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The Union Church in Waban
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NOTE: Christmas Greens Pick-up - Today and Tomorrow - Details HERE
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Online Worship This Sunday
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Magnificat Sunday
December 6, 10:00 a.m.
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This Sunday, our scripture takes us into the song of courage and celebration that Mary sings upon receiving confirmation that the words the Angel spoke are indeed true. Known as the Magnificat these words speak of God's "upside down Kindom". May they inspire us in this our Advent season.
Sunday is also a Communion Sunday. Please come to worship with a cup and bread so that we may re-member that even though we are distanced we are One together through Christ who is reborn every time we gather in the name of the One who came in Love.
Zoom Link is available HERE
Meeting ID: 870 7810 2082
Passcode: 651440
Or call in ID: 1 646 558 8656
A link to the bulletin is available HERE
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..........following worship join us for
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Do you have a gift to bring into our worship together? Perhaps you are a visual artist, a dancer, a singer, a musician, an actor? We invite you to gather after the service today. All are welcome! Even if you are not sure what you have to offer, be assured there is something! We affirm that everyone has a God given gift to share. So plan on logging on after worship to explore how together we may enrich our worship and in doing so give glory to God. Questions? Reach out to Music Minister Daon Drisdom.
Meeting ID: 778 0726 4502 Passcode: 8yUBqQ |
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.......also following worship this Sunday !
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EXPLORING OUR FAITH - PARENTS AND MENTORS BREAK-OUT ROOM
Parents and mentors of our 10th and 11th grade Exploring Our Faith students are invited to a break-out room Q&A with Pastor Amy. Simply stay after worship, or join the zoom link for worship above at 11:15 a.m. We will begin at 11:20 a.m.
- Exploring Our Faith Students will meet later in the afternoon after Forest Church at 4:30-6:00 p.m.
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.......and on Sunday afternoon join us for
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Forest Church
Intergenerational Star Lights in the Darkness
Meet on the Green Space in front of the Church
December 6th - 3.00-4.00 p.m. - ADVENT 2
Interested in making a beautiful stick star? Join us at church during Forest Church on this day. The stars can be placed outside or indoors and will add a special tinkle of light during these dark days. We'll make a few extra to hang outside the church.
All you need to bring is five sticks each 3-5' long, 14 heavy duty rubber bands and two strings of lights. We will also have materials for smaller stars, or you can bring your own smaller sticks, fairy lights and rubber bands.
We'll show you how to put it together and then... ENJOY! For details or to help, contact Jane at jane@purser.org.
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NOTE: To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings, you may go to our website at www.ucw.org. There you will find a click through to Sunday morning worship and to other online opportunities. You may also use the link below.
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Upcoming ADVENT and CHRISTMAS Services
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Children and Youth Led Service
Sunday, Dec.13th at 10:00 am on zoom
Our children and youth will share the Christmas Story and lead us in worship.
Christmas Sunday
Sunday, Dec. 20th at 10:00 am on zoom
All-Ages Come to the Manger - Forest Church
Tuesday, December 22nd, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
During Forest Church, we'll create our own mini-Creche scenes to bring home for Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve: Thursday , Dec. 24th
In Person, Outside Service: 4:00 p.m. :
We will gather in a safe way outside to share the light of the world that is coming. To remember the story and to pray for our own and the world's deliverance into the way of love. Information regarding our place of gathering with be forthcoming.
Lessons and Carols: 6:00 on Zoom :
This will be an online version of our traditional service of lessons and carols. Bring a candle to light as we spread the light through our zoom room and across our communities and a bell to ring as we go out with Joy to the World.
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Advent Devotional Booklet
Version 2 - Now Available
(Contains new and updated content.)
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Our Advent theme this year is "Fear Not." As is our custom we compiled our Advent devotions booklet to accompany us through our walk of Advent. If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please be in touch with Office Manager, Aidan (ucw@ucw.org)
You may also access a PDF of the booklet HERE.
Heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to our booklet this year.
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LUNCH BUNCH - NOONTIME CAROL SING
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lunch bunch
All are invited to come together on zoom to share in our favorite hymns and carols of the season.
Send your favorite hymn/carol to Daon by Friday, December 4 th
Then sign into zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 9th at noon!
(Meeting ID: 831 7388 8419
passcode: 666689)
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We know that the holidays can be hard for many of us. We know that the COVID-19 time we are in can make that even harder. We are not having the chance to chat with you before the service or in our time of reception. We do not get to linger with you in the parking lot after a meeting or have the delight of having you unexpectedly knock on our door. All of this makes it hard for us to have our fingers on the pulse of how you are.
We are committed to reaching out to all of you but please also reach out to us! Don't worry about being a burden - know you are a joy to us always. Do not worry about taking up our time - we have all the time for you!
The essence of this church is the bonds of love that hold us one to another. If we are going to celebrate when all of this COVID-19 challenge is over, we will celebrate how we have come through it all together.
So please, do not sit alone with your troubles, pain or need. Reach out to us - Please!!
