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Weekly Update
Friday, September 22, 2023
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Sunday, September 24 at 10:00 a.m.
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Fall Worship (In Person and on Zoom!)
Commissioning Our Exploring Our Faith Youth
This Sunday Pastor Amy will preach and we'll explore the story of Jacob's 'long dark night of the soul' wrestling with a mysterious stranger. We will also commission our teens as they begin a year-long journey in our Exploring Our Faith (confirmation/baptism) program.
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After worship, we'll have the materials from last-week's Mission & Children, Youth, and Families Fair available. Youth Leaders and Parents are also invited to gather in-person (or at the worship zoom link) to discuss the final youth calendar and summer mission trip.
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Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656
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The bulletin is available HERE
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National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel:Pixabay.com
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“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say: Here am I.
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If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
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As this hits your inboxes, I am flying back from nearly a week in Memphis at the United Church of Christ’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative, or NGLI. I have been blessed to learn alongside a cohort of 13 other ministers in their 20s and 30s this week. We’ve spent time talking about ministry that accesses our whole brains (dreaming, planning, data-driven, and relationship-centered); we’ve shared wisdom from across the country and across different ministry settings; and we made a pilgrimage to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
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We began our sacred conversations on race and racism with this scripture, and it grounded us into an experience of truth-telling, accountability, and trust-building. In reflecting on the museum as a whole and individual lives of leaders and activists whose experiences inspired us, facilitators led us through a journey of lament, confession, and hope for the future. We recognized the need for individual, communal, and spiritual transformation.
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We were all incredibly moved by the experience, and I’m certain I’ll be bringing more reflections to you in the weeks to come. What’s more, I will spend two weeks a year with this cohort engaging in professional development for the next four years. I am grateful for the congregation’s and staff’s support for this vital learning time, and am excited to continue to learn, grow, and share with you all as I do so.
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All-Church Gatherings & Adult Formation
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September Book Group
Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. (Zoom)
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Please join us again on September 26 at 7:30 p.m. for our first meeting of the new church year. Our book will be "Traffic" by Ben Smith.
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You will find a zoom link and sign-in information below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alan Cody ([email protected]).
Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155
Passcode: 431699
Dial in: 1 646 558 86560
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Wellspring Women's Ministry
Wednesday, September 27 at 6:30 p.m.(In-Person)
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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Intergenerational Community
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Children, Youth and Families
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UCW All-Ages Apple-Picking!
October 1st after worship - Lookout Farm
Join us for a fun afternoon of apple-picking, corn maze, cider donuts and more! We'll leave as a group after worship, and then head to Lookout Farm in South Natick.
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Please let Pastor Amy know ([email protected]) if you can come. We'll buy advance tickets on Wednesday, October 27<sup> th</sup> to make sure we can get in together and avoid lines.
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Sunday School and Children's Ministry
Registration and We're Hiring!!
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We are very excited for a new year with our Children's Ministry and Sunday School! We'll be sharing new Bible stories, age-appropriate spiritual practices, and service opportunities with our kids of all ages this year, and hope you and yours will be part of it! Please fill out a registration form below for your children/youth so we can make this year a great experience for them.
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UCW IS HIRING!
Seeking a Sunday Children's Ministry Associate
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We are seeking a new Children's Ministry Associate/Teacher for our Sunday mornings. This is a fantastic opportunity for an adult who loves sharing God's love with children. If you know of someone who is grounded in Christian faith, inclusive of all, and has experience teaching/leading children, please share this opportunity and/or let Pastor Amy know.
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Exploring Our Faith
Commissioning of Youth and Mentors
This Sunday, Sept. 24
We are delighted to begin a new season of Exploring our Faith (confirmation/baptism) for
9<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> graders this year! We have a wonderful calendar of gatherings, retreats, and service opportunities planned, and will commission our students and their mentors on September 24. If you have a 9<sup>th</sup> or 10<sup>th</sup> grader and haven't been in touch with Pastor Amy, please reach out to her at [email protected].
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UCW Volunteer Opportunities
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
Thank you to Karla Armenoff for hosting our reception this Sunday!
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We still need a volunteer for the following Sunday, October 1. Please consider signing up if available.
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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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2023-24 Communications Team
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Are you interested in helping us spread the word about UCW?
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We are looking for new members to help on various aspects of the Communications team. Please let Alison or me know if you are interested in joining us and if you have a preference of which area you would like to work on.
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- Outreach - connecting with other organizations in the Newton area, sending out postcards/messaging about UCW.
- Events – local fairs etc.
- Newton Family Fair – Oct and May
- Waban Fair - May
- PR – writing articles, posting on social media, sharing info in the community, online news.
- Signage – Main sign, banners, events, signage inside church, Communication wall
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We are looking forward to hearing from 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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