The Union Church in Waban |
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May 2nd at 10:00 a.m. Worship (Online)
Fifth Sunday in Easter
In some of the loveliest language in the Gospels, Jesus uses the image of the vine and branches to speak of the invitation to abide within the love of God. We will explore this invitation and its implications for our life today.
To join worship 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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Intergenerational Gathering
The Road to Emmaus
This Sunday, May 2nd at 12:30 p.m.
All ages (and especially our families with younger kiddos!) are invited to gather outside church, masked, distanced for Forest Church-style gatherings
We'll remember how Jesus appeared to his disciples when they were walking after Easter, and how they knew him when they broke bread and ate together. We'll talk about where we see Jesus, and plant some seeds to remember God's promises of hope and new life. We hope to see you!
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Bible Study
Sunday Mornings at 8:00
All are welcome
Meeting ID: 885 0724 0203
Passcode: 584285
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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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Celebrating Mother's Day
Next Sunday , April 9th
For this special service we will present a video that honors our mothers. If you would like to include a picture in honor of your mother please e-mail to pastor Stacy at stacy@ucw.org .
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Celebrating our Graduates
Are You or Yours Graduating this Spring?
Sunday, June 6th
We'll be celebrating our graduates this year during worship on Sunday, June 6th. If you or someone you love is graduating, or celebrating an ending or new beginning this Spring, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org), so that we can include them in our celebrations. Thank you!
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Save The Date!
A Party for Pastor Stacy
Sunday June 13th at 1:00
A celebration for Stacy will be held on June 13th at 1:00 at the church. Invitation and details to follow but most importantly for now, mark your calendar!!
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Saturday, May 8th at 9:00 a.m.
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Bring your rakes and garden tools.
All welcome!
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Annual Stewardship Campaign 2021-2022
Thank you to those who have already returned their 2021-22 pledge! Receiving your pledge information early greatly assists us as we craft a budget for review at our Annual Meeting on June 6th and plan for the upcoming church year. To submit your pledge please use the quick online link below.
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Thank You!
The UCW Stewardship Team
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You can check your current year's pledge amount by logging into your church account HERE.
More information about this year's campaign can be found on our website homepage at ucw.org.
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Update on the Search for Our Interim Minister
Co-moderators Frank Laski and Alison McCarty are pleased to share the news that a search committee for our Interim Minister has been formed, with the goal of having an Interim Minister in place by September.
Members are: Liz Caronna, Brian Heffernan, Dan Heffernan, Jim MacDonald, Alison McCarty and Rob Purser.
A kick-off meeting has been set, to which we have invited denominational representatives of both the UCC and ABC. To honor our interdenominational status, the interim position will be posted outside the denominations as well. Suggestions on where to post the position are welcome - please email to interimsearch@ucw.org by May 5th
Thank you!
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Call For Nominations
Feeling called to be more active at UCW?
Get involved next year!
The Union Church Nominating Committee (Co-Moderators, Senior Deacon and a member-at-large) is charged with seeking nominations for church leadership positions that are voted on at our Annual Meeting. Please help by nominating yourself or someone you think would find committee work to be a blessing. A list of opportunities is below. Email your nominations to the Nominating Committee in care of Alison McCarty, alimcmom@gmail.com.
Nominations will be taken from the floor at our Annual Meeting, but we encourage submitting names by May 10th so that we will have an opportunity to contact the nominees.
Thank you!
Lisa Crockett, Frank Laski, Jim MacDonald and Alison McCarty
Leadership needed:
- One Co-Moderator to serve a three year term - two as Co-Moderator and one as Immediate Past Co-Moderator.
- Two or more Deacons to serve a three year term (none have stepped down, but there is interest in expanding the number)
- Three Co-chairs for Mission: the overall Committee, Advocates for Racial Justice plus members for all mission committees
- Co-Leaders for Youth Ministry
- Members for Childrens' Ministry
- Members for the Building Committee (care of our physical plant)
- Members for our Stewardship Committee
- A member for our Human Relations Committee
- Young family members for our Worship Team
In addition to these elected roles, we are always in search of membership for our various activities, including this year our Worship Tech Team. and our Communication Committee (overseeing the web site and public relations).
More information about these various roles and current membership is available on the church web site on the Governance tab, https://www.ucw.org/committees/
We will take nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting in early June, but nominations are appreciated by May 10th. Please email to alimcmom@gmail.com.
