|
|
Weekly Updates
March 20, 2015
|
|
Parents'
Luncheon and Gathering
This Sunday,
parents are invited to gather to share a meal and time to connect. It
will be a time for us to take a breath, reflect on this Lenten season
together, and enjoy each others' company. We'll eat some good food, and
close our time by joining the kids for some photo-booth silliness. We
hope to see you! Contributions of food, and/or RSVPs are
appreciated as we plan for the lunch. Contact Amy after worship or at amy@ucw.org.
Thanks!
Kids' Fun Day and Visit to Waban Health!
Kids of all ages will
gather in the Vestry at 11:30am for Fun and Games! They'll have lunch
together, and then be invited at around 1pm to walk to the Waban Health
& Rehab Center to share a craft and smiles with the residents.
They'll come back to the Union Church to talk about their experience,
share a prayer and then meet parents for some more fun.
As we plan lunch,
and activities/supervision for the kids, RSVPs would be helpful. Please
contact Karen (Karen@ucw.org)
or Amy (amy@ucw.org),
if you know you or your kids will be able to join us. Thanks so much!
|
|
|
|
Holy Week at
The Union Church
in Waban
Palm Sunday, March 29th, 10:00 a.m. worship. With palms and
song, we will mark Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Special music will
include an anthem by the children's choir.
Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, 6:15 - 7:30 p.m. in the Vestry. The
service begins with a simple meal of bread, soup and salad, and
communion, as we remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples on the
night that he was betrayed. After supper, the service then moves into
Tenebrae worship, which is Latin for "shadows" or "darkening."
As scripture and song leads us through the unfolding of events from that
last supper through Jesus' death on the cross, the light will grow dimmer
and dimmer, until we depart at the end of the service in darkness and
silence. Child care will be available. Suggested donation to help cover
the cost of the meal is $5/person with no more than $20/family. Sign up
for this service is in the Crocker Chapel or please rsvp to the office ucw@ucw.org so
that we can plan for sufficient food and child care coverage.
Easter Vigil,
Saturday, April 4th, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Traditionally, on the Saturday
before Easter, newly-baptized Christians would keep an all-night vigil
waiting with great expectation for the dawning of Easter's joy. Our
service, however, is only an hour long, but we embrace this same journey
from darkness into light. We start the service in darkness. Then the
Christ candle that was walked out of our Maundy Thursday service is
brought into the sanctuary. Through communion and the reaffirmation of
our baptism, the light rises and so do our hearts as we give thanks for
the joy of Easter morn that is coming. Child care will be provided.
Easter Worship, Sunday, April 5th, 10:00 a.m. Our Easter Service
will include communion, a bell introit by the children's bell ringers,
and as our offertory anthem, a piece entitled "Easter
Rejoicing" by Jonathan Willcocks for the choir and trumpet. Children
are invited to remain in the service for the entire service to share in
this joyful worship. If, however, parents do need to step out with their
children, the vestry will be set up with some activities/crafts. The
nursery will be available for infants and toddlers. After worship, all
children are invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt. After the
service, please be sure to pick up your Easter blooms so that you can
enjoy them at home.
|
|
Council
The Council is the governing body of the church and
is elected at the annual meeting which is the first Sunday in June.
Council meets on the first Wednesday of the month beginning with
dinner at 6:00 p.m. and then business from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Council
meetings are open to the congregation so please do stop in and join us if
you are interested.
Votes from the
February Council meeting include:
- Pastor Stacy will be on Sabbatical
from August 25 to November 17th. Council voted to hire an
ordained minister to provide sabbatical coverage for 20 hr/week
during this time.
