The Union Church in Waban |
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May 16th at 10:00 a.m. Worship
Seventh Sunday in Easter
This is the final Sunday in Eastertide. For the past many weeks we have been walking along side the disciples as they have experienced the risen Christ and have come to metabolize the forgiveness he has brought.
This Sunday, we listen in as Jesus prays to God. Jesus asks God to be close to the disciples as God has been close to him. For Jesus is now sending the disciples out into the world to do as he has done.
To join 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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All-Ages Family Gathering with Pastor Stacy
Come Holy Spirit!
This Sunday, May 16th from 12:30-2:00 p.m.
We hope members of all ages will join us for this intergenerational, in-person gathering! We'll remember the story of Pentecost, and how God sent the Holy Spirit to help the disciples share the Good News about Jesus and God's love with all people. Pastor Stacy will join us and share the story of how the Holy Spirit is moving in her life, and we'll create some awesome Spirit-filled art. Children, youth & families are especially invited to come to visit with Stacy, ask questions, and enjoy the day together.
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Bible Study
Sunday Mornings at 8:00
All are welcome
Meeting ID: 885 0724 0203
Passcode: 584285
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Note: Please note that Pastor Stacy will be away the week of May 17th. She will be returning on May 25th. During her time away, please know that Pastor Amy is available to you. She can be reached at 617-938-8112 or at amy@ucw.org.
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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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Celebrating our Graduates
Are You or Yours Graduating this Spring?
Sunday, June 6th
We'll be celebrating our graduates this year during worship on Sunday, June 6th. If you or someone you love is graduating, or celebrating an ending or new beginning this Spring, please contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org), so that we can include them in our celebrations. Thank you!
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Continuing the "Space-Making" Conversation
Sunday, May 23rd, Following Worship
See the "Space-Making and Living into our Covenant" section below for more details.
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Save The Date!
A Party for Pastor Stacy
Sunday June 13th at 1:00
A celebration for Stacy will be held on June 13th at 1:00 at the church. Invitation and details to follow but most importantly for now, mark your calendar!!
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Adult Education and Formation |
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Wellspring Farewell for Stacy
Wednesday, May 19th at 6:30 p.m.
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All church women who have been and are current members of Wellspring are invited to a Zoom farewell gathering on Wednesday, May 19th at 6:30 p.m. The evening will honor Pastor Stacy, who has led the group for 10 years.
You will be invited to share a personal story, a recollection, a story of Stacy's ministry in your life and in the life of the church. These will be gathered as "a garland of praise and gratitude" as a gift for Stacy as she moves on in her ministry. Please RSVP to Priscilla Kelso at plkelso@verizon.net and a Zoom link will be shared prior to the event.
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Next Book Group
Tuesday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. (zoom)
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Please join us for our next book group on May 25th at 7:00 p.m. We will be reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. 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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Listening in is a conversation between Tom Vawter and Pastor Stacy as they take some time to explore the depths of some gorgeous poems. They offer this conversation as a way to enter in and listen in to where the beauty of the poem may be speaking and ministering to us in this profoundly challenging time we are in. May it be a blessing to you. Go HERE to access the video or click on the image of Tom.
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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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Children, Youth and Families |
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Youth Ministry
Youth Group Gatherings
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High School Youth Group: 10th-12th graders
This Sunday, May 16th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the home of the Pond Family
Exploring Our Faith Mentors are invited to join for the first hour. Weather permitting, we'll gather outdoors in the Pond's backyard. We'll catch up, have fun, and reflect on this year. Please RSVP to Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org) for the Pond's address.
Ninth Grade Youth Group:
Friday, May 21st from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - location tbd
We hope all 9th graders can come to this meeting as we celebrate this amazing year together, and look ahead to Exploring Our Faith next year. It will be so good to be together! Please email Pastor Amy if you are able to host and to rsvp. Thanks!
Middle School Youth Group
Saturday, May 22nd from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the home of the Purser Family
Join us for an awesome outdoor afternoon of games, and a celebration of Pentecost (the birthday of the church - yes, there will be cupcakes!) We'll also spend some time looking back over the year, and ahead to the summer and beyond. Let Pastor Amy know if you can come! Parents are invited to stay for their own time to connect, or drop-off. Middle school families should also receive an email with details and the Pursers' address.
Youth Group Service Opportunity!
Common Cathedral
Sunday, May 30th - with prep beforehand
We hope everyone will join us as we share worship and lunch with our partner congregation Common Cathedral on Boston Common. The Common Cathedral is a church without walls, and many of its members are unhoused. We will join them to share 150 lunches with any who are hungry and will then join them for their 1pm worship service. We're grateful for donations of food and sandwich prep ahead of time, help bagging the lunches on Sunday morning, and help serving downtown on Sunday afternoon. All are invited. Pastor Amy will include details and a sign-up in emails to the youth groups, and all others who would like to join in can email her at amy@ucw.org. Thank you for being part of this wonderful ministry and partnership!
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Newton Freedge Volunteering
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. And our team of volunteers helps keep it running every other Saturday - Email chanellobdell@gmail.com to learn more and to join our team and join the @newtonfreedge Facebook group for updates!
