The Union Church in Waban
Friday, April 10, 2020 
This Sunday, April 12 th -  EASTER SUNDAY
Worship Continues Online
In these trying time, let us remember that the power and presence of God is even now moving in the world.

With joyful music, art from our children, reflection on scripture, heart felt prayer and the setting free of our Alleluias (which have been hidden away since Ash Wednesday) we will celebrate that nothing not even a cross death can separate us from the love of God. 

Bring Your Alleluias! To print and color an Alleluia image to share in worship,  click here or draw your own. Bring a plastic/paper egg or two for our virtual egg hunt during reception too (see below for details)!     

A separate eblast will be send out tomorrow, Saturday.  In it you will find all the information you need to partake in worship and learning together on Sunday, including a special resource for those who will celebrate Sunrise Service.  
  
Easter Special Collection
Children's Services  of Roxbury

Tea Time with Stacy - Breaking News!
Every Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday at 3:00 p.m.

BREAKING NEWS: TODAY AT 3:00 p.m.
We will have a special guest on Tea Time!

Our very own, Resident Poetry Guide, Tom Vawter  will be joining us with a selection of some of the poems he is finding most meaningful in this season. 

 Grab a cup of tea and come hear Tom read some poetry.  It will be a wonderful discussion.   To join via Zoom go   HERE Meeting ID: 746 243 368 ;  Password:  016341;  or call  +1 646 558 8656. 
CYF
Children, Youth and Families 

EASTER for Kids! Alleluias and Egg Hunt
We hope kids of all ages will join us for Easter service on Zoom! If you can, print and color THIS BUTTERFLY or THIS ALLELUIA
and bring it to Children's Time (or draw a butterfly or Alleluia!). If you can send your pictures to Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org), we'll also add it to a slide show. We'll also have a virtual Easter Egg Hunt during reception. Hide a few eggs in your screen (plastic or paper) and we'll all look for each other's eggs!

Parents Group - Every Tuesday at 7:30pm Gather to connect, laugh and share mutual support as we do the good work of parenting in these challenging times. CLICK HERE to log-in; password (if needed) is 499897

Story-time with Pastor Amy - Thursdays at 4:30pm Pastor Amy gathers with kids and families each week to share a story and check-in. CLICK HERE and join our next story-time live (password:  069830). You can see past story-times with Pastor Amy reading by clicking HERE .

Exploring Our Faith - Good Friday Video - Next Meeting, April 19th 4-6pm
Our Exploring Our Faith group for 9 th and 10 th graders will meet every two weeks during this time, and our next meeting will be on Sunday, April 19th.  The link and videos to watch ahead of time will be sent to students, families and mentors on email. For Good Friday, we had planned to attend worship with our Catholic friends. Instead, please  Watch  THIS VIDEO by  Pádraig Ó Tuama of the Catholic Stations of the Cross, and we'll discuss when we gather next time!    

Pastoral Support:
Please know that Pastor Amy is available for calls, texts or video-chats. We'll be working on other ways to get together in virtual small groups as well. Amy's email is amy@ucw.org and cell is 617-938-8112.

Advocates for Racial Justice
Health disparities we have been aware of are more glaring in this time of COVID
 
The Advocates for Racial Justice group are gathering the disturbing facts. The most vulnerable dying from the corona virus are being shown to be African Americans, then Latino's and Immigrants, not simply the old and those with pre-existing medical condition.  Please read the articles below for more on the most vulnerable during this time.

 NY Times  
You Are Invited!
Join UCW Folks in a Conversation 
Thursday, April 16, at 7 PM
 
If you are staying at home and watching more movies than usual, as we are, how about a Film Conversation together with some members of the Union Church Advocates for Racial Justice?

Have you seen Raisin In The Sun (1961) lately?... or ever? Let's watch it this week in the comfort of home and talk about it together! Let us know if you would like to be in a zoom conversation and we will send you the information.  Youth are invited. It is available on Amazon, iTunes and Crackle.
 
Thanks for considering this event as we sure miss conversations with you as we isolate. A discussion with church people about other people's lives is something we feel we could benefit from in these times. 

Easter Special Collection
EasterCollection

Union Church in Waban

Easter Special Offering 

Given the challenges facing individuals and families in Boston, this year's recipient for our Easter Special Offering will be  
Children's Services of Roxbury.
   
Children's Services of Roxbury is a nonprofit run by and for people of color that offers programs and services to more than 6,000 vulnerable children and families throughout Massachusetts. 

 

From the President and CEO, Sandra McCroom:

"We urgently need your help and your congregation's help to ensure our families have access to food and medicine." Right now, we are mobilizing to support Massachusetts' most vulnerable families through this crisis, many of whom are either homeless or a paycheck away from homelessness. Located in the heart of Boston's multicultural communities, with additional services in Worcester, Greater Springfield and Greater Lowell, we serve 6,000 children and families.


During this period of online worshiping, you can make your donations directly, online by clicking  here

If you prefer, you can send a check to UCW and write 
"Easter Offering" in the memo. 
 

You can read more about Children's Services of Roxbury  here  
And watch a short video  here
Serving our Community During COVID-19 
YOU CAN HELP! 

Boston Medical Center
and
Common Cathedral
 
In the midst of this scary and unsettling time, many of us are frustrated by our sense of helplessness in being able to help the most vulnerable in more concrete ways.   Our church is providing two ways you can make a difference by dropping off needed supplies for health care workers and food for those with food insecurity in this time.  All supplies may be dropped off at the church in the anteroom outside the elevator in the two marked boxes.   We hope you will tell others in Newton about this drop off place.  We will deliver the medical supplies to Boston Medical Center, the hospital that serves the most vulnerable and homeless in the city and sanitizer and food supplies for those made homeless to Common Cathedral.

For more detail and a list of supplies needed at the  Boston Medical Center and
Common Cathedral continue reading   HERE> 

R emote Mentoring for 
Russell School students
 
As most of you know, we have a partnership with one of the Boston Public Schools in Dorchester, the Russell school. It is a K-5 school that serves a large immigrant population, and also has a lot of homeless families.
Learn How   HERE
Donations can be made HERE  
(and specify Chromebooks BPS)
News From Nicaragua
It is hard to believe that the group of Union Church Travelers were down in Nicaragua just six weeks ago enjoying our friends, working in the barrio of Ojochal and sharing worship at the Alpha Omega Church. It is incredible how much has changed since then. 

Nicaragua Student Update
 
A letter received from our student Marvin who is sponsored by the Church and whom many of the travelers met this past February. We had the pleasure of working with him on the service project and he  is studying to become a nurse. To read Marvin's letter please go Here.

Learn more >


A Word from Council

Dear Church,
 
In the midst of so much uncertainty, there are things that we can count on and things we know to be true. One is that God is and will continue to be with us. God will not leave us. God is with us in the midst of all we face. The second is that the Union Church is and will continue to be - us! We will not leave each other. We will be with each other in the midst of all we face.

That is Good News. And that Good News means that we also have some good work to do as we prepare to close out this fiscal year and plan for the next.

                                                
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.


For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,  please 
visit our website, www.ucw.org 
 
Note : Material for inclusion in the Friday e-Blast newsletter should be e-mailed to the office at ucw@ucw.org , by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning.