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Weekly Update
Friday, December 20, 2024
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The Holy Family, created by Liam Desire Saravia-Palomo
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent
All-Ages Nativity Story Worship Service
December 22 at 10:00 a.m.
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This Sunday we light the candle of Love in our Advent season of worship and waiting. We’ll express our LOVE for Jesus and one another by telling the story of Jesus’ birth with all our generations present, and with costumes, singing, and maybe even a special guest whale.
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All-Ages are invited to participate! If you or yours would like a speaking or non-speaking part, please contact Pastor Amy ([email protected]). We'll have some rehearsal times on Saturday for speaking parts, and have costumes ready by 9am on Sunday morning!
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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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Christmas Eve Service
The Union Church in Waban
Tuesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m.
(In-Person & Zoom)
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We hope everyone will join us for this special service for all ages of lessons and carols, with a candle-lit singing of Silent Night.
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Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Christmas Eve Bulletin: HERE
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Baking Christmas Cookies
Baking Christmas cookies is one of my favorite childhood memories of this time of year. My mom, my cousin, and I got to work the week before Christmas making dozens and dozens of cookies from all different recipes. We would give the cookies away as gifts and serve them as dessert on Christmas Eve, when many family and friends piled into our house for dinner after Mass. I loved it so much that when my second grade class put together a cookbook, the recipe I added in was sugar cookie cutouts, and we continued to make and decorate that same recipe for over two decades afterwards. It’s not my favorite anymore, but it still tastes like home and like tradition.
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Another cousin on the other side of my family is a pastry chef and cookbook author, and she wrote about our grandmother in her latest book about cookies, sharing how her own childhood memories of baking rugelach shaped her towards the career she has now. Whether cookies, hearty Christmas dinner recipes, French toast casserole, or fruitcake, the flavors of this season take on so much more meaning: tradition, family, and care.
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Fellowship after church this Sunday is a Christmas cookie potluck, and whether you bring something homemade or store-bought, I hope you also bring a sweet story of Christmases past or loved ones whose memories you carry with you in this season, to share with one another over a cup of coffee and a cookie.
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Cookie Potluck at Reception
Christmas Sunday, December 22
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This Sunday, Dec 22. you are invited to bring your favorite Christmas cookies (or other holiday treat) to share at reception.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community,
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- God, as we await the celebration of Jesus’ birth, help us to recognize all who live now as he did then: the poor, the vulnerable, refugees, and more. As we seek to draw close to him, draw us close to them as well.
- We pray for all who are sleeping rough in the face of cold and wet weather this week and throughout the winter to come. Empower our political leaders and community organizations to address the needs for shelter with creativity and passion, so that all who are in need can have a safe place to rest.
- 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, especially in this tender season.
- 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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We pray to you, grateful for your accompaniment with us in all things. Amen.
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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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Intergenerational Life - Youth and Families
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Youth Group Christmas Party and Cookie Making
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TOMORROW! Saturday, December 21 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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Join us in the Big Kitchen for a fun time making cookies for neighbors (and eating some ourselves :) and celebrating Christmas! Please text Pastor Amy at 617-938-8112 to let us know if you can come, or just swing by!
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TOMORROW! Saturday - from 12:00 noon on
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Pastor Amy will be at the church from 12:00 noon to at least 8:00 p.m. getting ready for the pageant, and would LOVE some helpers! Please send a quick text (# above) if you can help with sets, rehearsing, and more!
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Setting the Table for One Another
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Every Sunday after worship we gather in the stage room for a time of fellowship. This reception is hosted each Sunday by different members of the congregation.
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We are still in need of hosts for Jan. 5
Reception Sign-up: HERE
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Hosting a reception is a thoughtful expression of our hospitality, and it’s easier than you think! If you’re new to hosting, help is always available. Please consider volunteering for two dates this year.
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If you have questions, Kathy Malone is the point of contact for 2024-25: 617-365- 4960; [email protected].
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Sharing the Stories of Our Faith
Reading Scripture in Worship
For generations the stories and wisdom of our faith were only shared orally, and reading scripture out loud is still a central part of our worship and community. Please consider sharing your voice in worship this fall.
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Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
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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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From Christmas through New Year, Pastor Megan will be away with family. Please contact Pastor Amy for pastoral emergencies. Most other 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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