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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, October 16, 2020
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Online Worship This Sunday
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Sunday Worship, October 18th,10:00 a.m.
This Sunday we will turn to the scripture passage of the feeding of the five thousand from the Gospel of Luke and Ministerial Intern Eden Johnson will take us into the question "What if the real miracle is the kindness we all hold in our hearts."
Music Minister Daon Drisdom will bring us a hope filled message in Hezekiah Walker's "I need you to survive" as our prayer response.
Prayground for Kids and Families: CLICK HERE (and see below) for a video of Pastor Amy 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 offering, 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.
Zoom Link is available HERE
Meeting ID: 892 2056 9966
Passcode: 414939
Or call in at: +1 646 558 8656
A link to the bulletin is available HERE.
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Worship on Sunday Afternoon and During the Week
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Family Worship Forest Church In-Person
THIS SUNDAY, Oct. 18th 3-4pm
1st and 3rd Sundays at 3-4pm
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. Unless the weather is truly dangerous, we'll follow the saying, "There's no bad weather, only the wrong clothing." We'll find Jesus as living water in the rain; and snow angels in the cold! We'll be drawing inspiration and support from the Muddy Church movement in the UK (see THIS VIDEO) . For more information please reach out to Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
Gathering Space - Oct 22nd
We welcome you to "The Gathering Space," a quiet and contemplative space for our spiritual selves. The 30-minute Zoom gathering offers a brief but precious opportunity to pause and be comforted through music, meditation, candle lighting, poetry, readings from various faith traditions, and a time for lifting up prayers. The Gathering Space will be available on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. Our next "Gathering Space" is October 22nd. Join Zoom Here; Meeting ID: 820 3485 2071; Passcode: 359199. Or call in at: +1 646 558 8656
Dinner Church
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 pm - Next Gathering Nov. 5th
All-ages are invited to gather together (on Zoom) for dinner and worship! We'll begin as a large group and then break into smaller groups for deeper conversation and prayer. Come as you are, and if you've already eaten dinner, join us with your dessert! Zoom links are below. We'll generally follow the Weekly Scripture and Discussion Questions in the Children and Youth Ministries packet, so you can follow along at home, even if you aren't able to join us! To access that packet and the weekly pages CLICK HERE. On November 5th, we will consider All Saints Day and the saints in our lives (Nov. 5th, 19th; Dec. 3rd, 17th)
- Join the Dinner Church Zoom Room: HERE
- Meeting ID: 935 8056 6952
- Passcode: 895827
- Dial-in: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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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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All Church Retreat - Save the Dates
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It's RETREAT time!
Instead of going away for the weekend, we will be taking the month of October to explore the Scripture passage of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6: 1-15) and consider what we may be hungry for in this time and what we may have to share with others.
Our retreats have always been a good opportunity for fellowship and connection. And of course a chance to be spiritually fed. We look forward to doing the same in this zoom format. Youth and children have always been a joy to include and are welcome. Join us as we create retreat space for our Congregation despite the limitations of gathering together in this time.
Throughout the Month of OctoberThere will be a variety of small group offerings that will help us enter more deeply into the scripture. For a listing of the small group offerings and how to connect please go HERE and scroll down to the section entitled LISTING OF OFFERINGS. You will also find the offerings listed on the calendar on the website or go HERE for a printable calendar. We want to lift up two offerings:
Support Local Black and Minority Owned Businesses: With home being our new place of work, school, and so much more, the kitchen has seen a big increase in use. Somedays the thought of stepping into the kitchen can be well... overwhelming. So why not order take out and at the same time support local black and minority owned businesses? Check out these restaurants and give them a try! If you do, don't forget to leave a good review and spread the love.
