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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, October 4, 2019
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8:00 a.m. - Bible Study
Morning Bible study continues this Sunday at 8:00 a.m. in Pastor Stacy's study. In Sunday morning worship, we listen as selected Scripture passages are read, but we rarely have a chance to read a book for the bible from start to finish and to reflect on it together. Until now! On Sunday mornings we gather to learn about the context in which the book was written and then as a group read through the book together using what is called "Reader Response" methodology which is to say that we explore what the scripture may be saying not just at the time it was first written but also what is speaks to us today. No previous Bible study or Biblical literacy is needed. We also will provide study Bibles so no need to bring a Bible unless you would like to. Come once or come every Sunday. If you have questions, please be in touch with
Pastor Stacy.
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9:00 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal
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10:00 a.m. -
Worship - World Communion Sunday
This Sunday our communion table is shared with all Jesus friends from around the globe as we celebrate World Communion Sunday. World Communion Sunday was first adopted throughout the US Presbyterian Church in 1936 ad then spread to other denominations as a way to celebrate and promote Christian unity and cooperation.
Our celebration will include breads from around the world as well as spirit filled music and song.
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2:00 p.m. - Blessing of the Animals Service on Waban Common.
You and your animal friends are invited to a Blessing of the Animals Service at
2:00
on Waban Common.
The Blessing of the Animals Service remembers St. Francis, that great lover of the created world whose feast day is this week.
Our offering will donations of needed items for the Buddy Dog Humane Society of Sudbury. Items of need include:
canned dog and cat food, soft dog treats and toys, martingale collars, non-clumping cat litter, and liquid laundry detergent. For a full wish-list, please visit: www.buddydoghs.com/wishlist.
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4
:00 p.m. - Exploring Our Faith
(see Children, Youth and Families below)
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6
:30 p.m. - High School Youth Group: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
(see Children, Youth and Families )
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Nicaragua Trip Information Session
This Sunday, Oct.
6th after service.
After much discussion, it is with great excitement that we announce that
there will be a service trip this February during Newton School vacation week.
An information session will occur after Church this Sunday to answer questions or you can reach out to one of the Nica Task Force group. (Alex Brown, Karen Weisgerber, Buzz Bedford, Karen O'Bierne, Diane Tillotson, Frank Laski, Annie Gatewood or David Spertner.)
Over the past couple of years since our 2018 trip, Nicaragua has experienced great political unrest and the country has suffered. They are in need of our support now more than ever with service work and prayers.
The Union Church has had a relationship supporting Nicaragua for more than 15 years and made its first trip to the country in 2003. The Church has been on service trips every two years since then and have developed many deep connections with the people and accomplished many goals in the area of clean water, health and education.
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 Children, Youth and Families
Growing in Faith and Community
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SUNDAY SCHOOL & YOUTH GROUP REGISTRATION
DUE OCTOBER 6
th
-
Online and Paper Registrations Available
In order to make sure your child/youth has a safe and great year at UCW, we ask all families to register their children and youth annually. The form includes updated contact and health/allergy information, a photo release, and an opportunity to include other information that may be helpful. We also invite families to share a $50 per child/youth donation ($100 family cap) to support our programming and the purchase of supplies and books (PayPal or checks gratefully accepted). We are grateful for your help!
The forms may be found in the Crocker Chapel, or online
HERE
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SAFE CHURCH - CORI Forms and Child Safety Policy
We require all adults volunteering with our children or youth to complete a CORI background check, and also to be familiar with our Child Safety Policy. CORI forms and our policy may be found in the
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EXPLORING OUR FAITH & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP
THIS SUNDAY! October 6th
Exploring Our Faith: 4:00-6:30 p.m.
High School Youth Group: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
We're excited for the first gathering of Exploring Our Faith tonight! We'll meet for an hour longer than usual as we get oriented, and students should bring their cell phones and calendars. We'll get everyone set up on WeSpire and sign up for upcoming events. Also, please also plan to stay for HS Youth Group afterwards! We'll have an easy dinner, and then work on a fun project together. Hope to see you there!
MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS:
TreeTop Adventures: Tomorrow,
October 5
th
Middle-schoolers are heading to TreeTop Adventures tomorrow! Please plan to join us on Saturday, October 5th. Details are on WeSpire (ucw.wespire.com), or you can be in touch with Pastor Amy or Rob Purser ([email protected]).
Service Trip to Catie's Closet in Hyde Park:
Wednesday,
October 9th
We are also getting ready to serve at Catie's Closet in Hyde Park. We'll meet at the church at 12:00 noon for a 1-3:00 p.m. visit, returning by 4:00 p.m. We hope you'll join us! Details are on WeSpire (ucw.wespire.com), or you can be in touch with Pastor Amy ( [email protected]).