With much love and gratitude for the privilege of serving you in this time,
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Trees and Wreaths Pick Up Times
Today: Friday, Dec. 4th, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Tomorrow: Saturday, Dec. 5th, from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
NOTE: Unfortunately, we were informed this morning that Kissing Ball production has been hampered and will not be available.
Payment: Checks payable to Union Church should be brought to pick up. Please mark "Greens" in the memo section. (Christmas Trees: $50; 12" Balsam Wreath with Red Bow: $16)
Thank you for your support!
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Donate a Tree to the
Newton Food Pantry
We have an opportunity to bring joy to the Newton Food Pantry Families and support our mission efforts!
As you may know, greens sales support our UCW mission efforts and our Nicaragua partnership. Last year we launched an initiative for UCW folks, in their greens order, to donate a tree for Newton Food pantry families. The response and gratitude were resounding.
This year, due to COVID uncertainties, we didn't know if we could offer the same opportunity to support these families. We now know trees can come from our Canadian provider and cross the border into the US (total thanks to the Nagle family) - so at this late date we are asking if anyone would like to donate a tree to the Newton Food Pantry.
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Mitten Tree Gift Drop-Off
Sunday Dec. 13th, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Our congregation is incredibly generous! We are so appreciative of all the slots being filled for purchasing gifts for friends at Project Care and Concern and Norwood Healthcare.
Please stop by the church between 1-3 p.m. on Sunday Dec 13th to drop off your gift.
We'll be out front to receive the gifts. If you have a conflict with this time pls let us know and we can coordinate an alternative arrangement. We'll be delivering gifts on Tues. Dec. 15th so we need to have them all returned before then.
Thank you so very much for participating in this beloved Christmas tradition
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1K Task Force Chooses
New Recipient for 1K Loan!
Meet Aaron Spencer, Owner of A-Butter
The 1K Task Force, decided it was appropriate to focus our outreach to those communities where small businesses were being hit the hardest by Covid 19, black and brown communities. In order to do this we contacted over 10 churches and several individuals and businesses to explore possibilities.
We chose to make a $2500 loan, to be repaid within two years, to Aaron Spencer, owner of A-Butter. A Butter's mission is to provide people in local communities with a healthy and tasty eating option with different almond butter flavors. These are: original, maple, honey and apple cinnamon, plus seasonal specialties of pumpkin spice and gingerbread spice. After interviewing Aaron Spence the committee was unanimous and enthusiastic in our wanting to support A-Butter. We are confident that he will not only repay his loan, so we can pay it forward to another, but that he is providing a service to his community. In addition he is a delightful human being, an enterprising and smart business person with whom Union Church in Waban can build a relationship We look forward to you meeting him virtually or in person in the near future. In the meantime please read the Boston Globe article published on Wednesday in the Food Section of the Boston Globe. We hope you will order some Almond Butter for Christmas gifts and stockings to support our loan recipient. Just go to www.abutterbyaaron.com!!! Let Aaron know you are from Union Church. IK Task Force
Alan Cody, Alison Mc Carthy, Frank Laski, Soo Laski, Nancy Zollers, Kevin Johnson and Brita Gill-Austern, chair.
A-Butter Almond Butters, a healthy spread that's
spreading the word
Aaron Spencer of Roxbury first started whipping up almond butter for himself as a nutritious source of protein when he chose a vegan diet, hoping to lower his risk for the health problems prevalent in his family
By Ann Trieger Kurland Globe Correspondent,Updated December 1, 2020, 12:00 p.m.
. ............continue reading the full Boston Globe article HERE
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Advocates for Racial Justice
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Did you know......
On December 2nd, 1922, Harry Laughlin, biologist and co-founder of the American Eugenics Society, published a model sterilization law in his study, Eugenical Sterilization in the United States.
The model law was designed to aid lawmakers in developing more effective and "constitutionally acceptable" sterilization laws in their jurisdictions. Mr. Laughlin's model law passed the ultimate test in 1927, when the United States Supreme Court upheld Virginia's compulsory sterilization law in Buck v. Bell. Virginia's law had been developed using Mr. Laughlin's model as a blueprint; 18 states eventually passed similar statutes, with devastating consequences.
After the publication of Mr. Laughlin's model law and the Court's decision in Buck, the rate of sterilization in the United States soared. Prior to the mid-1920s, approximately 3,000 Americans had been forcibly sterilized; by 1938, the number had increased to nearly 30,000, and reached at least 65,000 by the 1970s. American sterilization laws were used as a tool of racialized population control, particularly in the South, for decades.
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Remote Teacher's Assistants Needed for Public School
The Boston Education Collaborative continues to support the urban public school districts in Boston, Cambridge and Chelsea. You may remember them from their presentation around public education last year at our church. With all classes online, they are looking for more volunteers to be a "Remote Teacher's assistant". It would require a commitment of 1-2 hours per week during school hours (8:00 a.m. - 4)00 p.m.) for a period of 3+ months.
