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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, July 31, 2020
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Online Worship - This Sunday
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Sunday, August 2 -
10:00 a.m.
Sabbath Rest
Our theme for the month of August is Sabbath. Throughout the month, we will explore how God calls us to rest, trust, and make space in our days and homes to experience the holy.
On August 2nd, we will also gather to share Communion, and invite everyone to come to the worship service with their Bible, and some type of cracker or bread, and juice or water.
Gerry Elion will read our scripture, including a selection from Psalm 62 and the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10; and Alison McCarty will serve as our liturgist. Rev. Amy Clark Feldman will share a message, and invite members of the congregation to also share their reflections.
It will be a joy to worship with you!
Zoom Link is available
HERE
Meeting ID: 842 1632 7981;
Passcode: 676819;
Or call in at: 1 646 558 8656
A link to the bulletin is available
HERE
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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 returns from vacation tomorrow, August 1st and will be 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....
The GI Bill, a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at helping vets after World War II, was only an illusion for Black veterans. The bill helped white veterans accumulate wealth and prosper with housing, college education and unemployment insurance. The disparity in assistance helped drive an economic and civil rights gap.
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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. As Pastor Amy takes some vacation in July, we're looking for extra hands to help coordinate and drive donations to Boston.
- 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 Stacy ([email protected]) while Pastor Amy is away so we can add you to the list.
- 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. There are still pieces that you can take home for the summer!
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 a note a
t
[email protected].
Sunday School & Youth Groups - Resources for Families
We'll be in touch in shortly with 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
Break in July.
Stay Tuned for August!
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 in 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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Overdue: Confronting Race & Racism in Newton:
A Virtual Conversation with Prof. Ibram X. Kendi
The exciting kickoff event for the
Overdue: Confronting Race & Racism in Newton
series is on Wednesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. Join a virtual conversation with
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
followed by a discussion about race and racism in Newton. Professor Kendi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, professor of history and international studies, and the Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research.
Dr. Brandon T. Crowley (Pastor of Myrtle Baptist Church) will moderate and thanks go to the Village Bank and the Trustees of the Newton Free Library for their support. This is the first event in a series and requires registering in advance
HERE
Closed captioning will be provided.
Overdue: Confronting Race & Racism in Newton
has been developed by a coalition of organizations (Newton Human Rights Commission, Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ), Harmony Foundation, Newton Public Schools, and Newton Free Library) and individuals aiming to equip and empower our community with the understanding, knowledge and skills to actively fight racism in Newton and beyond.
The initiative will provide residents with opportunities to listen, to learn and to act in order to dismantle systemic racism within our city. This series of events will challenge us to do better and to examine the way we treat each other in order to make Newton a more welcoming place to live.
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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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