PARENTS GROUP:
Sunday, October 20th, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
All who are parenting kids of any age are invited to this warm, supportive group. We'll share the joys and challenges of parenting, learn from one another, and find the spiritual nourishment and support we need for our busy weeks. Come as you are, when you can! We hope to see you. (Meets on 3rd Sundays, UCW Reception Room)
Staying Connected and Organized:
As you know, our Youth and Families calendar is bursting with activities and lots of volunteer opportunities. We are excited to try a new tool this year, donated to us by WeSpire (which was founded by Susan Hunt Stevens), that should simplify and improve how we stay in touch, organized and sign up for events and volunteering. Visit ucw.wespire.com to sign up. Families should have received an email, and are welcome to reach out to Susan ([email protected]) or Pastor Amy ([email protected]) with questions.
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Adult Education, Spiritual Formation and Fellowship
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NEW OFFERING!
Thursday Morning Yoga with Andrew
Thursdays,
at 8:45 a.m. -- Invite a friend!
Join body and spirit in an accessible yoga class. In this hour-long class, we will join breath and body both in energetic flow and restorative stretching. No matter where you are on your yoga journey, you will build strength and find a quiet restful center. This class is accessible to all body types and abilities.
Please bring a yoga mat and any favorite props. Andrew has some props and mats available to borrow.
- Thursdays, 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
- October 3 to November 7
- In the sanctuary of the Union Church in Waban
- Accessibility: The church has an elevator to the left of the office entrance.
- These classes are freely provided by Andrew and therefore there is no cost to participate.
Andrew is a minister and yoga teacher in the Boston/Newton area. He served as the ministerial intern at Union Church from 2016-2017, and he continues to be active in the Newton community. In addition to being an RYT-200, Andrew holds certifications in plus-size and chair yoga so that he can help every body feel its best. YogaWithAndrew.com IG: yogawithandrewh
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Mission Outreach - Fall Theme
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Inequality and Inequity
in Public Education
This year your
Mission Outreach Leadership Team
is organizing its work (and coordinating with the other areas of UCW life) around seasonal themes. These will provide an organizing context for the many mission activities and we will coordinate educational opportunities, worship, and children's education around these themes when possible. We also hope to coordinate our seasonal offerings around these themes.
Themes are as follows:
Fall - Inequality and Inequity in Public Education
Winter - Homelessness and Housing
Spring - Climate Change (and disaster relief)
For our fall exploration of Inequality and Inequity in Public Education, we invite you to partake of the following opportunities for service, education and reflection. (Click on each link for more details.)
For more information about each of these offering please s feel free to reach out to
Carol Bascom-Slack, Jaap van Reijendam or Julie Heffernan.
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Save the date!
C
onversation about
Inequity and Inequality in Public Education
Sunday Oct. 27th, at 11:30 a.m.
After church on Sunday, October 27 will have the opportunity hear from Juliette Johnson, a retired Boston Public Schools Life Long Administrator and Dean of Brighton High School, and member of the Boston Education Collaborative along with Ruth Wong, also a member of the Boston Education Collaborative. They will help us to understand the roots of educational inequities and help us to understand the landscape of public education today.
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This fall the book group is going to delve into the topic of race and racial injustice. The second book we will read in the series is "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison.
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INVISIBLE MAN
BY Ralph Ellison
The first novel by an unknown writer, it remained on the bestseller list for sixteen weeks, won the National Book Award for fiction, and established Ralph Ellison as one of the key writers of the century. The nameless narrator of the novel describes growing up in a black community in the South, attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of "the Brotherhood", and retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be. The book is a passionate and witty tour de force of style, strongly influenced by T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, Joyce, and Dostoevsky.
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As we begin a new program year at the church, there are several leadership opportunities that are open. Perhaps you are feeling a call to serve? Clerk of Council - this member of our governing council that meets once a month on the first Wednesday is responsible for assuring the minutes of the Council and the records of the church are in good order. In addition, we are looking for another Deacon, someone to join the Human Resources Team, someone to join the Christian Education Leadership Team, and someone to join an ad hoc group to begin to plan coverage during Pastor Stacy's upcoming sabbatical (May, June, July 2020). If you are interested in learning more about these positions or being considered for one of them, would you please be in touch with Co-Moderator, Diane Tillotson at [email protected].
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Advent Women's Retreat registration form is available
here.
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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, 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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For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,
please
Note
: Material for inclusion in the Friday e-Blast newsletter should be e-mailed to the office at
[email protected]
, by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning.
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