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Weekly Update
Friday, November 18, 2022
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Last Sunday after Pentecost
November 20 at 10:00 a.m. (in Person & Online)
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We will celebrate Thanksgiving including honoring ministries in the community that have concluded their season. Our focus scripture will be Luke 17: 11 - 19 and give us pause to reflect on gratitude.
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To join Sunday Worship on Zoom:
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Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656
The bulletin is available HERE
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More service details HERE
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First Sunday in Advent Hanging of the Greens
November 27, 10:00 a.m. Worship
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Join us for this joyous and interactive service for all ages! We'll gather for worship, favorite carols, and Christmas stories as we decorate the sanctuary with wreaths, poinsettias, holly, and our Christmas tree. We invite you and your family to start this Advent season with hope, peace, love, and joy!
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This year, our theme for Advent is "From Generation to Generation," as we share the story of Christmas through the generations and remember that God is always with us.
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Your Dedications and Family Photos
December 18, 10:00 a.m. Worship
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As we connect through generations, we invite you to dedicate this service to someone you would like to remember or honor this season. We invite you to click below to fill in the dedication form, and we will add all dedications to the bulletin and to our Advent Prayer Station. We also invite you to share photos of generations of your family and loved ones. You can either bring a copy of your photo(s) to worship, or upload photos into the Google folder linked below. Please remember to label your photo if you would like us to identify who it is.
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Christmas Poinsettias Are Back!
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While we aren’t able to do a full greens sale this year, the Mission Committee has revived Christmas poinsettias for anyone who might enjoy contributing them for the November 27 Hanging of the Greens service. These seasonal plants will still be on sale until Thanksgiving, as a way to celebrate the season and our community. They will be displayed at the Nov. 27 service in the sanctuary and if feasible, for additional weeks into the Christmas season. We’ll send out word as to when buyers should bring their plants home. It’s a beautiful way to support UCW - put in your orders by November 23!
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Poinsettias can be ordered at 6" for $15, 8" for $25, 10" for $40. Email your orders, or for more information contact Kevin Johnson at [email protected]. We will try to accommodate color preferences. You will receive an email reply with your order confirmation, and instructions for payment and pickup. Thank you!!
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All-Church Gatherings & Adult Formation
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Fall Clean-Up Tomorrow!
Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8:30 a.m. - noon
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It’s Time for another outdoor church clean-up! So, if you regret missing the last one, or you just need to be together again, please come and help. It won’t take too long as we did so much at the last clean-up. The weeds always win, so we need to keep on top of …
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Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Tomorrow! November 19 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
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Due to renovations inside the building, the Union Church in Waban will once again hand out "Thanksgiving Dinners To Go," instead of hosting an in-person event. Dinners may be picked up on Saturday, November 19 between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. at 14 Collins Road, Waban, MA 02468. If you know of anyone who would appreciate a meal, please have them contact Alicia Collins at 617.784.4825 or [email protected].
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We need volunteers to help package the meals between 10 :00 a.m. and noon in the church kitchen, and then others to hand out the meals between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. You can hop between volunteering at the clean-up and the dinner! We may also need a couple of drivers to deliver meals. If you would like a job that you can do at home on your own, that can be arranged too! Please reach out to Alicia to volunteer. Thanks so much.
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UCW Book Group (Zoom)
Next Meeting - November 29 at 7:30 p.m.
The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McClaren
Please join us on Tuesday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m. for our next book group meeting. We will be reading The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McClaren. 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 8656
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Children Youth and Families
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This Weekend: Community Service, Drums & Mitten Tree!
Kids and Youth
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Church Clean-up and Thanksgiving Community Dinner
Sat. Nov. 19 - Service Event for Youth!
We hope all youth (and kids of all ages!) will come lend a hand at the Clean-up and/or Thanksgiving Dinner! These are both such meaningful and fun opportunities to serve our community and neighbors.
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Please CLICK HERE and see "upcoming events" for more. We'll gather between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the church for clean-up, and dinner prep and distribution. Come as you are whenever you can!
