The Union Church in Waban   
Friday, May 5, 2017
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This Sunday - 
Bible Discussion  at 8:00 a.m. 

Choir Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.  
Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Nica Trip Informational Meeting 11 :30 a.m. 

Hello Everyone!
Aden and I would like to reach out to you all to ask you to please come to the Nicaragua Information Meeting after Church this Sunday (5/7/17) at 11:30. We will be discussing different topics about the trip such as traveller's expectations before, during, and after the trip, the fun different activities available on the trip, accommodations, flight information, dates of travel, and more!



We would love to see all of you there, even if you do not know if you can make the trip, you can still learn more about our experience traveling down to the lovely small town of San Juan Del Sur and the work we do while there. 

If you cannot make it, please reach out to David Spertner for information. [email protected] or  617 549 1200 

Thank you,
Cate Brown and Aden O'Beirne 
(Nica trip youth leader and assistant youth leader)
Featured
"Coming to Our Senses"  -- small group retreat


Last weekend, nine of us traveled to Toah Nipi Retreat Center in Rindge, NH for a small group retreat.  Using the natural world as our "text" we engaged the practice of
Lectio Divina, (sacred reading) through our each of our five senses.    We took time to stop and listen, touch, taste, smell and see the world around us in ways that opened our hearts to a deep peace and sense of belonging.  

Throughout the weekend, as an expression of the balance, integration and m ovement we were experiencing, we created an art installation -- a mobile.    Birch bark, br
anches, acorns, stones, pine cones, leaves,
 cattails -- just to name a few of the materials we fo und -- became the mobile that floated and danced above us on our final morning as we ga thered in the gazebo
 for worship.  


Worship
"A Song for Our Mothers"
On Sunday morning May 14th , we will celebrate and honor the mothers in our lives, past and present. Our Bell Choir will ring for our new Call to Worship, "Rejoice, Rejoice, Come Sing with Me".
 
The men of the congregation are invited to sing on that morning. We will offer a beautiful Appalachian folk hymn, "I See the Morning Breakin'" as well as other songs which celebrate our mothers. No musical experience or reading skills are needed. These are very melodious pieces which are easily learned.
 
The rehearsal for this service will be at 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the service. Please come and join us--this will be an enjoyable time of joining our voices together in love, thanks, and praise.
 
William Merrill
Music director

Hymnsing!  
Sunday Morning, May 28th at 10:00 a.m. during worship

"Be filledwith the Spirit, singing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music to God with your hearts always!"  Ephesians 5:18b-19.
 
God calls us to lift our voices in song, and our worship time is the voice of the whole church. You are invited to submit your favorite hymns and spiritual songs for us to sing together in worship the last Sunday of this month. Share your favorites, whether or not they come from the hymnal we use. The staff will weave together the requests into our worship service on Sunday, May 28th.

Please jot down your favorites and drop them in the offering plate or in the box in Crocker Chapel. You can also submit them online at UCW.org !

MissionMatters
Russell School Community/Health Day  
 
Pictured at right, Frank Laski checks sizes for the dozens of UCW donated cleats andsports equipment for Russell Elementary Community Day. Above, Beth Sears and Soo Laski distributed over 500 books from our congregation with help from our Russell School partners, RL Reynolds (Teacher), and Dassan Harrington (Parent President); and the gardens that Wanda Getchell helped prepare last year were already showing signs of new life this spring, and will yield vegetables and herbs again for Russell families this year.  



A Peak Experience!
Food, Fellowship, Love and Fun at Haley House


On Thursday evening April 27 th , eight UCW folks enjoyed a delicious meal and warm fellowship at the Haley House Bakery CafĂ© in Dudley Square.  Unexpectedly, our souls were stirred, along with our love of life. Our commitment to social justice was affirmed by the spoken word, poetry and songs of middle schoolers and high schoolers from the community who performed in the "Lyricist Lounge". 

UCW has been getting to know Haley House for a couple of years, connected to the UCW's many efforts to oppose hunger -- and create food access -- for people living in poverty, in Newton, Greater Boston, the United States, and the world.

Founded through the Catholic Worker movement, the Haley House motto is: "We believe in food with purpose and the power of community."  With a soup kitchen and affordable housing in Boston's South End, and two locally-sourced food venues in Dudley Square that promote personal and community healing and reparation - and the joy of all people coming together to create good in the world - the Haley House is a terrific place to feel the love of God and the joy of companionship.
 
The "Lyricist Lounge" happens on the fourth Thursday of each month beginning at  7:00 p.m. Please plan to join us on our next engagement with Haley House!

