 |
The Union Church in Waban
Friday, July 20, 2018
|
THIS SUNDAY. Our Summer Worship continues at 5:00 p.m.
These are more informal worship services in Memorial Chapel (just off the sanctuary) where we invite you to come just as you are, whether that be straight from the beach or from the garden. Worship will be followed by some light refreshments. If you are interested in helping to lead service, sharing a reflection or playing some music for a service, please be in touch with
Pastor Stacy
.
Sunday Morning, 10:00 a.m. Worship
will resume on
September 9, for our Gathering Sunday Service
|
|
WABAN HEALTH WORSHIP -
THURSDAY, 10:30 a.m.
You are invited to join with Pastor Amy and others from the Union Church as we gather for our monthly worship service with the residents of the Waban Health Center on Thursday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m.
This service is not something that we do "for them." There is no "them." There is only us! Please consider coming to this upcoming service to meet the Waban Health congregation and to share in a Spirit filled time together. If you are able to come, please be in touch with
Pastor Amy.
|
|
AUGUST WORSHIP
A chance to visit other churches
During the month of August, we do not hold worship services at The Union Church. (Worship resumes on Sunday morning, September 9th at 10:00 a.m.).
Instead, we encourage you to visit other area churches to experience different worship style and content. Bring back and share with Pastor Amy and Pastor Stacy what you really loved so that we at UCW may be enriched by your experience.
If you are looking for somewhere to worship in August you may want to stop by
Eliot Church (UCC) in Newton Corner. Their worship service starts at 10:00. Or
First Baptist Church in Needham whose service also begins at 10:00.
|
|
Note: Pastor Stacy will be on retreat with limited cell access between Monday July 23 and Friday July 27. If you have an urgent pastoral need or pressing church business during that time, please be in touch with Pastor Amy at 617-938-8112.
|
Save the Date -- All Church Retreat
|
When:
Friday evening, Nov. 9 - Sunday noon, Nov. 11.
Where
: Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center
660 Great Pond Rd, North Andover, MA 01845
Why: The all church retreat gives us the opportunity to affirm the
belonging and blessedness of all of our gathered community, to deepen the connections that create a community of cooperation and care and helps us to remember our purpose as a faith community and as individuals.
What: Circle the weekend on your calendar and mark if off for our time together! Registration materials and more information will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.
Questions: Please reach out to members of the planning team: Bart Kelso, Nancy Zollers, Soo Laski, Kent Wittler, Diane Tillotson, Tom Vawter, Amy Clark Feldman and Stacy Swain. If you are interested in joining in the planning, please reach out to
Stacy.
|
Have you ever wondered ...
|
why we include the "Words of Welcome" in our
Sunday worship liturgy?
It is not uncommon for churches to begin the worship service with some kind of statement of welcome. Hospitality, welcoming the friend and the stranger is very much a part of what it is to be a faith community. Creating a welcoming space in a world that seems to be gravitating more and more towards fear and alienation, is at the heart of what church is to be all about, I believe.
But the words of welcome here at the Union Church are not just a statement about the practice of hospitality. The words of welcome carry an echo of something much deeper and speak to a key aspect of our foundational identity.
Back in 1904, a small group of Waban residents began worshiping above what is now Starbucks. They wanted to be part of a worshiping community that did not define itself by denominational allegiance but rather by a commitment to being a place of welcome for all. This is what they saw Jesus doing and wanted to commit themselves to do the same.
This was pretty remarkable in a time when, as the story goes, denominational allegiance was pretty fierce with a fair amount of territorialism across, not only interfaith lines, but ecumenical ones as well.
The founders of what would go on to become the Union Church in Waban envisioned something different.
Here is how Rev. Charles, H. Cutler (the first settled minister of the Union Church in Waban) described this welcoming impulse in a sermon entitled "The Inclusive Church" that he delivered on Sunday morning, November the first 1925.
"Gathered in this household of faith from a great variety of denominational traditions and associations, for some of us were Baptists, or Presbyterians, Methodists, Unitarians, or Congregationalists, though for the most part we forget it and you all look alike to me - our family life has been all the richer and more interesting. We know perfectly well that there are lots of matters of opinion and belief concerning which no majority of us would be agreed at all - but what of it? And so, for one thing, we have been standing for tolerance in religious opinion - a tolerance which comes not from mere indifference but which maintains "in non-essentials, liberty; in essentials, unity; in all things charity."
Perhaps we may say that the Idea of the Union Church in Waban is the principle of an Inclusive Church based upon the simplest terms of Christian discipleship.
The inclusive church makes discipleship to Jesus central and fundamental and welcomes, yes, claims, everybody who wants to "keep fellowship with Jesus and to learn how to life."
Now -- here we are, in 2018 close to 100 years later standing up every Sunday morning affirming this core aspect of our foundational identity in our words of welcome. We are an inclusive faith community because we believe that church should not just be a place of hospitality, but that it should be a place of belonging. Here at the Union Church in Waban we affirm that
everyone who gathers matters. Here people belong. It is my sincerest hope and prayer, that everyone who comes through the doors of this church feel held, treasured and loved.
So next time you hear these the Words of Welcome or speak them yourself, remember this deep and rich history of inclusion that is ours. I find Rev. Cutler's words of so long ago incredibly timely still and feel deeply grateful to be a part of welcoming community that continues to stand not just for tolerance I would say but for the treasuring of all God's children.
So Welcome, Welcome to the Union Church! We are an inclusive faith community that welcomes you .....
Pastor Stacy
"Have you ever wondered...?"
will be a weekly column this summer where we will provide short answers to questions you may have about why we do what we do in worship.
|
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization at UCW
|
GBIO Delegates Assembly-House Meeting Wrap-Up,
Did you participate in a UCW house meeting, or wish you could have? Want to help decide which new issues GBIO takes on? You're cordially invited to the GBIO Delegates Assembly on Monday, July 30. Please contact
Mark Smith
or
Jaap van Reijendam
, if you'd like to attend.
|
|
Members Online Directory
We have added a Members Online Directory feature to our website homepage.
The link below (also available at
ucw.org ) will prompt you to create a UCW member account that allows you to:
- View an online directory of UCW church members
- Edit your personal and family member profiles, including contact information and photos.
- Review, (but not change) your pledging and donations history.
You will be asked to enter your name and email address. If we can find a matching member profile, we'll send you an invite by email allowing you to create your personal account and password.
Try our new Online Directory
HERE
or by clicking on the image below!
|
|
2018-2019 Stewardship Campaign
|
|
|
 |
|
Click above to submit an online Pledge Form
|
|
I
f you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to reach out to
Grant Gund
,
co-chair of
our Stewardship Team.
(You can also access the online
|
A Walk in the Woods - be nourished by nature
Where:
The Arnold Arboretum
When:
Sunday, July 29 at 1:00
This is a free, public tour lead by our beloved
Bart Kelso. The walk will be 1.5 hours full of beauty. Wear some good walking shoes. Meet at the visitors center at the main gate of the arboretum. If you have questions, please reach out to
Bart.
|
|
Join the Eliot Church
at three summer barbecue
picnics, for homeless families!
Where:
474 Centre St.,
Newton Corner
When:
July 15,
August 5
and August 26
Bring nothing, but a willingness to engage with our homeless neighbors
Come at noon, if you want to help set up.
Or stop by for burgers, corn and slaw and conversation from 1-3 p.m.
|
For a complete listing, and details of all upcoming events, please
Note
: Material for inclusion in the Friday e-Blast newsletter should be e-mailed to the office at
ucw@ucw.org
, by 9:00 a.m. on the previous Wednesday morning.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
