The Union Church in Waban                
Friday, December 8, 2017
This Sunday

8:00 a.m.:   
Pageant
 Rehearsal 
 
10:00 a.m.: 
Worship - Hanging of the Greens Service
We will be led in worship  this Sunday by our children and youth as they share the story of Christmas.  We hope you will join us for this special morning!   If you child or youth is participating, we hope they will join us for our rehearsal tomorrow, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.  More details HERE
  
11:15 a.m.: 
Bell Choir Rehearsal

11:30 a.m.:  UCW Relational Meeting Session 

  6:30 p.m.:  Nica Travelers Pizza Dinner 

Featured

San Juan del sur, Rivas, Nicaragua                                                November 13, 2017
A Letter from Ingrid Pérez
 
 
The Jean A. Brugger Foundation has been a longtime church partner with our work in Nicaragua. Many of our travelers have participated in Ancianos events  hosted by the Brugger Foundation. In addition to their work with the seniors of San Juan del Sur, they have created a scholarship program to help support young Nicaraguans attend university. For several years, the Nicaragua Team has sponsored  students who for various reasons no longer have the funds to continue their schooling. This past fall, the Nicaragua Team decided to Sponsor Ingrid Perez. She is in her last year of schooling with hopes for a degree in Hotel Managment. Below is her most recent letter.   
 
 

Dear David and Members of Unión Church of Waban

A cordial greeting from me and my family, I hope you are all in good health.

We are only a few days away from the last month of the year, we are about to end a year in which many good things happened to me, from having had the opportunity to acquire this scholarship, how to get a place in the Hotel where I was doing my university internships.
This year also culminates the curriculum of my career, which once completed, will begin the preparation to be able to defend a project that will develop and apply the knowledge acquired in this time of study andachieve the university degree.














Through these years, I feel that I have managed to be even more mature, more confident, about each of the decisions, and something that will always be a total pride for me this year, is the creation of a project that has allowed us to develop Each of our knowledge and skills, such as Dulces de mi Tierra, we were able to present ourselves at our campus, then at the university's headquarters, as well as at the fair, at a convention center in Managua where we got to know many ideas entrepreneurs and we hope that this same project will be approved as a Business Plan.
                                                                           ............continue reading about Ingrid and her family HERE

Church Matters

Capital Campaign Kick Off Meeting


The Capital Campaign kicked off Thursday night with a meeting between our consultant and those volunteers that will be handling the many associated tasks.  Pictured with consultant Jennifer Williams, Pastor Stacy Swain and chairpersons Karen Weisgerber and Kent Wittler.   

Advent Devotional Booklet

Copies of this year's Advent Devotional are now available in the Crocker Chapel and online at the Union Church Website HERE .  
This beautiful booklet is made up of reflections, poetry, stories and images submitted by members of the Union Church community, and is meant to travel with you through the weeks of Advent - each week focusing on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  We hope you will pick up a copy, and find wisdom and inspiration for your Advent journey. 

Online LInks
The online version of teh advent newsletter also contains some links to ot othe contetn such as this video.
 
Watch: 
The Christmas Story, 
created by 
St. Paul's Church, 
Auckland, New Zealand 

Children, Youth & Families
Pageant
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal: 
Tomorrow Sat. Dec. 9
th at 9:00 a.m.

We will be led in worship this Sunday by our children and youth as they share the story of Christmas.  We hope you will join us for this special morning!   If you child or youth is participating, we hope they will join us for our rehearsal this Saturday at 9am in the Sanctuary.  Kids will then gather on Sunday morning at 8am to find their costumes and do a final run-through.  If there are any kids who would like to join in on "Ode to Joy" or contribute other music, please have them bring their instruments to rehearsal!   We're so grateful to our kids for sharing their gifts and leadership of this service.  With any questions, please contact Amy at [email protected] or 617-938-8112.  
Caroling at Waban Health 
Sunday, Dec. 17 th
 
Next Sunday afternoon, all are invited to join UCW youth and choir members as we travel to share Christmas cheer, carols and cookies with our friends at the Waban Health Center.  Our Youth will prepare our gifts from the Mitten Tree (see below), and bake cookies during Sunday School.  We will then gather at 1pm in the Sanctuary to rehearse our carols and walk over together to sing at 1:30pm.  Youth who would like to stay at the church after worship until the caroling begins can join Amy after reception for a Christmas movie and games on the stage (email [email protected]).  We hope you will consider joining the joyous afternoon!   


