The Union Church in Waban |
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Friday Updates, September 30, 2022 |
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World Communion Sunday
Oct. 2nd at 10.00 a.m. (In Person & Online)
With The Boston Taiwanese Christian Church
We will share in worship with the Boston Taiwanese Christian Church on World Communion Sunday joining with Christians around the globe to live our inclusive welcome at the table.
For those joining on Zoom, please prepare bread/cracker and juice/water for communion.
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........more service details HERE
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To join Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 832 2059 8969
Passcode: 458322
Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656
The bulletin is available HERE
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Sunday, October 9th (In Person and on Zoom)
We will thank Pastor Matt for his service among us as Sabbatical Pastor and welcome his preaching this day. Come explore the scripture from Jeremiah that speaks of planting gardens and trees in parched places of exile.
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Sunday, October 16th (In Person and on Zoom)
We will welcome Pastor Amy back from Sabbatical on this Sunday. After worship, at 1:00 p.m. we will offer a Blessing of the Animals. See more details for this special community worship event below.
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Adult Formation and Gatherings |
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 16th -@ 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine)
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Bring your dog, cat, rabbit, cow, chicken, pig, reptile, bird, or any other pet you love, and get them blessed on Sunday, October 16, at 1:00 on the front lawn. Or bring your favorite stuffed animal for a blessing. (We'll even bless your snake, though probably from afar!)
If you can't make it, you may also submit a picture of your animal. At the close of 10:00 a.m. worship, during the Benediction we will share a slide show of our animals to bless them. You can upload your picture to this folder.
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All Church Retreat
Saturday, November 12th - 13th, Edward's House, Framingham
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The retreat for all ages will be on Saturday, November 12th. Youth will remain for an overnight into Sunday, November 13th. We will meet at Edwards House at the UCC Conference Center in Framingham.
We will gather around the themes of trust, faith and coming together as found in the story of Peter walking on water. There will be a mix of storytelling, games, small group time, outdoor activities (weather permitting), art, circle time, music and good company.
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The cost per person is $80, and $110 for youth who do the full day and overnight. Pay what you can. We are committed to all being able to attend. Once you sign up, we will be in touch about finer details. |
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Children, Youth & Families |
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This is a full weekend for our Union Church youth! Our Tree Top adventure for junior and senior high youth groups is this Saturday, October 1st! On Sunday October 2nd, I will be sharing a meal with EOF and the senior high youth group at 6:30 p.m. Over dinner, I look forward to sharing about mindfulness and spiritual practices which I taught to students over the last 10 years as Chaplain at Brandeis University. These spiritual tools are quite useful in staying grounded amidst life's uncertainty and stressors! Please rsvp for the Oct. 2nd dinner here so we have a head count for dinner and are aware of dietary restrictions: HERE.
Parents and guardians of middle and high-schoolers, please complete this required permission form for your youth to participate in this year's Youth Group events. Thanks for doing so HERE.
Hard to believe - my last day as Sabbatical Pastor at Union Church is October 10th. I'm excited to preach for my last Sunday with you next weekend, October 9th! Amy will be returning on Sunday, October 16th.
See you Sunday!
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Tree Top Adventure in Canton
(In-person)
Tomorrow, Oct. 1st, meet at UCW at 1:15 p.m.
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Treetop Adventures in Canton is one of the favorite outings of the year for kids in the youth groups, and the adults, too! We’ve already got 10 people signed up! We’ve missed doing this event the past few years and now we can plan outings together again! It’s a great opportunity to reconnect outdoors with your UCW friends and neighbors!
We received an update on our group pricing, The cost is $52 /climber (usually $65!) Even if you’re not certain, you should sign up – they have a very good cancellation policy. If you would like financial assistance, please contact Pastor Wendy or Pastor Matt.
