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Weekly Update
Friday, June 28, 2024
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This Sunday
June 30 at 10:00 a.m.
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
(Hybrid)
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Join in person or online for the last worship service of the church year! We’ll reflect together on the Apostle Paul’s reminders for being in a loving community.
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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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Summer Worship Services Begin on July 14
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Remember, there will be no worship service held on Sunday, July 7th. Beginning Sunday, July 14th, we will gather on the stage downstairs for summer services at 10:00 a.m. Sundays. These services will be lay-led and will focus on the parables of Jesus. Be sure to come and worship together in summertime joy!
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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 youth and mentors who are coming to the end of their time serving in Puerto Rico: for thoughtful reflection on their experiences, for traveling mercies as they return, and in gratitude for all of the learning, growing, fun, and connections they experienced throughout this last week.
- We pray for Bart Kelso and for Phil Rounseville who underwent surgeries this past week, that they may be surrounded by healing grace, comfort, and support as they recover.
- For all in our community who are traveling this summer: for traveling mercies, joy, and a safe return home.
- 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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I was away from church last Sunday for a triathlon – my first race in about 12 years – and I felt as though I’d been transported to the Kingdom of God for the morning. I had forgotten how energizing the warmth and collegiality that surrounds a race can be. If you’re an athlete, or if you’ve spectated at the Marathon, you probably know what I mean. Even while competing, people tend to be supportive of one another.
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On Sunday, people continually encouraged, congratulated, and got to know one another in the short time it took to pass on the bike or run. I stopped during the swim to be sure that someone treading and coughing was safe, and then someone else paused their own race to help me get loose from the wetsuit that was stuck around my shoulders as I transitioned to the bike. All throughout, I witnessed people checking in on and helping one another. The kindness that suffused the whole day, the sense that we were all part of something together, was what made it enjoyable throughout.
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In worship this Sunday, we’ll hear some of the Apostle Paul's (many) instructions for how to be together in community. As I experienced a community that formed and then dissipated over the course of one morning, I was reminded again of Paul’s exhortation to “always seek to do good to one another.” We seek to do good for those whom we already know in our church community, of course. And, our faith teaches us, we see glimpses of the Kingdom of God all around us, in which we recognize that all of God’s people, all of creation, are part of that community we are called to love and serve. One wetsuit sleeve, one “way to go,” one kindness at a time.
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A Request from our HR Team
It's that time again in the church year when the HR team seeks to give our staff useful and meaningful feedback in their reviews. We welcome any feedback either in writing or by having a phone conversation with an HR team member. Please send along any comments that would be useful for Pastors Megan or Amy, Aidan or Mijin. If you would like to speak on the phone please let us know that as well.
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With appreciation,
HR team
Diane, Molly, Brita and Anne
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Flat Jesus – Summer 2024
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Stay in touch with the UCW community, and remember that we are all part of one Body even as we travel separately from one another over the summer, by taking your very own Flat Jesus with you on your summer adventures!
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The Deacons have prepared Flat Jesuses for us all to decorate and take home. Whether he accompanies you around the world or around the block, take a picture with your Flat Jesus and email it to Pastor Megan. At the end of the summer, when we return to regular worship in September, we’ll gather the photos and the Flat Jesuses and share about our time apart. Haven’t picked up a Flat Jesus in worship during June? Email Pastor Megan and she can send one in the mail, or for you to print at home.
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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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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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Please pray for the save return of the 20 members of our congregation - mostly high school and college youth - who are currently traveling in Puerto Rico and will be flying home tomorrow, June 29. They 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 back in MA supported our 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. 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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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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