The Union Church in Waban                
Friday, August 3, 2018
Note:  Pastors Amy and Stacy will be away Friday, August 4 - Monday August 6th.   If you have an urgent pastoral need during this time, please be in touch with Senior Deacon Jim MacDonald at 508-395-0431.  
Worship

AUGUST WORSHIP 
A chance to visit other churches

During the month of August, we do not hold worship services at The Union Church.  (Worship resumes on Sunday morning, September 9th at 10:00 a.m.).

Instead, we encourage you to visit other area churches to experience different worship style and content.  Bring back and share with Pastor Amy and Pastor Stacy what you really loved so that we at UCW may be enriched by your experience.  

If you are looking for somewhere to worship in August you may want to stop by Eliot Church (UCC) in Newton Corner.  Their worship service starts at 10:00.  Or First Baptist Church in Needham whose service also begins at 10:00.  


Mission Matters 

We hold the people of Nicaragua close in this time of turmoil, suffering and uncertainty. 


One of the things I have come to know and to appreciate about The Union Church in Waban is that those we see as part of our church family, our siblings in Christ,  are not just those who enter the doors of 14 Collins Road.  We love our building and love gathering in it, but we also know we are a church that extends beyond the walls of our building.  We are church with those  who reside across the street at the Waban Health Center, down the road at Project Care and Concern in Boston and south of the border in Nicaragua.  

Right now, our church family, our siblings in Christ, our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua are facing a very grave national crisis.  There is much uncertainty, fear, and need.  Would you please take a moment to read the following note from Ingrid, the student we have the honor of sponsoring through the Brugger Foundation and would you please hold her, all of those we have come to know and hold so dear and the entire nation in prayer -- that peace and justice may prevail. 
Thank you.  La paz  -- Pastor Stacy  


A note from Ingrid, the Brugger Foundation student that we have the honor of sponsoring.


Hello, thank you very much for praying and for worrying, how are you all?

Here in Nicaragua things are a bit difficult, health my family and I are fine thanks to God, but because tourism has declined, several businesses have had to close and leave many in unemployment, in my case, the hotel where I worked, I had to cut staff, so I do not work anymore, food and many things have been scarce or increased in price, like gasoline, which has made it difficult for my dad who is a taxi driver, to work normally, My mom continues to work, but her bosses said they would have been open for another 2 months waiting for the situation to improve.

The hope that we all have here is based primarily on God, and on the agreement that can be achieved in the national dialogue that has been tried to rethink, which has been paused on 2 occasions because of the injustices that the government and the police are doing.
 
Ingrid

And a prayer from Arch Bishop Oscar Romero who was the friend of the people in a time of crisis in El Salvador. 

It helps, now and then,
to step back and take the long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts;
it is beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime
only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise 
that is the Lord's work.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted
knowing they hold future promise.
We lay foundations
that will need further development.
We provide yeast
that affects far beyond our capabilities
We cannot do everything
and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
and to do it very, very well.

Oscar Romero



Save the Date -- All Church Retreat

When:  Friday evening, Nov. 9 - Sunday noon, Nov. 11.

Where Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center
660 Great Pond Rd, North Andover, MA 01845

Why:  The all church retreat gives us the opportunity to affirm the 
belonging and blessedness of all of our gathered community, to deepen the connections that create a community of cooperation and care and helps us to remember our purpose as a faith community and as individuals. 

What: Circle the weekend on your calendar and mark if off for our time together!  Registration materials and more information will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.  

Questions:  Please reach out to members of the planning team: Bart Kelso, Nancy Zollers, Soo Laski, Kent Wittler, Diane Tillotson, Tom Vawter, Amy Clark Feldman and Stacy Swain.  If you are interested in joining in the planning, please reach out to Stacy.

From the Church Office


Members Online Directory 

& User Account

We have 
  ad ded a Members Online Directory
feature to our website homepage. 


The link below (also available at  ucw.org  ) will prompt you to create a UCW member 
account that allows you to:
  • View an online directory of UCW church members
  • Edit your personal and family member profiles, including contact information and photos.
  • Review, (but not change) your pledging and donations history.
You will be asked to enter your name and email address. If we can find a matching member profile, we'll send you an invite by email allowing you to create your personal account and password.
 
 Try our new Online Directory HERE   or by clicking on the image below!

From the Wider Community
 

Join the Eliot Church 
at three summer barbecue
picnics, for homeless families!
 

Where: 
474 Centre St.,  Newton Corner
 
When: 
August 5  and August 26
 
Bring nothing, but a willingness to engage with our homeless neighbors
 
Come at noon, if you want to help set up.
Or stop by for burgers, corn and slaw and conversation from 1-3 p.m.
 
Contact Josephine McNeil for more information. jomac1941@aol.com


For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events, please 
visit our website, www.ucw.org 
 
Note : Material for inclusion in the Friday e-Blast newsletter should be e-mailed to the office at ucw@ucw.org , by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning.