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The Union Church in Waban
Friday, November 17, 2017
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Would you like to contribute to our Advent devotional booklet this year?
The booklet is organized around the four weeks of Advent and their themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Would you like to contribute a poem, reflection, story, picture or artistic rendering to help us more fully enter into this season? If so, please be in touch with
Pastor Stacy. Deadline for submission of contributions is
Sunday November 26th.
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8:00 a.m.
Bible Discussion
in Stacy's Study. We are reading through the Gospel of John, traveling together and with the disciples of so long ago as we listen, wonder and try to understand Jesus' word for us today.
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Worship - Thanksgiving Sunday
Our annual Thanksgiving Collection this Sunday will go towards to Ecclesia Ministries. Read more HERE
11:00 a.m.
Congregatioanl Meeting (see
below)
(I
mmediately follow in service in the Sanctuary.)
11:30 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
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 Congregational Meeting
After worship This Sunday November 19th
This Sunday, November 19th, immediately following the service we will be holding a congregational meeting to vote on whether to move forward with the recommendation that came out of the feasibility study
to move into a capital campaign with the goal of raising $650,000 and to retain our consultants through the duration of the campaign.
Please see here for an overview of the summary of the needs and dreams that are being considered as part of the scope of this campaign. If the congregation votes to proceed with the campaign, teams focusing on the different dimensions of the areas to be addressed will be formed and will work together to manage the specific projects and costs under each area.
This is a very exciting threshold in our life together as UCW, so please plan on attending worship this Sunday and staying for the congregational meeting and vote.
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Community Thanksgiving
Dinner 2017
Tomorrow!
S
aturday, November 18
th
, at 2:00 p.m.
We are looking forward to hosting another terrific Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, November 18th at 2:00 p.m. in the vestry. Union Church members gather and serve a delicious Thanksgiving meal to local folks who might not otherwise get to enjoy a holiday meal. We organize cookie decorating and other activities for the kids. We sit down, socialize, and eat with our guests once they have been served. It is a warm and wonderful event, and there are lots of ways you can pitch in. If you know of anyone who might enjoy the dinner, please invite him or her.
There are no set criteria - if someone could use a good meal and friendly conversation, then invite him or her! Invitations are available in the side chapel.
If you would like to volunteer to help, please sign-up HERE. It is not too late. Sign up or just come. This outreach is a very visible sign of who we are and hope to be. A place of love, abundance and welcome.
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Children, Youth & Families
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Today: 4
th Grade Bibles and Christmas Pageant Planning
During worship today, we give thanks in a special way for our 4th graders, as the church community presents them with their own Bibles. During Sunday School, we'll look ahead to our Christmas Pageant, and begin assigning roles and sorting through costumes and props. The Pageant will be held on December 10th this year, so please mark your calendars! If your child or youth would like to participate, but isn't here today, please let Pastor Amy know and we'll make sure they are included.
SAVE THE DATE: Intergenerational Advent Wreath-Making, December 3
rd
Following our Hanging of the Greens worship service on the first day of Advent, December 3rd, each household will be invited to make an Advent wreath for their home. The hope is to welcome our families of all shapes, sizes and ages to share in the peace of Advent with this simple home practice - a weekly moment of breath and light in the busyness of the season. We'll provide beautiful candles, wire frames, greens and ribbons. You come share in the creativity, love and joy.
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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
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T
hanksgiving Special Collection
Community, Warmth and Abundant Food
This is what we are grateful for always, and especially at Thanksgiving.
Our Thanksgiving Special Collection can provide that for many people unhoused and many people who are alone. Our partners at Ecclesia Ministries provide warm soup and community at Boston Warm, with the numbers exceeding 80 people some days.
Please give using the special envelopes in the pews or write "Thanksgiving Collection" on the memo portion of your checks.
Thank you.
Warmth, Community, Abundant Food
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Hurricane Appeal Update: A Note from the Team on the Ground
The team cleaning and sanitizing wells contaminated by Hurricane Nate write; "As I hope you know, we are all very thankful to you and your congregation for your tremendous support.
Many of the communities here are now stabilized, in that every community has at least some clean wells where neighbors can access water. However, there are still wells to clean, and we will continue to put the pump to good use. We will keep you updated on our progress."
Thank you to the individual Union Church donors and their generosity!
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THE UNION CHURCH IN WABAN
CHRISTMAS TREE AND GREENS SALE
On December 3rd, 2017, we will welcome the Advent season by decorating the sanctuary with greens, wreaths and poinsettias.
The joy of the season continues as we decorate our homes in anticipation of joyous celebrations with families and friends.
