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Weekly Update
Friday, April 4, 2025
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The Fifth Sunday in Lent
April 6 at 10:00 a.m.
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In worship this Sunday, we’ll Make Space for prayer, with a word of guidance and testimony from the UCW Prayer Team and continued wisdom from Luke’s Gospel.
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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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Sunday School & All Ages - Preparing for Palm Sunday & Easter
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Our Sunday School kids will remember the story of Holy Week (in age-appropriate ways) this Sunday as we get ready for Palm Sunday next week. We are looking for readers and worship leaders of all ages for our Palm Sunday service. If you can help, please reach out to Pastor Amy ([email protected]). Thank you!
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Caregiver Group
This Sunday! April 6, at 11:30 a.m.
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This group is a warm and welcoming space of support for anyone serving as a caregiver for a loved one (near or far). If you are caring for a parent, spouse, sibling, adult child or other loved one, please come by, or contact Pastor Amy with questions ([email protected]).
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Community Dinner
This Sunday! April 6, at 6:00 p.m.
An Evening of Stories and Images from Nicaragua &
A Farewell Celebration for Yarisleidy Cortez
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Please be part of this evening of food, fellowship, stories, resilience, inspiration, JOY and HOPE from the team that went to bear witness in Nicaragua on behalf of the church.
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We will also celebrate our friend and partner, Yarisleidy Cortez as she prepares to leave Boston unexpectedly soon (please read more below).
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Please RSVP HERE
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(Your RSVP helps us plan for food and seating)
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Cards for Yarisleidy: We will be collecting cards of encouragement, gratitude, and prayer that we will give Yarisleidy before she leaves. There will be an opportunity to write a card at the dinner, or you can give one to Pastor Amy or David Spertner before her final Sunday, April 13th.
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........read more about Yarisleidy HERE
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Gracias - It will be a joy and blessing to be together!
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This Sunday is our final Sunday before Palm Sunday and Holy Week. There is one week left before Jesus, with boldness and intention, arrives in Jerusalem to take a stand against forces of corruption, oppression, violence, fear, and hate.
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For the last five Sundays we have been wandering in the wilderness with Jesus. For Jesus, his forty days in the wilderness were a clarifying, purifying time of preparation -- a time to draw nearer to God, and to get clear about who he stood with and what he stood against. It was a time of wilderness simplicity and spaciousness.
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We too have been making space and seeking clarity. Our invitation this Lent has been to let go of that which does not give us life; and to grow and nourish all that does. We have found life and strength in pillars of our faith: Compassion, Discernment, Generosity, Humility, and, this week, Prayerfulness.
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I wonder how Jesus spent his last week in the wilderness? What beauty and hope did he see around him? What signs of life and clarity? What were his prayers?
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May you take this week as a gift. There is much Holy Week and Easter work ahead of us. May this week be one of hope and clarity for you. Gather with friends at the April 6th Community Dinner; consider your pledge to the life of this beloved community for the year ahead; take time for prayer and spaciousness; sleep well; eat well; notice the flowers - that we might travel with joy and courage together with compassion, humility, discernment, generosity, and prayer in the weeks and months to come.
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Making Space
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Annual Stewardship Campaign
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This year our Stewardship theme is Making Space, as we open our hearts and lives to greater humility, discernment and generosity - The full Stewardship letter from Chair Kent Wittler and the Stewardship Committee is availabe here .
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Our Annul Pledge Form can be found here - Thank You!
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Easter Blooms & Dedications
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This year, we continue our Easter Sunday tradition by including a special dedication
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list in the bulletin to honor, celebrate, and remember loved ones. We will also be decorating our Sanctuary with live plants. If you wish to participate in our celebration, your donation of $20.00 will be used to purchase an 8” potted tulip assortment.
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Submit Your Dedications
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By Friday, April 11
Thank You!
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The Easter Bunny Needs Your Help
Seeking Easter Candy and Goodies for our
Community Easter Egg Hunt!
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Easter is almost here, and the Easter Bunny is looking for donations of individually wrapped, non-nut (NO PEANUTS) goodies or small toys to add to the eggs for our annual Community Easter Egg Hunt!
