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Weekly Update
Friday, February 9, 2024
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Transfiguration Sunday
Sunday, February 11, at 10:00 a.m. (Hybrid)
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On Transfiguration Sunday, we stand atop the mountain beside Jesus, where all is illuminated by his presence – even the great turning of Lent that is to come.
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Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155
Passcode: 431699
Dial in: 1 646 558 86560
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The bulletin is available HERE
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Bake Sale
To Support Our
Puerto Rico Partners & Youth Service Trip
This Sunday! - February 11
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We hope all will join in our upcoming fundraiser for our Puerto Rico Mission Trip (happening this June 22-29). This fun morning will bring us together to support our partners in Puerto Rico and the youth who will travel to serve.
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It's just in time for you to get all the delicious goodies you need for the Superbowl and Valentines Day!
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The Bake Sale will take place from 9:00 -11:00 a.m. in Waban Center, and then at UCW from 11:00 a.m. -.12.noon during Reception.
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We would love donations of baked goods, and volunteer helpers of all ages to be part of this great event!
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Come on Sunday, or deliver baked goods and volunteer to help with preparations on Saturday, Feb. 10 (4:00-6:00 p.m.).
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Please click the link below for a sign-up form to let us know if you can help!
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Ash Wednesday Service
February 14 at 7:00 p.m. (In-person)
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We’ll gather at 7:00 p.m. in person in the Memorial Chapel for music and a liturgy of word and ashes this Wednesday. (This will be an in-person service only.)
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Pastor's Blog
Megan - 2/9/2024
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I shared the poem American Landscape: Inheritance by Jennifer Fitzgerald at the start of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization In-District Meeting we hosted last week, and I wanted to share it with you all once again. It is powerful, and well worth the read. I share it today in particular as a way of inviting all of you to mark your calendars for the rally that GBIO is hosting at the ISBCC in Roxbury on March 3 at 3:oo p.m. Or, if you’re ready to commit to registering, you can register now! We’ve committed to GBIO that at least 20 members of UCW will attend.
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After spending part of my day yesterday in the GBIO Clergy Caucus, I am excited and energized for this event. It promises to be powerful, both in how it will allow us to connect with neighbors from many faith communities from all across Greater Boston, and how it will allow us to demonstrate to all of our elected officials in Massachusetts that as people of faith, we believe that everyone deserves a safe and dignified home they can afford. I hope you’ll join me there.
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Loving God, hear the prayers of your people gathered in this community:
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- We pray for Tom Humphrey, recovering from a stroke this week, that he may be surrounded by your Spirit of healing and care.
- For all of the students, educators, families, and more connected to NPS who are readjusting to routines as school resumes this week.
- For all in our UCW community who are ill, or who are caring for loved ones. For all who grieve, God, we ask for the comfort of your presence.
- We pray for peace all throughout the world. Teach us to beat our swords into plowshares, O God, and to sow wisdom and reap peace, justice, and joy for all people.
We pray to you, grateful for your accompaniment with us in all things. Amen.
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Jenny Weisz’s memorial service will be held at UCW on February 24 at 2:00 p.m. It will be good to gather together to grieve and to celebrate Jenny’s life. You may view Jenny's Obituary HERE.
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If you have other prayers of concern or celebration you
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would like lifted up in community, please email
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Music for Lenten Playlist
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One of my favorite parts of worship is actually the offertory. It is when I can close my eyes, let the music wash over me, and internalize and process the sermon and all the prayers that have been lifted up. Music is just so powerful, it can open up your heart in ways that words can not always do.
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Given that our theme for Lent will be "Dwelling in the heart", the Worship Committee would like to try a new thing and put together a Spotify playlist with music, chosen by you all, that speaks to our heart.
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If you have a piece (or two!) of music that speaks to your heart, please send the name, the composer and/or the artist to me ([email protected]). It can be a hymn or gospel, or a piece of classical music, or even pop-music! If you feel like it, also tell me why this piece speaks to you, or maybe your history with that piece. I will then put all that music together in a Spotify playlist and publish that at the beginning of Lent for all of us to listen to whenever we need to hear it.
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I look forward to our shared music experience!
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February Council Meeting
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Council met on Sunday February 4, after worship at church. We debriefed on the Congregational meeting held the week before (January 28). We hope everyone found it as useful a meeting as we did! We are working on a few follow-up items that came from that meeting.
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One of the items related to this congregational meeting is how we process the minutes that our secretary, Jean MacDonald takes. When we only had an annual meeting, we waited with sharing, reviewing, and ultimately approving the minutes until the following year. That doesn’t seem to be a very useful model, and we didn’t really have a good process for handling the minutes of the more frequent meetings we are now having throughout the year. So the council has decided to implement the following process, distinguishing “notes” from “minutes”: The “notes” of each meeting, documenting what we talked about, will be shared within 2-3 weeks of the meeting through the e-blast. Any feedback you have will be reviewed and incorporated by the secretary. There will be no official “vote” at a following congregational meeting to approve these notes. The attendance and each official vote that is taken at each meeting, will be documented as “minutes” in a separate document that will be presented at the Annual meeting for official review and approval. Essentially we want the congregation to be aware of what transpired at each meeting as soon as possible after each meeting. But we believe that the congregation only needs to approve the recording of attendance and of the actual votes of each meeting. By doing this last step at the annual meeting, we nicely wrap up the year.
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So in this e-blast you will already find the notes from our Congregational meeting on May 7, 2023, and October 22, 2023. We hope to share the notes from the Annual meeting on June 6, 2023 and from the Congregational meeting we had on January 28 in the coming weeks.
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Council approved the date of Saturday April 6 for gathering around Service and Leadership at UCW. Together with the Nominating Committee we want to invite everyone to come and talk and learn about all the work that we do, and how we do it, and maybe how we can do it even better. So please hold that in your calendar!
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Council also agreed to establish an "Inreach/Outreach Taskforce" and will be looking for people who might be interested in brainstorming and prioritizing a few efforts that will take place over this year and next on the Inreach/Outreach front. If interested, please email [email protected].
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Lastly, Council discussed Riverside and the next steps to work with them on a new lease.
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All-Church Gatherings & Adult Formation
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Caregiving in the (Multi-Layered) Sandwich
This group will resume again in February
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More and more members of our community find themselves caring for loved-ones across the generations -- caring for aging parents, as well as for children, adult children, grandchildren, and others. All are invited to gather for guided discussion, mutual support, and prayer once a month through the holidays and into Epiphany.
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We met twice in December, and will poll interested members to find dates for February.
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Please let Pastor Amy ([email protected]) know if you are interested.
We will gather in-person in Pastor Amy's Office.
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Dwelling in the Heart of God in Creation
Share Your Lenten Commitment - To Simplify, Connect with Creation, and/or Carbon Diet
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Postponed! Our Kick-Off All-Church Dinner will instead be held mid-Lent - Stay Tuned!
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Lent is for prioritizing and making space the spiritual and downplaying the material. This year, we are inviting the church to consider joining in the rhythms of creation, simplifying, and cutting back on things we do or consume that cause damage to ourselves and creation. Will you commit to driving fewer miles, keeping a lower thermostat, becoming more aware of your Carbon footprint, or (studies show best of all) eating less beef?
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Look for our sign- up for Lenten pledges this Sunday, on Ash Wednesday and with a Special After-Worship Reception on February 18.
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Wellspring Women's Ministry
Wednesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m.(In-Person)
Due to Valentine’s Day, the next well spring gathering will be on Wednesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Little Hayle.
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Wellspring will be starting up again on Wednesday evening September 27 at 6:30 p.m. It will be a potluck gathering at the Union Church, so folks can bring whatever they would like. Newcomers are welcome. If you are interested in learning more about Wellspring, please contact Amy McMahon at [email protected].
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Wellspring is our women's ministry at UCW. We come together to support each other as we journey together in these times.
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Nicaragua News
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From Frank Laski and David Spertner
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On our visit to the ALFA OMEGA Church, we were greeted with much joy and affection by Pastora Cliofa who was pleased to receive Pastor Amy‘s letter and gifts for the children. Our partner Nicaragua Church is thriving. The new classroom additions, supported by the generosity of UCW congregants is complete, well constructed and ready to be furnished. Frank plans to go to church this Sunday to bring our greetings to the entire congregation. The elementary school MARIA AUXILADORA still looks freshly painted with Jenny Spertner’s mural accenting the pride the students have in their rehabilitated school. The lead teacher, Marta, and all the children greeted us with enthusiasm and surrounded David with smiles, laughter and hellos in English. The new water tank installed with the support of the UNION CHURCH is secure and clean. Water is flowing to the school!!
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In the truck for the mobile library, loaded with bins of books, we drove out to three schools in the surrounding barrios, including our favorite community of OJACHAL. All the students now have library cards of their own, and carefully chose their books, many reading them on the spot. David reading and teaching in Spanish. was the highlight for some of the kids. The mobile library is a treasure. We are fortunate to be able to support its work.
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David and I also did some prospecting for new partners and potential projects in 2025, including some possibilities for micro financing with Mi Credito and Sustainable agriculture with Katie Brugger and the international day school in Las Nubes.
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February is Black History Month!
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If during this month you'd like to learn about the history of racial injustice in our country and movements for justice that have emerged in every generation, ARJ recommends the Equal Justice Institute as a racial justice resource. Check out one of their articles about their ongoing work for justice on their website HERE .
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If you would like to learn more about Advocates for Racial Justice activities at the
Union Church, please reach out to Nancy Zollers ([email protected])
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Intergenerational Community
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Youth Group and Exploring Our Faith
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Thank you to everyone who helped make CityReach a Success!
Coming up: Sunday, Feb 18
We're so grateful to everyone who helped make our weekend with our unhoused siblings in Boston such a success. We hope to share more about the weekend in worship on February 18.
Upcoming High School Youth Group (EOF) Visits:
The Islamic Center in Wayland Following Worship
Sunday, March 3
Pastor Amy will send more information soon, but please save the date and plan to attend. Teens and adults are welcome.
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Dinner Church with the Agape Spiritual Community
Sunday, April 7
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On this day we will join our friends for Dinner and worship, which will include a very special baptism.
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UCW Volunteer Opportunities
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
Thank you to Judy Nagle for providing the reception this Sunday.
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We are still looking for hosts for this Sunday, February 25 and the rest of 2024.
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Sign up below to support one of the most impactful ways we build connections and community with each other after worship.
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(Simple guidelines listed here also.)
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
If you are joining our Sunday worship, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services.
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Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE Thank you!
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Pastoral Care Connections
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz, or Associate Pastor for Youth & Families, Rev. Amy Clark Feldman for prayer or pastoral support.
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and her phone is 617-965-3893
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Friday is a day of Sabbath for Pastor Megan; Monday is Pastor Amy's day of Sabbath. With a pastoral emergency, please don't hesitate to reach out to either pastor.
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We, the members of The Union Church in Waban, true to our founding principle of being an inclusive church, covenant together to nourish and to sustain in our common life and practice a fully welcoming and affirming church for all persons. Welcoming all persons who seek to join with us in a commitment to love God and our neighbors, affirming the inclusive love of Jesus, we are open to all, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nationality, ability or economic circumstance. We invite all to full participation in our worship, membership, leadership and life of this church.
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