The Union Church in Waban |
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June 20th, at 10:00 a.m. Worship
This Sunday, we have the privilege of receiving a sermon entitled "Be Yourself" from our guest preacher, The Rev. Holly Millershank, Interim Associate Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference of the UCC. Holly will be delving into the story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17: 4-12, 38-49. Sam Feldman will be our scripture reader.
On this Father's day Sunday, we will celebrate our fathers and those who have been as father's to us with a slide show of images and music during our time of prayer.
Our service will conclude with a blessing and sending of Daon Drisdom, our Minister of Music.
To join Sunday Worship 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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A Farewell for Daon Drisdom, Minister of Music
Sunday June 20th after worship
You are invited to come by the church after worship on June 20th to say farewell to Daon who will be moving on from UCW at the end of June. We will gather outside on the front yard for some cake and words of gratitude.
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Father's Day -Send Photos of Fathers to Pastor Amy
Sunday June 20th (send photos no later than today!)
We will celebrate and remember all those who have been as fathers to us during worship on June 20th. If you have photos of a father in your life that you would like to include in our Father's Day slideshow, please send them to Pastor Amy via email at amy@ucw.org. Thank you!
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To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings, you may go to our website at www.ucw.org. There you will find a click through to Sunday morning worship and to other online opportunities. You may also use the link below.
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A Heartfelt Thank You from Pastor Stacy
Dear Church,
Thank you so very much for the festive celebration last Sunday!!! What a gift it was to be together! I loved the striped tent, the colorful tables, the beautiful flowers, the delicious food and gorgeous cake and most of all I loved being with you!!! I want to thank you for all the kindness and love. For the deeply moving words, the incredibly generous gifts, and all the hugs. You are a very special church and it has been such a privilege to serve among you for these many years. I thank you for trusting me with who you are.
You have taught me much and I have been truly transformed by our time together. With you I have learned how to trust and participate in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. With you, I have learned how to be brave "knowing that nothing is impossible with God." With you, I have seen that not knowing how something is going to end is never a reason not to begin. It is all gift and I am so deeply grateful!
While the ethical standards of my denomination (the UCC) require a period of no contact once I go from you (in order to help in the transition of new pastoral leadership), please know that I will be praying for you. Also please know that I trust with every cell of my being that God, even now, is preparing the heart of your next Senior Pastor. I pray for that person, whoever they are and wherever they are right now. I trust that God is at work in their life and is even now preparing for that glorious day (that is coming dear church), when you will call them to serve among you. May God's blessing be upon you all!
With all my love and gratitude,
Stacy
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Update from the Interim Senior Pastor Search Committee
The Interim Senior Pastor Search Committee is pleased to share that the search is under way in earnest and we are excited about the candidates who have applied. We have candidates referred by The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM), and The United Church of Christ (UCC) as well as responses from postings listed at a variety of seminaries intended to reach candidates from a variety of denominational affiliations.
We have received applications from as far as California, Minnesota, Texas and North Carolina as well as from Massachusetts. An embarrassment of riches!
We are well under way with first round interviews and we are looking forward to final rounds in July. Stacy is irreplaceable and will be a tough act for anyone to follow, but based on the applicant pool so far we are going to have a fantastic interim experience!
With love,
Alison, Brian, Dan, Jim, Liz and Rob
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Update from the Music Director Search Committee
The Music Director Search Committee is happy to share an update regarding our progress. We have posted the job opening at various sites. Perhaps the most important is the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, which has received our listing and is already having candidates contact us.
Previously, from a different posting we have had our first interview this past week and have reached out to a previous candidate to explore possible interest. We are excited to try to find a person who will be a great fit for our church. You are welcome to contact the committee to offer suggestions and ask questions at musicsearch@ucw.org.
With love,
James, Jean, Jandi, Elisabeth and Kent
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Summer Worship - Hybrid Worship at 10:00 a.m. - Continues in July
We are excited to share that we will continue to worship through the summer at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, both over Zoom and in-person. We will lift our hearts, hands, and voices in prayer and praise, and find joy, inspiration, and comfort in being together!
Pastor Amy will lead and coordinate us, but we are hoping others will offer their talents and leadership as well! Would you like to read scripture, help lead a prayer, offer music, share your art or a reflection? We will create our worship experience together this summer, and all are welcome! Please be in touch with Pastor Amy if you would like to join in (amy@ucw.org).