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Drum Making, Music, and The Mitten Tree
Sunday School - Sunday, Nov. 20
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In Sunday School kids will be invited to join Music Director Mijin Choi to learn the song of the Little Drummer Boy, and make drums. As we give thanks for all we have, we will also prepare paper mitten ornaments for our Mitten Tree, which invite families to purchase gifts for our siblings in transitional housing with Project Care & Concern. Advent begins on Nov. 27 with the Hanging of the Greens, a joyous service for all ages.
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Coming in Advent
Kids & Families
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We have an Advent season full of peace, hope, joy, and love ahead for children and families, and we hope you and yours will join us! Please be sure to mark your calendars:
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Coming in Advent - Kids & Families
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Advent 1
Hanging of the Greens!
Sunday, Nov. 27, 10:00 a.m. worship
Come Deck the Halls in this joyous service for all ages. Kids are invited to participate in hanging wreaths and decorating the Christmas Tree. We need readers and helpers for this special day! Please email Pastor Amy ([email protected]g) if you and/or your kids can help. Thank you!
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Advent 2
Preparing to Tell the Story! with Advent Wreath and Star-Making
Sunday, Dec. 4, 10:00 a.m. worship
In Sunday School, we'll remember the Christmas Story and get our costumes ready for the pageant on Dec. 11, before returning to share Communion. Following worship, families are invited to cocoa and cookies, as we make Advent wreaths and shining stick Stars to bring the light of Advent back to our homes.
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Advent 3
All-Ages Telling of the Christmas Story!
Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m. worship
Kids and grown-ups of all ages are invited to join in this beloved, fun, and informal telling of the Christmas Story. Costumes will be available the morning of, for any who want to join in - no rehearsals necessary - just a Spirit of joy and Christmas! Please email Pastor Amy ([email protected]) if you and/or your kids can be part of this wonderful service. Thank you!
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Christmas Eve
Saturday, Dec. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
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We hope all families will join us for this special service for all ages of lessons and carols, with a candle-lit singing of Silent Night, and interactive elements for little ones.
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Please Note - Pastor Amy has a new email address!
As we continue to do the good work of organizing our technology and other systems (i.e. getting our ducks in a row), we're updating our email addresses. Pastor Amy can now be reached at [email protected]. Emails to [email protected] should forward to that new address, but please feel free to text or call at 617-938-8112 if you have any trouble reaching her via email.
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20th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday evening, January 7, at UCW
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Save the date for our 20th anniversary celebration of our work in Nicaragua.
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Saturday evening January 7, at the Union Church for dinner, fun, reconnecting with friends. After several years of support from home, The Union Church first traveled to Nicaragua in 2003 to serve in partnership with the local people in San Juan Del Sur. The experience was incredible and the people they met changed many lives for the better. What grew from that was more powerful connections by and between our parishioners and the locals and by and between the travelers. More than 100 people have traveled since and more than 100 people have helped from home. On Feb 18, 2023 we will be traveling on our 11th trip and we couldn’t be more thrilled than to celebrate our 20th anniversary with a party here at home on Jan 7th, so please save the date !!
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February 2023 Service Trip
February 18 - 26
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After a discussion and thoughtful discernment about politics, local needs, covid and trip safety, It was decided with joy by the Nicaragua Task Force that a Feb. 2023 service trip to Nicaragua is going to be planned. As the trip is fast approaching (Feb. 18 - 26), please let David Spertner (dspertner@gmail) if you are interested in going or want to learn more.
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Newton Freege: Union Church Serves Once a Month
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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. And our team of volunteers helps keep it running every other Saturday. Please reach out to Vinita Leslie, Karen O'Beirne or Erika Pond to learn more or to join our team. You may also find us our Facebook group - @newtonfreedge Facebook group for updates!
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
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Every Sunday after worship we gather on the stage for a time of fellowship. This reception is hosted each Sunday by different members of the congregation.
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Reception Sign-up: HERE Thank you!
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
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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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During this time of transition, please know that your church is here for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Pastors Wendy or Amy for prayer or pastoral support:
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Mondays are days off for both pastors. If you have a pastoral need, please reach out to Pastor Wendy this week.
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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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