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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, May 29, 2020
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Annual Meeting of the Congregation of
The Union Church in Waban, June 7
th
after worship
The agenda for this congregational meeting will include:
1.
Members of the congregation will vote on a provisional fiscal 2021 budget;
2. Unveiling of our new church logo-presentation by the communications team;
3. Opportunity to ask questions about the various ministry areas of the church based on submitted annual reports (these reports will be available in next Friday's eblast); and
4. Presentation of nominating committee slate and election.
In this time of COVID-19 as we are not gathering in person, this meeting will take place via Zoom. We will ask that all members "sign-in" in the chat room. Voting will take place by polling this roster of members.
If you have any questions please be in touch with Co-Moderators
Diane Tillotson and
Alison McCarty.
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Online Worship - This Sunday
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Sunday, May 31
st
is Pentecost and
Our
Nicaragua Service
This Sunday is Pentecost. It is also our Nicaragua Service. On Pentecost we celebrate the birth of the church as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those first followers of Jesus. How wonderful that that same Spirit has led us into such a deep and nourishing relationship with the people of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. We may speak different languages and our lives may look very different in many ways, but we are one in the Spirit!
With that Spirit, the UCW group that traveled to Nicaragua this past February will be leading us in worship. In addition, we will be welcoming into our service some of our Nicaraguan partners. This will be a wonderful celebration of what it is to be called as partners in Christ's Service as we let our light shine!
Click
here
for a Pentecost themed coloring sheet!
A separate e-blast will be send out tomorrow, Saturday. In it you will find all the information you need to partake in worship and learning together on Sunday.
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Zoom Update
There is a mandatory upgrade to zoom this weekend. In order to make sure you are able to smoothly join Sunday Worship, we recommend downloading it ahead of time, or leaving a few extra minutes on Sunday morning in case you need to download it. Please
Click HERE for the link. If you have any trouble, please feel free to text Pastor Jade on Sunday morning at her cell: 617-816-4123.
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Upcoming Worship Services
Preparing for Worship on June 21st
During worship on Sunday June 21, we will be compiling a video of pictures of those who have been as fathers to us. Please send us a picture of your special perso
n or a picture of something that reminds you of them. Please send all photos to
Jade
by
June 16th.
Celebrating & Blessing our Graduates
Sunday, June 14th
During worship on June 14th, we will celebrate and bless our High School seniors, and others graduating from college, graduate or other programs. Please join us as we share joy and prayer during this special time! If there is a special graduate in your life that Pastor Amy may not know about, please be in touch with her at amy@ucw.org.
Thank you!
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Ways to Connect this Week
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Tea Time with Stacy
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
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.
In these times of uncertainly, we can feel adrift without a sense of security or a firm foundation. Morning prayer on Wednesdays can help ground us in the power and presence of God that is our foundation in these times. Please consider taking up a prayer practice and joining us in this time of silence, candle lighting and blessing.
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. Please consider joining us. If you have any questions, please reach out to
Pastor Stacy.
Join us on Zoom
HERE
Meeting ID: 825 631 369;
Password: 022055.
Or call in at
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York);
Meeting ID: 825 631 369#
Password: 022055
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2020_21 Stewardship Campaign Update
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Thank You!
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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
or by clicking on button to the right*.
For more information about this year's pledge campaign please go
here
.
*This link/button is always available on our website homepage at
ucw.org.
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Parents Group - Every Tuesday at 7:30 pm Gather to connect, laugh and share mutual support as we do the good work of parenting in these challenging times. CLICK HERE to log-in; password (if needed) is 499897
Sunday School for Pre-K through Elementary School, 9:15am to 9:40am Sundays
Younger kids gather each Sunday before worship we gather for songs, stories and prayer. Please watch for our "How to Connect" email on Saturday for details. This week Pastor Stacy will lead our kids!
Story-time with Pastor Amy - Thursdays at 4:30 pm Pastor Amy gathers with kids and families each week to share a story and check-in. CLICK HERE and join our next story-time live (password: 069830). You can see past story-times with Pastor Amy reading by clicking HERE.
Pastoral Support:
Please know that Pastor Amy is available for calls, texts or video-chats. We'll be working on other ways to get together in virtual small groups as well. Amy's email is amy@ucw.org and cell is 617-938-8112.
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Youth Groups & Exploring Our Faith
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High School Youth Group - This Sunday, May 31st - Stay tuned for details!
Meet every other week for High School Youth Group (alternating with Middle School Youth Group) - Next meeting will be this Sunday, May 31st. We're still working on the details of how/when we'll gather (i.e. movie night or another plan :), but we'll let you know asap. Keep an eye out for an email, and for the Saturday morning, "How to Connect" email.
- ZOOM ROOM:
- Meeting ID: 960 8019 8988; Password: 99417
Middle School Youth Group - Sunday, June 7th - 5-6pm
We'll meet every other Sunday (alternating with High School Youth Group). The youth group Zoom Room links are the same each week (listed above).
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Some Good News on Climate Change!
