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The Union Church in Waban
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION
To Review and Approve the
Final Budget for 2020/2021
THIS Sunday, November 8th, 2020
Immediately Following Our
Zoom Online 10:00 a.m. Service
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Agenda & notes for the meeting can be found on the church website at ucw.org.
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Online Worship This Sunday
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November 8, 10:00 a.m.
This Sunday we will explore two biblical passages where the people had a decision to make. The decision was a big one. It would effect how they lived their life from that moment on. And yet, in the midst of it all, Grace abounded.
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Zoom Link is available HERE
Meeting ID: 846 3468 7762
Passcode: 925222
Or call in ID: 1 646 558 8656
A link to the bulletin is available HERE
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(and see below) for a video of Pastor Amy (and Sam and Cody!) sharing this week's Bible story, wondering questions, activities and prayer for kids and families.
NOTE: 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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Family Worship Forest Church In-Person
This Sunday, Nov. 8th, 3-3:45 p.m. (making up for last weeks rain!)
We usually meet the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 3-4:00 p.m.
Kids and their Grown-ups are invited to gather two afternoons a month in the greenspace in front of the church (surrounded by Collins Rd.) for a masked, distanced, in-person service. We'll wonder and wander (e.g. to the wooded path between Waban Ave.). The worship service will be less than an hour, and include time to share our Bible story for the week, encounter God in creation, pray for one another, and create something together. For more information please reach out to Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
Also this Sunday - Youth Groups
4-5:00 p.m. Middle School Youth Group (in the greenspace outside UCW)
5:30-7:00 p.m. Exploring Our Faith (Collins Abbiati home-note slightly later start time)
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Our Advent theme this year is "Fear Not." As is our custom we will be compiling an Advent devotions booklet to accompany us through our walk of Advent. You are invited to write a reflection or poem, or perhaps create a piece of artwork or photography. This year, feel free also to record a piece of music or send in a video.
Please send all submission to Pastor Stacy by Nov. 22nd so that the booklet can be ready on the first Sunday of Advent which is November 29th.
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Spiritual Formation and Fellowship
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Yoga Nidra with Chanel Lobdell
Starts this Monday, November 9th, at 7:00 p.m.
Sleep is key to our physical and mental health. This year has caused many people to struggle with getting their recommended hours of sleep. Many people have also been reporting an increase in nightmares during this time.
So to help combat this, we will be hosting bi-weekly Yoga Nidra (aka Sleep Yoga).
Yoga Nidra- known as yogic sleep-is a meditation and conscious relaxation practice that is intended to induce total physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. It is said that 30 minutes of this practice can equal up to three hours of sleep. Anyone can participate, all that is needed is a comfy spot to lay back and relax and access to Zoom.
Meeting ID: 849 0289 2553
Passcode: 619867
Or call in at: +1 646 558 8656
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Java Gents Goes Walking Outdoors at Elm Bank
Saturday, November 21st, at 10:0 p.m.
900 Washington St.,
Wellesley, MA 02482
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| | Elm Park Reservation |
We are is pleased to announce that the men of the UCW, who were at our last zoom meeting, decided they'd like to try our next Java Gents outdoors for a walk. Elm Park Reservation was voted as the venue. November 21st the date. 10:00 am as the time. Buz Bedford and Jay O'Beirne will have plenty of coffee and nosh available before and after the stroll. We are excited about this new twist for Java Gents. Elm Bank offers safe, social distancing opportunities as well as scenic trails and fields. It should be a good time for all. Please contact either Jay (jayobeirne@gmail.com), or Buz (buzbed@gmail.com) if any questions.
Thanks Jay and Buz
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Thanksgiving Dinner 2020
Saturday, November 21st, 2:00-4:00pm
Our beloved community event is going to look a little different this year! The plan is to have guests who are able drive around the church while we hand out packaged dinners and other goodies to them in their vehicles. We are also hoping to have some of our talented UCW musicians play outside to make it a bit more of an event! We need a lot of volunteers to make this happen. Here are our anticipated jobs:
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- -Warming up and packaging dinners in your own home
- -Baking treats to be included in the bags
- -Arranging small flower bouquets
- -Creating a craft gift (Pastor Amy will recruit some of our youth for this.)
- -Working a shift to hand out the dinners and direct traffic
- -Delivering meals to folks who can't make it to the church
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If you are interested in helping with any of these tasks, please email Alicia Collins at aliciamaureencollins@gmail.com.Thank you for your support!
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Virtual Mitten Tree 2020!
Once again, our wonderful and generous congregation is supporting our friends at Project Care and Concern and Norwood Healthcare during this holiday season. For the residents of both of these organizations the Christmas gifts they receive from UCW are the only ones they receive at all. This is an opportunity for us to remind the residents that we are all a part of their family in Christ.
Normally, we would hang mittens on our Christmas tree in church, but that is of course not an option this year. So we are going to have our first ever Virtual Mitten Tree! A Signup-Genius will go out where you can sign-up for a "mitten" that identifies a recipient and the gift they requested. We will arrange drop-off moments at the church in the 2nd week of December so we can gather them and deliver them to Norwood Health and Project Care & Concern. So please keep an eye out for the Signup Genius when it goes out!
