us on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:30 p.m. for our next book group meeting. This month we will be reading The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now by Thich Nhat Hann. 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)

Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155
Passcode: 431699
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
Book Club Selection and Discussion for April:
“Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion" By Gregory Boyle
Tuesday, April 26th, 7:30PM

Pastoral Care
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:

  • Pastor Amy's email is amy@ucw.org, and her cell phone for calls or texts is 617-938-8112.
  • Pastor Wendy is away this weekend - Please contact Pastor Amy with urgent needs, for other needs, Pastor Wendy's email is seniorpastor@ucw.org and her office phone is 617-965-3893
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,, you can reach out to Pastor Amy, who will be available for emergencies.

Sunday Sign-Ups
Scripture Reader Sign-Up
If you are joining our Sunday worship, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services.

Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
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.