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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, August 14, 2020
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Online Worship - This Sunday
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Sunday, August 16 - 10:00 a.m.
I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!
Throughout the month of August we have been considering Sabbath, and how it is we make spaces in our lives to experience the holy.
We are very excited and grateful to have Julie Heffernan as our preacher this Sunday, August 16th. The United States celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this summer, and Julie will share her story and work as a mother, teacher, and advocate, creating a world where the worth and worthiness of all people, of all abilities, is fully recognized and honored.
Our Music Minister, Daon Drisdom, will also share an inspiring selection of music with us.
It will be a joy to worship with you!
Zoom Link is available HERE Meeting ID: 810 7002 3489
Passcode: 575652
Phone number for Dial-in only: +1 646 558 8656
A link to the bulletin is available HERE
Coming Up in August Worship:
Please plan to join us throughout August, as we will be blessed by the following members of our beloved community as they share their stories and reflections. Our preachers for August include:
- August 23: Karen Weisgerber
- August 30: Jaap van Reijendam
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Staff Vacations in August
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Please note that Office Manager, Aidan Cunningham will be on vacation for the first two weeks of August. He will be returning to work on Tuesday, August 18. Pastor Stacy will be away for the entire month of August as will Assistant Music Director, Kayla Gautereaux.
Pastor Amy is available throughout the month of August at [email protected] or cell 617.938.8112.
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Ways to Connect this Week
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Tea Time continues
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00 pm.
We'd love to see you!
Tea time is a drop in gathering for anyone in the congregation young or old to say hello and connect with each other. Come share something you are experiencing or learning. Come hear how others in the community are doing and what is on their heart and minds. Grab a cup of tea and share in some conversation.
To join via Zoom go HERE;
Meeting ID: 746 243 368
Password: 016341
or call +1 646 558 8656.
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Wednesday Morning Prayer
Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.
We begin with 20 minutes of meditative silence after which we speak aloud our prayers and light candles (if we have them) to help spread the light and warm of God's presence into the lives of those for whom we pray. We close with two prayers of blessing. The prayer of St. Francis and the Serenity Prayer. Join us on Zoom HERE ,
Meeting ID: 825 631 369; Password: 022055. Or call in at +1 646 558 8656
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Advocates for Racial Justice
Union Church Conversation about Reparations for African Americans
Mark your calendars: September 10th at 7:00 pm.
The idea of reparations for African American descendants of slaves is not new, and a bill to study reparations has been introduced in Congress each year since 1989. But this year, as national attention has focused on issues of justice for African Americans following the death of George Floyd, conversations about reparations have taken on a new urgency. The Union Church Advocates for Racial Justice invites you to a conversation about reparations, led by Anya Bassett.
In preparation for our conversation, we'll be reading two articles, Ta-Nehisi Coates' The Case for Reparations and a recent New York Times article about reparations passed by the city of Ashville, North Carolina. We'll talk about the idea of reparations and how it might work in practice on the national, local, and individual level.
All are welcome!
Did you know....
Black infant mortality is twice that of white infants, living in poverty is twice as likely for black children, black children are twice as likely to lose a mother, and black children are eight times more likely to live in lowest opportunity neighborhoods. Black CHILDREN'S Lives Matter
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Can You Be Part of our On-going
Common Cathedral Team?
Summer Plans to Continue this Ministry
"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."
- Lilla Watson
We are bound in powerful ways to our beloved unhoused brothers and sisters in Boston. Our team of UCW members continues to bring sandwiches, granola bars, fruit, socks and other needed items - like cards and notes of love and support - to Common Cathedral's Boston Warm Day Center each week.
We very much hope to continue to walk with our friends at Boston Warm over the summer. Come be part of this awesome team!
- JOIN THE FOOD PREP & SUMMER COORDINATING TEAM: Most weeks, we sign up to bring 50-100 sandwiches. Can you make 25? Or perhaps you could help coordinate or drop-off donations? We're working on a Sign-up Doc to help us get organized. Please Contact Pastor Amy ([email protected]).
- DONATE GRANOLA BARS, TUBE SOCKS, UNDERWEAR OR CLEANING SUPPLIES: Contact Pastor Amy if you have items to donate, or bring them to the big green bin outside the elevator lobby at the church.
- CREATE CARDS, SIGNS : Help our friends at Boston Warm know they are not alone, and share your love and prayers with them. Cards from all-ages are so appreciated and cherished, hung on the walls of the center for all to see.
Thank you so much!
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Parents Group - Every Tuesday at 7:30 pm throughout the Summer!
Gather to connect, laugh and share mutual support as we do the good work of parenting in these challenging times. If you aren't on the parents list and would like to join us, please send Annie or Pastor Amy a note a t [email protected], or [email protected].
Sunday School & Youth Groups - Resources for Families
We are working diligently on our plans for the end of the summer and fall. We hope and pray you are finding many moments of peace, rest and joy this month, as you stay safe and well. We also always welcome children to our 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship services (on Zoom), which will also continue throughout August. In addition, below are some books, videos and other resources you may wish to explore as a family during these summer days:
Family Sunday School & Bible Study
About COVID-19 and Hope
About Racial Justice and the Equal Worth and Belovedness of ALL God's Children:
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Youth Groups & Exploring Our Faith
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High School and Middle School Youth Groups have taken a Summer Break.
Our Youth Groups took a break in July, but we hope our High School pal groups will continue to connect, and we look forward to seeing everyone toward the end of August! In the meantime, we encourage youth and families to attend our Sunday morning 10 am services; continue discussion and learning around issues of race and racial justice; and explore the Bible Project Church at Home ( https://bibleproject.com/church-at-home/).
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2020_21 Stewardship Campaign
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Thank you to all who have returned their pledge forms for the 2020-2021 church year.
If you have not yet returned your pledge card, you can do so 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, 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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In the aftermath of Mr. George Floyd's death at the hands of police in Minnesota, and the ensuing protest that erupted across the world in June 2020, City Mission invites you to sit in prayer for nine weeks to honor the life of Mr. Floyd and a call for God's justice. The anguishing words spoken by Mr. Floyd are the inspiration for our Call for Prayer. "It's my face... please I can't breathe" "I did not do nothing serious" "Mama, mama, mama" "I'm through, I'm through" "My stomach hurts, my neck hurts.... Some water or something" "Please, please, please" "Do not kill me" "They gonna kill me" "I can't breathe" The Call for Prayer and Justice will launch on Juneteenth (June 19), also known as Freedom Day, and continue for nine weeks representing each of Mr. Floyd's last minutes of life. Each week we will post a new prayer on our website and provide a link on social media. It is our sincere hope that you will join us and lift up these words with our strong voices so that Mr. Floyd's words will resound in our hearts and communities. We must pray without ceasing for courage, strength, and love to dismantle the malignancy of systemic racism, violence, and injustice. To read more about the next nine weeks and the weekly prayers please
visit our website.
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