Youth Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange
On Friday, Dec. 15 th  from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

Youth are invited to gather at the home of Susan Hunt Stevens for a jolly good time!  We'll share great food, games and our white elephant gift exchange (bring something wild, wacky or wonderful for under $10).  Families of youth should have received an Evite for the event, or can contact Amy at [email protected] with question or to RSVP.  


 
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Exploring Our Faith/Confirmation: 

COLLECTION FOR 
CRADLES TO CRAYONS
 
For the next few weeks, I will be holding a drive 
to collect clothes for Cra dles to Crayons, an  organization that collects clothing and other essentials for children in need in the greater Boston area. There are going to be two bins located in the church by the Reception Room and in the wing of the sanctuary (Crocker Chapel) that say Cradles to Crayons on them. If anybody has any new or gently used clothing that their kids have outgrown, C2C would greatly appreciate all donations. It is almost winter and the organization always needs winter coat donations, but any and all donations are appreciated.
Thank you,  Justin Pond

Mission Matters
Mitten Tree 2017!

Once again, we are supporting our friends from the Project Care & Concern and Waban Health communities. For many of the residents, these are the only Christmas presents they will receive.  A simple coffee mug, set of bed sheets, a warm robe or slippers will bring them such joy!  This is an opportunity for us to remind the residents that we are a part of their family in Christ.
 
 Thank you for responding so generously this past Sunday.  There are still a few mittens available on our tree, so plan to make your decision by today, Sunday, Dec. 10th. 
Please be sure to let us know the mitten you have chosen by noting the needed information on the form that is by the tree in the Crocker Chapel; or, you may email Beth Sears
( [email protected] )   with the mitten color, name of recipient, apartment number or residence name.
Our thanks to Molly Owen-Kiritsy and our youth for coordinating the Waban Health gifts (red mittens) and Vinita Leslie for coordinating the Project Care & Concern gifts (green mittens).
Wrapped gifts with their mitten tags need to be returned by December 17, 2017, so that we may make deliveries in time for Christmas!
As always, we appreciate your generosity!


UCW and GBIO  
Out of Many, One .
You're cordially invited to a teach-in with the Boston Muslim community, on Thurs., Dec. 14,
7-9:00 p.m., at Temple Israel (477 Longwood Ave., Boston). You'll hear personal stories about specific threats to Muslims locally, and participate in interfaith relational meetings with members of sister congregations. This event is open to everyone, but you must RSVP. This event is open to everyone, but you must RSVP.  Please click here. 
The Wells are Clean around San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

After hurricane Marie devastated central Nicaragua, individuals from the Congregation gave generously to Hurricane Relief Fund. The Nicaragua Team identified the need for clean water post hurricane (in keeping with our motto as a church, Who puts the agua in Nicaragua? We do!) as the wells were contaminated after the floods. Using our partners from 12 years of Nicaragua outreach the Nica Team also identified, almost immediately, a team on the ground in San Juan del Sur to buy a pump and travel to the sites of these wells to pump and clean them.
The wells that could be cleaned are now clean. The stories of "our" team and our pump at work include a trip by horseback to a neighborhood that was inaccessible by truck. Photos available on the church website at www.ucw.org.
Thank you, donors. Our mighty pump is still operating and grateful families are able to drink and cook with safe water!  
The Week Ahead at UCW
 
 
 
Sat., Dec. 9
8:00 a.m.
Pageant Rehearsal
Sun., Dec. 10
10:00 a.m.
Worship -  Christmas Pageant
 
11:15 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
11:30 a.m.
GBIO 1:1 Campaign
 
6:00 p.m.
Nica Travelers Pizza Dinner
Mon.,    Dec. 11
7:30 a.m.
Living Waters-A Time of Quiet and Prayer
 
7:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
Wed.,     Dec. 13
6:30 p.m.
Nimbus/Moderator's Team
Fri., Dec. 15
6:30 p.m.
Youth Group Christmas Party (offsite)
Sun., Dec. 17
8:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Bible Study
 
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
 
10:00 a.m.
Worship -  Come to the Manger, A Cantata
 
11:15 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
1:30 p.m.
Caroling at Waban Health
 
 
 

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 or our Sunday Announcements insert should be e-mailed to the office at [email protected] , by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning.  Please specify whether for e-Blast, Sunday Announcements, or both. Thank you !