The Union Church in Waban   
Friday, February 3, 2017
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This Sunday - 
Bible Discussion at 8:00 a.m.    
Bible discussion will resume this Sunday in Pastor Stacy's study.  .  All are welcome! 

Choir Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.  
Singing the Psalms  at 9:35 a.m.   
Join us to sing Psalms together before worship on Sunday mornings. We gather at 9:35 a.m. in Memorial Chapel (the side chapel off the sanctuary),where we
sing and pray t ogether for ten minutes each week.
  
Whether or not you are able to join us on Sunday mornings, you are invited to join in the practice of singing and reading the Psalms in the comfort of your ow n home. Learn more about this practice, and find
all of this saved on the Union Church website here . 
Worship at 10:00 a.m. 
Here  is a version of "All Night All Day"  that  you may enjoy  and that  may get  you excited  for Sunday
This Sunday we step into the Gospel of Luke (7:12-17),
witness Jesus raising a widow's son from the dead and
explore the generative power that comes through
compassion. 
    
Our choir will sing "All Night, All Day"  a traditional spiritual arranged by Patsy Ford Simms as our offertory anthem.  We will  also gather at the table  that Jesus set with  love and share in Communion.  
 
Bell Choir Practice 11:15 a.m.  

NICA Meeting: 11:30 a.m.
Featured 
Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves
Feb 12
th, after church, on the stage

This Valentine's Day we remember it is God's Love 
for us that allows us to love others.
  • Who are the men and women named on
    our     Mitten Tree?
  • Is there an opportunity to truly support our neighbors who are homeless or at risk?
  • Why doesn't Newton have affordable housing?
  • Why does the Engine 6 advocacy group work towards a more diverse housing stock in Newton?
Next Sunday, Feb. 12th, join our partners in an opportunity   to answer the questions in our heart about our un-housed neighbors.  Joining us for this event are:
  • Josephine McNeil from Citizens for Affordable Housing in Newton Development Organization (CAN-DO)
  • Adam Healson from Ecclesia Ministries
  • Lynn Weissberg from Engine 6 
  • Sister Joyce and Anne Jarvis from Project Care and Concern
In addition to this teach-in that provides a chance to learn, we have asked our partners for information on how we can support their work, a love-in.
 
Child care will be available. If you have any questions contact Nancy Zollers ( [email protected] ) or Beth Sears ([email protected])   
  
 C hildren,Youth, and
Family
Ministries
UCW Kids and Mini-Missions
  
As we shared last week, UCW's Christian Education and teacher teams are excited to share that beginning today through the spring, our Rainbow (k-3rd graders) and Stars (4th and 5th graders) classrooms will be coming together for a new initiative to engage our young ones in simple, tangible service projects in the community.  The children will be leading these "Mini-Mission" projects from start to finish, with the goals of integrating service more fully into the lives of our children, and helping them realize they can make a difference.  Today the kids will be learning about Mini-Missions in the One-Room Sunday School class, and begin thinking about what organizations they would like to support.  Information and a calendar about Mini-Missions is being sent to families, and is available in the Crocker Chapel.  If you would like to learn more, or volunteer to help, please contact Amy at [email protected].  Thank you!

Youth Fancy Dinner on the Town
Friday, Feb. 10 th, at 6:00 p.m. 
 
Right before Valentines' Day, youth are invited to wear their best and go out for dinner at a nice restaurant.  Cost: $20.  Youth families should have received an Evite to this fun evening. Please RSVP by Monday, Feb 6 th .  Please contact Amy at [email protected] for more information, or if you would like to come and did not receive the Evite.

Youth Winter/Spring Calendar
 
Our Youth Ministry Team has an exciting rest of the winter and spring planned for our UCW youth.  An updated calendar-of-events is being sent to all youth families, and is available in the Crocker Chapel.  It will also be available online beginning next week.   

Adult Education, Fellowship, and Spiritual Formation 
February Book Group
BOOK  GROUP will meet on FEB. 28 -- last Tuesday of the month, 
7 - 8:30 p.m. in the reception room.  

We will be discussing   Just Mercy:  A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson.   Suggested by Sandra Dadalt, this book will be congruent with Black History month in February.  Bryan Stevenson is the founder of Equal Justice Initiative that advocates for African American inmates who have been unjustly incarcerated and assigned to death row.  It is a moving memoir , as well as a call for reforms in the  penal system.
 