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Logistics: We’ll meet at UCW at 1:15 PM Saturday October 1st, and leave for TreeTops at 1:30. It’s takes about 30 minutes to get there for our 2PM reservation. If you need to meet us at Treetops, please let Pastor Matt know. We’ll have picnic tables at the park, and we’ll plan on bringing some snacks and water. We should be back at UCW by 5PM.
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Find Our Fall Calendar at the Link Below! |
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Please Note: Pastor Amy is on sabbatical until October 11th. You can reach our wonderful Sabbatical Pastor, Rev. Matt Carriker (youthfamilies@ucw.org) who began serving on September 1st!
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Advocates For Racial Justice (ARJ) |
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The Union Church Advocates for Racial Justice began our targeted work after our Pilgrimage, as a church group, to Selma and Montgomery. This church has always embraced the call for justice, and this group ( ARJ) has identified targeted areas of racism for our Congregation to respond to with our actions and our prayers. |
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This week please watch ”Segregated By Design - again or for the first time - the 16 minute animated film based on Rothstein’s The Color of Law. (Segregated By Design.com)
The film is easy to access online (click on image at left) and is a brief review of zoning that segregates and excludes. It is short yet shocking. After you watch it again you will be reminded how our zoning rules are too old and too restrictive of needed abundant and affordable housing.
For more information and how to respond go HERE.
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A ‘Black Tax’ Costs US
Cities Millions They Can’t Afford
Places like Memphis, where schools are crumbling, pay more when they borrow on Wall Street.
Althea Greene walks under exposed pipes and into an auditorium, where the chairs are broken and splintering. Treadwell Middle School, built in 1943, looked pretty shabby when Greene was a student here in Memphis 50 years ago. On this August morning, Greene laments that little, if anything, has changed. “We’re lucky it’s still standing,” she says.
..........continuew reading HERE
By Nic Querolo : September 29, 2022 at 10:00 AM EDT,from Bloomberg Markets
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If you would like to learn more about ARJ activities at the Union Church please reach out to Nancy Zollers (dr.nancy.zollers@gmail.com ) or Kathleen Hobson (khobson65@gmail.com).
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Book Buddies Outreach Enters a Closing Chapter
Thanks to all of you who volunteered to be a Book Buddy. Over thirty church members have volunteered since 2020 to send a book each month for a school year to a child in Lowndes County Alabama. Many of you continued to send books during the summer months and through another year of school. When we received a new list of struggling readers last year, others volunteered to be a Book Buddy. Some never heard from their Book Buddies, some texted back and forth, others talked on the phone with the Book Buddy and the parents too. When we weren’t sure the books were reaching the children, some of us mailed our books to the school principal. Last spring, she delivered the books and sent us pictures of children opening their own special book.
You have gone the extra mile sending books to these children. If you have established a relationship with your Book Buddy, you may want to continue to mail books as you have been doing. As we are completing our organized Book Buddy effort from Union Church, feel free to move on to another area of service. Many thanks for volunteering in this effort during a time when children were not even able to attend school. Receiving a new book each month meant so much to each of them. I hope you enjoyed helping a child enjoy reading. We celebrate you for giving your Book Buddies their very own books as they learned how to read! Special thanks to those Book Buddies who continue to mail a new book each month.
Jenny Weisz
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Newton Freedge: Union Church Serves Once a Month
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The Union Church in Waban is a Freedge partner responsible for helping connect with local businesses, stock, and monitor this needed local resource now just one Saturday a month. We are in need of NEW volunteers to sustain our commitment.
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.
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Union Church Freedge Sign-up: HERE
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
Every Sunday after worship we gather on the stage for a time of fellowship. This reception is hosted each Sunday by different members of the congregation.
Reception Sign-up: HERE Thank you!
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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 Thank you!
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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 Rev. Wendy Vander Hart for prayer or pastoral support while Pastor Amy is on sabbatical:
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Pastor Wendy's email is seniorpastor@ucw.org and her office phone is 617-965-3893
Mondays are days off for both pastors. If you have a pastoral need, please reach out to Pastor Wendy this week.
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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.
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