COOKOUT! YOU ARE INVITED!
graphic-bbq-dad.jpg
Sunday, May 21st, 1:00 p.m.,
538 Talbot Ave., Dor
chester

Enjoy a cookout lunch with our neighbors whose names are always on our Mitten Tree at Christmas! Carpool together after church, or meet us there. Meet the folks who want to meet us, as they receive only one gift at Christmas - our Union Church mitten tree gifts! Stay for a yummy cookout, optional. We will be inside in case of rain.

Bring nothing, but your family - 
RSVP to Beth Sears or Nancy Zollers, please.

Bread for the World Prayer Cards
 
For our current focus on Bread for the World and its ministry to eradicate hunger and poverty in America and abroad, prayer cards will be in the Sunday bulletin for us to use.  Aside from hunger awareness, prayer energizes our advocacy for the poor.  
Next Sunday, May 14th, there will be sample letters for the congregation to sign, urging our legislators for bipartisan support of nutrition programs, particularly for women and children.

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) News

RSVP:   Mark Smith ( Mark Smith  )  or 
                      Kathleen Hopson ( Kathleen Hobson )
   
    
 C hildren,Youth, and
Family
Ministries
 
UCW Kids and Mini-Missions - Upcoming Service Events 

Many thanks to all those who have donated to and supported our kids and their Mini-Missions projects, supporting the Newton Food Pantry, MSPCA, and Birthday Wishes!  During Sunday School this Sunday, the kids will inventory the donations each group has received and prepare to deliver them to their service organizations.  The Mini-Missions teams have been busy planning these service trips and they are scheduled as follows.  If you or your child would like to attend one of these service visits, please speak with Jill Coull or Amy ( [email protected] ):   
  • MSPCAMay 21st at 12:30 p.m. (departing UCW at 11:45 a.m.).  The kids will deliver their donations and have a tour of the MSPCA facilities.
  • Newton Food Pantry:  May 21st at 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (departing UCW at 11:15 a.m.)  The kids will deliver the donations, learn about the pantry and help stock shelves.
  • Birthday Wishes:  Time TBD (3:30 p.m. on either May 17 or 18).  
Also, if you would like to donate to Mini-Missions, but were not able to do so before today, please know that we can accept donations up until the date of our service trips.  With any questions, please contact Amy ([email protected]). Thank you! 
 
SAVE THE DATE - Children's Sunday and All-Church Picnic! - June 11
th
Please save the date for this special child & youth-led Sunday worship, followed by our church picnic.   Kids will begin planning their worship service in the coming weeks, and we look forward to being in touch soon with details!  
 


WISH LIST

GO HERE

Only a Few Days Left to 
Make a Donation

Donation Boxes are in
the Crocker Chapel  

THANK YOU!  

Developed by the Christian Education and Teacher Teams, Mini-Missions is an initiative to involve our children in simple, tangible service projects that encourage them to see service as an integral part of their faith and lives. The kids have placed their Collection boxes, as well as wish-lists, for the three organizations - MSPCA, Newton Food Pantry and Birthday Wishes -in the Crocker Chapel and we are grateful for your donations!  This Sunday, May 7th, the kids will be taking an inventory of their collection.  If you are able, please bring your donations by next week so they can be counted.  The wish-lists can also be found under the Youth & Children tab of www.ucw.org.  With questions, please contact Amy ([email protected]). Thank you!   

Church Matters
  GROWING TOGETHER
  2017/2018 Stewardship Campaign
 

During our stewardship Season we remember that Church in not so much something we partake of, but instead it is something we participate in.  The church is all of us contributing our time, talents and treasures and creating a thriving community of faith where all can grow together. 

We hope you too will take a moment reflect on what the church means to you and to consider making a pledge. 

Pledge cards will be available on Sunday.  If you   have any questions,  please do not hesitate to reach out to Grant Gund, chair of our
Stewardship Team. 



Directory is ready!

Stop by the table in Crocker Chapel this Sunday 
to pick up a hard copy of the church directory.  

If you would like a PDF of the directory sent to you, please be in touch with Office Manager, Aidan Cunningham.   


TheWeekAhead
The Week Ahead
 
 
 
Sun.,  May 7
11:15 p.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
11:30 p.m.
Nica Trip Information Meeting
Mon., May 8
10:30 a.m.
Exploring the Bible
  Wed.,  May 10
7:30 a.m.
Prayer Group
 
9:00 a.m.
Coffee w/Stacy today
 
6:30 p.m.
Wellspring Women's Group
Sat.,  May 13
9:00 a.m.
Worship Team Retreat
Sun.,  May 14
8:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Bible Study
 
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
 
10:00 a.m.
Worship
 
11:15 p.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal
 
 
 
For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events, 
please visit our website calendar HERE

Save The Dates
 
Thursday, May 18
GBIO Action Event
Sunday, May 21
Cook-out with Project Care and Concern
Friday, June 9
Russell Field Day
Sunday, June 25
Common Cathedral
 

FROM THE WIDER COMMUNITY
May 11, 2017