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Weekly Update
Friday, August 18, 2023
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Worship in August
Sundays at 10:00 a.m. on the Stage (and on Zoom!)
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Our services are more informal in the summer.
We meet on the stage and invite all ages to join us!
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We will continue our discussion of what wisdom and guidance
Paul’s letters may have for us today, and begin crafting our own letter to the church.
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A preview of the August Service Bulletin is available HERE
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Worship Leader
- August 20: Jaap van Reijendam (with Rev. Megan in attendance)
- August 27: Rev. Amy Clark Feldman
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Joining Online
Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting: ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656
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PLEASE NOTE: There will be no worship service at UCW on September 3<sup>rd</sup>.
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A Message from Rev. Berkowitz
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I said a prayer on Monday, as I stepped over the threshold into the church building on my first official day in this new call, thanking God for the blessing of bringing us to that moment. It was for me a kind of culmination of the months I have been praying for you all, beginning when I read your church profile in January, continuing through the search process and candidating, and changing to include prayers for all of our future ministry together in the months since then. Of course, I will continue to pray for our community each day, and for all of your individual prayer needs as I learn of them. It was important to me, however, to pause for a moment of pure gratitude at that moment of new beginning.
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There is much to be said and SO much for me to learn in the coming days, weeks, and months. For now, I want to continue Monday’s beginning with gratitude. Thank you to the transition and search teams; to the Council, Deacons, and other leadership of the past several years and serving now; to Rev. Wendy and Rev. Jim; to Aidan, Mijin, and Rev. Amy; to all of you who have worshipped, prayed, visioned, served, and hoped as part of this congregation, whether for decades or since last week or somewhere in between. Most of all, my siblings in Christ, I thank God for each and every one of you! I feel so richly blessed to begin serving as your pastor.
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I am looking forward to meeting you at worship, for coffee, in a meeting, or wherever else our ministry takes us together.
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Fall Kick-Off Sunday, September 10
Worship at 10:00 a.m., Followed by a Special Reception and Celebration.
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We are excited to kick-off this new season in the life of our church and hope you and your family will join us for this special Sunday!
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Welcome our new Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz, as she leads us in worship for the first time; connect with friends and community; and enter this new year with hope, faith, and joy.
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Our Sunday School for children and youth will also begin on this day; and we'll have a special celebration following worship!
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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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Intergenerational Community
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Children, Youth and Families
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Sunday School Kick-Off!
September 10<sup>th</sup>
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SAVE THE DATE for our Kick-Off Sunday on September 10<sup>th</sup>. Come meet Pastor Megan, and start the new school year with friends and faith!
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Come at 10:00 a.m. for worship and Sunday School; and stay at 11 :00 .
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Exploring Our Faith - High Schoolers this Fall
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We're excited to start up our Exploring Our Faith (confirmation/baptism) series for high-school freshmen and sophomores (and any others who want to join!) this year. We'll have fun, serve others, ask important questions, build meaningful relationships, and explore the role of faith in our lives. Families with 9th and 10th graders should have received an email this week with more information. With questions, or to learn more, contact Pastor Amy ([email protected]).
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Summer Service Opportunities
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Newton Freedge - Feeding our Neighbors
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Our team of volunteers helps keep Freedge running one Saturday a month. Please use the the link below, or reach out to Vinita Leslie, Karen O'Beirne or Erika Pond to learn more or to join our team.
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Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. The Newton Freedge is one way we can help. A free, 24/7 outdoor refrigerator and pantry, the Freedge provides free food and personal supplies to anyone who needs them.
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Praying for Hawaii – Join Our Denominations in Responding
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We have all been holding Hawaii in our prayers as we’ve watched the heartbreaking images of fire spreading across the island of Maui.
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So many lives have been lost and families displaced; so much of God’s beautiful creation has been scorched; and so many precious sites and landmarks destroyed. As Rev. Lisa Harris Lee of the ABC says, “The grief from the loss of loved ones and community and the harm to the earth will linger and require our care for many years.”
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At The Union Church in Waban we are connected to the wider Body of Christ in many ways. If you would like to learn about and join in the response of two of our partner denominations, please click below to learn more and find links to make financial contributions.
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The United Church of Christ
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Hawaii Wildfire Relief Page
HERE
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The American Baptist Churches
Hawaii Wildfire Relief Page
HERE
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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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