In Celebration of the Life of Jean Husher 
This Saturday, January 12 at 3:00 p.m., we are invited to gather in the warmth of the sanctuary to celebrate the life of Jean Husher and give thanks to God for having shared our lives with her.  

Jean was a long time member of the congregation who gave generously of her talented self over many years.  Jean was and will always be so dear to us.  

In the service on Saturday, there will be a time for those who would like to share memories in celebration of Jean.  It will be good to remember Jean and to surround her family and all who mourn with love.   A reception will follow the service.  


The Union Church in Waban               
Friday, January 11, 2019

 
This Sunday 
8:00 - Bible Study 

9:00 - Choir Rehearsal

10:00 - Sunday Worship 

11:30 - Informational Session in preparation for Congregational Meeting on January 27. After church there will be an informational session in preparation for the Congregational Meeting on January 27th.  The agenda for the Congregational Meeting will include a vote on affiliation with the American Baptist Churches/the installation of Rev. Amy Clark Feldman at the Union Church in Waban, a vote on the updated church by-laws, and some church visioning. 

Church Matters 
Mark your Calendars!  Church Council calls a Special Congregational Meeting for Sunday January 27th. 


Coffee Hosts Needed for January, February and March 
Thank you to all those who have already signed up to host our coffee hour. We have many slots open as we  move into the new year.
We currently are in need of a coffee hosts for January 20th
and on through the rest of the church year. 
If  you are available, please consider signing-up    HERE  ,
or  let Aidan know at ucw@ucw.org.
Thank You!  
From the Deacons
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Valentine Care Packages for Our Young People

With help from our youth, the Deacons will be compiling Valentine Care Packages to send to our UCW young people who are in their first year of being away from home. We want them to know that the church is thinking of them and sending love.  If you have a young person who is newly away from home whether as a college freshman or in another setting please send Pastor Stacy their mailing address so that we can send them a box of treats.  
Mission Matters

AN INVITATION TO CONSIDER -- 
NICA Leadership Team - 
We are embarking on the formation of a NICA Leadership Team.  This will be a small group of 3-5 people who have a particular gift for nurturing the partnership with our Nicaraguan friends by supporting and coordinating the leadership of various team leaders that would take responsibility for different aspects of our Nicaraguan partnership (i.e. being the point person for support and communication with our scholarship support of a Brugger scholar; being the point person for ongoing continuity and support with past projects and partnerships; being the point person for nurturing UCW connection with Nicaragua).  We are looking for 3-5 people who would meet monthly to manage the big picture of our relationship and support the lay leaders who would take responsibility for supporting the specific areas of engagement. If you have questions or are interested in being a part of the NICA leadership Team, please be in touch with Co-Moderator Kent Wittler. In addition, please stay tuned for ways that you can weigh in on this relationship by sharing in conversations where we will learn about how this partnership began, what it has entailed, and hear from you as to where you think it ought to go. 

Nicaragua News:
It is with great excitement that Union Church continues its partnership with the  Brugger Foundation to give a life changing opportunity to a dedicated and deserving high school student to attend college.  Please meet Marvin who will begin classes this semester to become a nurse.  If you would like to send him some words of encouragement, you may send by email via David Spertner and it will be passed on to the foundation to be translated and delivered to him.  Please hold Marvin in your prayers as he begins this journey. 

Christmas Offering - Thank you for your generosity!
Our special collection raised $2,816 to support A Lift Up, a program of City Mission.  To learn more about this program, please go here or reach out to us your mission leadership team at mission@ucw.org.  


Children Youth and Families
Good News - A New Sunday School Classroom for Little Ones! 
Calling New Teachers
We are glad to announce that beginning TODAY, we are opening a new Sunday School class for our pre-school through early-elementary school children, which will meet in the "Turtle Room" next to the nursery.   The addition of a new class means that we are also looking for some new teachers/helpers to assist in that and our other classes. If you would like to learn more, or can volunteer a few Sundays this winter or spring to share a fun and rewarding morning with our children and young people, please connect with Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org). Thank you!
 
Youth, Children and Families Calendar for Spring 2019 -- Coming Soon!
Families with youth and kids should keep their eyes out for the UCW Family Winter/Spring Calendar coming soon! We're excited for this New Year together and are so glad you and yours will be part of all the wonderful things happening!  
 
 
Middle School Youth Group - Coming up in February! Dinner Out & Cradles to Crayons
We have two great events coming up in February for our Middle School Youth Group. On Friday, February 1st, middle-schoolers are invited to kick off the year with dinner out together at a restaurant in Newton (contact, Glenn Cunningham). Then, on February 16th, Middle and High Schoolers are invited to serve at Cradles to Crayons, helping to prepare needed goods for children in Boston (contact Justin Pond or Pastor Amy). Please save the dates, and let us know if you can join us (via the Evites or by contacting Pastor Amy ). Thanks!

Adult Education and Spiritual Formation 

 
 
Book Group, February 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m . Our faith tradition affirms that all human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1: 26-28) and that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139: 14); and here at the Union Church in Waban we affirm the inherent dignity of all people and strive to live that out through our covenant that affirms the inclusive love of Jesus. 

As such, we invite you enter into a journey that sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild embarked upon with the desire to enter into conversation with people whose life experience and outlook were different than her own. "Strangers in Their Own Land" will be our winter reading. On February 26th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. we will gather for a conversation of this book led by our own Anya Bassett. We encourage you to consider making this study part of your New Year's resolutions as we live into "the conversational nature of reality" to borrow a quote from poet and philosopher David Whyte. If you have questions, please see Alan Cody or Pastor Stacy.
 
Midweek Bible Study . Does Sunday morning Bible Study at 8:00 a.m. feel like an impossibility? Do you feel like you don't have any idea really what the Bible is, where it came from, how it was formed, or even how best to engage with it? Does the Bible at best seem a bit suspect and at worst rather scary? Pastor Stacy wants to hear from you. She would like to offer a mid - week (day time or evening depending on what works best for everyone) six week overview of the Bible using the Massachusetts Bible Society's "Exploring the Bible" series. Please be in touch with Stacy if you are interested.
 
Wellspring, Jan. 16th at 6:30 p.m. Every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. the reception room at UCW comes to life and light as the women of the church gather to share our lives and the food we have prepared with each other. It is a sacred time of laughter and tears, singing and sharing where all who gather are affirmed and loved for who we are however we may be. Our next gathering is Wednesday, January 16th. We will be reflecting on "Fresh Vision" (pages 129 - 136)  in our book,  "At the Still Point" --  on the theme of  starting the year with what is good and godly. If you have questions, please reach out to Priscilla Kelso or Pastor Stacy.

Women's Retreat at Toah Nipi, May 17-19. And then, plan on coming away! Whether you are a regular attender of Wellspring or not, you are welcome! Come away to the beauty and silence of Toah Nipi Retreat Center in Rindge, NH. This is a very special time to deepen friendships and grow in love of self, each other, and God. The retreat will begin Friday evening, May 17 and finish by noontime on May 19.

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.