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Weekly Update
Friday, April 26, 2024
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This Sunday
April 28 at 10:00 a.m.
Easter V (Hybrid)
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This Sunday, we learn from the disciples as they gather, pray, organize, and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Megan is away; Pastor Amy is preaching.
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Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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The bulletin is available HERE
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NOTE: Next Sunday, May 5th
3:00 p.m. Service of Installation: We hope all will join us at 3:00 p.m. for the Installation of Rev. Megan as our Senior Pastor (see invitation with details below).
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10:00 a.m. Pancake Church: Next week's 10:00 a.m. service will a special Pancake Church (in-person only)! We will gather for breakfast, song, scripture, prayer, and fun downstairs in the Vestry.
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“How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a sibling in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
1 John 3:17-18
This week, I am on a professional development trip to Chicago, studying congregation vitality and spending time with other pastors from throughout the country. We are learning from non-traditional church settings, but the lessons these settings teach are ones that all communities can benefit from: how vital congregations remain focused on their “why,” rooted deeply in their shared faith. This is what it is to love in truth and action, acting out our call from God, grounded in the truth that scripture, tradition, experience, and wisdom teach us. As I learn more, I look forward to bringing it back to our practices of being church, continuing our vital life together in Christ.
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Sharing from the Heart
2024 - 25 Pledge Drive
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Stewardship season has begun, with our annual pledge drive sharing a theme with Eastertide worship: "Sharing from the Heart." When we share from our hearts, freely, the gifts with which we have been blessed become the foundation for life-giving ministry. Pledging allows this church to boldly claim our covenant and plan for our service within this congregation and out into the world in inclusive, mission-minded, and intergenerational activities.
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We ask you to SUBMIT your PLEDGE HERE
or
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by filling out a pledge FORM This Sunday
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community,
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- We pray for all of our high school seniors as they begin the long season of celebration and discern what comes next for them. We pray for all of our youth and families as they balance the many aspects of school, activities, family life, and spiritual connection.
- We pray for Gerry Elion as she continues to heal from a fall and resulting hip replacement surgery. May Gerry be surrounded by your love and all of ours as she regains her strength.
- 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 for your people all throughout the world. Teach us to beat our swords into plowshares, O God, and to sow wisdom and reap peace, justice, and joy.
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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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Save The Date! May 5 at 3:00 P.M.
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The Union Church in Waban will install Pastor Megan as our settled Senior Pastor at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 5. This is an opportunity for our church to host others from our partner denominations and to celebrate the covenant of ministry among the members of this congregation, Pastor Megan, and the wider Church. Since the installation service is taking place in the afternoon, we’ll have a special Pancake Breakfast Communion service in the Vestry at our usual 10:00 a.m. worship time. Stay tuned for more information!
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All-Church Gatherings & Adult Formation
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April Book Group
Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. (Zoom)
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Please join us in April for our next book group. Our book will be "Rough Sleepers" by Tracy Kidder.
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The April zoom link will be posted as the date approaches. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alan Cody ([email protected]).
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Caregiving in the (Multi-Layered) Sandwich
Next gathering, May 5 from 11:30-12:30 p.m.
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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.
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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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Committee News - Big Announcement!
A Friend is Moving to Boston
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Yarisleidy Cortez Mayorquin
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As part of sharing God’s love and light in the ministry of Nicaragua, the Union Church sponsored its first student to attend college more than a decade ago from the small fishing town on the pacific coast of Nicaragua known as San Juan Del Sur. This woman named Yarisleidy Cortez Mayorquin graduated with a business degree in 2013. As part of the sponsorship program through our local partner the Brugger Foundation, the students participate in community service and give back to local communities. Yarisleidy thrived in this environment and after graduation worked for the non-profit Communidad Connect where she worked her way up to director of community development.
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Over the past decade, Yarisleidy has continued connecting with us as a Church and built relationships with many of the youth and adults who have had the good fortune to travel to Nicaragua. She would often volunteer with us while we were in country and also help us in any way to navigate through our cross cultural service work.
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For many years, Yarisleidy had wanted to come to the United States and learn and experience our culture but she was not approved several different times over the years but now I am excited to announce with great joy that she was approved for a two year work visa and will be living in Newton.
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Yarisleidy Arrives on May 15!
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I anticipate a very warm welcome for Yarisleidy who will join us for her first Church service on Pentacost May 19. For those of you who know her personally it will be a great reunion and for those who do not yet know her, I know you will enjoy getting to know her over the next few months and years !!
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Intergenerational Community
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Children, Youth and Families
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Puerto Rico Mission Trip Orientation #1
This Sunday! April 28 - 4:45-7 p.m. at the home of David Spertner
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Exploring Our Faith and Travelers
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We'll come together at the home of David Spertner, and meet with the organizers of our June 22-29 service trip to Puerto Rico. Travelers are required to attend this orientation. If you are not able to come in-person, please plan to attend on Zoom. All HSers and travelers will receive details by email. If you don't receive David's address (and/or the zoom link for those not near Newton), please contact Pastor Amy.
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Save the Dates!
Lock-in with Joint Youth Groups
Friday, May 10; 7-11 p.m. (Overnight optional)
Exploring Our Faith and High Schoolers
Save the Date for a fun evening with our friends at United Parish Auburndale! We'll have dinner, play sardines and other games around the church, have time for some art and other fun, and finish with ice cream!
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Exploring Our Faith Final Retreat, May 19
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EOF students are expected to attend this important retreat as we draw near to our final Confirmation/Baptism Sunday on June 2. Please save the date and stay tuned.
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NEW CALENDAR
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We have an exciting final calendar for March-July. Please click below to see all that is coming up and plan to join us!
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Junior Youth Group
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The Children’s Ministry Team, with the help of some older youth, lead a schedule of meaningful fun, relationship-building, Christian education, and service-learning events. The calendar is below:
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- April 28 (Sunday, 11:30-12:30 p.m.) - After Church Lunch
- May 10 (Friday, 5:30-7:00 p.m.) - Dinner and Fun Night (with final prep for Pentecost)
- May 19 (Sunday -Pentecost) - 10:00 a.m. Worship, Receiving Bibles and Celebration Lunch!
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UCW Volunteer Opportunities
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
Thank you to Rita Hogan & Family for providing the reception this Sunday.
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We still need hosts for Sunday, May 26 and June 30 if you are available.
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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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PLEASE NOTE: Pastor Megan is traveling this weekend. If you have an emergency, please reach out to Pastor Amy.
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Most weeks, 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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