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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, October 9, 2020
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Online Worship This Sunday
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Sunday Worship, October 11"
10:00 a.m.
This Sunday we will turn to the scripture passage of the feeding of the five thousand from the Gospel of Mark and a passage from the book of Isaiah as we explore the promise of God's abundance.
This Sunday we will also share in some visual liturgy from The Work of the People as we transition from our time to greet and check in with each other before the service to the beginning of worship.
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: 811 3461 4406
Passcode: 772658
Or call in at: +1 646 558 8656
A link to the bulletin is available HERE.
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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)
Yoga Nidra (Sleep Yoga); with Chanel Lobdell, 30 minutes October 12th and 26 at 7:00pm.
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. If you are interested in joining in on a class please reach out to [email protected]. Join Zoom Here
; Meeting ID: 854 6653 8417; Passcode: 433398. Or call in at +1 646 558 8656.
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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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Three New Worship Opportunities Begin in October
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Dinner Church
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 pm - Next Gathering Oct 15th
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 October 15th, we'll look together at the story of the Feeding of 5000 (Oct. 15th; Nov. 5th, 19th; Dec. 3rd, 17th)
Family Worship Forest Church In-Person
NEXT SUNDAY, Oct. 18 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 ([email protected]).
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 22.
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This Week's Prayground with Pastor Amy
This week, we focus on the Feeding of 5000 and some of the activities and questions we are invited to share in our Weekly Pages.
You can see a video of Pastor Amy talking about our story and activity for this week.
The activities for this week include a coloring sheet about our story, and an invitation to help feed others in our community, or make a card for our friends at Common Cathedral. The materials and details can be found in your Prayground box, or through the links below:
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
Overview:
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 ([email protected])
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
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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, 4-5pm
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 - 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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Norwood Health Penpals
Provide connection through cards and letters!
As you may know, mission's focus for the fall is social, emotional, mental wellness. For most, if not all of us, the pandemic has limited our social interactions. For some, particularly the elderly or those more vulnerable to the virus, this has led to unprecedented social isolation. This is true for our friends at Norwood Health, as well as many in our own congregation. Mission is facilitating a pen pal program to restore personal connections.
If you would appreciate the joy of receiving a note in the mail or
if you would like to bring that joy to someone who is feeling isolated,
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Advocates for Racial Justice
Racial disparities, or unfair differences, within the system of mental health are well documented. Research indicates that compared with people who are white, black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) are:
* Less likely to have access to mental health services
* Less likely to seek out services
* Less likely to receive needed care
* More likely to receive poor quality of care
* More likely to end services prematurely
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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!
How you can help:
- JOIN THE FOOD PREP & 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? Sign up through the link below or contact Pastor Amy at [email protected]
- DONATE GRANOLA BARS, TUBE SOCKS, COFFEE, BANANAS, UNDERWEAR OR CLEANING SUPPLIES: Add your name to the sign-up sheet if you have items to donate, or bring them to the big green bin outside the elevator lobby at the church.
As the days get colder, they are especially in need of large cans of ground coffee and creamer.
- 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.
CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR SIGN-UP SHEET
Thank you so much!
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The Union Church's Online Directory
If you are a church member and listed in our church directory you also have access to our online version.
Access Online Directory HERE
(The link is also always available on the ucw.org homepage)
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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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What Kind Of Communities Do We Want To Live In?:
Examining Housing Policies Through a Lens of Equity
"At My Neighbor's Table Series"
Sunday, October 18, 2020. 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This event is Free but limited (Please sign on by 4:45)
Kindly register by Wednesday, Oct 13th. Event Zoom link will be sent to registrants when sign up period ends at 12pm on October 18th.
We will explore and discuss the drivers of structural inequality that have led to high levels of racial, ethnic, and economic segregation in our communities and what we can do about it.
The Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2019: Massachusetts, like many places..., has a long history of overt segregation in housing policies (such as redlining), Housing policies like exclusionary zoning, discriminatory mortgage lending and other practices in use as recently as the early 2000s...disadvantaged Black and Latino communities. While...illegal today, they firmly established segregated...communities based on class and color throughout Greater Boston.
Jennifer Raitt has served for local, regional, state and national housing, community development, and planning organizations and recently became a Climate Reality Leader with the Climate Reality Project.
- Director of Planning and Community Development, Arlington, MA.
- Town of Brookline Housing Advisory Board
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council Executive Committee.
Prep Work (Quick Videos):
Additional Material for Further Reading:
Sponsors: Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Baha'i Community in Needham, Carter Memorial UMC, Christ Episcopal Church, Congregational Church of Needham UUC, First Baptist Church in Needham, Equal Justice Needham, First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Needham, Grace Lutheran Church, League of Women Voters of Needham, League of Women Voters of Westwood/Walpole/Dedham, Needham Diversity Initiative, Needham Human Rights Committee, Progressive Needham, Temple Beth Shalom, Wellesley Friends Meeting. These groups have come together to support this event.
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This event will be a wonderful opportunity as as follow up to The Union Church's October book group selection, which is also the "Color of Law"!
Virtual: Richard Rothstein, The Color of Law
Event date: Tuesday, November 17, 6:30
Event location: Webinar via Newton Free Library
In, The Color of Law, A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, author Richard Rothstein argues with exacting precision and fascinating insight how segregation in America is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state and federal levels. Join us for a virtual session with Mr. Rothstein. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by FORJ, the program cosponsor. Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of the systemic issues that contribute to housing inequities, particularly as Newton engages in a comprehensive review of its zoning codes.
Registration is required. Please register here.
In preparation for this event, attendees are encouraged to watch the the 17 minute video, Segregated by Design, which was written and narrated by Richard Rothstein and directed by Mark Lopez.
Check out this guide for more anti-racism resources.
Questions about virtual programming or Library To-Go! appointments?
Please call the main library number at (617) 796-1360.
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