The Union Church in Waban |
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This Sunday - World Communion Sunday |
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Worship - 10:00 a.m. In-person and Online
Biblical Storyteller and Guest Preacher
Rev. Cynthia Maybeck!
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This Sunday we are blessed to have Rev. Cindy Maybeck, an inspiring and accomplished preacher, share our pulpit. Founder of Spirit Story ministry, Rev. Maybeck designs original presentations blending scripture telling and storytelling to bring God’s word to life and to inspire the church to move forward in faith with hope and joy. She tells the Gospel by heart as it was first told in the early church. To receive the word spoken with love transforms our understanding of the Bible as a living instrument of God’s grace. Her sermons are filled with stories and you will be transfixed and perhaps touched with laughter or even shed a healing tear.
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Rev. Maybeck served as pastor for fourteen years at Trinity Church in Northborough and ten years at Bethany Christian United Parish in Worcester. She has master certification from the Academy for Biblical Storytelling www.nbsint.org. A spiritual director, she helps individuals deepen their walk with Christ. You may learn more about her ministry and invite her to teach workshops, lead retreats, provide individual spiritual guidance, or give storytelling presentations at www.cindymaybeck.com/
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY & SUNDAY SCHOOL
It is also World Communion Sunday, and we will share Communion together as we remember our oneness in Christ with our siblings around the world. We will share the bread and cup in the sanctuary, and those online are invited to bring a cracker or bread, and water or juice to their tables. Our younger children (elementary and below) will be invited to a Sunday School time outside (weather permitting) before returning to the sanctuary for Communion. Middle and High Schoolers are encouraged to stay to hear Rev. Maybeck!
YOU ARE INVITED - Following Worship this Sunday!
Gather after worship and after our outdoor reception together and then join us for:
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
To connect to Sunday Worship or to any of our online offerings, you may also go to our website at www.ucw.org.
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Upcoming Sundays & Gatherings |
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10:00 a.m. Worship - Coming Up in October!
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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Sunday, Oct. 10th - Pastor Amy will lead us in worship and share a message about bread, and what it means for us to be a people of the table. Our choir will also share the gift of their music with a new offering!
Sunday, Oct. 17th - 10am Worship with Guest Preacher Rev. Christine Keddy
We will be blessed to have Rev. Christine Keddy, Director of Missions & Elder Care Coordinator for The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts as our preacher.
Sunday, Oct. 24th - 10am Worship with Guest Preacher Rev. Dr. Mary Day Miller
We are blessed to have Rev. Dr. Mary Day Miller, Executive Director of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts joining us to share her preaching and leadership on this day.
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday afternoon, October 17th at 1:00 p.m.
Our furry, scaly, feathery friends were there for us all through the challenges of last year, and this year is full of transition for them too! Let's come together to celebrate and bless them - outside the church near the picnic table. (Rain date tbd)
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Adult Formation and Gatherings |
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Wellspring
Wednesday, October 13th at 6:30 p.m.
We are starting up this gathering of women at Union Church to begin on Wednesday, October 13th to be held in person at Union Church in the coffee hour space at 6:30 p.m.
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Wellspring is a designed to be a time of reflection, support, and prayer for women of all ages. All are welcome to join in and share our concerns, our joys, and our prayers for our families and our community. If you are interested in joining in, please email Amy McMahon at: amymcm@rcn.com
Masks are required at this gathering. We are also not able to eat inside the church at this time, and so please be sure to grab a bite to eat before we gather.
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UCW Book Group
This Monday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
(Please note day and date change.)
The Optimistic Decade by Heather Abel
Please join us on September 28th at 7:00 p.m. for our first book group meeting following our summer break. This month we will be reading The Optimistic Decade by Heather Abel. You will find a zoom link and sign in information below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alan Cody (almorrow@aol.com)
Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155
Passcode: 431699
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Union Church Faith and Doubt Discussion Group
What have the last 18 months been like for you as a person of (some) faith? Has your faith changed or deepened? Have your doubts increased? Would you like to talk about your spirituality during this time? Anya Bassett is organizing a small adult discussion group to explore these topics. Whether "you are sure in your beliefs or surely do not know what to believe," please email Anya at anyabassett@gmail.com by Monday, September 27th if you are interested in participating.
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Greater Boston Interfaith Organization |
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GBIO Action: Boston Mayoral Forum
Wednesday, October 27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm on Zoom
We need to SHOW UP strong, flex our collective citizen power, and remind the final two candidates that we mean business and want to know for sure that we can count on their YES COMMITMENTS. You can…
We will press the candidates to give details on commitments they previously made to fun initiatives for: affordable housing and rentals, public housing maintenance, and meeting the needs of formerly incarcerated citizens. For more information, contact Kathy Malone (j2kathleen@gmail.com).
