The Union Church in Waban
Friday, September 4, 2020 
Online Worship - This Sunday
The Song of the Morning Stars 
Sunday, September 6 - 10:00 a.m. 

This Sunday, we will pray together, share the music of our Music Minister, Daon Drisdom and share in Communion together.  In our time of Communion, we will remember Jesus and his command to love one another as God has loved us, and we re-member ourselves as the Body of Christ in the world today.  Please have bread and cup with you so we can partake together. 

Pastor Stacy will be our preacher as explore the idea of liminality in a sermon entitled "The Song of the Morning Stars."   

Zoom Link is available HERE 
Meeting ID: 854 8662 3712
Passcode: 397155
Phone number for Dial-in only:  +1 646 558 8656

A link to the bulletin is available  HERE 

Ways to Connect this Week
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. 

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 
CYF   

Children, Youth and Plans for Fall
Our dear children, youth and families are facing a year like none other!   Words like hybrid, remote, and home-school are all taking on new meaning and relevance.  We're all trying to figure out how to manage new realities juggling work, school and home-life, while tending to our spiritual, mental and physical health and well-being, and that of our children.  Many of us are also finding new rhythms and even some blessings and new priorities in this time. May we find comfort , encouragement, and wisdom in walking this path together this year -- gathering with others in our beloved church family to find peace, spaciousness, connection, joy, meaningful service, and an experience of God all around us!

Our Youth and Children's Ministry Teams have been meeting, praying, and working this month, getting closer to a plan that includes 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!  We hope to finalize a plan and calendar this coming week, and distribute it to families as soon as possible in early September.  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 ([email protected]).

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 [email protected], or [email protected]

Back-to-School Prayers and Blessings for Families: Last week, 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...
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!
Advocates for Racial Justice - Planning for the New Year
Meeting on Tuesday, September 15th at 4:30 p.m.
The Advocates for Racial Justice will be meeting on Tuesday September 15th at 4:30 to plan for the new year.  We will be discussing ongoing study group to be led by Pastor Stacy starting in October, monthly book discussion group, film discussion group, educational activities for year and a possible focus on Reparations.  Our task force is open to any interested member of the congregation.  Don't forget to join an important discussion of Reparations led by Anya Bassett on Thursday September 10th(see announcement above).    

Hope to see you at one or both! 
Brita Gill-Austern, 
Chair of ARJ. 
Mission Matters
  
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! 

How you can help: 
  • 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 ([email protected]).
  • 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!  


                                                
Our Covenant
 
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.