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Weekly Update
Friday, November 1, 2024
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All Saints' Sunday
November 3 at 10:00 a.m.
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This Sunday, we’ll gather for our All Saints communion worship, remembering the saints of the Union Church and of each of our lives as we gather around the table. 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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Special All Saints Reception
Bring a Favorite Recipe from a Saint in your life
Is there a special recipe or food that reminds you of a saint in your life? A grandmother's favorite cookie or the special treats that were always in a bowl on the desk of your favorite teacher or mentor? Your uncle's chili recipe? If you can share a favorite food for our All Saints' reception table this Sunday, please contact Kathy (617-365- 4960; [email protected].)
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Caregiver Group - First Meeting of the Fall
This Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (In-Person after worship)
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All are invited to gather in Pastor Amy's office following worship on All Saints' Sunday, as this group comes together for the first time again this year. If you have a loved one, close by or far-away; parent, spouse, adult child, or other; for whom you are caring in any capacity, this is a wonderful group for you. Bring tea or coffee from reception, and spend an hour in community, sharing joys and challenges, and holding each other in prayer. With questions, please contact Pastor Amy ([email protected]; cell: 617-938-8112).
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community,
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- Regardless of outcome, we pray for a peaceful Election Day and season to follow, and for much-needed transformation and healing in our civic and community life as a country.
- God, we pray for Phil Rounseville and his husband Brian as they both recover from COVID, and as Phil plans for a postponed cancer surgery as a result. God, may your healing grace cover both Brian and Phil at this time.
- Prayers for Polly, mother of Molly Owen-Kiritsy. Bless her with healing and comfort, and be with her medical care team and family as they support her.
- 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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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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There are two big events coming up this month that I want to draw special attention to!
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The first is our first congregational meeting of the 2024-2025 church year. In addition to helpful updates from Nominating and about plans for this year’s visioning process, we’re going to dive into a relationship-building practice for building power for social change.
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This portion of the meeting will be led by a special guest presenter from one of our partner congregations in Newton (who I happen to be married to). The meeting will be next Sunday, November 10th, immediately following worship, and lunch will be served.
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Then, on Friday November 22nd, the UCW All-Comers Dinner is BACK! With special thanks to the Lynch-Johnson family for hosting us, I hope you’ll all save the date for this fun fellowship gathering and keep on eye on the e-blast for more details about the evening. So many people in our community have talked about how much All-Comers Dinners have been missed as one of the touchstones of UCW community life, and I’m thrilled that it’s returning this fall.
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As we’re continuing in our fall theme of connection, these two events will give us opportunities to connect with each other in fun, fellowship, and faith.
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Save the date!
All Comers Dinner
Friday, November 22
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All-Comers Dinner is back this November 22nd. More details to be shared soon, but for now, mark your calendars so we can share in food, fellowship, and fun together!
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Community During Election Week
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Newton Interfaith Post-Election Gathering
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Union Church in Waban
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Join with members of congregations throughout Newton and the wider Newton community for a time of reflection, connection, and music after the national election. This is a non-partisan event; regardless of the election outcome, we will come together for an evening of prayer and hope.
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Community Thansksgiving Program
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Community Thanksgiving
Program Volunteers
UCW will once again be handing out Thanksgiving dinners to folks from the Newton Food Pantry, the Senior center and beyond. Please volunteer to help for a couple hours on Saturday, November 23 from 9:00-1:00 pm.
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Adult Spiritual Formation Programs
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Monday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. (In Person)
Bible Study, led by Jeannie Martin, continues this Fall, meeting in-person in the Littlehale room at the church on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. We’ll read the Gospel of Mark in upcoming weeks.
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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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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Youth Group and Mission Trip Planning
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Seeking Teen Leaders and Volunteers
We are looking for teen co-leaders of our youth group and mission trip. We are also organizing Teen leaders for our Post-Election Interfaith Gathering next week, and our Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Please 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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Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action Bridges Program
Second Meeting - This Sunday, Nov. 3, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
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Middle and High School Students
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Our church is be part of a cohort of Christian church groups, joining with Congregation Dorshei Tzedek (a Jewish congregation) and the Al Huda Society of Chelsea (a pillar of the greater Boston Muslim community) to participate in the Bridges program. We met for the first time last week, for an incredibly meaningful gathering and conversations.
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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 (Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb, with a celebration in May), 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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The Newton Interfaith Coalition for Housing Equity
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(NICHE is advocacy group that began at The Union Church in response to a lack of affordable housing.)
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Invites You
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To an important event and discussion concerning the current lack of shelter for families with children. The unhoused families are sleeping in unsafe places now, with cold winter months approaching.
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Please join us November 12 at 7:00 p.m. at United Parish of Auburndale.
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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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Update on The Jenny Fund from the Weisz Family
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Beloved UCW member and leader Jenny Weisz’s wish for students in need to be supported in their dreams to pursue education and change the world is taking shape with leadership from her family and support from two organizations, 10,000 Degrees and the Brugger Foundation. The Jenny Fund will provide scholarships to over 30 students in the US and Nicaragua – please see the flyer HERE for more details about the scholarship’s purpose and priorities. If you know a student entering or already in undergraduate education whose path aligns with these priorities, please pass the Jenny Fund information along to them and encourage them to apply.
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Setting the Table for One Another
Reception This Sunday and Beyond
Thank you to The Union Church for hosting our reception this Sunday honoring the saints in our lives.
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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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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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Loving our Neighbors - Wider Community Events
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Annual Fundraising
Gala and Silent Auction
Tomorrow!
Saturday, Nov. 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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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 or if you would like to attend (we have some extra tickets!) We'd love to have you join us!
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Proceeds from the event will be used to help fund MBMM's ACE Center, 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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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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