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Advocates for Racial Justice |
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How Biden Can Free America From
Its Zoning Straitjacket
If a state wants funds for infrastructure, it should meet strict conditions about housing construction.
April 12, 2021, New York Times
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By Edward L. Glaeser
Mr. Glaeser, an economist, has written extensively about urban America, infrastructure and housing policy.
President Biden’s American Jobs infrastructure plan hopes to shake this country free of wasteful barriers to affordable housing — especially in booming areas.
An “innovative” competitive grant program will act to eliminate these harmful zoning and land-use practices. Mr. Biden has the right goal — reducing regulatory barriers on new construction could have wide-ranging economic benefits that exceed anything else in his $2 trillion plan. But a competitive grant program is too weak to overcome the entrenched interests — like the homeowners who control local zoning boards and the wealthy residents of cooperatives who oppose all neighborhood change — that limit building in productive places.
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If the president wants to break the country out of its zoning straitjacket, the infrastructure plan should ensure that no benefits go to states that fail to make verifiable progress enabling housing construction in their high-wage, high-opportunity areas.
.....continue reading HERE
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Did you know....
Zoning laws restrict the opportunity for multi-family houses and other housing choices that create more affordable housing in a community. Zoning reform alone does not create affordable housing, but it is a necessary first step to opening housing options at a time when housing costs allow only families who can buy million dollar homes.
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Adult Education and Formation |
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Listening in is a conversation between Tom Vawter and Pastor Stacy as they take some time to explore the depths of some gorgeous poems. They offer this conversation as a way to enter in and listen in to where the beauty of the poem may be speaking and ministering to us in this profoundly challenging time we are in. May it be a blessing to you. Go HERE to access the video or click on the image of Tom.
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JAVA Gents Walk
Arnold Arboretum
Tomorrow, May 1st at 10 AM
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Hello men of the UCW,
After our wonderful Fall JAVA Gents walk, improving COVID conditions, and warmer weather Jay and I thought we would head outdoors again for our May Day JAVA Gents and "make it even better". We are planning for a group walk in Arnold Arboretum on this Saturday, May 1st starting at 10:00 a.m. We will meet at the Reception Center near the front gate with more details below.
The "make it even better" takes the form of
- A very very special "mystery" guest who will be joining us for our get together and walk
- A tour from none other than our very own UCW and JAVA Gents Arborist, Bart Kelso
For those traveling by car, here is the address to put into your GPS. The Arboretum’s main entrance gate and Hunnewell Building, which houses the Visitor Center as well as administrative offices, is located at 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130. Parking options are provided on their Website with link above.
If traveling by train or bus, also click the link above for instructions.
Looking forward to seeing you on May Day!
Jay and Buz
JAVA Gents is our informal monthly get together for the men of the UCW congregation (and community). The group aims to provide friendly fellowship and mutual support to the men. We share a lively and supportive discussion of timely topics as well as personal goings on in our lives. Newcomers and non-Union Church members are always welcome. If you have any questions or need to reach me, Buz Bedford, I'm at 617-968-7318.
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Tea Time Bible Study
Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.
Please join us for a walk through the Book of Acts with Rev. Arlyne Grant and other friends. No biblical study or experience is needed. This will be a fun filled time of conversation and learning.
Meeting ID: 847 2838 1864
Passcode: 837512
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Children, Youth and Families |
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Coming Up - Kids and Families of All Ages!
Outdoor Intergenerational Community Eastertide Gatherings
All ages (and especially our families with younger kiddos!) are invited to gather outside, masked, distanced for Forest Church-style gatherings. We'll share a Sunday School story, song, activity, and explore the beauty of God's creation together.
This Sunday, May 2nd at 12:30pm - The Road to Emmaus
We'll remember how Jesus appeared to his disciples when they were walking after Easter, and how they knew him when they broke bread and ate together. We'll talk about where we see Jesus, and plant some seeds to remember God's promises of hope and new life. We hope to see you!
Sunday, May 18th at 12:30pm - Preparing for Pentecost
We'll remember the story of Pentecost (May 23rd this year), and how God sent the Holy Spirit to help the disciples share the news about Jesus and God's love with people in all languages.
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Youth Ministry Meeting
This Sunday, May 2nd, 8:00 pm
Parents and Youth Ministry Leaders
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Now that Lent, the marvelous Palm Sunday service and Easter are behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to the rest of the year planning for our Youth and to begin to vision about the summer and next fall.