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Children, Youth and Families |
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Children, Youth and Families Ministries
Our ministries teams for children, youth and families are looking ahead to the summer and fall, eager to gather, serve and play; find grounding and guidance in our faith; and share care and connection as we enter this new phase of our journey together. It you would like to be part of our gathering and imagining, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
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Adult Education and Formation |
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Tea Time Bible Study
Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.
Please join us for a walk through the Book of Acts with Rev. Arlyne Grant and other friends. No biblical study or experience is needed. This will be a fun filled time of conversation and learning.
Meeting ID: 847 2838 1864
Passcode: 837512
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Advocate for Racial Justice |
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Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900 held in "East Woods"
on East 24th Street in Austin. Credit: Austin History Center.
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The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth |
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On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.
..................continue reading HERE
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Common Cathedral - Continuing this Month and Beyond
With our partners at the Wellesley Hills Church, we've delivered more than 3000 sandwiches since the start of the pandemic!
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Thank you to everyone who has made this ministry possible. It means so much, and there is still so much need. We'll continue delivering food (sandwiches, fruit, and granola bars) as long as we can to our unhoused siblings in downtown Boston, and are signed up for each week this June. To learn more or sign up to help with this ministry, please CLICK HERE. Thank you!
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Juneteenth
Everyone is invited to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth at Newton’s first Juneteenth Weekend Celebration. On Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 3:00-4:30 pm, Newton Talks Race and Historic Newton will host a Juneteenth event at the Hyde Bandstand, 90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands. Come and listen to Newton area speakers, musical performances, and a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.
On Sunday, June 20th from 12-4 pm the Juneteenth celebrations continue with FORJ NNHS (Families Organizing for Racial Justice at Newton North High School) hosting a fun family Juneteenth event at the same venue. Entertainment will include dance performances, a DJ and fun activities for kids. Bring a blanket to picnic with your family and enjoy Caribbean American food from the Fresh Food Generations food truck and ice cream from Tipping Cow. Have fun shopping at the Juneteenth market featuring products and services offered by local Black entrepreneurs, and take some time to appreciate art by Newton students of color. The rain date for the family event is Sunday June 27th.
Registration for both the June 19th and June 20th events is required so that the organizers know how many to expect. To register for either or both events, please visit www.forjnnhs.org/events and click on the registration links for Saturday, Sunday or both. We look forward to seeing you there!
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International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches,
Short Term Mission
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Virtual Opportunities with teams in Nicaragua, Latvia, Israel/Palestine, Creation Care Ministries, and Lebanon |
The American Baptist Churches has a long history of mission to "proclaim, through both word and deed, God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation." During the time of Covid, ABC's International Ministries has been conducting virtual 'mission trips' that allow people to experience their work around the world.
Here are a few of the up-coming virtual journeys sponsored by Short Term Missions Team of the American Baptist Churches. All are invited to sign up and attend:
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3-Day Mission Express Immersion with AMOS Health in Nicaragua and the City Center Church in Latvia. The team will follow health promoters doing home visits in remote areas of Nicaragua and then travel to worship and fellowship with pastor Toms Bermaks and church leaders in Liepaja, Latvia. The 3-Day immersion is scheduled for July 16, 21 & 23. To register, follow the prompts on this link. You will be directed to a form to complete after you hit APPLY NOW: https://portal.internationalministries.org/global-service-opportunities/record/a073m00000mMCW5AAO
- What’s in your cup? is a series of one hour conversation with Rev. Rebecca Driscoll, Creation Care Minister at TABCOM and global servants from IM. The topics to be covered will be Tea/Coffee on August 3rd at 4pm; Honey on September 7th at 4pm; Sugar on October 5th at 4pm. Attendees will look at the origin of these items, and the social justice or injustices behind each one and how God is asking us to respond as we live Micah 6:8. Recipes and links to documentaries will be shared. Send an email to volunteers@internationalministries.org if you would like to register for this series.
- Ministry in Israel/Palestine hosted by the Association of Baptist Churches will shed light on Arab Christians spreading God’s good news in Cana, Galilee and other communities, on October 26, 27 & 29. Come and learn how to be better peacemakers by siblings in Christ who are themselves considered to be the marginalized of the marginalized.
- Planting Seeds of Hope with LSESD (the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development) and a couple of development workers in Lebanon who will be our hosts during this visit, scheduled for January 24 – 28, 2022. We pray it may be a hybrid journey, with some members of the team in-person in Lebanon, while others are accompanying from their living rooms or office desks.
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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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