Stevenson, born to poverty in Delaware, is a graduate of a Christian University and of Columbia, Oxford, and Harvard Law.  He has been featured in Ted Talks  (www.ted.com)  
Wednesday Morning  Bible Study
Wednesday, Feb. 8th, at 10:30 a.m. 
Our next Wednesday morning Bible study will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8th , at 10:30 a.m. We will be following the second course in the three part "Exploring the Bible" series developed by the Massachusetts Bible Society. If you are interested in joining this lively time of learning and fun, please be in touch with  Pastor Stacy ([email protected]).  
Wellspring Women's Group
Wednesday, Feb. 15
th at 6:30 p.m.
WELLSPRING is a gathering of women in our church family and will resume meeting on
February 15 th . For 2017, we will reflect on the topic -- Peace Like a River: Finding Balance in an Edgy World. We will be exploring spiritual practices in dealing with politics, our home lives, the workplace, etc. 
We start with a simple meal at 6:30 p.m., followed by a time of sharing and reflection.  We will be meeting on the third Wednesday of the month through June.  All women are invited.  


 
"Coming to our Senses"        
 A dult, Small Group Retreat
 
 Toah Nipi  Retreat Center                          Rindge NH

     April 28
th - 30th



Spring is the season when our natural world begins to wake up from its winter sleep and make ready for a new season and summer. It is when the frozen earth thaws; bears and their cousins emerge; tree sap flows. It is when many of our birds return home from their far away travels; and when our lakes and streams rebound with oodles of life. With all this stirring - "mixing memory with desire", the woods and fields become filled and pungent with ancient and new smells and sights and sounds and sensations that trigger and feed our own world and imagination.  Let us take up spring's invitation and "Come to our Senses". 
                                                                                                                         continue reading   
Help lay the table during fellowship hour
One of the many ministries of UCW is hosting a fellowship hour after worship on Sunday morning.  This table, laid with love and a simple spread is (as Adam Hearlson said in his mission moment a few weeks ago) very much a communion table.  It not only nourishes our bodies, but it also nourishes the relationships that make us one Body, one with each other and with God. If you would like to share in this ministry and host this time of communion, please go here.
Mission
Mission Matters   "Let us love not in word or deed, but in truth and action" (1 John 3:18)

  "Happy New Year"
  
From Our Partner Church
  
in Nicaragua

 
The children of our partner church in Nicaragua - Alpha and Omega church - have sent us New Year greetings! These lovely cards and letters were sent to our children in response to the Christmas greetings sent from the Union Church children. Please take a look at all the love being sent our way from San Juan del Sur.  The cards are on display by the mission boards located in Crocker chapel. 

  
TheWeekAhead
The Week Ahead
 
 
 
Sun., Feb. 5
9:35 a.m.
Singing the Psalms (details above)
 
10:00 a.m.
Worship
 
11:15 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
11:30 a.m.
NICA Meeting
Mon., Feb. 6
6:00 p.m.
All Church Retreat Planning Team
 
7:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
Tue., Feb. 7
6:00 p.m.
Deacons
   Wed., Feb. 8
7:30 a.m.
Prayer Group
 
9:00 a.m.
Coffee w/Stacy at Starbucks
 
10:30 a.m.
Bible Study Class
   Fri., Feb. 10
6:00 p.m.
Youth Fancy Dinner (details above)
Sun., Feb. 12
8:00 a.m.
Bible Study
 
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
 
9:35 a.m.
Singing the Psalms  (details above)
 
10:00 a.m.
Worship
 
11:15 a.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
11:30 a.m.
Housing and Homeless Forum
 
 
 

For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events, 
please visit our website calendar HERE

Union Church in Waban 
Inclement  Weather Advisory

It is the hope of the Union Church to always have our sanctuary open on Sunday mornings for worship and fellowship.  We also realize that conditions may be such that the safest option for staff and congregants is not to travel.  We ask that all use their best judgment.  As such, in inclement conditions, the church will remain open - however we cannot assure that there will be childcare, Sunday School, professional music or pulpit coverage.  

Every effort will be made to keep walkways and stairs clear, although this cannot be guaranteed.  Congregants will find an open door, a worship service and sanctuary together with others.  

I n the extreme situation in which the church is unable to open, notification will be on the church website ([email protected]), a message will be on the church phone, and media announcements can be found on WBZ-TV.