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Weekly Update
Friday, October 18, 2024
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This Sunday
October 20 at 10:00 a.m.
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This Sunday, we’ll gather for worship, fellowship, connection, and learning together. We hope you’ll join in person or on Zoom.
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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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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community,
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- God, we pray for Polly, mother of Molly Owen-Kiritsy, who was hospitalized last week. Bless her with healing and comfort, and be with her medical care team and family as they support her.
- We pray for all people impacted by the hurricanes across the Southeast US. For those who lost their lives, their loved ones, their homes, their sense of safety. For all who must rebuild, individuals and communities, that they may be strengthened by you and supported by people near and far.
- We pray for the Heffernan family as they support Julie’s mother as she enters hospice care. Ease all suffering with your comfort and peace, O God.
- Prayers for Phil Rounseville as he continues his cancer treatments and prepares for another surgery. God, may your healing grace cover Phil at this time.
- 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.
- 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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Recent Celebrations
Did you miss the recent celebrations at church? Here are some photos from our new sign celebration and the Blessing of the Animals! It has been a fall of connecting – with one another, the wider community, and God’s creation (including beloved pets like Barky, Felix, Jack, Rosey, and Lucy!).
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Congregational Meeting
Save the date!
Sunday, November 10
at 11:30 a.m.
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Our next congregational meeting will be Sunday, November 10 at 11:30 a.m. after worship, with lunch provided. More details to follow closer to the date.
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Adult Spiritual Formation Programs
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Book Study
October 24 & 30 at 6:30 p.m. (In-Person)
The Amen Effect by Rabbi Sharon Brous
This fall, we’ll meet twice to discuss the book “The Amen Effect” by Rabbi Sharon Brous. Originally recommended for Book Group by Anya Bassett, this book speaks to both the season of grief in our congregation and the desires many of us share to work towards a world with more understanding, compassion, and unity in the face of divisions.
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The group will meet Thursday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 30, each at 6:30 p.m. in the Littlehale room at church. The first session we’ll discuss the introduction through Chapter 4, and the second will be Chapter 5 through the ‘Practices’ section at the end. All are welcome; bring a brown-bag dinner if you’d like! If you’d like to join but meeting in person is a barrier, contact Pastor Megan.
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Bible Study
First Meeting, Monday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. (In Person)
Bible Study is also starting up again this Fall, led by Jeannie Martin, meeting in-person in the Littlehale room at the church on Mondays at 7pm. We’ll read the Gospel of Mark in six weeks beginning October 28.
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Further adult spiritual formation programs, including Zoom-only options, will be offered later in the fall and during the winter. As we work to build out robust programming accessible to all within our congregation, you can always contact Pastor Megan with ideas, questions, and any barriers to your participation.
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Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action Bridges Program
This Sunday, Oct. 20, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
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Middle and High School Students
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Our church will be part of a cohort of Christian church groups, joining with Congregation Dorshei Tzedek and the Islamic Center of Boston to participate in the Bridges program.
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Bridges connects young people who are involved in the work of their faith communities, bringing them together to consider how their faith calls them to action in interfaith dialogue. Youth commit to participate in 3-5 events throughout the year, run by Mosaic staff, developing connections and community across religious traditions. Over the course of the year, youth develop skills in interfaith literacy, communication and active listening, and interfaith dialogue. This year, students will create community art pieces together.
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If you are interested in learning more or participating, please contact Pastor Amy. All tweens and teens are welcome but need to register. Thanks!
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Wellspring Women's Group
Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. (In-Person)
Wellspring women’s gathering will take place next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Littlehale. All are welcome.
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We will be reading some poetry by Jeanne Martin, as well as creating care packages to send to our college students! If interested in helping, please reach out to: Tanya Lazar or Amy McMahon.
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We will also have a potluck, so if you plan to join in, please email Amy ([email protected])
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Youth Group Kick-Off and Mission
Sunday, Oct. 27 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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We are excited for the year ahead. Join us on October 27. We'll have food, fun, maybe some pumpkin carving, and share ideas for the year, including a possible mission trip.
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Seeking Teen Mission Leaders
We are looking for teen co-leaders of our youth group and mission trip. Let Pastor Amy or David know if you are interested.
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Youth Group Monthly Schedule
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Other Youth Group monthly gatherings will be from 6 - 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 27th; Nov. 24th; Dec. 15th - Christmas Party; Jan. 26th; Feb. TBD; Mar. 2nd; Apr. 6th; May. 4th - May the Fourth Be With You; and Jun. 8th.
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Setting the Table for One Another
Reception This Sunday and Beyond
Thank you to Kathy Malone for hosting our reception this Sunday!
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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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Hosting a reception is a thoughtful expression of our hospitality to each other. And it is not difficult! Help is available if you have never hosted and feel daunted by the task. Please consider volunteering for two dates throughout the 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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Around the Table
Meals and Community
Meal Train - Sharing Meals with Jon
As we continue to pray for and support the Bassett family following Anya's death, please consider signing up for the Meal Train below. What Anya's husband, Jon, would appreciate most now is spending time with friends over a meal. So, he'd like you to bring food over and share it with him, or he is happy to come to you as well. Details are included in the sign-up link below.
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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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Glass Jar Collection
for Thanksgiving Dinner
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As part of the Community Thanksgiving dinner, we hand out vases of flowers along with the meals, so that folks have a colorful centerpiece for their tables. Instead of buying new mason jars this year, we'd love to take your old pasta, pickle, olive, etc. jars off of your hands.
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There will be a collection box in the side chapel, and Alicia Collins is even willing to clean them for you.
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Thank you!
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Loving our Neighbors - Wider Community Events
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Annual Fundraising Gala and Silent Auction
Saturday, November 2, 6:00-9:30 p.m.
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Riverview Restaurant at the Hudson Portuguese Club
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13 Port Street, Hudson, MA 01749.
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The Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries (MBMM) will be holding its Annual Fundraising Gala and Silent Auction on November 2 at the Riverview Restaurant at the Hudson Portuguese Club in Hudson, MA.
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Proceeds from the event will be used to help fund MBMM, whose work includes a broad variety of services to New Americans navigating through complex American institutions. Our work helps them integrate through American society and become an active contributing citizen within the community.
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One of the initiatives this fundraising event serves is the ACE Center for New Americans. It is a program of the Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries, a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization. The ACE Center is a non-sectarian program that exists to assist and meet the diverse needs of numerous immigrant and ethnic communities of all faiths and traditions, with a spirit of radical hospitality. Our mission is to Advocate for immigrants and refugees as they move towards self-sufficiency; Celebrate the culture, tradition, inclusion, and achievements of immigrants; and Empower them to exist as new Americans while attaining the goals afforded to every American.
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The money raised will be used to fund our educational and community programs like World Refugee Day, Financial Literacy Workshops, Mentorship Programs, and New Americans Christmas. Please reach out to Pastor Amy or Brita Gill-Austern, both of whom have been members of the Board of Directors of MBMM, with questions.
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To sign up and/or to attend the gala, please fill out this FORM
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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 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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