FOUR THINGS YOU COULD DO THIS WEEK TO CONTINUE THE CHURCH'S MINISTRY:

1. WRITE A LETTER
2. READ
3. MARCH
4. SHOW UP FOR YOM HASHOAH

URGENT CALL-TO-ACTION FROM ESSEX TOGETHER

From Jessica Silsby Brater, PhD:

Hi friends -

Following our meetings with state legislators, we developed the idea to create a click & send to thank those who met with us and gently nudge those who didn't to do so:

In March and April, Essex Together leadership invited state legislators representing Essex County to meet to listen to our areas of concern on criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and green energy.

Click here to help us send a letter to thank Asw. Collazos-Gill, Asw. Hall, and Asw. Speight for meeting with Essex Together, and ask Asw. Bagolie, Asw. Tucker, Asw. Pintor Marin, Asw. Morales, Asm. Venezia and Senators Burgess, Ruiz, McKeon, and Timberlake to reach out to Senior Organizer Al-Tariq Wticher set up an alternate time to sit down with Essex Together leaders. Please click here to send this ask!

FOR REFLECTION: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO TO TACKLE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS?

Food For Thought from the Vincent Building Task Force…

As we consider possibilities for affordable housing in the Vincent Building, we are part of a growing trend across the country to say “Yes in God’s Backyard” to affordable housing. Click here to view an interesting article from the New York Times on the topic.

The Vincent Building Task Force continues to meet, learn more, and research more possibilities, and will report back to the congregation in coming months.

THIS SUNDAY, MAY 5:

INTERFAITH MARCH FOR CLEAN ENERGY

What started as 3 congregations (First Cong, Union Cong, and B’nai Keshet) interested in working together on issues of climate justice has grown, in less than 2 months' time, to 12 congregations and 3 community groups. We have a name, Interfaith Green NJ, and hopes of welcoming groups from surrounding towns.  

We are planning an event, From Grief to Hope, on Sunday, May 5 at 1pm. where we will march from First United Methodist Church (24 N. Fullerton Ave.) to B’nai Keshet (99 S. Fullerton Ave.) with stops along the way at Church St. and First Cong.  

All are welcome to participate as we process the half-mile route, recite litanies, sing songs, contemplate, and hear a call to action. Bicycles and scooters are welcome. Make your own sign! “Clean Energy Saves Lives” “Clean Air Saves Lives” “Does Burning Trash Create Clean Energy?” 

To participate in the Climate March, please reach out to Michele Sionas (by clicking this link for her email), or register for the march by scanning the QR code on the flyer, or clicking this link.

Our UCC Ringers rang in some serious joy at last Sunday's Second Hour after worship. The beautiful sounds of the handbells filled the air and warmed everyone's hearts. In case you missed it, click the purple button below or the video box below. Gratitude to Handbell Director Jeremy Whitener and the UCC Ringers for such an incredible and enjoyable presentation.

(Please note: depending on what kind of device you are watching from, you may need to close an automatic window that pop-ups from Vimeo asking you to join. You do not need to join Vimeo in order to watch the video. Once on Vimeo, there is a black "play" button in the bottom left corner.)

This past weekend, 9 youth from Union Cong and Glen Ridge Congregational Church gathered at YMCA Camp Bernie, led by Revs. Katrina Forman and Jeff Mansfield and chaperone Rob Iracane (THANK YOU ROB!).



Over the course of the weekend we lived into the story of Jacob wrestling in the night and leaving with the blessing of a new name. We bonded over team-building games, campfire, and a zipline, and closed out the weekend with worship at the top of Point Mountain.

We can’t wait to bless these confirmands on Sunday, May 19. REMINDER: Confirmation (May 19's Sunday Service) will take place this year in Glen Ridge at a joint worship service that the confirmands will lead at Glen Ridge Congregational Church. There will be no worship at Union Congregational Church on Sunday, May 19th. We do encourage you to come back over to Union Cong at 2pm for the Sanctuary Choir's Brahms concert with orchestra.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ADULT SANCTUARY CHOIR SINGING THE BRAHMS REQUIEM

Saturday, May 18 at 7pm

Sunday, May 19 at 2pm

Union Cong's Sanctuary Choir is preparing Brahms' Requiem, a transcendant cornerstone of the choral and orchestral repertoire. Inspired by the deaths of his mother and his mentor, Brahms created an innovative requiem, that,

unlike traditional requiems that primarily focus on prayers for the dead, offers messages of hope, consolation, and redemption for those left behind. Notably, Brahms wrote his requiem in the common vernacular, German, rather than Latin. In this spirit, our presentation will be in English.

Please join the sancutary choir, ten-piece orchestra, and soloists Bill Amory and Kristine Hart, to experience a stirring performance of one of the most reknown works of all time. Admission is free, however, donations are joyfully accepted.

THIS WEEK IN SMALL GROUPS

Small Groups and Ministry Teams bring forth intentional groups that build community within our congregation, deepen relationships, organize service work for communities in need, and cultivate a sense of belonging. For more information, please call the church office at 973-744-7424.

