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Weekly Update
Friday, September 19, 2025
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Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m.
(In-Person and Online)
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This Sunday, we continue our theme exploring leaders, prophets, and apostles during worship, and offer our gratitude to Mijin and Robert on Mijin’s last day with us as Director of Music.
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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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Sunday School Notice
Kids who do not want to stay in worship will be welcome to play, craft, and read in the Littlehale room with a parent. Though Sunday School hasn’t yet started, one of our new Children’s Ministry Associates will be present to help and guide during the service.
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We will once again offer a bittersweet goodbye in worship this week, offering gratitude, prayers, and well-wishes for Mijin as she departs as Music Director and begins a new role, and to Robert, who has led and served faithfully in our worship and community as well. I hope you will join in worship and in thanking Mijin for her ministry among us.
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With several recent and upcoming goodbyes, I wanted to offer an update about how we are approaching hiring for these key roles in this season. The moderators, Council, HR Committee, and I have worked together to make a plan that serves the needs of our church right now and into the future.
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We are hiring for “Bridge” roles for both the Associate Minister for Children, Youth, and Families and for the Music Director. Bridge roles are often shorter-term than interim positions, and leave room, particularly in the CY&F role, for the church’s visioning process to define what the settled position will look like rather than relying on an interim to steer towards their particular vision of what our next steps ought to be. Both of those searches are well under way, with support from members of the ministries most closely affiliated with these roles. I will keep you all informed in the next several weeks when I have official news to share. If you have questions about how the decisions were made about the type of roles or what the different terms mean, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
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For now, I do have official news to share about our third open role, the Children’s Ministry Associate, which Ileana Miller held for the last two years before moving away for a new educational opportunity. I am excited to share that two young adults from within the UCW community have agreed to share this position, alternating Sundays: Emily Spertner and Nick Tuozzolo. Nick and Emily have remained active in the CY&F ministries and mission and outreach efforts of the church, and I am delighted to welcome them both as Children’s Ministry Associates. I hope you’ll say hi to Emily this Sunday and wish her well for her first day in the role!
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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 Jandi Strong Dennis and her family as they grieve the unexpected death of Jandi’s son Alvin, and for the loved ones grieving Anita Roberts following her death. Receive Alvin and Anita into your eternal embrace, O God, and may all who love them feel the peace, comfort, and strength of your Holy Spirit uplifting them in this season.
- We pray for the families and loved ones of those harmed in the most recent school shooting in Colorado, and for families everywhere who send their children to school each day not just with the joyful anticipation of new learning but with the fear of senseless violence. May our prayers for peace and lives free from violence compel us to action around sensible gun control laws and better supports for those suffering in our communities.
- 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.
- 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.
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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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Alvin Dennis Funeral
Friday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m
at the Union Church in Waban.
Following the death of beloved son and brother Alvin, the Dennis family invites family, friends, and all in the community to join in honoring and celebrating his memory.
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The Funeral Service will be held next Friday, Sept. 26, at 10:00 a.m. at the Union Church in Waban.
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We will gather to remember Alvin’s beautiful spirit, share cherished memories, and say goodbye with love and gratitude. Your presence would mean a great deal to the family during this time of remembrance and reflection.
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In honor of Alvin’s vibrant spirit, they ask guests to wear colors other than black. White, bright, or soft tones are welcome.
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Assisting with the Reception Preparation
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Jandi is very appreciative of the congregation's willingness to assist with the reception being held after the funeral next Friday 9/26. If you're able to provide a simple plate of finger food desserts ( store bought is fine) we would be grateful. Please let Molly Owen-Kiritsy know if you're able to assist with a dessert
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(781 300-1135 or [email protected]). Drop off times will be communicated soon. Molly is also happy to pick up desserts from folks next Thursday afternoon, if that's more convenient. Thank you for your support of Jandi and her family at this time.
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Connecting as Intergenerational Community
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Congregational Gathering - Vision and Strategic Planning
Sunday, September 28 after church
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Did you miss Pastor Megan’s update in last Friday’s e-blast about our Vision and Strategic Planning process? Read it here , and be sure to save the date for our congregational gathering on Sunday, 9/28 after church. Our consultant, the Rev. Dr. Claire Bamberg, will preach and lead in worship and then present and answer questions about the process.
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Volunteer Opportunies with FamilyAid in October
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FamilyAid Update
FamilyAid is looking for volunteers to help transport essential clothing, winter gear, and hygiene kits for children and parents to help them stay warm over the winter. Four Volunteers are needed to transport clothing from Cradles to Crayons to FamilyAid HQ (3815 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02130), where a team of volunteers has signed up to sort and fold the items into bags for children and families. Then, two volunteers will help take the sorted clothes the following day to FamilyAid shelters in Newton and Brookline.
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- Thurs., 10/2/25 - 4 volunteers, afternoon drive, Newton to JP
- Fri., 10/3/25 - 2 volunteers, afternoon drive, JP to Newton or Brookline
- Thurs., 10/23/25 - 4 volunteers, afternoon drive, Newton to JP
- Fri., 10/24/25 - 2 volunteers, afternoon drive, JP to Newton or Brookline
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Volunteers will help ensure that kids are warm and have access to new clothing, as well as help FamilyAid serve as many of our clients as possible. All that is needed is a car, the ability to lift 10 pounds, and a big heart! If you’re interested, please contact Maggie Cooper ([email protected])
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Welcome to the new church year! Sign-ups are now open!
Almost all Sundays are currently available, you are invited to pick a date!
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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 spring.
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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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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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A Note From Our Treasurer
I hope that everyone has enjoyed a great summer. As we resume our regular church activities, we also need to turn our attention to the financial aspects that make our church possible. So if you have not turned in your pledge, or if you are not sure whether we received it, please come see me on any Sunday in September after worship. I will have my laptop with me and I can help you confirm your pledge or get it entered into our systems.
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Also, if you are interested in putting your pledge-payments on a schedule, I will be happy to talk to you about that and discuss various options!
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Jaap van Reijendam (treasurer)
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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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Live the Love & Justice Jesus Taught
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If you’re seeking ways to live out God’s love and justice at this moment in history, I invite you to look through the Southern New England Conference of the UCC’s new “Take Action” page on their website.
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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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