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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, March 23, 2018
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Last Chance! Easter Blooms Reminder!
This Sunday(25th)is the deadline to submit your
Easter Bloom orders.
Download an Order Form
HERE
S
ubmit your dedication details online
HERE
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8:00 a.m.:
Bible Study in Stacy's study. All are welcome.
9:00 a.m.:
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.:
Palm Sunday Service
.
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This Sunday Our Kids and Youth lead us in Worship
This Sunday, our children and youth will lead the congregation as we worship and remember the story of Palm Sunday and the week leading up to Easter. It is a story of courage and doubt; forgiveness and hope; evil and the deep Love that overcomes it, and we are grateful for all of the children, youth, teachers and families who have contributed to this service today. We are also so grateful for each of you, as members our child-cherishing congregation, and your open-hearted embrace of our children and youth as leaders of worship and valued contributors to the life of our beloved community. Thank you!
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5:00 p.m.: Capital Campaign Committee
6:30 p.m.: GBIO Core Team Meeting (
details and RSVP
here
)
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HOLY WEEK OFFERINGS at UCW
Palm Sunday, March 25th.
P
alm Sunday marks the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, with waving palms and shouts of Hosanna. This year the children and youth will lead us in worship and walk us through the story of Holy Week. As they do, we are invited to consider our own walk of faith, and how we too may experience God's love in the death-dealing places of our day.
Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae Service, March 29, 6:15 p.m
.
Our worship begins with a light meal as we join with Jesus' Last Supper. As the light fades, we move into our Tenebrae portion of the service where we move through scripture and song with Jesus and the disciples as the events of Holy Week unfold. "Tenebrae" is the Latin word for "darkness" and it is therefore during this time that we contemplate our own brokenness and weakness in the light of God's powerful message of redemptive love. Child care will be available. Suggested donation of $5/individual or $20 cap for families.
Good Friday, March 30.
The sanctuary will be open from 4-7:00 p.m. giving us space in this Holy Week to light candles of prayer or sit in silence as perhaps we feel called to contemplate, not only all that Jesus endured on that first Good Friday so long ago, but the crucifying powers of our day as well. This time of quiet will include a contemplative prayer gathering from 6-6:30 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Service, April 1, 6:15 a.m.
,
outside Wilson Chapel at Andover Newton Theological School, 210 Herrick Rd, Newton Center.
As we gather at the dawning of the day, we will give God praise for the Risen Son, Christ our Lord.
Easter Sunday Worship, April 1, 10:00 a.m.
With joy and thanksgiving we will celebrate the enduring power of Love and the affirmation that there is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God. Children are invited to stay in the sanctuary for the entirety of our Easter worship, though we will have nursery care available. Immediately after worship, the children will have their much beloved Easter Egg Hunt.
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Faith Formation and Fellowship
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What:
We cannot live without water. Water is essential to life. In biblical times (as in many cultures around the world today), the source of water was a well and women were the ones who came to the well to draw water for their families. As such, wells were a meeting place, a place of encounter where women gathered not only to draw up the water but also to share with each other, to hear the news of their lives, to be friends in their community. We invite the women of the church to "come to the well" on May 4 - 6th.
Why:
This will be a time to enjoy each other's company, share our stories and grow together in love and hope -- a time to draw deeply of the nourishing waters of our faith and to be refreshed and renewed by God's word and presence.
Where:
Toah Nipi,
252 Old Ashburnham Road, Rindge, NH 03461,
[email protected]
, Phone: 603-899-5464
. Toah Nipi (which means "Quiet Waters") is a lovely and rest-filled setting in the spring for walks and activities by the lake.
When:
6:30 p.m., Friday, May 4 to 11:00 a.m., Sunday, May 6.
Cost:
$120 includes
four meals, and two nights lodging.
If the cost of the retreat is a barrier to you, please feel free to contribute whatever is within your means. Also, if you would like to make a donation to a common fund to help make it possible for others to attend, it would be very much appreciated.
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Practices of Prayer for All Ages over Eastertide
Why do we pray? Who are we praying too? Is anyone listening? Have you ever found yourself asking these questions? Do you still practice daily prayer? During the season of Easter, let us come together to explore any, and all, questions about prayer that weighs heavily on your heart. In our journey together as a community devoted to mindful prayer, we may each discover a daily prayer practice which may add to our spiritual wholeness. Each practice will be explained on one week; then, we will explore together how this form of prayer from various faith traditions rejuvenates the spirit, or if the practice does not help you reach God. This is a multigenerational exploration into the communal and individual prayer practices of humankind. Please join us Sundays for Eastertide in the Memorial Chapel from 8-9:00 a.m., starting on April 8th.
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Children, Youth and Families
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Youth Group Service Opportunity - Maundy Thursday
Middle and High-School youth are invited to help prepare and serve food, and read scripture, during our beautiful Maundy Thursday dinner and worship. Youth families should have received an email invitation to this service opportunity, and can also contact Pastor Amy ([email protected]) to RSVP or with questions.
