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Weekly Update Friday, March 31, 2023
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Sunday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m. (Hybrid) Palm Sunday and Special Good-bye Reception for Pastor Wendy
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A Walk Through Holy Week led intergenerationally by all-ages. We will share the special story of Holy Week (in age-appropriate ways) as we prepare our hearts for the hope of Easter. We hope you and your kids will join in this special service. We're looking for more kids and adults to help with some of our readings and non-speaking parts. Please contact Pastor Amy if you can help ([email protected]).
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Zoom Link: HERE Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128 Passcode: 386028 Dial in only: 1 646 558 8656
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The bulletin is available HERE
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Good-bye Reception for Pastor Wendy
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Following worship we will celebrate the ministry of Pastor Wendy Vander Hart before her final Sunday with us on Easter. We hope you will come for this special reception for Rev. Wendy as we give thanks for all the ways she has led and cared for our beloved church in our interim time.
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Message from the UCW Pastoral Search Committee
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Great News from the
UCW Pastoral Search Committee
Meet Reverend Megan Berkowitz
The senior minister search committee is excited to announce that we have identified a candidate for senior minister! If you didn’t receive the letter that went out to the congregation yesterday introducing Rev. Megan Berkowitz, please click HERE.
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SAVE THE DATE - April 28-30: Please mark the weekend of April 28th-30th on your calendars as we will all have the chance to meet Rev. Megan. We'll share more details of the schedule for the weekend soon.
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What’s Possible?
Stewardship Invitation
Hopefully you have received an invitation to invest in “What’s Possible?” through the ministry of Union Church in Waban. We hope you will prayerfully consider generously supporting the ministries God is making possible through us. View our campaign Letter HERE.
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Envisioning What’s Possible!
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Please go here or click the video link above to view an inspirational video about What’s Possible for our future ministry.
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Make a Pledge Commitment HERE.
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Celebrating Holy Week
The Union Church in Waban invites the community to join it in celebrating the Easter season. We will gather in-person and online.
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Palm Sunday - April 2
10:00 a.m. Service (Hybrid) A Walk Through Holy Week led intergenerationally by all-ages. We hope you and your kids will join in this special service. Please contact Pastor Amy if you can help ([email protected]). We'll begin practicing and preparing this Sunday, March 26th in Sunday School.
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Maundy Thursday - April 6
7:00 p.m. Service (Hybrid) A worship service in four movements meeting downstairs in the Vestry. Labyrinth available for walking to follow.
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Good Friday - April 7
6:30 p.m. Service (In Person) The sanctuary will be open for an hour of self-guided reflection on the stations of the cross.
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Easter Day - April 9
6:15 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service (In Person) Early risers, join us for this informal service as we watch the swans and turtles wake up and greet the Easter sunrise with songs and shouts of Alleluia! Pastor Amy and family lead this service. We'll meet in the Wellesley Office Park, behind the building at 45 Williams Street (the sign says 45 Wellesley Office Park, click to see a map - it's on the opposite side of the Charles River from Quinobequin Rd.). After you turn onto 45 Williams, go under the building and look to your right - you'll see an entrance to the Charles River Reservoir. Park and walk down the path until you find Crowley's Landing. The path is fully wheelchair and stroller accessible. Please call Pastor Amy's cell (617-938-8112) if you have trouble finding us.
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10:00 a.m. Easter Service (Hybrid) Bells, drums, a flower cross, Easter blooms, Farewell Liturgy with Pastor Wendy and an Egg Hunt to follow.
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11:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt - Can you help the Easter Bunny? Join us for our beloved Easter Egg Hunt following worship! The Easter Bunny has lots of colorful eggs, but could use some help finding some candy (individually-wrapped, no nuts), stickers, or other goodies to put in them. If you can help, please leave any donations outside Pastor Amy's office or email her ([email protected]) to arrange a pick up. Thank you!
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All-Church Gatherings & Adult Formation
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Next Book Group
Tuesday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. (zoom)
"Poverty, by America" by Matthew Desmond
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Please join us on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. for our next book group meeting. Our book will be "Poverty, by America" by Matthew Desmond You will find a zoom link and sign-in information below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alan Cody ([email protected]). Zoom Link: HERE Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155 Passcode: 431699 Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
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Supporting UCW Congregants and their Boston Marathon Causes
This year’s running of the Boston Marathon is coming up soon, on Monday, April 17, and is calling forth commendable effort from our community. At least two church members will be running the 26.2 miles this year -- Kyle Pond and Joanne Walker -- along with several Newton North high school students who’ve been organized by our own Amy McMahon.
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Pastor Amy Feldman will convene UCW youth and anyone else interested to cheer on the runners, gathering at the home of Jenny Weisz, which is close to the marathon route. Contact Amy ([email protected]) if you’re interested. Jenny promises to teach everyone how to cheer on Kenyan runners in Swahili, based on her time living in Kenya, and Kevin will do likewise for runners from Ethiopia.