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
Whether you are joining our Sunday worship online or in person, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services.
Scripture Reader 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 Rev. Amy Clark Feldman by email at amy@ucw.org, or call/text her cell phone at 617-938-8112.
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Host Reception - Sign-Up
Hosting Reception after Worship so meaningful this year. 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 mare information.
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Book Buddies
We are continuing our Book Buddy program with elementary school children in Lowndes County, Alabama. Many of you are already involved in sending a new book to your Book Buddy each month. If you want to continue to send books please just let me know you are doing that so I can keep you in the loop on Book Buddy news.
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Some of you would like to have a new Book Buddy. We will focus on third graders this year. We will have 10-15 students from each of the three schools who will need a new Book Buddy. The principals at the three elementary schools suggested we have all new Book Buddies mail books for their child to the school address. The principals will take a picture of the child with the new book each time you send it so you will know your book arrived safely. Plus you will get to see a picture of your Book Buddy with the new book! Please volunteer to be a Book Buddy! The kids love having a new friend, and a new book each month!
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Partakers Mentoring Opportunity
Partakers is looking for mentors for incarcerated people who are working towards a college degree through the "College Behind Bars" program. Mentors are grouped in teams of four people who work with one incarcerated person, providing practical and emotional support. The commitment is to correspond regularly and visit (virtually during the pandemic) approximately every other month.
Partakers is holding a training session for new mentors on Tuesday, September 28th from 7-8:15 p.m. For more information, including a link to sign up if you are interested, please email Anya Bassett (anyabassett@gmail.com).
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Common Cathedral
October 10th - 25th Anniversary Celebration! Join Pastor Amy and the Common Cathedral community at a special Outdoor Worship Service in celebration of Common Cathedral’s 25th Anniversary. Lunch will be served at 12:30pm, followed by worship with Rev. Debbie Little, founder of Common Cathedral
Together we will reminisce, break bread, and CELEBRATE this vibrant community. To register with a suggested donation of $25, or to find our more, visit: http://commoncathedral.org/
Boston Marathon: It's also not too late to support Rev. Laura Shatzer, who many of us remember and worked with in her role as a pastor at CityReach, as she runs the Boston Marathon in support of Common Cathedral! Laura's running page is below. Please consider supporting Laura and our wonderful partners at Common Cathedral with your prayers and/or gift. The link to Laura's running page can be found HERE
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This Sunday - 6:30-8:30pm
Exploring Our Faith - Kick-off Gathering!
It looks like the weather may be iffy, so we'll gather at the church, masked and spaced. We hope all EOF students can attend!
EOF Parents should have received an email with details, including a Doodle poll to help us schedule our monthly gatherings. If you haven't received that email, or if you have questions, please be in touch with Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
Our EOF Calendar is coming together and can be found HERE. We're excited for this new year together!
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Sunday School and Kids
Sunday School Beginning October 3rd
Our younger kids are invited this Sunday to join our Children's Ministry Staff member Olivia for Sunday School this weekend! Olivia will bring the kids to the playground (weather permitting) after the passing of the peace, and will return before Communion. Middle and High-Schoolers are invited to stay in worship to hear our awesome guest preacher!
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Youth Ministry
Welcome Families! Happy Fall! We hope the transition back to school and all of the other fall activities are going well. While it continues to be a time of uncertainty with Covid, we are starting to plan fall activities for our youth at church. We hope folks are feeling more comfortable getting together and that we can gather for a few activities this fall. We will try and be outside as much as possible or inside masked. To be respectful of the transition for everyone this fall, we are planning fewer events, one instead of two each month. And some events will be a combination of youth groups. We can’t wait to get our youth together and hope they can join us!
COMING UP -- OCTOBER 24TH - 1-4PM - MIDDLE SCHOOL VISIT TO UNITY FARM!
Middle Schoolers mark your calendars for an awesome afternoon at this beautiful animal sanctuary. Meet Maxine the Llama, Handsome Paul the turkey, and a whole host of other animals who have been rescued. We'll have a tour of the farm, be able to help with the animals, and then have time for reflection and maybe an ice cream or snack before heading home. Be on the lookout for an invite this week!
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Are you Called to be a Mentor?
We are looking for caring adults to walk alongside our Exploring Our Faith students
Our Exploring Our Faith program for 9th and 10th graders will begin on September 26th. We hope to pair each student with a caring adult who can share their faith journey, meeting with their mentee a few times throughout the year to provide a listening ear, honor their questions and doubts, and share stories of faith. If you would like to learn more, or are interested in being a mentor this year, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org). After this past year when it has been hard to be together as an intergenerational community, these relationships feel more important than ever! Thank you for considering this valued role.
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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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