The Union Church's Christmas Greens Sale will once again support mission outreach efforts; such as, the Russell School Initiative,
1K Church offering loans to community businesses, the Common Cathedral lunch for the homeless, Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and more.
Please help us continue our good works by purchasing poinsettias for the sanctuary or trees and greens to decorate your home! Do not forget to offer an order form to family, friends, coworkers and neighbors to help 2016 be our most successful sale yet!
ORDERS AND PAYMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY
Sunday November 26TH
Download an Order Form
HERE
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UCW and GBIO
Relational Meetings
.
Last Sunday nearly two dozen UCW members participated in the kickoff of our "relational meeting" campaign. Relational meetings are a GBIO practice that invites us to deepen our knowledge of each other, and strengthen our church community, through face-to-face, one-to-one conversations that get at our passions and root stories.
The campaign continues on Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, immediately after church in the vestry. You can sign up for one or both sessions here, or write your name on an index card and put it in the large envelope on the GBIO bulletin board in Crocker Chapel. Or you can just show up! All are welcome, including children and youth. See Kathleen Hobson (617-417-0537) or Mar
k Smith
(617-967-4578) for more information.
Criminal Justice Reform
.
As GBIO members, we work with other Boston-area congregations toward important broad-
based goals like criminal justice reform. On Monday, UCW members
were part of a 200-person GBIO action at the State House in support of legislation that would make the MA
criminal justice system more just by 1) repealing mandatory minimum drug sentences, 2) reducing solitary confinement, and 3) eliminating excessive fees and fines for low-income people. For coverage of the event, go
here
. If you have any questions, please contact
Nancy Zollers
,
Frank Laski
,
Soo Laski
, or
Brita Gill-Austern
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Out of Many, One.
You're cordially invited to a teach-in with the Boston Muslim community, on Thurs., Dec. 14, 7-9pm, 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
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Our 1K Loan Program recipient
also has a mission of her own.
You will find the collection box in Crocker Chapel.
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Fellowship and Faith Formation
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Nov. 28
th (last Tuesday of the month), at 7:00 p.m
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in the reception room
The book for November's multicultural theme is Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, a current portrayal of immigration in America by a writer from Cameroon, West Africa. She juxtaposes the lives of a newly-arrived young family struggling to find a life in a new country with a wealthy family they work for, representing the 1% of American wealth and privilege. It is a poignant, lively narrative touching on the themes of immigration, family, marriage, class, race and the trapdoors in the American Dream.
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REST, PRAY, HEAL AND FIND SOME PEACE
Open prayer space in Memorial Chapel.
Our lovely Memorial Chapel (to the right of the sanctuary when facing the altar) has been transformed into an open prayer space. We have heard from many of you that you would welcome a quiet place to pray either before or after the service and as such have created a warm and welcome space. Light a prayer candle, sit in silence, share your joys or concerns quietly with a friend.
Beginning this Sunday, Jay O'Beirne will be available in the chapel before the service for those who would like someone to pray with them or for them. As letter from James in the New Testament instructs "
Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord" (
James 5:14 (NRSV)), Jay will be happy to be present to anyone who would like.
Please note that the prayer book that in the past has resided at the back of the sanctuary has been moved to Memorial Chapel. You are invited to enter that quiet space before the service to write down in the book any prayers that you would like lifted up during our time of prayer in the worship service.
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Sun., Nov. 19
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8:00 a.m.
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Sunday Morning 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
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11:00 a.m.
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Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)
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11:30 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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Mon.,
Nov. 20
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7:30 a.m.
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Living Waters-A Time of Quiet and Prayer
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Wed.,
Nov. 22
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No Open Coffee with Stacy this week
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Thur.,
Nov. 23
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Thanksgiving Church Office Closed
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Sun., Nov. 26
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8:00 a.m.
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Sunday Morning 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
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11:15 a.m.
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Bell Choir Rehearsal
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11:30 a.m.
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GBIO 1:1 Campaign continues
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For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events,
please
Thanksgiving Week Copy Deadline
:
Due to the Thursday holiday, material for this week's Friday e-Blast newsletter and Sunday
Announcements insert
should be e-mailed to the office at
[email protected]
, by 9:00 a.m. this Tuesday.
Please specify whether for e-Blast, Sunday Announcements or both. Thank you
!
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TURKEY TROT
tomorrow! Saturday November 18, at 8:30/9:00.
Sign-up now for the annual Newton Turkey Trot 5 K (or 1 mile kids fun run) to be run on Saturday November 18th at 8:30/9:00. Starting and ending at the new Zervas Elementary School, the course is lovely and all proceeds benefit the Newton food pantry. Sign up at: http://www.newtonturkeytrot.com
If you don't want to run but would like to volunteer to help race day, just email Kyle Pond at [email protected]. See you out there!
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