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Joanne Walker and The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
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The Marathon is often a catalyst for support for charitable causes, and this year you can convey your admiration for this great effort by supporting the cause Joanne Walker is running for, The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. (The link for Joanne’s fundraising page is HERE.) If we missed anyone else who is running, and/or fundraising around the Marathon, please let us know so we can share that information next week.
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Amy McMahon and Dreamfar High School Marathon
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Dreamfar High School Marathon is a program that helps high school students reach their full potential--physically, academically, and socially by training for and completing a marathon over the course of the school year. Each of our five participating high schools (Newton North, Newton South, Needham, Brookline and Wellesley) have teacher/counselor leaders who train with our students three days a week. (I have been a Leader for the past 10 years). On weekends, students go for their "long runs" out of the Brookline Teen Center with adults who wish to mentor these teens in their journey to complete a half or a full marathon (13.1 or 26.2 miles).
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Dreamfar is a non-profit organization that is run by a very small, part-time staff (part time program director, Level 2 running coach, development director and student intern) everyone else is a volunteer.
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If you wish to donate to our Boston Marathon Charity Bib runners who are running for Dreamfar this year go HERE. That will take you to our list of runners. Click on anyone's name to make a donation! Right now, Dominique, Ronan and Anna could all use a gift or two to make their minimum!
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Children Youth and Families
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Children and Sundays - Spring is here!!
We hope you and your kids will join us for special Sundays coming up!
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- PALM SUNDAY, April 2 - Calling on All Kids and Youth to help lead this special service!
Much like our annual Christmas pageant, we share the special story of Holy Week (in age-appropriate ways) as we prepare our hearts for the hope of Easter. There are ways for everyone to participate, and we hope you will! Please contact Pastor Amy if you can help ([email protected])
- EASTER!! Can You Help the Easter Bunny? Egg Hunt following worship.
The Easter Bunny has lots of eggs to hide, but could use some help with candy (individually wrapped, with no nuts), stickers, or other treats to fill them with. Can you help? Please leave any donations with Pastor Amy, or contact her to pick them up. Thank you!!
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Youth Team Calendar - A Great Spring!
We have a great spring ahead for our Youth Groups and church and we hope you'll be part of it. Please find a calendar of High School, Middle School, and combo events coming up (thanks Jane and Abel for the great format!)
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View Spring Calendar HERE
- TOMORROW - Saturday and Sunday, April 1-2 - High School Overnight! MISSION DINNER AND PALM SUNDAY PREP!
We are re-scheduling our High School overnight to, Saturday, April 1-Sunday, April 2 (Palm Sunday). We hope all HS students will join us for a fun and meaningful night! We'll have a great time, and get ready to roll into and lead our Palm Sunday Service on Sunday morning.
- 3:30-5:30pm- OPTIONAL Drop-in All Ages Palm Sunday prep - A small group of all ages will gather at the church to do some prep and planning for the intergenerational worship service the next morning (costumes, staging, script) - stop by anytime if you'd have fun lending a hand!
- 5:30pm HS Mission Dinner- HS Youth group (including rising 9th graders), parents, and interested chaperones invited - We'll share details about the potential Mission Trip to West Virginia over dinner
- 6:30pm HS Overnight! Evening programming will end around 10:30pm if anyone needs to head home for the night
- Middle School Movie and Egg Stuffing! April 7 (Good Friday) 6:00 p.m.
Middle Schoolers are invited to come for dinner and a movie, and some Easter Egg stuffing fun!
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Church Matters - Room Name Survey
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Church Room Name Survey
The Communications team is working on updating signage in and around the church. We are interested in getting your input regarding possibly changing the names of a few rooms to be more recognizable and to match the way they are being used today. The survey takes less than a minute. Please share your input! We value how you feel about these changes.
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Name Change Survey HERE
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Newton Freedge: Volunteers Needed
Click the sign-up link below for time slots available.
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Our team of volunteers helps keep Freedge running one Saturday a month. Please use the the link below, or reach out to Vinita Leslie, Karen O'Beirne or Erika Pond to learn more or to join our team.
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Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. The Newton Freedge is one way we can help. A free, 24/7 outdoor refrigerator and pantry, the Freedge provides free food and personal supplies to anyone who needs them.
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
Every Sunday after worship we gather on the stage for a time of fellowship. This reception is hosted each Sunday by different members of the congregation.
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Reception Sign-up: HERE Thank you!
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
If you are joining our Sunday worship, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services.
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Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE Thank you!
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Pastoral Care Connections
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During this time of transition, please know that your church is here for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Pastors Wendy or Amy for prayer or pastoral support:
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Mondays are days off for both pastors. Pastor Amy also serves off-site on Thursdays, and may not be immediately available on that day.
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Drivers Needed
Our sister church in Jamaica Plain is reaching out for our help.
During the pandemic, FBC JP began feeding hungry families in Boston. Each week, they currently deliver fresh, healthy, homemade food and meals to more than 340 households. A corporation they had partnered with to provide drivers recently pulled out of their partnership and they are in desperate need of help delivering food. They are very grateful for any assistance you can provide. Feel free to reach out to Pastor Amy ([email protected]) for more information.
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Please email [email protected] as soon as possible with your phone and availability.
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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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