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The Union Church in Waban

Friday, December 17 2021 Calendar | Website

This Sunday

Worship (In-person and Online) Fourth Sunday in Advent - December 19th, 10:00 a.m.

Join us for this very special Sunday as our the choir and guest musicians lead us with special music. This Sunday we light the fourth Advent candle, and open our hearts and church to LOVE! Please also note the special worship opportunity on Tuesday evening - the Longest Night Service. More information can be found below. Pastor Amy will be back following the re-entry protocols we have put in place. (please see her note to the congregation sent 12/2 HERE for more information). You may also join the service this Sunday via Zoom We look forward to seeing you! To join Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom:   Zoom Link: HERE Meeting ID: 832 2059 8969 Passcode: 458322 Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656  The bulletin is available HERE

Caroling & Stars Following Worship This Sunday Youth, Families, and All-Ages are invited to join this joyful time together 11:15 a.m. (after worship) - Stick Stars & Gifts We'll gather after worship to create beautiful lighted stick stars, and gifts/cards for UCW members who could use extra joy and love this Advent.  12-1:30 p.m. - Caroling to the homes of UCW elders and friends Share Christmas cheer! At least one of the homes we'll visit (maybe two) is within walking distance of the church. We'll start by walking to bring cheer to beloved UCW members who aren't able to get out much, and then drive to one or more other homes.   A quick RSVP if you CAN come would be very helpful (email Pastor Amy at amy@ucw.org) -- including whether you can drive your family, and/or a youth to the homes that are further away. We would love to see you there!

To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings, you may also go to our website at www.ucw.org.

Christmas Eve Plans for UCW

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 plan is to join 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: For In-person presence at 4:00 p.m. HERE For in-person presence at 6:00 p.m. HERE. Masks will be required for both in-person services. 

Church Matters

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.

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

Upcoming Sundays & Gatherings

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

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. 

Kids and Families

Christmas is Coming! Mark Your Calendars for these Family Gatherings

Thank you to all who helped Share the Christmas Story last week! Thank you to all the children, youth and adults who made last Sunday so special! We are so very grateful for all the children, youth and adults who shared their voices, music, dance, technology expertise, time, leadership, creativity, and love last Sunday. Our worship service, led entirely by our children and youth, was such a blessing, and shared true Advent joy! If you haven't seen it yet, you can CLICK HERE to see a recording. Youth & Families - Crafts & Caroling This Sunday, December 19th (11:15-1:30 p.m. - See details in the worship section above) 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 POSTPONED - Now Epiphany/Three Kings Parties! Friday, January 7th from 7-8:30 p.m. - Middle School Middle School Families should receive an Evite. We'll gather at the church for an Epiphany party. We'll have fun related to kings and stars, and receive 'star words' to guide us in our new year. Bring a Three Kings gift (White Elephant) -- something wild, wacky, wonderful, or re-gifted for under $10. Sunday, January 9th - Exploring Our Faith - 6-8:30 p.m. (EOF followed by a Three Kings Party) EOF 9th and 10th graders will meet on the 2nd Sunday, rather than our usual 1st Sunday time as we come back from winter vacations. We'll dive into interesting EOF topics and conversations from 6-7:45ish, and then have our own Three Kings fun -- bring a wild, wacky, or wonderful (under $10 gift)! 

Advocates for Racial Justice

Advocates for Racial Justice   The Union Church Advocates for Racial Justice welcomed over 25 guest participants from nine Newton Houses of Worship to a community - wide conversation on the real and powerful barriers to affordable housing. We have been called by our faith to respond to housing inequities in Newton and believe that our principled action can be even more effective when we join in an interfaith coalition with other Congregations.  We were heartened by the attendance and the robust response to creating a response by Newton Congregations to repair the segregation and economic consequences of old zoning ordinances.

We asked, "What is Fair Housing?" and "How does restricted zoning deny accessibility to Newton?". We watched the 15-minute video of Segregated by Design (based on The Color of Law) which detailed the federal and local barriers erected against Black citizens who were denied access to low-cost housing.  We heard from each other and began to develop ideas to achieve -together- systemic solutions to housing that has a history in Newton of being racially restrictive.

A community-wide coalition has a good future now. We look forward to working closely with all of those who attended and many who want to join us to plan together for zoning reform, including launching an event in the Spring that will broadcast the response of people of faith to zoning restrictions. And we especially look forward to each of you joining us on this journey just begun. You are welcome!

Mission Matters

Newton Freedge: Volunteers Needed! 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 

Pastoral Care

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: Pastor Wendy's email is seniorpastor@ucw.org and her office phone is 617-965-3893 Pastor Amy's email is amy@ucw.org, and her cell phone for calls or texts is 617-938-8112.

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. 

Sunday Sign-Ups

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.

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. Hosting Reception Sign-up: HERE

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.