WEDNESDAY, May 1

10:30AM Gentle Yoga (Guild Room)

For more information on Gentle Yoga, please reach out to Sara Tamargo, or the church office.

NOON Union Sages (Guild Room)

May 1 Topic: Facing change. Life brings many changes, welcome and unwelcome. Was there a time when you faed a change well? When did you not accept a change as well as you might have? All are welcome! For more information on Union Sages, please reach out to Sara Olson, or the church office. For more information on Union Sages, please reach out to Sara Olson, or the church office.

7PM Handbell Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

Did the joyful Handbell Second Hour spur you to join the Handbell Choir? Come to a Wednesday evening rehearsal and check it out! For more information on the Handbell Choir, please reach out to Jeremy Whitener, or the church office.

MONDAY, May 6

7PM Evening Bible Study (Guild Room)

For more information on Evening Bible Study, please reach out to Gerald Walle, or the church office.

TUESDAY, May 7

12:30pm Daytime Bible Study (Guild Room)

Daytime Bible Study Group will be meeting in the Guild Room to conclude their study of the book Bad Girls of the Bible by Rev. Barbara J. Essex (UCC), and the accompanying Biblical texts. For more information on Daytime Bible Study, please reach out to Paul Nishimoto, or the church office.

7pm Racial Justice Ministry Team Meets On Zoom

The Zoom link will be in the calendar listing. For more information, please reach out to Catherine Spinella or the church office.

RACIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY TEAM’S “LET’S WATCH” FILM SERIES CONTINUES WITH “MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY” ON FRIDAY, MAY 10 STARTING AT 6PM IN THE ASSEMBLY ROOM

The next "Let's Watch!" movie: My Name Is Pauli Murray. Bring your own dinner and eat as a group at 6pm. Screening in the Guild Room will begin at 6:30pm with a discussion after. This documentary is a look at the life and ideas of Pauli Murray, a non-binary Black lawyer, activist and poet who influenced both Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall. As a lawyer, Murray argued for civil rights and women's rights. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall called Murray's 1950 book States' Laws on Race and Color, the "bible" of the civil rights movement.

HELP US LAUNCH SPRING POP-UP PARTIES! 

We are kicking off our Spring season of Pop Up parties and are looking for volunteers to hosts. These fun small group gatherings centered around food and connection continue to be popular at Union. Hosting a party is a one-time commitment, and a great way to foster community in our church. Please contact Jen Hand at jennyjohand@gmail.com if interested in hosting a party at church or in your home in May or June (you choose the date).

WOMEN’S MAY BREAKFAST: A WOMEN’S TRIP TO LAUREL ARBORETUM – ONLY 25 SLOTS AVAILABLE – SAT., MAY 18, 9AM

A Natural Treasure – Laurelwood Arboretum. The Women of Union’s May Breakfast Event, on Saturday May 18, will be a trip to Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne. We will gather at church at 9:00 am to car pool to the arboretum.

Laurelwood Arboretum is a 30-acre botanically diverse property located in Wayne Township in northern New Jersey. The cost for the tour is $5.00 per person. Our tour is limited to 25 (twenty-five) so, please make your reservation as soon as possible by emailing or calling Karen Ermler at karen.ermler@gmail.com, 973-820-6122.

Laurelwood features woodland trails and gardens, wildlife, two ponds, streams and hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other unusual species of plants and trees. Gravel paths wind and connect through the arboretum, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers, hikers, runners, birdwatchers, artists and photographers. Upon arriving at the arboretum, we will have a tour of this marvelous natural location. For those who may find it difficult to walk on the paths, we have reserved a golf cart which will travel on the tour. Please note that we will not have a breakfast on this day. For those who wish to have lunch, after the tour, we will stop at a diner on our return trip. Please wear comfortable and sturdy shoes. Also, it would be advisable to bring a water bottle, hat and sun screen. Hope to see you on Saturday, May 18 at 9am! Any questions, please ask Karen Ermler. Thanks.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

MAY 18 NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION SPRING MEETING IS TAKING PLACE AT UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH - REGISTRATION IS LIVE



The registration link is now up for the May 18 New Jersey Association’s Spring meeting at Union Congregational Church.

Click to register: NJ SPRING MEETING REGISTRATION.

Individuals can register on-site from 9-9:30 AM. 

• The association’s Members in Discernment (those preparing for ordination) will lead a worship service from 9:30-9:50am. 
• From 10-10:50am, there will be the election of officers for the upcoming year and a conversation about visioning for the association’s future. 
• Then our featured presenter – Peter Makari – will speak from 11-11:30am. 

Peter serves as the Executive for the Middle East and Europe at Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. He will help us learn how to frame conversations about Palestine-Israel more effectively to keep people in conversation and relationship. Lunch will follow for those able to stay.

Questions? Contact NJ Council President Rev. George Rizor at george.rizor@gmail.com.