|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weekly Update
Friday, September 11, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gathering Sunday
September 13
Looking forward to this Sunday. Worship will be led by our Bridge Pastor, Rev. Richard Chrisman and our new Music Director Cynthia Sanger.
|
|
Feel free to invite friends and neighbors to share in our joyful return to worship and community together.
|
|
Meeting ID: 826 8730 1128
Passcode: 386028
Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
|
|
The bulletin is available HERE
|
|
|
|
|
Please wear your nametag this Sunday to help our new staff get to know everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Committee Chairs
and Leaders Retreat
This Sunday, Sept. 13
|
Calling all UCW Council members, committee chairs and leaders, please join us for our annual retreat after church on September 13, 2026!
|
|
|
|
We will be sharing best practices; ways we can reengage with the UCW Community and the initiatives that emerged from our-short term Visioning process. Our priority for the coming year is to execute the top tier action items from the visioning process and talk about ways to help you in those initiatives. We are requesting that group leaders share their group’s top tier action items in a short summary during the retreat. You can find more information in the agenda here (insert link). Given the timing of the meetings there will be extra food including sandwiches provided at reception.
|
The schedule is as follows (in Littlehale meeting room):
|
- UCW Council Meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Annual Retreat With Committee Chairs and Initiative Leaders from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m.
A preview of the agenda is available HERE.
|
We hope to see you there as we begin a great new year with
our Bridge Pastor, Rick Chrisman and await Megan’s return in December.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oh Lord, you made such a good start
having deemed Creation very good
But discovered soon
It wasn’t perfect
Not the human part anyway.
We went from a kiss to murder,
From murder to concupiscence,
From concupiscence to myriad, teeming broods
Till you stomped the whole darn anthill
With the satisfaction of knocking our hubris
Down to size. Only fruitlessly,
Because next it became necessary
As a last resort to flood it out
Yet regretting it enough
To adjust your own
Extravagant expectations
And get on with the business of
Loving us into shape
For some love of your own.
|
|
What kind of a start to the Bible
Would you say that is, Lord? Hopeful?
From there, your first book doesn’t get any better—
A wandering Aramean with an infertile wife
Faces starvation and obliteration,
Resorts to impregnating a slave,
Except at the last minute
You save the day
And legitimacy is restored,
Then ordered that father
To sacrifice that firstborn son
Except again you intervene on yourself
And save the boy’s—hence the people’s—future.
|
|
This divine zigzag has a human mirror, methinks,
Because later, brothers gang up on their youngest
And is sold off for dead,
And though briefly imprisoned
He soon triumphs in a foreign land
Then reconciles with the guilty scoundrels
And reunites with the grieving father.
|
|
Plenty of material here for a mini-series
Starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Lupita Nyong’o
But your script was rejected
In favor of Odysseus’ odyssey.
All was not lost, Joseph’s descendants
Borrowed your copyright to explain
The coming and departing of Jesus,
The latest in this series of interventions
Into your mangled relationship
With the human race.
You sure didn’t give up on us,
Despite our record of giving up on you.
Who’s the fool, the one who loves,
Or the one who says, “There is no God?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loving God, hear the prayers
|
of your people gathered in this community.
|
- We give thanks for the safe arrival of Pastor Megan and Leila's twins, and we continue to hold them and their families in our prayers during this joyful time.
- We pray for those who are unhoused, sleeping rough, working outdoors, in unsafe living or working conditions, or otherwise subject to the effects of this summer’s heat without adequate cooling. We pray for immediate relief in the form of helpers and cooling centers, and for long-term, sensible action on global climate change.
- We pray as many members of our community are traveling for the summer: for traveling mercies for all!
- 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.
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As we prepare to gather for Welcome Back Sunday on September 13, the Worship Committee would like to thank the people who led our summer services: Megan Berkowitz, Julie Heffernan, Jon Bassett, Jaap van Reijendam, Amy McMahon, Jean MacDonald, Soo Laski, and Alan Cody. Each leader shared a water-themed scripture passage and then reflected on why that particular passage was meaningful to them. The services, with average attendance between 10-12 people, were insightful, Spirit-filled, informal, friendly and fun! And, by the end of the summer, the attendees were pretty good at singing our water songs -- "Down in the River to Pray", "Peace Like a River" and "Standing in the Need of Prayer" -- a cappella, occasionally accompanied by Jandi on her shekere.
|
|
|
|
As we say goodbye to summer, may we remember our water-inspired prayer: Holy One, Fount of Every Blessing, we come to you parched but ready to receive the springs of living water you offer to us. Most of the time, most of us don’t even know we are thirsty. And sometimes, when our thirst pangs emerge, we turn to the enticing wells of the world, yet we find these leave us even drier than before. In the midst of our thirst, fill us with your Living Water that truly satisfies. Transform our spirits and souls into springs that burst forth with life and love for you, your people, for ourselves, and for our world. Amen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UCW is Hiring!
Children’s Ministry Assistant
|
|
We are currently hiring a children’s ministry assistant to help with Sunday school and other children’s ministry events. If you are interested or know anyone who would be a great fit, please reach out to Katie Brown-Bright at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Mission Team at Union Church
|
|
|
Bringing God’s love and light to our neighbors around the corner and around the world.
|
|
|
Please let us know if you would like to be part of the Mission Team this year!
|
We meet monthly to discuss the ministry areas we currently serve, as well as opportunities to serve our local and global community in the future.
|
Bring your energy, ideas, and willingness to serve. Whether you have been involved with missions for years or are simply interested in learning more, we would love to have you join us.
|
|
Please contact David Spertner, on behalf of the Mission Team to learn more:
|
|
|
|
|
Connecting as Intergenerational Community
|
|
|
|
|
NICARAGUA MISSION SERVICE TRIP
THIS CHURCH YEAR
SERVE • CONNECT • ADVENTURE • HAVE FUN
|
It is with great excitement and joy that I want to announce that there will be a Church Service Trip to Nicaragua this Church year!
|
Our service work in Nicaragua has been ongoing for more than 20 years. Over that time, we have created strong and lasting friendships and developed meaningful, effective partnerships with people and organizations in Nicaragua.
|
The trip will be suitable for all ages and skill levels.
|
If you have any interest in learning more, please let me know. We will be deciding on our travel dates very soon. And if you have university-aged students, please share this opportunity with them as well, as some of the travel dates may work particularly well for their schedules.
|
David Spertner
On behalf of the Nicaragua Team
|
|
|
|
Southern New England UCC Annual Meeting
September 25-27, Worcester, MA
|
|
Did you know that as a partner congregation of the UCC, we are entitled to send delegates to the Southern New England Conference’s Annual Meeting? You can meet members from other local churches, attend workshops and worship, and vote on the business of the conference as we do at our own Annual Meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
This year’s meeting will be held in person in Worcester September 25-27 (all business conducted on Saturday the 26th), so the conference is working to get the word out early before the summer slowdown in local churches. More information is available HERE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pastoral Care Connections
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please don't hesitate to reach out to Bridge Pastor, Rev. Rick Chrisman for prayer, pastoral support or with a pastoral emergency.
|
|
and his office phone is 617-965-3893
|
|
|
|
|
Find us on Instagram and Facebook
|
|
|
|
|
We have a new Social Media Director! Maya Tuozzolo has agreed to keep UCW active online. Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook and share UCW posts so we can expand our network
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
