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Weekly Update
Friday, March 13, 2026
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March 15, 10:00 a.m.
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
(In-Person and Online)
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We’re pleased to welcome FamilyAid CEO Larry Seamans (rescheduled from an earlier snow day) into worship this Sunday. Fittingly, the theme for this week in Lent is “navigation,” and Larry will share more with us about the impact of our partnership with FamilyAid’s Family Navigation Center in West Newton. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming him to UCW, and in prayer, song, reflection, silence, and community.
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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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Easter Blooms & Dedications
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We’re continuing our Easter Sunday tradition of including a dedication list in the bulletin to honor, celebrate, and remember loved ones. We’ll also be decorating the Sanctuary with live plants. If you’d like to take part, a $20 donation will help purchase 8” potted tulips, daffodils, and hydrangeas for the celebration.
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Submit Your Dedications
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By Friday, March 27
Thank You!
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Loving God, hear the prayers
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of your people gathered in this community.
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- We pray for an end to war, an end to violence, an end to the harms of Empire that we see in our scriptures and in our world.
- We pray for individuals, organizations, and communities standing up for what is right and just even in the face of great pressures. From individual activists and truth-tellers to technology companies taking a stand against using new advancements to cause harm, and all in between, may all those who rise up for justice be strengthened and their voices amplified.
- We pray for Tom Humphrey and Jim MacDonald, recovering from recent surgeries.
- 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.
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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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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Mark Your Calendars!
Lunch Bunch
This Tuesday, March 17 at 12:00 p.m.
(In-Person, Littlehale Meeting Room)
Come and join us for a hot lunch and fellowship at 12 noon in the Littlehale Room.
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Lunch Bunch is focused on gathering the seniors and retirees in the congregation, though is open to all. In order to plan for food pls rsvp to Molly Owen-Kiritsy or Pastor Megan by Sunday 3/15. Thanks!
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Our team meets up on Sunday, March 22, at 9:15 at the Waban T station.
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Community Dinner
Union Church in Waban
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This Thursday,
March 19 at 6:00 p.m.
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We are delighted to hear that many folks are interested in attending the Community Supper on Thursday, March 19th, downstairs at Union Church in Waban. We are also inviting our neighbors, the Riverside Preschool, the Scouts, the Taiwanese Church and the Winchester School.
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As the saying goes, though, "many hands make light work!" We would welcome your help!
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If you are interested in bringing food, set up, or clean up, the Sign Up Genius below is where you can do that! We will need folks to make their own special mac and
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cheese, bring side dishes or salads, snacks, drinks, and desserts.
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If you can help with set-up or bring food
please Sign-Up HERE
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- Set up will start at 5:30, as the dinner will be at 6:00 PM.
- Clean up will be from 7:00-7:30 PM.
- Food should bedropped off by no later than 5:45 that evening.
Please let us know what you would like to do!
Sincerely,
The Communications Committee: Linda Lynch, Nancy Zollers, Susan Hunt Stevens, Amy McMahon and Pastor Megan Berkowitz+
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P. S. Not able to volunteer, but would like to attend? We'd love to have you. RSVP HERE.
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JAVA Gents
Friday Morning, March 20 at 7:00 a.m.
(In-Person, Littlehale Meeting Room)
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JAVA Gents is the informal get-together of the men of the UCW congregation (and community). The group ais to provide friendly fellowship and mutual support. We will enjoy a lively discussion of timely topics as well as personal goings on in our lives.
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Newcomers are always welcome. Please contact Dan Heffernan if you have any questions or would like to be added to the Java Gents mailing list.
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Tools for Survival in the Wilderness
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Sunday Worship
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Each Sunday throughout Lent, we'll gather around sacred stories and traditions to explore the tools our faith offers us for surviving the wildernesses of our lives and the world around us.
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Small Groups
Meeting Tuesdays at noon on Zoom or Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. at the
church. The groups will give an opportunity for learning, fellowship, and spiritual deepening. Contact Pastor Megan to join.
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Download our Family guide with at home activities to explore our Lent theme as a family. This guide has weekly guided conversations that are designed to help you talk as a family about injustice in the world and start to show your kids some of the tools they will need to navigate the wilderness.
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Download the Lent Guide HERE
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Stand Out
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Union Church joins Stand Out in solidarity with incarcerated neighbors in Burlington Ice Detention Center.
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This past Wednesday, March 11th
Frank, Soo, James, Kent, Lisa and ( not pictured) Nancy and Alison joined with other faith communities to receive updates on the brutal conditions inside; and to pray, sing and walk.
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Members of the Union Church have been gathering monthly to pray, sing, and stand in solidarity with those detained by ICE at the Burlington Detention Center. For more information contact Brita Gill-Austern, [email protected] , Frank Laski [email protected] or Nancy Zollers.
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Monthly Birthday Parties
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Union Church joined Family Navigation Center for a celebration of all March birthday people!
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Maggie, Kathy, Erica and Pastor Megan and Nancy ( not pictured ) were happy to support the staff of FNC and the families they serve.
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More about Monthly Birthday Parties:
We’ve been hosting monthly birthday parties at the Family Navigation Center in West Newton. If you’re not already on the FamilyAid volunteer list but would like to help out, let Pastor Megan know.
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Reading Scripture in Worship
Sharing the Stories of Our Faith
Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE
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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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Coffee Host Needed
Please consider volunteering!
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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.
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Making Space - Stewardship Campaign
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This year’s Stewardship theme is Making Space. Read the full letter from Chair Kent Wittler and the Stewardship Committee here .
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Submit Your Pledge HERE - Thank You!
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Pastoral Care Connections
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz for prayer or pastoral support.
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and her office phone is 617-965-3893
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Most weeks, Friday is a day of Sabbath for Pastor Megan. With a pastoral emergency, please don't hesitate to reach out.
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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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