We also know that complexities from Covid remain and your input on how we best balance the clear importance of reducing social isolation for teens with inclusion and safety for those still not ready or able to be in person would be helpful.
Kyle Pond and Susan Hunt Stevens (our Youth Ministry Co-Chairs) invite all parents of youth, and any other adults interested in supporting our youth ministry to join them and Pastor Amy on May 2nd at 8:00 pm for the meeting on ZOOM:
If you have any questions, or would like to learn more, please contact Susan (susan@huntstevens.com), Kyle (kylepond4@hotmail.com) or Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org). We hope to see you there!
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A Moment with the Deacons |
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We, your Deacons, Jim and Judy MacDonald, Judy Nagle, Deb McGovern, Gerry Elion, Jean Wellington and Brian Heffernan, wish to share a moment with our beloved congregation.
During these times of mandatory separation, it’s often hard to learn who is in need of care and concern. Please know we, the deacons, are here to help.
As your deacons, our wish is to serve our church family as best we can, and we always welcome your thoughtful support and prayers. Please feel free to contact any of us if you are having concerns with your church life. You can e-mail the Deacons at deacons@ucw.org.
With Peace and Love,
Your Deacons
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"Space-Making" and Living into our Covenant |
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Update: On our April 11th talk about "Space-Making" and our Church Covenant
A group of 15 members of the UCW community met after worship on April 11th for a discussion of Yale Divinity School's seminar on space making by Rev. Phiwa Langeni. Five UCWers had the opportunity to attend the seminar earlier in the week. The seminar offered practical tips on language, pronouns and other queer-related issues and how we can create space for LGBTQ youth. A recording of the seminar is at video link below.
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Save the Date!
Continuing the "Space-Making" Conversation
Sunday, May 23rd, Following Worship
Since not all in the conversation had attended the seminar, we have agreed to watch the video recording and reconvene to continue the conversation after worship on Sunday, May 23rd. Any and all who are interested in joining are welcome as we continue developing our understanding of gender identity, gender expression, and the aspirations of our church covenant.
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Much of our time on April 11th was spent in general conversation about why each of us is interested in this topic: there was a lot to share, including stories of family members who are gay or non-binary. We also shared our appreciation for all the work this congregation has done over the years to be the caring and welcoming church that we are. The theme of developing a better understanding of what it means to welcome all to take a seat at the table emerged as an affirmation of the intent of our church covenant.
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GBIO House Meetings in May
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As many of you know each year GBIO has its member congregations and organizations hold house meetings to listen to its members' concerns and issues. These meetings provide the substance and framework for the priorities that GBIO uses for the year in setting legislative and other agendas. The member organizations of GBIO are the ones which formulate the direction for GBIO for the year. Mark Smith, Brita Gill-Austern, Kevin Johnson and Judy Nagle will be hosting zoom meetings for listening sessions for this purpose. Anyone who has shown any interest in GBIO in the past will be receiving a doodle poll this week to let us know when you might be able to attend a meeting for this purpose. When we get the results back you will be notified of the time of your meeting. We very much hope you will respond quickly so that we can set these meetings on the calendar. If you do not receive a doodle poll and would like to be part of the listening sessions please email Brita Gill-Austern at bgillaustern@gmail.com , we would love to have you join us.
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Common Cathedral
Weekly Sandwich Deliveries to BostonWarm Continue
We continue to deliver sandwiches, soft fruit, granola bars and more to our unhoused siblings in downtown Boston every Thursday. To learn more or sign up to help with this ministry, please CLICK HERE. Thank you!
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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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City Mission's Social Justice Internship is for rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as 2021 graduates, who are committed to social justice and are interested in learning more about how a small nonprofit works on social justice issues. Interns will begin to explore some of the root causes and consequences of poverty, inequality and racism, and intersectional justice work, as well as technical skills such as public policy research, service-learning, communications, and nonprofit organizational structure. Interns will also have an opportunity to explore issues of social justice about which they are passionate. The program includes learning activities to foster a deeper understanding of social justice and City Mission’s commitment to educate, empower and engage our community.
This paid internship program is six weeks long beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021 and concluding Friday, August 13, 2021. The internship is for high school students in the greater Boston area who will be going into grade 11, 12, or 2021 graduates. Each intern will work 15 hours each week, and will be paid a stipend of $225 per week.
Applications for the internship will be accepted until May 21st, 2021.
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