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Thank You!
Lowndes County Book Buddies
Special thanks to all who are volunteering to be a Book Buddy and mail a new book to a child in Lowndes County, Alabama each month. Several of you have developed strong relationships with the child as you discuss the books each month. Others never heard from the child. At our Zoom meeting of Book Buddies in April we decided to contact each parent whose child has a Book Buddy to see whether the child is receiving books each month and would like to continue having a Book Buddy through the summer. I have started contacting the parents who will let their child's Book Buddy know whether they want to continue through the summer. Please let me know if you are not able to continue. We are happy to match the Lowndes County child with a new Book Buddy who is waiting to serve. Happy reading!
Jenny Weisz
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Common Cathedral
Weekly Sandwich Deliveries to BostonWarm Continue
We continue to deliver sandwiches, soft fruit, granola bars and more to our unhoused siblings in downtown Boston every Thursday. To learn more or sign up to help with this ministry, please CLICK HERE. Thank you!
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Advocates for Racial Justice |
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"Space-Making" and Living into our Covenant |
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Continuing the
"Space-Making" Conversation
Sunday, May 23rd, Following Worship
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A group of 15 members of the UCW community met after worship on April 11th for a discussion of Yale Divinity School's seminar on space making by Rev. Phiwa Langeni. The seminar offered practical tips on language, pronouns and other queer-related issues and how we can create space for LGBTQ youth. A recording of the original seminar is available below.
Interest in the topic was such that we have decided to reconvene and continue the conversation after worship on Sunday, May 23rd. Any and all who are interested in joining are welcome as we continue developing our understanding of gender identity, gender expression, and the aspirations of our church covenant.
.........continue reading HERE
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Annual Stewardship Campaign 2021-2022
Thank you to those who have already returned their 2021-22 pledge! Receiving your pledge information early greatly assists us as we craft a budget for review at our Annual Meeting on June 6th and plan for the upcoming church year. To submit your pledge please use the quick online link below.
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Thank You!
The UCW Stewardship Team
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You can check your current year's pledge amount by logging into your church account HERE.
More information about this year's campaign can be found on our website homepage at ucw.org.
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Call For Nominations
Feeling called to be more active at UCW?
Get involved next year!
The Union Church Nominating Committee (Co-Moderators, Senior Deacon and a member-at-large) is charged with seeking nominations for church leadership positions that are voted on at our Annual Meeting. Please help by nominating yourself or someone you think would find committee work to be a blessing. A list of opportunities is below. Email your nominations to the Nominating Committee in care of Alison McCarty, alimcmom@gmail.com.
Nominations will be taken from the floor at our Annual Meeting, but we encourage submitting names by May 10th so that we will have an opportunity to contact the nominees.
Thank you!
Lisa Crockett, Frank Laski, Jim MacDonald and Alison McCarty
Leadership needed:
- One Co-Moderator to serve a three year term - two as Co-Moderator and one as Immediate Past Co-Moderator.
- Two or more Deacons to serve a three year term (none have stepped down, but there is interest in expanding the number)
- Three Co-chairs for Mission: the overall Committee, Advocates for Racial Justice plus members for all mission committees
- Co-Leaders for Youth Ministry
- Members for Childrens' Ministry
- Members for the Building Committee (care of our physical plant)
- Members for our Stewardship Committee
- A member for our Human Relations Committee
- Young family members for our Worship Team
In addition to these elected roles, we are always in search of membership for our various activities, including this year our Worship Tech Team. and our Communication Committee (overseeing the web site and public relations).
More information about these various roles and current membership is available on the church web site on the Governance tab, https://www.ucw.org/committees/
We will take nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting in early June, but nominations are appreciated by May 10th. Please email to alimcmom@gmail.com.
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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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Creation Care Devotional Series
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
May 19 | May 26 | June 2 | June 9
Join Rev. Rebecca Driscoll, The American Baptist Churches of MA (TABCOM's) Minister for Creation Care for a four session weekly devotional series based on the book Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Samuel Hamilton-Poore. Through prayers, scripture, hymns, and blessings, we will reflect together on the biblical call to care for God’s beloved creation.
Please email Rebecca (driscoll@tabcom.org) to register, or ask Pastor Amy for more info (amy@ucw.org). The Union Church in Waban is a cousin congregation of the American Baptist churches.
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City Mission's Social Justice Internship is for rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as 2021 graduates, who are committed to social justice and are interested in learning more about how a small nonprofit works on social justice issues. Interns will begin to explore some of the root causes and consequences of poverty, inequality and racism, and intersectional justice work, as well as technical skills such as public policy research, service-learning, communications, and nonprofit organizational structure. Interns will also have an opportunity to explore issues of social justice about which they are passionate. The program includes learning activities to foster a deeper understanding of social justice and City Mission’s commitment to educate, empower and engage our community.
This paid internship program is six weeks long beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021 and concluding Friday, August 13, 2021. The internship is for high school students in the greater Boston area who will be going into grade 11, 12, or 2021 graduates. Each intern will work 15 hours each week, and will be paid a stipend of $225 per week.
Applications for the internship will be accepted until May 21st, 2021.
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