The Union Church in Waban               
Friday, April 3, 2020 
This Sunday, April 5 th -  Palm Sunday 
Worship Continues Online 


In this beloved service, we will walk through Holy Week together sharing in the story of Jesus from the shouts of Hosanna and waving palms as he enters Jerusalem, all the way to his death on the cross.  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 as well as information about all of our Holy Week services. 
Tea Time with Stacy 
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 3:00 p.m.
or anytime by appointment 

Grab a cup of tea and let's chat about that latest poem you read, a reflection that you may have or anything else that is on your mind.  This is a drop in group for us to say "Hi!"
To join via Zoom go  HERE
Meeting ID: 746 243 368
or call  +1 646 558 8656
Children, Youth and Families 

In these weeks at home, we're finding new ways to stay connected:

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 access the log-in.

Sunday School - Zoom Room! 11:30am on Sundays
After our virtual Sunday coffee hour, Pastor Amy will stay on and share 20-minutes or so with the kids. We'll connect, pray, sing, share a Bible story, and then introduce an activity you do at home! 
  • To Connect to Sunday Worship and Sunday School CLICK HERE  
  • To connect to all our online Sunday School lessons so far, CLICK HERE.  

Story-time with Pastor Amy - Moved to Thursday Afternoons 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. You can see past story-times with Pastor Amy reading by clicking HERE.

Exploring Our Faith - This Sunday 5:30-7:30pm 
Our Exploring Our Faith group for 9 th and 10 th graders will continue, and we'll find new creative ways of gathering.   This Sunday, April 5 th, we'll  gather at 5:30pm on ZOOM. The link will be sent to students, families and mentors on email. If you need help connecting, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).

Pastoral Support:
Also, 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.

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.

Like us here in the US, our friends in San Juan Del Sur are now mostly sheltering in place and many businesses have shut down. Two of our former students Ingrid and Ana Mariela have already both lost their jobs as their hotel has shut down as they had no customers. Schools have been closed and people are worried just like us.

Although the governmental response appears to be weak, it is amazing to see some of our community partners stepping up as a public service to get the word out on how to stop the spread of COVID - 19. Our former student Yarisleidy, who works for Communidad Connect and The Brugger Foundation both have been using their reach in the community to inform and encourage people to stop the spread.

One of the great outcomes of this ministry work, in my opinion, is the strengthening of connections by and between us at the Union Church and by and between our friends in Nicaragua. During this difficult time we need to hold each other up and make sure we help each other's light keep shining. Please continue to hold our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and everyone around the world in prayer as this glow of light and love is never ending.

"Una candela le falta nada para encender otra"

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another"

If anyone would like to send a note to someone in Nicaragua, please feel free to send it to me and I can arrange to have it translated and delivered electronically.

Thanks, David Spertner - dspertner@gmail.com  
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.

March 2020
Dear Union Church in Waban,

Receive warm greetings, I hope you are having very good health and well-being, I have many things to tell you. Thank you for allowing me to share moments and experiences in the days of February that you were here. Helping and giving support to a community made it more special. Generating smiles and gratitude in such a noble way, those acts speak more than a thousand words.

I hope to see you again soon and be able to accompany you in future projects.

Currently, I have just started my second year of university, I'm eager to see what this year of knowledge holds, wanting to learn more and more. There are always difficulties but you always have to be positive, I try to give my best performance and bring out the best in me.

The more I learn the more satisfaction it gives me to know that I am close to achieving this goal. Soon I'm going to be a prepared person and I want to help my mom and dad, who have taken me to where I am with so much sacrifice and make you feel proud knowing you didn't make the wrong decision with me.

Thank you for helping me to fulfill this dream, all my family and I thank you from the heart, for the exceptional help you give us, God bless you and your family today and always.

Sincerely,

Marvin Ernesto Collado Vargas.
Church Matters
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.

For all of the ministry areas of the church and for the congregation overall, Council is asking:

1. Reflect on what has been and plan for what is to come: Please gather with those in your ministry area to consider what has transpired this year. What has gone particularly well? What are you hoping to change? Please use this discussion as a basis for your written annual reports that are due to Pastor Stacy
by May 15. Office manager, Aidan Cunningham at ucw@ucw.org will be sending out reports from last year to use as a guide. 

2. Called to serve: Everyone in the congregation is invited to consider where they may be feeling called to serve. Are you feeling a call to join the Youth Ministry Team, the Deacons, Mission or Council or any other ministry area of the church? If so, please be in touch with Pastor Stacy, stacy@ucw.org
by April 21. Also ministry area leaders, please send the names of people you would like to invite to join you to Pastor Stacy as well so that the nominating committee may reach out on your behalf by April 21 as well.

3. Stewarding the year to come:  By May 1 , If you have a line item in the budget, please review your allocated amount and let stewardship/finance know as soon as you can and certainly by  May 1st if you anticipate any radical changes. If stewardship/finances does not hear from you, we will carry over the amount budgeted from last year to this next fiscal year. To contact stewardship/finance please reach out to Karen@weisbrown.org

Note from Pastor Stacy 


While I am deeply grateful to the church for the generosity of Sabbatical, due to COVID-19, I will not be departing as planned on May 1 st. I look forward to the renewal that Sabbatical will bring once that becomes possible. Again thank you. If anyone has any concerns, please reach out to me if you would at Stacy@ucw.org.


Mission Matters


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
o r 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! 
 
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.

Supplies for Boston Medical Center

            You may want to read this article from a doctor in the New York Times who said if all people just gave something extra they have at home to the hospitals it could make a difference.  Do you have a hand sanitizer, a disinfectant cleaning spray, some masks for instance that you could share with Boston Medical Center?   In a trip to Walgreens or CVS could you pick up one of the things, if they have them?  Boston Medical Center is seeking to help health care workers and patients in this struggle against the virus.   The following donations are sought by Boston Medical Center:        
  •     gloves
  •     hand sanitizer
  •     wipes
  •     cleaning supplies
  •     thermometers
  •     head covers, caps
  •     shoe covers
  •     resistant cloth gowns
  •     surgical/cloth masks
  •     face shields
  •     labcoats
  •     safety goggles
  •        N-95 Masks
  •        hoods
  •        powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR replacement parts)
If you have any questions or could help with a pick up and delivery to BMC, please contact Brita Gill-Austern at bgillaustern@gmail.com


Supplies for our friends at Common Cathedral
who are experiencing homelessness 


Amy will be organizing the supplies to common cathedral.  if you are interested in helping please contact Amy@ucw.org
  •        granola bars
  •        instant oatmeal packs
  •        hand sanitizer
  •        liquid soap
  •      paper towels 

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.

Given their location in Uphams Corner it has always been difficult to maintain a presence at this school. But now that we are all remote and all schools online only until at least May 4th, we could make a difference online!  

Learn How   HERE

Donations can be made HERE  
(and specify Chromebooks BPS)


                                                
                                      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.