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Calling for Easter Egg Candy!
Easter is almost here, which means our beloved Easter Egg Hunt! We have many plastic eggs, but are grateful for nut-free candy or other goodies to put in them. Donation may be left outside Amy's office. Thank you!
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This Year's Easter Offering
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Living the Resurrection through our Easter Offering
One way we might think about Easter and the resurrection is that God refuses to let violence have the last word. In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was to be arrested and the disciple's saw what was coming they asked, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:47-52)
In the gospels Jesus gives us a path to end violence, shows us how important it is to heal the impact of violence and teaches us ways that make for peace and help overcome enmity. Luke tell us that when Jesus came near to Jerusalem he wept over it saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace."
To follow Jesus is to know and live for the things that make for peace and to stop violence wherever we can. This is a moment in our country when we are seeing clearly how infested with violence our society is. An increasing recognition that even our schools are no longer safe places for children is mobilizing our children to march for their lives.
The Mission Committee has designated that the Easter offering go to two different organizations, The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Boston and the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence both seeking to end violence and create ways for peace, though through different means.
The Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
is an umbrella coalition of organizations and institutions across Massachusetts committed to ending the gun violence epidemic that plagues our country. This organization works for legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, supports the implementation of the 2014 gun law passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and advocates for a budget that supports gun violence research and prevention. Hard statistics show that in every state where more restrictive guns laws have been passed the deaths by suicide and murder have decreased significantly.
The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Boston
is a center of healing, teaching, and learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. We know that one of the causes of violence comes from the recycling of trauma and violence that is not healed. The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute works with the victims of murder and violence to heal the wounds through an array of programs and outreach. Through its Pathways to Peace Program and curriculum in many schools of Boston it works to prevent violence by teaching principles of non-violence and guiding youth in ways to deal with conflict non-violently.
We hope you will feel inspired this Easter to live as a resurrection people committed to living a life congruent with the things that make for peace and to say to violence, "No more of this!"
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Potluck
Dinner & Discussion
This Sunday, March 25th, 6:30-8:30 p.m
Join UCW GBIO liaisons Kathleen Hobson and Mark Smith at Kathleen's house on Sunday, March 25th, 6:30-8:30 p.m., for dinner and conversation regarding current GBIO goings-on and the upcoming spring "listening campaign." GBIO undertakes this kind of "inreach" every three years, both to help strengthen individual congregations and to surface potential new issues for collective action. As part of this effort, we've pledged to have five "house meetings," small-group conversations in which eight to ten people share their defining stories and concerns.
Like the one-to-one "relational meetings" we did in the fall, house meetings are an opportunity for self-reflection, for deepening connections with others, and for discerning the needs and hopes of the broader church community. This can only do us good, regardless of whether our particular issues translate into GBIO-level action.
If you'd like to attend the dinner, please RSVP to Kathleen by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday), and she'll send you a potluck sign-up link.
If you can't come but might want to host a house meeting, contact Kathleen or Mark
Kathleen Hobson:
[email protected]
, 617-417-0537
Mark Smith:
[email protected]
, 617-967-4578
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NICA Travelers l
ed worship
on March 11th
To view a video of the service click on image below.
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Omnibus Energy Bill
Union Church, in partnership with Interfaith Power and Light and other climate groups, has worked to educate and inform on the advantages of the Omnibus Energy Bill for achieving a cleaner future. See Kevin Johnson for more details ([email protected]).
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Creating a festive Easter for recently housed folks, who are no longer living in shelters in the streets.
On Easter Saturday, Union Church in Waban will provide an Easter dinner for 35 folks served by our partner Anne Jarvis. A new supported house for people recently living at shelters or living on the streets has opened and residents have few connections or resources. At this Easter time we can cater a special dinner and they will know that they are loved as our neighbors.
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Sun., March. 25
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8:00 a.m.
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Bible Study
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9:00 a.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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10:00 a.m.
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Worship (Palm Sunday)
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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5:00 p.m.
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Capital Campaign Reception
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6:30 p.m.
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GBIO Core Team Mtg.
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Mon., March 26
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7:00 p.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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Wed., March 28
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12:00 p.m.
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Lunch Bunch
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Thurs., March 29
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6:15 p.m.
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Maundy Thurs./Tenebrae Service
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Fri., March 30
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4:00 p.m.
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Good Friday
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Sun., April 1
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6:15 p.m.
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Easter Sunrise Service
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9:00 a.m.
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Choir Rehearsal
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10:00 a.m.
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Worship (Easter Sunday)
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For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,
please
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!
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Posted on March 13, 2018 by Green Newton
On
Monday, March 26 from 12-2 p.m. at the
Massachusetts State House, faith leaders will gather with supporters to bear witness to climate injustice in our state and speak truth to Governor Baker. They will demand that the Governor stop cooperating with fossil fuel interests and stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in Massachusetts. After an interfaith ceremony, participants will march to the Back Bay where a new pipeline project is underway. For more, see the
Facebook event and
RSVP here.
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