There's good news on climate change,
that's the takeaway from last Sunday's workshop after church, which focused on applying lessons from the Covid lockdown to the climate change challenge. The group discussed that globally greenhouse gas emissions are down 17% because of coronavirus, and a lot of people are seeing the impact in bluer skies and deeper connection with the environment. The families attending the workshop have collectively saved nearly 50 tons of carbon emissions during the three months of lockdown, savings we hope to continue as we work together to all reach a 4-tons-a-person target. J
oin the effort by contacting Kevin, Carol, or Jaap.
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Can You Be Part of our On-going
Common Cathedral Team?
Did you know that there is a team of UCW members bringing sandwiches, granola bars, fruit, socks and other needed items to Common Cathedral's Boston Warm Day Center each week? The need among our beloved unhoused brothers and sisters in Boston is great. How you can help:
- JOIN THE FOOD PREP TEAM: Most weeks, we sign up to bring 50-100 sandwiches. Can you make 25? We'll collect them and bring them to the drop-off center for you. Contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org) for details
- 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.
- PRAY & PRAY WITH AN ARTIST: Prayer makes a difference! The Artists in the community also left a number of works of art in our church building after this winter's Common Art Show. Rev. Mary has asked that we invite UCW members to take a piece of art home and hold the artist in prayer. Contact Amy if you can pray and host a piece of art in your home.
Thank you so much!
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Our Mission Group Makes Donations to Common Cathedral's Boston Warm and Project Care and Concern
Given the great need due to the current pandemic, mission will be using a portion of our discretionary funds to provide a donation to Common Cathedral's BostonWarm and to provide grocery gift cards to Project Care and Concern. Thank you to the many of you who have donated food, socks, books and much more to these long-term partners.
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Advocates for Racial Justice
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The Cross and the Lynching Tree
The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery
On February 23, 2020 Ahmaud Arbery, 25, left home and went for a jog. During his run, two white men follow Ahmaud, confront him with a loaded shot gun, assume he's a suspected criminal, and within minutes of their encounter, according to the recorded video three shots are fired. Amhaud falls to the ground and dies.
"Racism is a virus. It infects the spirit."
(The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III)
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Rev. Otis Moss |
On
Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 6 pm EST, The United Church of Christ invites you to a live viewing of Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr's cinematic sermon preached at Trinity UCC Sunday, May 17th entitled,
The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery
. Immediately following the live video a panel discussion with four respected thought leaders, racial justice advocates, and UCC pastors will discuss the impact of historical and present day acts of racism and violence towards African Americans and how the Christian Church can be actively involved in dismantling racism.
Register and Learn More at:
https://www.ucc.org/the_cross_and_the_lynching_tree
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P L E A S E J O I N T H E B O S T O N F O U N D A T I O N
For a Special Event
Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in Boston
Friday, June 5, 2020,
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Featuring
Andre Perry, Author & Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program,
The Brookings Institution
And
Orlando Watkins, Vice President for Programs, The Boston Foundation
The deliberate devaluation of Black-majority cities stems from a longstanding legacy of discriminatory policies. The lack of investment in Black homes, family structures, businesses, schools, and voters has had far-reaching, negative economic and social effects. White supremacy and privilege are deeply ingrained into American public policy, and remain pervasive forces that hinder meaningful investment in Black communities.
The Boston Foundation and the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program mark the release of a new book,
Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities.
Author and Brookings fellow Andre M. Perry will discuss the historical basis and present-day implications - particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic - of the devaluation of Black communities. Through profiles of places like his hometown, Wilkinsburg, Pa., as well as Detroit, Birmingham, Ala., New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., Perry will highlight the important themes covered in his book, including the social, economic, and political assets of Black-majority cities as a means of empowerment that must be understood to build Black prosperity.
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Advocates for Racial Justice
Did you know.....
African American women are 3.3 times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications, that are largely preventable.
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We have some books for you!
Josephine Bolling McCall who was with us for worship on March 8 and spoke to us about her book that u
nmasks the violence around her father's lynching when she was a child, sent us 20 signed copies of her book. If you are interested in one of them please reach out to Pastor Stacy. While there is no charge for her book, if you are inclined a donation to the the
Elmore Bolling Foundation would be greatly appreciated.
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Are you feeling a call to serve?
The nominating committee is actively reaching out to the congregation asking people to discern where they may be feeling called to serve in the year ahead.
If you are feeling called to serve in a ministry area or if you would like to know more about the ministries of the church, please be in touch with Co-Moderators -
Diane Tillotson and
Alison McCarty, Senior Deacon
Jim MacDonald or Pastors
Amy and
Stacy.
"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received." (1 Peter 4:10 nrsv)
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The Social Gospel in Black and White: Then and Now
Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries of Greater Boston invites you to its Annual Fundraising Virtual "Dinner," Thursday, June 4th, 4:30-6pm, through Zoom technology. Our featured speaker is Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien, the Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and Professor of Religion, Columbia University. Rev. Dr Dorrien will speak on "The Social Gospel in Black and White: Then and Now," an inspiring topic in these challenging times. For tickets, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cmm-annual-fundraiser-the-social-gospel-in-black-and-white-then-and-now-tickets-104801614450
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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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