|
|
|
|
|
Weekly Update
Friday, January 16, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MLK Day Weekend
January 18, 10:00 a.m.
(In-Person and Online)
|
John’s Gospel begins “In the beginning,” but rapidly brings us to some of the highest-tension moments of Jesus’ ministry. This Sunday, we’ll read the story of Jesus turning over the tables in the temple and consider it in the context of MLK Day Weekend and the news from the world all around us.
|
|
Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
|
|
The bulletin is available HERE
|
|
|
|
This Sunday after worship:
"a time to speak, a time to listen"
|
During reception time this Sunday, you are invited to join us for a GBIO listening session in the Vestry right after worship service - details below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statue of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. over the west entrance of Westminster Abbey(Church of England, Anglican Communion). Installed in 1998, sculpted by Tim Crawley. (wikipedia.org - usage CC0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have exciting news to share about next Sunday, 1/25, when we will welcome two special guests from FamilyAid into our worship service to share about the good work continuing at the Family Navigation Center in West Newton. Larry Seamans, President and CEO of FamilyAid, will speak during the service, and Lydia Hoffman, Manager of Volunteer Services, will be present to answer questions and greet potential volunteers.
|
Then, after worship, we will have an all-ages community service opportunity led by Lydia, where we will be packing clothing and hygiene kits and writing cards of welcome and support for families in shelter. This opportunity is truly designed to be accessible to volunteers ages 2-102 (the actual age range of our congregation!) so come as you are and trust that you can be part of this good work we are doing as a community. The service project will last 60-90 minutes, but it is OK if you can only stay for part of the time.
|
I hope you’ll plan to join for worship and service together as a community next Sunday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loving God, hear the prayers
|
of your people gathered in this community.
|
- We pray for Glenn Cunningham and his family who are grieving the loss of Elise’s mother Roxane this week. Receive Roxane into your tender care, O God, and comfort her family in the wake of her loss.
- God, we ask that you would strengthen and care for our immigrant neighbors of all legal statuses who continue to live in fear and uncertainty amidst current immigration policies. We pray for all who are standing up to injustice and witnessing to the dignity of all life in the face of violence and dehumanization.
- God, we pray in gratitude for the life of Betty O’Beirne. Comfort all who grieve her with your peace which passes understanding.
- As the weather remains bitterly cold and the dark nights persist, we pray for all our siblings who are unhoused and sleeping rough. Protect and shelter them, O God, and may we be part of a great effort of providing shelter and safety this fall and winter.
- 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.
|
We pray to you, grateful for your accompaniment with us in all things. Amen.
|
|
|
If you have other prayers of concern or celebration you
|
|
would like lifted up in community, please email
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you from Project Care and Concern (PCC) and
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless (BHH)!
|
|
Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, UCW was able to provide Christmas gifts to 40 people who live at PCC's Walnut House as well as 20 family members at BHH this year. As The BHH team said in their thank you letter, "This holiday season was especially challenging for many people, particularly in light of the recent reduction in SNAP benefits among other things.
|
|
|
|
|
Your kindness helped ease this burden by eliminating stress surrounding the holidays and ensuring that at least for one day, our patients are filled with nothing but warmth, love, and joy. Your support ensured that our patients felt seen and reminded them that they are worthy of receiving new, meaningful items they had personally wished for." These same sentiments hold true for our friends at PCC's Walnut House. On behalf of your Mitten Tree team, we cannot thank you enough for your continued support!!
|
|
|
|
|
If you'd like to watch a short thank you video from BHH,
please click the image above or HERE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This Sunday, Jan. 18: “a time to speak, a time to listen”
|
During reception time this Sunday, you are invited to join us for a GBIO listening session in the Vestry right after worship service . Take time to share your views about what matters most for the GBIO social justice action campaign in the year ahead. Tell us your story and lend your voice to the power of the Greater
Boston Interfaith Organization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Stand Out at
ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Office in Burlington
|
|
|
David, Jenny, Kent, Frank, Nancy -The Union Church continued to join people of faith in Burlington at the Ice Detention Center at last Wednesday's Stand Out.
|
|
Next Stand Out at ICE in Burlington
Wednesday, February 11th at 11: 00 a.m.
|
Join the Stand Out in support of our neighbors incarcerated at the
|
|
Burlington ICE Facility, 1000 District Avenue.
|
|
Rides available-contact Nancy .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reading Scripture in Worship
Sharing the Stories of Our Faith
Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coffee Host Needed
Please consider volunteering!
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Making Space - Stewardship Campaign
|
|
This year’s Stewardship theme is Making Space. Read the full letter from Chair Kent Wittler and the Stewardship Committee here .
|
|
Submit Your Pledge HERE - Thank You!
|
|
|
|
Pastoral Care Connections
|
|
|
|
|
Please don't hesitate to reach out to Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz for prayer or pastoral support.
|
|
and her office phone is 617-965-3893
|
|
|
Most weeks, Friday is a day of Sabbath for Pastor Megan. With a pastoral emergency, please don't hesitate to reach out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