You can also attend one of their regularly short information sessions:
Every Tuesday night through Dec. 15th, 8:30-9:00 PM
Every Wednesday morning through Dec. 16th, 8:30-9:00 AM
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Book Buddies!  |
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We are able to distribute loaves and fishes in the form of books to children who are hungry for reading.
THANK YOU to all who have signed up to be book buddies with children in Lowndes
Mold, Possums and Pools of Sewage:
No One Should Have to Live Like This
To read a piece about Lowndes Country in the NY Times written by Catherine Coleman Flowers and entitled "Mold, Possums and Pools of Sewage: No One Should Have to Live Like This" go HERE.
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Be Part of our On-going Common Cathedral Team
For More Details and Ways You Can Help: GO HERE
We are bound in powerful ways to our beloved unhoused siblings in Boston. Our team of UCW members continues to bring sandwiches, granola bars, fruit, socks and other needed items - like cards and notes of love and support - to Common Cathedral's Boston Warm Day Center each week. We very much hope to continue to walk with our friends at Boston Warm into the fall, for as long as they need us. Come be part of this awesome team!
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With joy and peace, we are invited to gather to make space for the mystery, light and hope of this season. Please plan to join us:
Family Devotional and Materials for Advent:
Families may have noticed that the last week in November was the final week in our Children and Families Fall Prayground packet! If you weren't able to join us last week to pick up materials, please come this week to Forest Church Star-Making (below) or contact Pastor Amy. Among the materials for families this Advent are:
- The UCW Advent Devotional Book
- Table Tents with reflections, prayers and simple activities for all-ages, that explore Advent through the lens of the Danish practice of Hygge 'the art of coziness' (a PDF can be found by CLICKING HERE)
- Materials to create simple and beautiful prayer circles for your home, with a ribbon for each day of Advent that your family can add as a prayer
- Materials for an Advent Wreath.
- A Candle and jingle bell for Christmas Eve
December 6th - 3.00-4.00 p.m. - ADVENT 2
Intergenerational Star Lights in the Darkness
Interested in making a beautiful stick star? Join us at church during Forest Church on this day. The stars can be placed outside or indoors and will add a special tinkle of light during these dark days. We'll make a few extra to hang outside the church.
All you need to bring is five sticks each 3-5' long, 14 heavy duty rubber bands and two strings of lights. We will also have materials for smaller stars, or you can bring your own smaller sticks, fairy lights and rubber bands.
We'll show you how to put it together and then... ENJOY! For details or to help, contact Jane at jane@purser.org.
December 13th - 10:00 a.m. Zoom Worship - ADVENT 3
Children and Youth Share the Christmas Story
Our Christmas pageant will look a little different this year, but we still hope our children and youth will help lead us in sharing the Story of Christmas with readings, prayers, art and music. If you or your children or youth are able to participate with a live or pre-recorded reading or music, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org) or Kathy Malone (j2kathleen@gmail.com). If they would like to contribute artwork for the service, please contact Cindy Spertner at cspertner@yahoo.com. Thank you!
December 22nd- 3:00-4:00 p.m. - ADVENT 4
All-Ages Come to the Manger - Forest Church
We'll create small Creches with wooden blocks and illustrated ministry stickers to bring home, and add the animals, angels and more to our manger (like we do on Christmas Eve).
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Youth Groups:
Dec 6th - Exploring Our Faith
We hope all EOF students will join us for Forest Church to make a star from 3-4pm, and then join Pastor Amy for EOF at 4:30-6pm. We'll discuss our Journals, God, Hope, and have some Christmas fun.
Dec 13th - Middle School Youth Group
We'll have fun and Celebrate Christmas together!
Dec 20th- 9th. Grade Youth Group
We'll gather outside at 4-5pm after Forest Church to Celebrate and prepare for Christmas!
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Please look at the Sign Up Genius HERE, and sign up to read Scripture. Youth are greatly encouraged to sign up, too! (The link is also always available on the ucw.org
homepage)
Thanks you, UCW Deacons
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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.
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Fill A Kid's Bag Food Drive!
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Members of the Elliot Church, are collecting bags of food specifically for children to go to the Newton food pantry. If you would like to contribute, please either bring to the home of Patrick, an Elliot church member, by Dec. 12th, 2020. Alternatively, Amy McMahon has offered to coordinate pick up and delivery.
Instructions:
Please double bag the items from the list below, enclose a note if you'd like, and drop at Patrick's home or in his carport (or coordinate with Amy McMahon, amymcm@rcn.com).
Any of these items
Box of granola bars
Box of cereal or oatmeal variety pack
Jar of peanut butter
Jar of jam
Package of mini milk or juice boxes
1-2 boxes of mac-n-cheese
1-2 cans of soup or pasta (spaghetti Os)
1 snack pack pudding, cookies or fruit snack
4 Small bags or 1 large snack bag:
pretzels, corn chips, goldfish, crackers
OPTIONAL - fun item - crayons, chalk, activities book
Write a note - decorate the bag - nice!
18 Pettee Street, Newton Upper Falls.
(a row of townhouses - we are 4th in. The sign in front says Lantern Woods.)
Cell:617.448.3748
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