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Friends –
As we reach the midpoint of our Lenten journey, our community is abuzz with opportunities to deepen your connection to God in this season of reflection, and to seek ways to love our neighbors and extend shalom to the wider community. I hope there is something here this week or next that connects with you –
it is great to see our Ministry Teams begin to bloom.
Shalom,
Katrina
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SPECIAL MUSIC: JAZZ QUARTET WILL
PROVIDE MUSIC THROUGHOUT
THIS SUNDAY'S WORSHIP SERVICE
Union's music program seeks to include repertoire as varied as its congregation and community for our worship services. We are overjoyed that Rob Middleton has assembled a jazz quartet for this Sunday's services. Performed worship music this Sunday will include arrangements and originals created by our very own, very talented Rob Middleton.
Selections:
Prelude: God’s Eye is on the Sparrow
Music for Meditation: The Faith Healer
Postlude: Out of the Darkness
From Rob: "I’m thrilled to bring jazz back to our worship with such a fine group of jazz musicians. We’ll open the service with my brand new gospel inspired arrangement of ‘God’s Eye is on the Sparrow”, which the congregation will also sing during the service. The theme of this service evokes God’s promise to provide for us, and this old song assures us that we needn't worry; that we will have enough. Another theme of the music is the coming of light with the approach of spring and the beginning of daylight savings time. After a meditative piece during the service, we’ll conclude with my Brazilian-flavored piece ''Out of the Darkness.'”
The jazz quartet musicians (click underlined names for more information about these incredibly talented musicians):
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LIVESTREAMERS: PLEASE JOIN US FOR A "HOW ARE WE DOING?" ZOOM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 14AT 7PM | |
Join the pastors and Kim in a conversation about online worship. We regularly have 10-20 households participating live in online worship on Sunday mornings. It is important to us that you feel included and valued as worship participants. We recognize that hybrid worship has its challenges and we have some room for improvement. We will talk about what is working, what isn’t, and some ideas and plans for how to strengthen the connection between online and in-person worship, and will ask for some help from you! Whether you are a regular online worshipper or want to help bridge the digital divide, please join us for this conversation. The Zoom link can be found in the church calendar listing and on the front page of the church website on the day of the gathering.
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The beauty of Spring flowers and the sound of glorious music enhance the celebration of our faith. Both are gifts of God made possible for us to enjoy by the generosity of others. The flowers beautify the Sanctuary on Easter morning and are then delivered by the deacons to those who are unable to be with us. If you would like to donate, please complete the form in this Sunday's bulletin and return to the church office or place in the offering plate. This year, azalea plants, "peace plants," and ivy plants will be ordered. Don't forget to include your dedication on the form. | |
THIS YEAR'S EASTER OFFERING:
HELP BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR ONE FEMALE STUDENT THROUGH EDUCATION
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Conor Bohan, Founder and Executive Director of HELP, and former student and HELP Development Officer Daphnee Charles, spoke to the congregation during last Sunday's worship service, click here to watch the video. HELP graduates use their education to bolster their communities and build a brighter future in Haiti. Through their work, HELP alumni strengthen institutions, create jobs, and address environmental and infrastructural issues.
To donate, click the link below and
be sure to select "Easter Offering" as your purpose.
https://app.aplos.com/aws/give/UnionCongregationalChurch1
The Whittenburg Fund (of Union Congregational Church) was established with Easter Offerings in 1999 and 2000 in memory of Marion Whittenburg and her dedication to education and the people of Haiti. Union has been making modest grants to HELP for several years. The fund currently has a balance of $34,280. To have a greater impact and better fulfill the intention of the fund, we have set a goal to raise an additional $15,000 to be able to fund one female student with a full scholarship for all 5 years of the program ($50,000 over 5 years).
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WE HAVE 10 CONGREGANTS ATTENDING TOMORROW'S NEW JERSEY TOGETHER/ESSEX TOGETHER ACTION EVENT AT 11AM | |
10 CONGREGANTS are attending NJ Together’s public action event with Department of Corrections Commissioner Victoria Kuhn acknowledging the DOC's progressive work on criminal justice reform in collaboration with New Jersey Together at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark.