Allston: Rock City Pizza (American)
Jamaica Plain: Blue Nile River (Ethiopian)
Boston: MIDA (Italian)
Roxbury: Soleil (Southern Style with a Soleil Twist)
Game Night with Soo Laski, Friday October 23rd, 7:00pm
Come join fellow UCWers for our first ever Virtual Game Night. Some possible games are Catan, Skribbl.io (Pictionary), Crazy 8's, or Parcheesi (Sorry). Feel free to suggest or bring your own. All of these games are easily accessible free online and with the option to create a private game. We will all gather on Zoom and head to breakout rooms based on our chosen interests. Game Night, Friday October 23rd, 7:00pm (zoom), Join Zoom Here; Meeting ID: 842 1782 4296, Passcode: 750426
Virtual Arnold Arboretum Tour with Bart Kelso, Saturday October 24, 1:00pm
Log onto zoom and join Bart as he walks us through the beautiful landscape of the arboretum. Stopping to consider several trees and bushes, Bart will help us to see God's glory and abundance as evidenced in the natural world. Join Zoom Here; Meeting ID: 813 2999 6036; Passcode: 907747
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Birth of a Movement (2020)
Exclusive Opportunity To View An Outstanding Film
We have been given an exclusive opportunity to view the outstanding film Birth of a Movement (2020) about how William Trotter of Boston created a national protest movement against the film Birth of a Nation (1915) and how it celebrated Klu Klux Klan violence against African Americans.
You can register and then receive the link to watch the film any time at your convenience. We are asked not to share this link. It is provided for us by one of the producers Bester Cram (yes, Julian's Dad). (You could also watch the Birth of a Nation if you desire).
On November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. we will have an opportunity for a zoom-talk together about this amazing movie with a local angle.
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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 .
Brita Gill-Austern, chair of IK Task Force bgillaustern@gmail.com
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Book Buddies
Book Drive for Lowndes County, AL
Josephine McCall met with church members last March to describe the book she had written about her father who was lynched in Lowndes County Alabama when Jo was only a little girl.
As part of our retreat, 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.
If you are interested please use the sign-up link below:
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| Advocates for Racial Justice |
Equal Justice Institute has now documented nearly 6,500 racial terror lynchings in America between 1865 and 1950. Thousands more Black people have been killed by white mob lynchings whose deaths may never be discovered.
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| Fall Fill-A-Bag for the Centre Street Food Pantry |
Since COVD-19 struck, demand has more than doubled at the Centre Street Food Pantry and they need
our help! They are asking for people to bring pre-packed bags filled with foods that kids love. So during your next trip to the grocery store make sure to grab the items below and pack them up in a brown handle shopping bag (double bagged please). Then on either October 19th 4-6 or October 24th 10-12 stop by 11 Homer Street Newton Center (entrance from Furber Lane) and drop the pre-packed bags off. Can't drop them off on that date? Feel free to drop them off at the church in the 2 big green tubs outside or bring them to any youth and children events. If those do not work either, feel free to reach out to chanellobdell@gmail.com to coordinate a time for someone to pick it up and drop it off for you.
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Fall Call to 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 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 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 share the story of God's people in the wilderness, and how God provides manna for them, with activities and questions in our Weekly Pages.
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| | October 18, 2020 - Prayground with Amy - Manna from Heaven |
Children and Families This Fall at UCW
We miss seeing you all, and are holding all of our children, youth and families in prayer this week as many return to school!
- 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
Sacred Spaces at Home, Prayground Boxes & Weekly Resources
These boxes will have materials to help you and your family find moments of peace and connection throughout the week, and will also have weekly Bible Stories, lessons and activities that will connect to Sunday morning worship. We have delivered most of the boxes and hope to connect with any families that don't have one this weekend. If you don't have a box and would like one, please be in touch with Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org)
FAMILY WORSHIP - FOREST CHURCH! Wondering and Wandering Together - Sunday, October 18th
See more details in the calendar (and above) and plan to join us for these outdoor, intergenerational, in-person gatherings on Sunday afternoons throughout the fall.
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.
Parents Group - Every Tuesday at 7:30 pm: 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
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YOUTH MINISTRY
9th Grade Groups Gather this Weekend
Parent Break-out Groups Gather while Youth Meet
Sunday, Oct. 18th -- 9th Grade Youth Group, 4-5:15pm (we may start closer to 4:10pm after Forest Church ends)
9th Graders gather for Youth Group outside the church (in-person with masks and distanced). Parents are also invited to gather separately while the 9th graders meet.
Sunday, Oct. 25th - 12noon-3pm - Helping Hands Sunday!
Mark your calendars and please plan to join us for this beloved, fun, meaningful afternoon! We'll gather in the late morning, early afternoon connecting as community, cleaning up yards, and helping community members out in other (safe, outdoor, distanced) ways!
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Spiritual Formation and Fellowship
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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.
Meeting ID: 825 631 369;
Password: 022055.
Or call in at +1 646 558 8656
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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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