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Weekly Update
Friday, June 14, 2024
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This Sunday - Mission Sunday and Father's Day
June 16 at 10:00 a.m.
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
(Hybrid)
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This Sunday we will celebrate all the ways UCW lives out our call to be a Mission-Minded Church. We will hear from our mission teams, bless our travelers to Puerto Rico, and mark World Refugee Day. We will also celebrate and remember all of those who have been as fathers to us.
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Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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FATHER'S DAY AND MISSION TEAM RECEPTION THIS SUNDAY
Women of the church are invited to bring reception goodies this Sunday to celebrate the Dads and Grandads we love. The Mission team is also contributing to reception. We offer goodies to celebrate all of the Union Church support for mission actions this year!
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Click on the Image above to see our Puerto Rico Orientation Presentation with videos and photos about our upcoming service trip.
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Each week, during the words of welcome in our worship service, we remember that we are a Mission-Minded church; that our life as a church is not confined to the four walls of our sanctuary, but that we are called to "Love Kindness, Do Justice, and Walk Humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8) out in the world, particularly in the broken places. This Sunday, we celebrate and learn about the many ways we live into that call as a church.
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I would particularly like to lift up and ask your prayers for the 20 members of our congregation who will be traveling to Puerto Rico from June 22-29 to build relationships and serve with the people of Vega Baja. We will be partnered with the American Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico, the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, and the NPO The Happy Givers, repairing houses, growing and serving food to hungry neighbors, and building new friendships across language and culture. While 20 of us are traveling, we go as one part of the whole body of the church, and are grateful for all of the ways those who will stay in MA are supporting this mission.
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Please click on the image in the sidebar to see two videos about our partner organization, learn more about Puerto Rico, and see the full orientation presentation we shared with travelers last week. Then, please plan to join us later in July, as we report back and share all we saw and learned in the travels.
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With blessings, joy and gratitude,
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community,
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- We pray for Diane Tillotson as she recovers from surgery, and Susan Hunt Stevens as she recovers from COVID and a fall.
- We pray for the 20 members of our community preparing to serve in Puerto Rico, June 22-29, on behalf of the church.
- We pray for all of our graduating high school and college students as they celebrate this threshold moment 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.
- 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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Nominating Report
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Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Meeting in person or on Zoom, to Jaap van Reijendam for moderating, to Rob Purser for leading our discussion of the budget and finances, and to the entire Nominating committee for their hard work all year and especially leading up to the meeting. Thank you to all who are cycling off of their ministries at the end of the month for your service to the whole community, and to all new leaders for saying "yes!" to the Spirit and to serving anew.
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If you'd like to take a look at the nominating slate as approved at the meeting, it is available HERE. Please contact Nominating if there is an open role you feel called to serve in.
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2025 will be a trip year! Whether you have gone before or are up for a new adventure please consider this transformative service work.
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Please email David at [email protected] if you have any interest in learning more. Trip dates have not been set ,so sign up to be on the potential travelers list to stay up to date.
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Match for the Move Campaign
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Books are on the move in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
The Union Church has been working alongside its beloved community partner, The Biblioteca Movil, for more than a decade. It was the first lending library in Central America led by the unstoppable Jane Mirandette who wanted to make sure to give all children access to books. We have been so fortunate to partner with them and deliver books to barrios in rural and remote parts of Nicaragua.
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Unfortunately, they have lost their lease and were forced to find a new home. This was a struggle but they found a space and are in the process of making it their new home where kids can learn, grow and thrive!
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While the rent is more than they had been paying, it was by far the most affordable property available but the building needed a lot of repair. The estimates for the renovation total $25,000. A generous group of donors has pledged to match the first $10,000 of contributions.
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I know there are many of you who love their great mission and if you would like to support their effort, please consider their “Match for the Move” campaign so that any donation will have double the impact.
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Sharing from the Heart
2024 - 25 Pledge Drive
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Stewardship season is still going strong. Our theme is "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. Your pledging allows this church to boldly claim our covenant and plan for services 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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Intergenerational Community
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Children, Youth and Families
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Puerto Rico Travelers
Thursday, June 20 at 6pm - Travelers Dinner
We'll gather at UCW for a final check-in before we travel! Parents and families are welcome. Please let Pastor Amy know if you can't come.
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Sunday School - Mission Sunday
Last Sunday for Sunday School before Summer
This will be our last official Sunday of Sunday School before we enter our summer schedule. Gather with Pastor Amy and Ileana this Sunday for a special mission activity before they both travel to Puerto Rico. On June 23 and 30, kids will be invited to stay in worship, where we will have special activities prepared for them in the prayground.
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UCW Volunteer Opportunities
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Reception This Sunday
Thank you to our Mission Team and women of the church for providing reception today.
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We still need hosts for
Sunday, 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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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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