Donations can be left in or outside Pastor Amy's office.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community.
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- God, bless the UCW community in this season of Lent. May we fast from all that keeps us distant from you, and dwell in the gifts you offer for a life in your grace and mercy.
- We pray for our country and our whole world, that in every place of need and every hall of power, your wisdom would reign. Change hearts and minds, O God, so that all might see your work and heed your calls: to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly; to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. In the midst of our fears for ourselves, do not let us lose sight of those who are most vulnerable and most in need of care.
- We pray for Yarisleidy, beloved member of our church family and partner in service, as she plans to depart the US much sooner than planned. We pray that she feel God's strength and courage, and know the love of this church surrounding her.
- We pray for continued, long-term healing for Soo and Anna following surgery. God, give them strength for the road ahead, and the blessing of your healing at every step.
- 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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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Lenten Bible Study
This Monday, April 7, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (In Person)
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Bible study, led by Jeannie Martin and Pastor Megan returns this Monday with the third of a three-week session during Lent. We will be studying Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
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We’ll meet in person at the church this Monday, April 7 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Littlehale. Email Pastor Megan with any questions.
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UCW Community Game Night
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Friday, April 11 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
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(Pizza Provided!)
Come relax and have fun with food and friends. Bring a favorite game if you want. All-Ages welcome!
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FamilyAid Diaper and Wipes Drive
New neighbors start to move in at FamilyAid’s Navigation Center this week!
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They have identified the need for diapers sizes 1-5 and wipes.
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We will be collecting donations in the chapel at church, and sharing more as we learn more. Please contact Alison McCarty with questions.
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Save the date!
Urban Gardens for Eco Justice
Local Climate Change Initiative
Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 - 1:00 p.m. (In Person)
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Carpooling from UCW at 9:15 a.m.
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On Saturday, April 26, the UCW Mission team, led by Brita Gill Austern, will participate in our local climate change initiative in partnership with the Boston Food Forest Coalition (BFFC). We will go to The Ellington Community Food Forest Garden at 103 Ellington Street in Dorchester, where we will be working on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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We will carpool from the church leaving at 9:15 a.m. All you need is a water bottle, garden gloves, appropriate dress for yard work and readiness to make new friends and help to build a sustaining commitment to BFFC and this Dorchester community.
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Take a moment to go to Bostonfoodforest.org and learn about this amazing organization that is creatively addressing climate issues, eco justice, and fresh food to build healthy neighborhood communities . BFFC has started twelve forest gardens in Boston.
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Please confirm with Brita at 617-851-6871
if you can join us and if you want a ride or can offer one.
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Join one of GBIO’s Spring Training Sessions!
Organizing Power: Foundation for Justice is a training for leaders who want to organize their congregations, organizations, and communities to make change in a time of great uncertainty and increasing isolation. Trainers will provide a framework for power and tools to build it that leaders can use to organize institutionally, locally and beyond for this moment and for generations to come.
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If we are serious about justice, we need power. And if we want power, we need to make time to organize. There are four options for training this spring, and all who are interested should register to attend.
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Saturday, April 5, 2025 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
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Bethel AME Church, 38 Walk Hill St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
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Register HERE (Registration Deadline 3/28)
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Sunday, April 6, 2025 1:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET
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Bethel AME Church, 38 Walk Hill St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
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Register HERE (Registration Deadline 3/28)
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Saturday, April 26, 2025 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
Register HERE (Registration Deadline 4/18)
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Sunday, April 27, 2025 1:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET
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Hyde Park Seventh Day Adventist Church, 6 Webster St, Hyde Park, MA 02136
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Register HERE (Registration Deadline 4 /18)
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Coffee Host Needed
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Thank you to Linda Lynch for hosting this Sunday's reception.
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Please consider volunteering!
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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 : 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 spring.
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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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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.
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Live the Love & Justice Jesus Taught
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If you’re seeking ways to live out God’s love and justice at this moment in history, I invite you to look through the Southern New England Conference of the UCC’s new “Take Action” page on their website.
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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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