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Weekly Update
Friday, November 15, 2024
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This Sunday
November 17 at 10:00 a.m.
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This Sunday, we’ll gather for worship with a sermon by Jaap van Reijendam and a deep welcome to Yarisleidy Cortez hosted by our Nicaragua ministry.
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Pastor Megan will be away with the UCC Pension Board’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative this week but will rejoin for All-Comers, Thanksgiving Dinner, and Thanksgiving Sunday.
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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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Thank you to everyone who joined in the Congregational Meeting last Sunday, and particular thanks to co-moderators Susan Hunt Stevens and Susan Gedrick for leading us, and to Jaap van Reijendam for ensuring those on Zoom could take part as well. The brief workshop Leila led on 1:1s, in the GBIO and community organizing model, gave us a tool for connecting with one another more deeply. Doing that workshop mattered to us deeply enough this fall to bring it to a whole congregational meeting – not just Nominating, or Mission, or other groups that may have used that model in the past – because it matters that we are all connected as deeply as possible.
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Beyond specific purposes of building power for community organizing (though that is and will continue to be important in our church’s witness for justice in the world), relationship-building through 1:1s will help us to build a deep network of trust within our congregation. As we have begun preparing for this year’s visioning process, where everyone in the community will be asked to weigh in on who we are and who God is calling us to be next, we will rely on those bonds of trust and goodwill to hold us. Together in relationship, we will engage in discernment, listening to each other with openness, curiosity, and hope.
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If you were unable to attend the meeting or had to leave early, and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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Loving God, hear the prayers
of your people gathered in this community,
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- We pray for those most vulnerable in our country – queer and trans, immigrant and refugee, Black and brown, poor and unhoused, and so many more – and all those who fear for the future after the recent election results. We pray for a future in which all people in our country can thrive, in which all your children throughout the world can thrive. And God, we ask you to make us instruments of bringing that future, your kin-dom of peace, justice, and mercy, to reality.
- God, we pray for Judy MacDonald as she recovers from hip replacement surgery this week. Lend Judy your strength and peace, and may she experience healing and care through this surgery, her medical team, and the support of her family and friends.
- Prayers for Polly, mother of Molly Owen-Kiritsy, who has entered hospice care. Bless her with peace 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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Let us know if you can join us!
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All Comers Potluck Dinner is Back!
Friday, November 22
6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
At The Home of
Linda Lynch & Kevin Johnson
131 Windsor Road,
Waban, MA 02468
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Come one, come all, to UCW All-Comers Dinner! All are welcome to this night of food, fellowship, and fun. Bring a friend if you'd like! We'll be enjoying a potluck meal during the evening, so, if possible, please sign up with something you can bring to share (enough for 3-4 people).
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Please RSVP HERE
Please RSVP by This Sunday, November 17
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Your RSVP helps us ensure we'll have a balanced meal and know who will attend. If you aren't able to bring something to share, please don't worry
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- your presence is plenty!
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Please RSVP as individuals or families; if you're signing up your family,
make a note of who or how many will come in the comment section.
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What a blessing it will be to gather!
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Community Thansksgiving Programs
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We received some feedback from the Newton Food Pantry that their clients would be better served if we help to stock the Freedge for four days leading up to Thanksgiving, instead of handing out turkey dinners to go.
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We will still be providing dinners to other folks such as Newton seniors on Saturday, November 23rd. But we would also like to send two Freedge deliveries a day from 11/23-11/26, one in the morning and one in the afternoon/evening.
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We received some feedback from the Newton Food Pantry that their clients would be better served if we help to stock the Freedge for four days leading up to Thanksgiving, instead of handing out turkey dinners to go.
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We will still be providing dinners to other folks such as Newton seniors on Saturday, November 23rd. But we would also like to send two Freedge deliveries a day from 11/23-11/26, one in the morning and one in the afternoon/evening.
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Community Thanksgiving
Dinner to Go
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UCW will once again be handing out Thanksgiving dinners to folks from 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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Stocking the
Food Pantry Freedge
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Saturday, Nov. 23 -Tuesday Nov. 26
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Alicia will provide the box of food to be delivered, so you just need to swing by, pick it up and bring it to 420 Watertown Street in Nonantum.
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Please use this LINK to sign up either to help prepare the
“To-Go” dinners on the morning of the 23rd
OR to deliver food to the Freedge.
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(Please also spread the word about the “To-Go” dinners
to anyone who could use a turkey dinner!)
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Thank you so much for your support!
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Our Advent Season Preparations Have Begun
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Edit this to insert text.
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UCW Advent Devotional Booklet is Back!
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Jeannie Martin, who is UCW’s inaugural writer-in-residence, and Pastor Megan are working together to bring back the collaborative UCW Advent Devotional booklet, similar to years past. All in the community are invited to contribute: whether you have written something you’d like to share, have new words for a favorite hymn or carol in honor of Advent this year, or want to include a favorite poem or short essay by another writer, please share it so all in the community can be blessed as well. If you have visual art (photos, prints, etc.) those submissions are very welcome, too! If you’re looking for guidance, the Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy will guide us.
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Please email written or visual art submissions to Pastor Megan
by the evening of Tuesday, November 26.
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They will be collected along with the weekly scripture, questions and coloring for kids and families, and more, and distributed to the UCW community throughout Advent.
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Christmas Poinsettias and
Annual Dedications
Our Advent season preparations have begun! Our annual Hanging of the Greens service will be on Sunday, December 1, when we will decorate our Sanctuary with live plants. We are also preparing our annual Family and Friends Dedications list for inclusion in our Advent Sunday bulletins on December 15 and 22.
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Please submit
Sunday, December 1
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- Each donation of $25.00 will be used to purchase an 8" Poinsettia.
- You will have the option to take the poinsettias you have dedicated home with you after the Christmas Eve evening service.
- Payment can be made online when submitting your order or by mailing or
dropping off a check at the church office (payable to The Union Church in Waban, memo: Poinsettias).
Thank You!
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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Youth to Gather at the All-Comer's Dinner!
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We hope all youth will join us at the All-Comer's Dinner listed above. We'll have a special time for the youth to gather and discuss plans for the coming months and mission trip. Please let Pastor Amy know if you can come!
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Youth Group and Mission Trip Planning
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Seeking Teen Leaders and Volunteers
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We are looking for teen co-leaders of our youth group and mission trip. We are also organizing teen leaders for our Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Please let Pastor Amy or David know if you are interested.
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Service Trip to San Juan Del Sur
First Meeting: Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6:00 p.m.
In Person at UCW (for travelers and potential travelers)
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Big News!
Service Trip to our sister city, San Juan Del Sur: Feb 15th - 23rd
You will not want to miss this important informational meeting.
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In this meeting you learn:
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- What will the week will look like
- What are the logistics of travel
- What are the costs
- How much fun will I have while serving !!!!!!
We hope to see you at the first meeting. If you have any questions, please reach out to: David Spertner aka Jefe @ 617-549-1200 or [email protected]
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For more infotmation about the trip, what to expect
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and a brief history of the UCW involvement
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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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Setting the Table for One Another
Reception This Sunday and Beyond
Thank you to Linda Lynch 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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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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