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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, September 18, 2020
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Online Worship - This Sunday
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"Maketh Me To Lie Down in Green Pastures"
Sunday, September 20- 10:00 a.m.
All throughout September, we will be reflecting on Psalm 23. This Sunday, we will also remember the Exodus story of God providing Manna to the Isrealites in the wilderness. Pastor Amy will explore God's desire for us to "lie down in green pastures," and for the Isrealites to rest on the Sabbath from collecting manna. We'll reflect on whether this desire is relevant or provides wisdom for the wilderness of our times.
Pastor Amy will also share a special Children's Time, 'unboxing' the Prayground Boxes and Sacred Spaces at home materials all families will receive in the coming week!
During our offering, we will share the work of performance artist and playwright Samantha Beach, as she reflects on what Psalm 23 means to her during the pandemic.
Zoom Link is available HERE
Meeting ID: 890 3453 7905
Passcode: 292392
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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This year our All Church Retreat is taking a new format.
Instead of going way 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.
Opening Session: Saturday, October 3 from 10:00-11:30 am (zoom)
We will share in some music and prayer before breaking into smaller groups to engage our guiding scripture asking the questions:
"What are we bringing with us into this time?"
"What is the one small fish and two loaves of bread we may have to share."
"What have we learned in this time of COVID-19,?"
"What have we seen in this perceived time of scarcity and limitation that if brought to Christ with humility and love could be made to serve and nourish the wider community and world?"
Weeks of Oct.12 and Oct. 19
There will be a variety of small group offerings that will help us enter more deeply into the scripture. These may include virtual walking tours, dinner church gatherings, poetry reading, Forest Church. Part of each small group time will also include crafting a part of our closing worship.
Stay tuned for more information about these offerings and how to sign up.
Sunday Oct. 25, Worship at 10:00 (zoom)
We will share what have learned, experienced and created together as we explored our Scripture and theme of the retreat in our "Closing Worship."
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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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Book Group
September 29, 7:00-8:00 pm
For the month of September we will be reading "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead.
"Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, the #1 New York Times bestseller from Colson Whitehead, a magnificent tour de force chronicling a young slave's adventures as she makes a desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South." Amazon.com
All are welcome!
Meeting ID: 893 1096 1073;
Passcode: 179509
or call in at: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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Lunch Bunch
September 30, 12:00 - 1:30 pm
You are invited to a virtual "Gloucester Walkabout" as we gather for our monthly time of sharing. Our time will feature a virtual stroll sharing in the beauty and majesty of the seascape and shore of Gloucester. Bring your lunch and come join us by logging onto zoom through the link below.
Meeting ID: 847 9944 3410;
Passcode: 044160
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Wellspring
September 30, 6:30-8:00 pm
Wellspring is our women's ministry at UCW. We come together in a prayerful space to support each other as we journey together in these times. Our time begins with a check in and candle lighting as we honor the divine spark with in each of us and often concludes with conversation around a particular question or theme. This month we will consider what it is to practice encouragement. If you are interested in learning more about Wellspring, please be in touch with Priscilla Kelso or Pastor Stacy.
Meeting ID: 845 3935 8319
Passcode: 964074
Or call in at: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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Home Prayer Spaces
A spiritual practice to engage in these times
when we are spending so much time in our homes.
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Hello everyone,
Please look at the Sign Up Genius HERE, and sign up to read Scripture. Youth are greatly encouraged to sign up, too!
Thanks,
UCW Deacons
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|  | | Things are hopping in LIttlehale as we get ready to deliver boxes and gather with our kids and youth again! | |
Children, Youth 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!
Coming This Week
Our Youth and Children's Ministry Teams have been meeting, praying, and working this month, and we will be sending calendars and plans for both in-person and online ways of connecting kids and families, and helping us all to find sacred space, grounding, and joy we need in this time! Stay Tuned this Week for:
This Sunday during 10am Worship, Children's Time- Pastor Amy will share our plans and some of the resources coming to your homes
Sacred Spaces at Home
Prayground Boxes & Weekly Resources
Coming this Week!
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. Members of the Children's Ministry team will be in touch to deliver them.
FAMILY WORSHIP - FOREST CHURCH! Wondering and Wandering Together - Beginning in October
We'll provide a schedule and details in your boxes (above), but will plan to begin these outdoor, intergenerational, in-person gatherings on Sunday afternoons throughout the fall.
Youth Groups and Exploring Our Faith
Our Middle School and High School Youth Ministries will also start up in early October with some in-person (masked, physically distanced) gatherings. We'll send a full calendar of events and service projects planned for the fall along with the boxes (above).
If you have thoughts or ideas of things that would help your family, or if you would like to be involved in helping to plan or gather with our kids, we'd love to talk! Please reach out to Pastor Amy (amy@ucw.org).
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
Back-to-School Prayers and Blessings for Families: This month, Pastor Amy attended a gatherings with one of her favorite writers about faith and families, Rev. Traci Smith. Her book Faithful Families is a wonderful resource for simple practices and prayers for our home. During our gathering, she shared the following set of brief prayers for this back-to-school year. We'll use some of these prayers in Sunday worship, and in our gatherings this fall, but thought it might be helpful to you to have, as well, as we enter fall. May they be a blessings...
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Advocates for Racial Justice
News: Massachusetts has now recognized Juneteenth as a state - wide holiday.
Did you know... On Sep 15, 1963: Four Black Girls Were Killed in a Klu Klux Klan Bombing of the 16th St. Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. They were Denise McNair (11), Addie Mae Collins ((14), Carole Robinson (14), and Cynthia Wesley (14).
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Pilgrim Group - New offering starting in October
In addition to educational and advocacy opportunities, the advocates for racial justice will be offering an opportunity for a small group of individuals to gather together monthly as we reckon with racial injustice personally and spiritually.
This will not be a drop in group. Instead, we ask that those who are interested in journeying together make the commitment to attend all six of the monthly gatherings.
If you are interested in participating, please be go here to sign up. We are hoping to keep this group to no more than 15 individuals. If there are more than 15 who may be interested, we will explore offering the group again. Once we have the pilgrim cohort we will send out a doodle poll to find the best day/time to meet - perhaps the third Tuesday of the month at 5:15 via zoom. If you would like more information, please be in touch with Pastor Stacy. |
Can You 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!
- 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 Amy (amy@ucw.org).
- 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.
Thank you so much!
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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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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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Make sure you are counted, Boston
Dear Bostonian,
Time is running out to participate in the U.S. 2020 Census.
This once-in-a-decade opportunity will determine the amount of elected representatives Boston will have, how legislative districts will be formed, and the amount of federal funding we will receive for crucial services and programs for the next 10 years.
As of this email,
only 57.4% of Boston's households have self-responded. We are now 14 days away from the last day to be counted (September 30).
This is an urgent call to all of Boston's communities to make sure they've completed the U.S. 2020 Census. On this day and throughout the month of September, we encourage you to:- Fill out the 2020 Census. You can do so online or by phone, and either of these options is available in 13 languages. If you already have done so, make sure to ask your friends, family, and networks to do the same.
- Spread the message digitally. Use our outreach toolkit to amplify that responding is not only crucial, but it is also quick, easy, and confidential.
- Volunteer to census phone bank with the City of Boston. We are hosting daily phone banks to reach out and encourage households in some of our lowest response neighborhoods. You can share this opportunity via this form. If you have already filled out the volunteer form, sign up for a shift.
Please take the time to help however you can and ensure your networks know how to be counted.Thank you,Mayor Walsh
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| | The 2020 Census, it's important! |
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