The Union Church in Waban
Friday Updates, January 14 2022
This Sunday
Online Worship - Second Sunday after the Epiphany
January 16th,10:00 a.m.
We will kick off a series on "Vision" as a way to prepare UCW for the upcoming search process for a new Senior Pastor. The series up until Palm Sunday and Easter will focus us on stories of the early Christian church as found in the biblical book of Acts. On this Sunday we will consider the vision of the church as it was forming and how it intersects with God's dream for us. We will give some focus to the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.

We look forward to seeing you on Zoom!

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.  
Star Words for the Coming Year
Click on Image to Find
Your Randomly Assigned Star Word
Star Words is a contemporary tradition of passing out intention words on Epiphany. In the common practice, a Star Word is chosen to contemplate and prayerfully consider throughout the coming year. If you would like to select a randomly assigned word you can click HERE , or by clicking on image at left.

Along with the Star Word you can build a simple practice for its use. A copy is also available HERE. Two minutes a day can go a long way!

Finally, we will share a different Star Word on our Facebook page every day to provoke more wondering. Check it out HERE.
Church Matters
Special Congregational Meeting (likely via Zoom)
Sunday, January 30th, following online service

The purpose of the meeting will be elect the Transition Team and Search Committee for our new Senior Pastor.
The agenda for this congregational meeting will include: 
  1. Presentation of Transition and Search Committee nominees.
  2. Vote on the Transition Team and Search Committee. 
At this time of publication we are not gathering in person, so this meeting will likely take place via Zoom. We will ask that all members "sign-in" in the chat room. Voting will take place by polling this roster of members.  
 
If you have any questions please contact Frank Laski, Jenny Weisz as Co-Moderators, at nominating@ucw.org. 
Last Call for Nominations- This Sunday!

Thanks to you who have submitted recommendations to the Nominating Committee for service on the Transition Team and/or the Search Committee. Our church is blessed with talented folks who can offer much as we transition to a new Senior Pastor. For more detailed information on the search process, see a copy of the letter we mailed recently HERE, The deadline for receiving recommendations is tomorrow, January 15th
 
Please consider recommending yourself or another church member to serve on these important committees as we work together to ask who God is calling UCW to be and identify our next Senior Pastor. Send your recommendations to: nominating@ucw.org by Saturday, January 15th
Phase Forward Team Recommends Virtual Gatherings for January
With Covid cases on the rise, and dear members of our congregation testing positive, our Phase Forward team has agreed to pause in-person gatherings for a good bit of January. Worship, gatherings and meetings will be held virtually through the month. Our hope is that we will contribute to breaking the chain of transmission of the virus. Stay tuned for updates on resumption of in-person gatherings.

Andrew Heintz, Former Union Church
Intern Ordained

Our former ministerial intern Andrew Heintz was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament at the United Church of Chapel Hill on January 2nd , 2022. He continues as the Director of Christian Education at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Newton Lower Falls. He also serves as a hospice chaplain in southeast Massachusetts. May we surround Andrew with prayers of celebration and support as he begins this new phase of his journey as a minister.

Link to the Andrew's ordination service video HERE.
Adult Formation and Gatherings
Lunch Bunch
Wednesday, January 26th , from12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Bring your soup and sandwich and join Pastor Wendy and the group for a time of conversation and connection! Whether you've ever come to Lunch Bunch before or not we'd love to see you! All are welcome!

If you are interested in joining us please RSVP to Molly Owen-Kiritsy (mollymok4@gmail.com) to be added to our invitation list. As the date approaches we will send you an e-mail with the Zoom meeting connection details.
UCW Book Group
Tuesday, January 25th at 7:30 p.m.
(Please note the new, later start time.)
The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song
by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Please join us on Tuesday, January 25th at 7:30 p.m. for our next book group meeting. This month we will be reading The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 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
Advocates for Racial Justice
Newton's 54th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration
This Monday, Jan 17th at 9:30 AM
Full Details HERE: Attendees are required to register in advance for this event.
No Longer An Event With An Audience. This Will Be A Webinar Only
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration
"Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community"
  • Program theme inspired by MLK Jr's. final work "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community"
  • This is a community book read, however you choose to read. Here is a Guided Study Copies are available at the Newton Free Library or please support Newtonville books. 
  • This will be a Zoom webinar with the program broadcasting from Newton North High School Auditorium. 
  • All current city Covid protocols will be followed by all involved in the production of the event.

Mission & Service
Coat and Clothing Collection
for Common Cathedral
January 16th-February 17th
As the cold weather continues, our partners at Common Cathedral are collecting warm coats, and durable clothing, boots, shoes, belts, bags, blankets and other items for their community members who live outdoors. New socks and men's underwear are also always in need!

For a full list of needed items please CLICK HERE.

In these weeks when we are gathering remotely, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org) to arrange a drop-off or pick-up of clothing. We will also have bins available outside the church elevator lobby on Sunday, January 23rd, and Pastor Amy will be at the church following worship that morning to collect items. Thank you!
Upcoming Sundays & Gatherings
10:00 a.m. Worship - Coming Up!
We hope you will join us online for the month of January!
Come find reconnection, renewal, hope, and joy as we gather together on Zoom.
Worship on January 23rd
Our series on "Vision" continues through the lens of an encounter between Peter and a man unable to walk who was made to beg at the Temple gate. What role does healing play in a forward-looking vision? Pastor Amy will preach on this day.

Worship on January 30th
The series on "Vision" continues as we ask a big question about the church being bold and brave in its mission and purpose. The prayer of the disciples to speak with boldness will shape our understanding and give us a peek into the history of Union Church.

Children, Youth & Families
Children and Sunday School
On Hold but Stay Tuned
As we return to online worship in order to stay safe in this recent Covid surge, we will take a break from in-person Sunday School until further notice. Worship does include an All Ages Moment and would be a good time to tune in. Plans are in the works for a few outdoor (and maybe online) gatherings in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned!

Parents' Group
Gathering to Breathe and Connect
Online -Thursday, January 27th, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Gather as we begin this New Year to take a breath and connect with others doing the good and hard work of parenting. We'll still our minds, share a moment of prayer and reflection, and catch up with and support one another. Pastor Amy will send a Zoom link to families, but please reach out to her at amy@ucw.org if you would like to join and don't receive the link. 
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 Wendy's email is seniorpastor@ucw.org and her office phone is 617-965-3893
  • Pastor Amy's email is amy@ucw.org, and her cell phone for calls or texts is 617-938-8112.
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 in person, 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.