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THE "LET'S WATCH" SERIES CONTINUES
FRIDAY, MARCH 8 AT 6PM
WITH "RUSTIN"
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 |  | Join us for a 6pm dinner in the Assembly Room, and a 6:30pm screening in the Guild Room on Friday night, March 8 with discussion after; or watch it on your own and join for a Second Hour discussion on Sunday morning, March 10. The next film in the Let's Watch series will be Rustin, a 2023 historical drama about Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), the advisor to Rev. Martin Luther King who in eight weeks brought together many disparate groups for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which in its oratory, size, and execution remains the standard by which all other gatherings on the International Mall are measured. Yet he was largely erased from civil rights history. Colman Domingo received a 2024 Best Actor Oscar nomination for his nuanced portrayal of "Mr. March on Washington," who among other things was a Black labor and civil rights activist in segregated America, an out gay man years before Stonewall, and a Socialist during the Cold War. Sponsored by the Racial Justice Ministry Team, there are two ways to view the movie: a screening in the Guild Room on Friday, March 8 -- feel welcome to bring a brown bag or takeout supper -- or on your own. There will follow two opportunities for group discussion: immediately after the screening for night owls and during Second Hour on Sunday, March 10. Rustin runs 1 hour, 46 minutes and is rated PG-13 for language, some violence, and "adults being adults and sometimes smoking," as the NY Times puts it; the movie is suitable for confirmands and older. To prepare for the movie, please read and consider, "Have the Demands of the March on Washington Been Met?" If you can't attend the Friday screening, watch the movie on your own and come to the Sunday discussion -- the movie is playing in some theaters and is available with subscription from Netflix.
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The Racial Justice Ministry Team meets monthly to share information and resources and to further our Congregation's missional priority to:
· deepen our commitment to racial justice through building and deepening relationships with local organizations that share that goal,
· engaging the wider community in conversations around this issue, and
· evaluating our own internal practices.
New members to our Ministry Team are always welcome; please reach out to Rev. Katrina or Catherine Spinella if you would like to receive notifications of upcoming meetings and events!
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UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WILL BE THE LOCATION OF A PEACE ISLANDS INSTITUTE IFTAR DINNER ON SATURDAY, MARCH 16 | |
The Peace Islands Institute has invited us to share an Iftar dinner with their community during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. We are so grateful for this invitation to break bread, build relationships across faiths, and learn about their traditions. Rev. Katrina is looking for a few people to help organize this event, which will be held at Union Cong. Please email kforman@unioncong.org if you would like to help! Please go to the Sign Ups link on the bottom of the church website to RSVP. (https://www.unioncong.org/signups2) | |
WELCOME TEAM VOLUNTEERS FOR CHURCH WORLD SERVICE (CWS) NEEDED | |
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From Gerald (gerald@geraldwalle.com):
CWS Welcome Team volunteers help set up apartments for refugees who have received asylum status and can settle locally. Apartments to set up would be located within a 30 minute radius of Montclair. CWS provides and moves to the apartment furniture and home supplies, and has a staff person on site to answer questions and help. Setting up involves cleaning the apartment, assembling (if needed) and placing the furniture and household supplies, and typically happens between 9am and 4pm on weekdays. Volunteers are typically contacted 2 days in advance, so CWS wishes to have many potential volunteers on their list, expecting many will have schedule conflicts. Volunteering provides the joy of seeing the apartment become livable within a few hours. There is no contact with the refugees that day, but it is of course possible to visit and help once they move in if desired.
CWS expects to ask for volunteers 2 to 3 times a year. If you would like to do your part in welcoming refugees this way, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B48A5AB2BA4F58-48346909-cwswelcome
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SAVE THE DATE: CUMAC IN APRIL 8, 1PM-3PM
Lead Contact: Michele Sionas (michelesionas@gmail.com)
Seeking 6 volunteers. If you are interested, please email Michele Sionas.
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DAYTIME BIBLE STUDY will be reading Entering the Passion of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine during Lent. Ms. Levine is a Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. They meet at 12:30pm on Tuesdays in the Guild Room.
TUESDAY LENTEN PRAYER GROUP is meeting at 7pm weekly in the Chapel.
3/5: Gratitude and Praying Together
3/12: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (of B’nai Keshet) on Prayer in the Jewish Tradition
3/19: Labyrinth and Embodied Prayer
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SMALL GROUPS AND MINISTRY TEAMS | |
CHAIR YOGA: Chair Yoga is Wednesday, March 6 at 10:30am in the Guild Room. | |
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UNION SAGES: The Sages meet the first and third Wednesday of the month. The next gathering of the Union Sages will take place on Wednesday, March 6, at Noon in the Guild Room. This week's topic is "what is the meaning of Lent for you now? How has it changed over the years?"
HANDBELL REHEARSAL: Wednesday, March 6 at 7pm in the Sanctuary.
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SIGN UP TO PERFORM AT THE UCC PLAYERS' APRIL CABARET "SEASONS OF LOVE" - SHOW IS SATURDAY, APRIL 6TH AT 7PM
Got Talent? Come perform in the UCC Players' "Seasons of Love" cabaret/variety show. We need folks ages 15 and up, with a 5 minute entertainment: song, comedy routine, poem, instrumental, et al.
Charl Louw is the piano accompanist. Limited slots are available, so hurry to sign up ASAP using this Google form by clicking here or scan the QR code with your phone. Sign-up deadline is March 9th! For more information, reach out to Jane Seaman, the Director at sing4jane@gmail.com.
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