The Union Church in Waban |
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Worship (In-person and Online)
Third Sunday in Advent - December 12th, 10:00 a.m.
Intergenerational Worship - The Christmas Story
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Join us for this very special Sunday as our children and youth lead us in worship and share the Christmas Story! We'll have special music from our youth, and join our voices in favorite carols. This Sunday we light the third Advent candle, and open our hearts and church to JOY!
Please Note: We are trying something new this Sunday! Kids will participate in the service live in-person, but also live on Zoom, and with pre-recorded videos. There will be a large screen in the sanctuary, and those in-person at the church will be able to see and hear the folks on Zoom. Pastor Amy will again join the service this Sunday via Zoom (please see her note to the congregation sent 12/2 HERE for more information).
We look forward to seeing you!
To join Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. 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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To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings,
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Christmas Eve Plans for UCW |
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We want to house the holy in this season. Based on recommendations from the Phase Forward Team managing our Covid practices, UCW will offer two opportunities for worship on Christmas Eve.
- At 4:00 p.m. - a simple Christmas Eve with candlelight and carols OUTDOORS. If the weather is inclement, the back-up is joining the 6 p.m. worship on Zoom.
- At 6:00 p.m. – an in-person capacity-limited hybrid Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary.
Registration for in-person attendance is required for both services for planning and tracing purposes. Zoom will be offered at 6:00 p.m. and does not require registration. We hope these multiple options secure an option that feels right for you.
You can register:
Masks will be required for both in-person services.
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Senior Pastor Search Process Outlined
Union Church is embarking on the search for calling a Senior Pastor next year. The Council will look for your help in identifying members of the congregation to serve on the Transition Team or on the Search Committee. The Transition Team will be tasked with drafting a description of who we are as a church, based on input from you as to our mission and purpose, who is our neighbor and who is God calling us to be. This description along with church data will be submitted to UCC and American Baptist as well as other outlets to let others know details of our senior minister search. The Search Committee would then complete the process by meeting pastoral candidates, discerning a call, and presenting a candidate to the congregation. Watch for a letter coming to your home and in your inbox after the New Year with more details about the search process and your important place in it.
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The Union Church in Waban
Important Updates from the
Phase Forward Team
With Covid cases on the rise, and dear members of our congregation testing positive, our Phase Forward team has been working hard to ensure we continue to gather as safely as possible. Following are two important updates from the team:
. ............continue reading HERE
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Mitten Tree Returns in Hybrid Form |
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Attention Mitten Tree Gift Givers!!
Thank you for taking a mitten and buying a present for a community member in need. Please bring back your wrapped gift with the mitten attached (or for those from the virtual mitten tree- with a label) to UCW this Sunday, Dec. 12th. We will also be receiving gifts this Sunday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. out front. All gifts need to be back at UCW by Tues. Dec. 14th. If you need your gift picked up please contact Molly (mollymok4@gmail.com) or Erika (epond33@gmail.com) who are happy to swing by your home.
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Poinsettia Orders and Dedications |
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Orders and Payments Due By
This Sunday, December 12th
You can complete and submit your order details below.
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Large ($40) or Medium ($30) sized poinsettias are available for purchase. Donor names and the names of those who the flowers are dedicated to will be printed in our December 19th bulletin. (Your order may be collected following our Christmas Eve Service.)
Thank You!
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Housing the Holy
Join us this Advent as we open the
doors of our hearts and church to the Holy
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Read online or download a copy
of our Advent Devotional: HERE
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View a video about our
Advent journey this year below.
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Upcoming Sundays & Gatherings |
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10:00 a.m. Worship - Coming Up!
We hope you will join us online or in-person following Covid safety guidelines!
Come, and find reconnection, renewal, hope, and joy as we gather together
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Fourth Sunday in Advent - Special Music
Sunday, December 19th
The UCW Choir is busy preparing special music for the congregation on this Christmas Sunday. Please plan to join us on this day, and if you can add your voice to the choir, please contact Mijin at mijin@ucw.org.
Longest Night Worship Service - Special Opportunity
Tuesday, December 21st @ 7:00 p.m.
This is a service for those who wonder about the generative power of darkness and wintering. We will create room for the holy even as we recognize the loss in this community of faith of a beloved Pastor, the practices we have sacrificed to be safe in Covid, the hybrid nature of things now and questions that do not always have answers. This service seeks to comfort by reminding us we are not alone and that all feelings are honored.
Christmas Eve Services
Friday, December 24th @ 4:00 & 6:00 p.m.
This year we will be holding Christmas Eve services at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. We hope you will join us. More details in the news item above.
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Christmas is Coming!
Mark Your Calendars
for these Family Gatherings
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Youth & Families - Crafts & Caroling
Sunday, December 19th - Stay tuned for exact times and details
We'll create Stick Stars to light our homes and church, and then travel to the homes of members who aren't able to make it to church in person to share some Christmas cheer!
Youth Group Christmas Parties
Friday, December 17th -- Middle School (evening)
Sunday, December 19th -- High School (after Caroling)
We are working out the details and whether and where we can be in-person or on Zoom, but please save the date!
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Newton Freedge: Volunteers Needed!
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Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. The Newton Freedge is one way we can help. A free, 24/7 outdoor refrigerator and pantry, the Freedge provides free food and personal supplies to anyone who needs them. We are in need of more volunteers to help on Saturdays.
Union Church Freedge Sign-up: HERE
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Pastoral Care Connections
During this time of transition, please know that your church is here for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Revs. Wendy Vander Hart or Amy Clark Feldman for prayer or pastoral support:
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Pastor Wendy's email is seniorpastor@ucw.org and her office phone is 617-965-3893
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Pastor Amy's email is amy@ucw.org, and her cell phone for calls or texts is 617-938-8112.
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Please note: Both of our pastors take Mondays off as a day of rest and Sabbath. If you are in need of urgent pastoral support on this coming Monday,, you can reach out to Pastor Wendy, who will be available for emergencies.
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
If you are joining our Sunday worship in person, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services
Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
Note: Previously we had hoped to include scripture readers who could join us from their home via zoom but unfortunately this is currently not possible.
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Host Reception - Sign-Up
Hosting Reception after Worship is so meaningful. This year guidelines are a little different e.g. individually wrapped snacks keep it simple and in lieu of coffee, lemonade or something that can be served easily is preferred. Please follow the link below to sign up or for more information.
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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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