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Weekly Update
Friday, November 29, 2024
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Block Print: Pastor Megan
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The Hanging of the Greens
December 1 at 10:00 a.m.
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This Sunday, as Advent begins, we’ll celebrate with our annual Hanging of the Greens service! With beautiful music and reflections on the meaning of the symbols of the season, and gathering around the table for communion, we will begin this holy season of anticipation together.
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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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Sunrise from the summit of Piestawa Peak: Pastor Megan
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I returned last week from the fall gathering of NGLI, the UCC’s professional development program for young clergy. We gather each fall in Arizona for a time of creative learning, prayer, worship, music, and more. The setting, in the desert outside of Phoenix, is an intentional choice by the program organizers. The desert has a long history of spiritual richness in the Christian tradition, beginning with the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the early Church. Sparse and challenging outer conditions led to rich inner lives of prayer and learning, and to communities passing wisdom along and helping one another to survive.
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It was an ideal setting, too, for our study retreat before Advent began. In the Advent season of waiting and anticipation, as (in the Northern hemisphere) the light continues to fade day after day and darkness grows, all that is extraneous, unnecessary, burdensome is stripped away, and we are left ready and waiting for Christ to enter the world and bring fullness and joy to our lives. It’s the opposite of what happens in the world all around us as Christmas approaches, rushing to add more, do more, get more, be more. The desert was grounding for my spiritual practice and preparation for Advent.
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In Sayings of the Desert Fathers, we read: "Somebody asked Anthony, 'What shall I do in order to please God?' He replied, 'Do what I tell you, which is this: wherever you go, keep God in mind; whatever you do, follow the example of Holy Scripture; wherever you are, stay there and do not move away in a hurry.” Though you probably won’t jet off to the desert in the next four weeks, I pray that this wisdom and practices of simplicity in prayer and worship might accompany you all throughout Advent, and that you might feel rest and renewal awaiting the birth of the Christ Child.
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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 elections. 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 continues to recover from hip replacement surgery. Lend Judy your strength and peace as she heals.
- 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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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 by
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).
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Christmas Giving
Mitten Tree and
Hats, Gloves & Socks for
Refugee and Immigrant Children
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This Christmas season, we are sharing two special ways to care for our most vulnerable neighbors. The first is our annual Mitten Tree collection for Project Care & Concern (mittens will be ready on Dec. 1st!) and the second is a shorter-term collection of NEW hats, mittens or gloves, and warm socks for the children and families of the ACE Center for New Americans.
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Children's Hats, Gloves, and Socks are due
to UCW by Thursday, Dec. 5th
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This is a last-minute collection to assist immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker families who have recently arrived in Lowell. All sizes are welcome. They will be packed in Christmas gift-bags for families in Lowell on Friday afternoon Dec. 6th. If you would like to accompany Pastor Amy to help wrap these gifts, please contact her.
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Caregiving Group
Sunday, Dec. 8th, 11:30 a.m.
All who are caring for or have cared for parents, siblings, adult children, partners, or others are warmly invited to this monthly group. We gather around themes of our faith, share our stories, and support and pray for one another in this good and hard work of caring. We meet in Pastor Amy's office.
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Setting the Table for One Another
Reception This Sunday and Beyond
Host still needed for Dec. 22 & 29.
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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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