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Weekly Update
Friday, April 18, 2025
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6:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service (In Person)
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The birds will preach the sermon as on that first Easter morning, and we’ll celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at the dawning of the new day. Pastor Amy and family lead this service. We'll meet in the Wellesley Office Park, behind the building at 45 Williams Street . Details and full directions HERE
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Easter Worship Service
10:00 a.m. (Hybrid)
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Join us for joyful Easter worship this Sunday morning! We’ll let our alleluias ring out as we celebrate resurrection joy together. After worship, join for reception and for a super fun Easter Egg hunt for kids!
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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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11:00 a.m. Reception and Easter Egg Hunt (In-Person)
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Join us for our beloved Easter Egg Hunt following worship! The Easter Bunny has lots of colorful eggs, but could use some help finding some candy (individually-wrapped, no nuts), stickers, or other goodies to put in them. Please leave donations outside Pastor Amy's office. Thank you!
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Special Easter Collection
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This Eastertide, out of love for Christ resurrected and compassion for our most vulnerable neighbors, the Sunday Easter collection will be dedicated to the Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries (MBMM). MBMM has been on the front lines supporting and empowering newly arrived refugees and immigrants in our Commonwealth. (Read more about the work of the MBMM organization in this Sunday's bulletin HERE.)
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Throughout Lent, we have been Making Space: for compassion, humility, discernment, generosity, and prayer. As we move from yesterday evening’s Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service, sharing around the table and recognizing the coming darkness, to Sunday morning’s joyful worship, we are given one last, sacred opportunity to reflect in this year’s Lenten season. What have you been able to release in order to make space for these gifts in your life? What still needs to be let go?
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And finally, what new life is awakening in you as the gifts of compassion, humility, discernment, generosity, and prayer have taken their place in your life? What new thing is God preparing to do alongside you? We are approaching Easter morning and the season of Eastertide, traditionally a time of great celebration. How might you make space for joy and celebration in the coming weeks, even (and maybe especially) when it is so different from much of the rest of our lives?
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There is much to wonder about, and I pray that you will be able to find a quiet moment in the midst of preparing for Easter to think and pray on all these things.
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Making Space
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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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community.
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- God, as we dwell in this holiest of weeks and await the dawning of Easter, help us to make space in our hearts and our lives for you. Whether you meet us around the table in hospitality, in our despair in solidarity, or in the joy of new life, may we know your presence with us and give thanks. May we be blessed to turn and bless others, as well.
- We pray for Yarisleidy, beloved member of our church family and partner in service, as she plans to depart the US this weekend, 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 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 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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-Final Call-
Puerto Rico Service Trip
June 21-29
Let us know if you can come
by April 23
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We are excited for our upcoming service trip to Puerto Rico and it's time to buy our plane tickets!
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We'll be running a summer camp for low-income children, assisting elders, and exploring the island! The Youth Group is leading this trip, and it is open to anyone 13 years old or above interested in joining. College kids - we'd love to have you! Invite a friend!
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Please contact Pastor Amy with questions or to join in. We'll purchase our group plane tickets next week. ([email protected]; text: 617-938-8112)
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JAVA Gents
Friday Morning, April 25 at 7:00 a.m.
(In-Person, Littlehale Meeting Room))
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JAVA Gents is the informal get-together of the men of the UCW congregation (and community). The group aims to provide friendly fellowship and mutual support. We will enjoy a lively discussion of timely topics as well as personal goings on in our lives.
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Newcomers are always welcome. Please contact Dan Heffernan if you have any questions or would like to be added to the Java Gents mailing list.
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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
or by email at [email protected]
if you can join us and if you want a ride or can offer one.
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CELEBRATING GENEROSITY
AN INVITATION
Sunday April 27, Coffee Hour
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As we prepare for Holy Week the committee charged with helping to implement the Janet Holly legacy is seeking your input. Janet left a remarkable and generous bequest to the Union Church and the planning committee hopes to insure that the funds are used in ways consistent with Janet’s expressed interests and that everyone has an opportunity for input.
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The Committee has identified four areas that reflect Janet’s passions during her lifetime:
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- the financial health and wise stewardship of church funds,
- maintaining and beautifying a garden at the church,
- accessibility for all, including accessible worship space, a place for coffee hour and other gatherings
- music-Janet ,a long time choir member, loved our church music
Consistent with financial stewardship, 80% of Janet’s bequest has been invested in our church’s long term endowment and our line of credit has been paid off in full! The committee (comprised of Judy Nagle, Tom Humphrey, Karen Weisgerber, Frank Laski, Alison McCarty and Diane Tillotson), is looking for your ideas and inspiration on funding Janet’s remaining three passions: the church garden, music, and an accessible sanctuary and meeting and gathering space
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So please join members of the committee at coffee hour on Sunday, April 27th to share your thoughts and visions!
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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 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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Newton for Everyone Presents:
Housing and Climate Change: What's the Connection
Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m.
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Online and in person at the Scandinavian Living Center
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Nordic Hall at the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham St., West Newton
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Where we live matters. It affects our access to jobs, schools, amenities, and overall quality of life. But location profoundly impacts our environment too, influencing everything from traffic patterns to the preservation of our natural landscapes.
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More Details and Registration HERE
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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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Coffee Host Needed
Thank you to Nancy Zollers and Frank Laski 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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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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