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Advocates for Racial Justice
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On Nov. 2nd, 1920, a white mob in Ocoee, Florida lynched dozens of Black Americans and razed the Black community because a Black man attempted to vote. Following this violence, Black survivors fled the community, never to return. The entire Black community of Ocoee was driven out within a year, forced to abandon or sell land and homes they owned. No Black Americans resided in the City of Ocoee for the following 60 years. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history.
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Segregated by Design
You can watch the film Segregated by Design,(18 minutes) that summarizes the book Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, the Newton Reads event on November 17 th .
See announcement in the Wider Community section below full detail of the Newton Reads event.
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We Are Seeking A Recipient For Our Next Loan
The 1K Task Force is currently looking for an appropriate recipient for our 1K loan. We have up to $2500 for a microfinance loan for a small business which reflects the values of our church community. Because we know black and brown businesses have more than twice the rate of closure during this time of Covid 19, than white small businesses, we are particularly reaching out to black and brown small business owners. If you have any contacts, possible suggestions or know any people who might be potential recipients please let us know .
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Book Buddies!
We are able to distribute loaves and fishes in the form of books to children who are hungry for reading.
Church members can discuss how we can continue our participation in the literacy initiative Jo is leading with school children in Lowndes County. We hope to be able to match church members/families to become Book Buddies with early readers in Lowndes County. We envision sending our Book Buddy a new paperback each month and perhaps connecting with them as pen pals or virtual friends. Team-Lead: Jenny Weisz (jennyweisz@comcast.net). If you are interested please use the sign-up link below:
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Be Part of our On-going Common Cathedral Team
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 siblings 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 into the fall, for as long as they need us. Come be part of this awesome team!
For More Details and Ways You Can Help: GO HERE
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This Week's Prayground with Pastor Amy
This week, we explore how Jesus turns water into wine, and what this first miracle of Jesus' tells us about who Jesus is and what he desires for us. We paint with water, and then add beautiful colors to postcards to send to someone we love. We also pray for our country and leaders, and check in about how we are feeling in this election week. You can see a video with Pastor Amy (with special guests Sam and Cody!) below.
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| | Nov 8, 2020 UCW Prayground with Pastor Amy - Water to Wine |
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To see all of this weeks Story , Video, Wondering Questions,
Activities and Prayers go HERE
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Children and Families This Fall at UCW
Interested in Being Part of Planning for Advent and Beyond?
The Children's Ministry Team is gathering on Sunday evening (Nov. 8th) at 7:30pm over Zoom, and we'd love to have you join us! There's so much creativity, love and joy flowing through our planning this year -- come be part of it! Contact Pastor Amy for the Zoom log-in (amy@ucw.org).
Parents Group - Every Tuesday at 7:30 pm
We continue to 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 at agatewood@gmail.com, or amy@ucw.org
Fall 2020 Children Youth and Families Packet
We continue to gather to connect, laugh and share. Please go HERE for:
- An Overview of our Children, Youth and Families Ministries for Fall 2020
- The Fall Calendar
- Weekly Pages with Bible stories, questions to ponder, activities and prayers
Registration
We are asking all families to register children and youth this year, to make sure we have updated contact and health information, and also to share and ask for your adherence to the Phase Forward guidelines adopted to keep us safe in the time of Covid.
or visit the website to find both the packet and form HERE.
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Youth Ministry
Middle School Youth Group
Sunday, Nov. 8th, 4-5:00 p.m.
All are invited to gather for Forest Church from 3-4pm, and then the Middle Schoolers are invited to youth group! This week we'll check in, have fun, and help create gifts for guests to our Thanksgiving Community Dinner. We need your creativity and help! Parents are invited to gather separately while Pastor Amy gathers with the kids.
Exploring Our Faith (make up from the rain last week!)
10-11th Grade Youth GroupSunday, Nov. 8th, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Please note the slightly later time - apologies! We will gather after Middle School Youth Group at the Collins-Abbiati home. Please see your email, or contact Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org) if you need directions. We hope all EOF students can come to connect, have fun, help with our Thanksgiving Dinner project and plan for the next few months.
9th Grade Youth Group
Sunday, Nov. 15th, 4:15-5:15pm
We'll gather after Forest Church in the park across from the church!
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All Church Retreat - EVALUATION Please
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THANK YOU!
A heart felt thank you to our retreat planning team for bringing us our retreat this year and to all who participated and contributed throughout the month.
We want to hear from you! What did you really appreciate? What would you like to see changed? What would you like us to think about for next year? Please send your feedback to Pastor Stacy with the words RETREAT EVALUATION in the subject line. Thank you - we value your feedback and take your ideas into our future planning.
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Please look at the Sign Up Genius HERE, and sign up to read Scripture. Youth are greatly encouraged to sign up, too! (The link is also always available on the ucw.org
homepage)
Thanks you, UCW Deacons
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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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