- Deacons recommended and Council
approved that we extend our Sunday morning worship through the month
of June. (In years past the last Sunday of the year was
Father's Day weekend.) Deacons also recommended and Council approved
that we have summer Sunday services at 5:00 p.m. throughout the
month of July with no servies in August. (In years past, we had one
Sunday afternoon service in July and one Sunday afternoon service in
August,)
- The minutes are attached here. If you
have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Stacy
or to our moderators, Alicia Collins and Annie Gatewood.
|
|
Help Needed
One
of Anya Bassett's former students needs help caring for her father, who
has just been diagnosed with cancer. He lives in Concord, MA, and
the family would like to hire a part-time non-medical person to help him
around the house and to drive him to some of his chemotherapy sessions in
Boston. If you know someone who would be interested, please email
Anya at anyabassett@gmail.com.
|
Contact
the Union Church in Waban
Aidan Cunningham,
Office Manager
Karen Salides,
Director of Childrens and Youth Ministries.
|
|
|
|
|
THIS SUNDAY
|
Bible Study 8:00 a.m. in Stacy's
Study. We are reading through
the Gospel of Mark. Come once or come every time, All are
welcome!
|
Choir Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.
|
No Mindfulness Group this week.
|
Worship Service 10:00 a.m. We have the privilege of having
The Reverend Martin Copenhaver, President of Andover Newton Theological
School as our guest preacher. President Copenhaver will offer a
sermon entitled "Called and Recalled" exploring 1 Corinthians
1:1-3. To learn more about Pres. Copenhaver please go here.
Please look for the Easter Bloom order form
in the bulletin. Orders and due into the office by March 29th.
|
Children's Choir Rehearsal 11:30 a.m.
|
Children
will begin in worship and leave after the Children's Time. All children
are welcome.
Our
classes this Sunday are:
Grades Lesson
Teachers
PreK-1st "Ten
Commandments"
Jane Purser
& Ryan Barry
2nd-3rd "Ten
Commandments"
Karen
Salides
4th-5th
Jesus the Savior:
Betrayal
Jaap & Kathy
6th
&
up Jesus
the Savior:
Betrayal
Sarah Drummond
&
Molly Kiritsy
Nursery
care for infants to three year olds will be in the Rainbow
Room
with Lisa Woloski-Barry.
Sunday School teachers and assistants are needed. Please see
Karen
or a CE Committee Member if you are able to help in Sunday
School.
March
Sunday School Schedule: PreK-3rd Grade
March
22nd:- Serve and Follow (John 12: 20-33)
March
29th: -Holy Week (Mark 11:1-11; 14:1-15:47) Palm Sunday
March
Sunday School Schedule 4th grade & up:
March
22nd:-Lesson: Jesus the Savior: Betrayal
March 29th:-Lesson:
Jesus the Savior: Death
|
|
|
 Easter Eggs Needed
Easter Eggs are needed
for the annual
Easter Egg Hunt
following worship on Easter Sunday, April 5. We need to
collect eggs by March 29. Your donation of plastic eggs, pre-filled
with candy or trinkets, is appreciated.
|
|
Mission/Outreach
Upcoming Opportunities
 A message of gratitude from The Rev. Nancy Taylor, Senior
Minister of Old South Church, come to one of the Boston Warms day
shelters. "Dear
Union Church in Waban: Thank you so very much for dropping off to the
Boston Warm Day Center at Old South Church a carload of hygiene kits,
sweaters, and sundries. These materials are desperately needed and will
be a great help to our homeless guests. Bless you!!!! - Nancy Taylor,
Old South Church in Boston"
~~~
Dear Folks interested in Hunger
Issues,
Want to help us decide, plan and
schedule Union Church hunger outreach this spring?
* Shall we help fill a pantry at Newton Community Service
Center that parents use when they come for child care or mental health
services?
* Shall we collect grocery cards for The Second
Step women moving away from violence in their home?
* Shall we cook and serve at Bristol Lodge in June?
* Shall we make plans to become a Local Initiative
mission project that includes funding our outreach efforts?
How can we best involve our youth?
What other ways do you want to do hunger work
through church?
Lets meet on Sunday, March 29th after
church at 11:30. Hope to see you there! For more information
please see Jane Purser, jane@purser.org.
This is a brief and joyful update
on the Union Church work at Russell School.
* A new mentoring program has been jointly developed by
the Russell Principal, staff and Union Church folks. You can
participate with certain commitments. See Mark to learn more! We
look forward to hearing more soon about the progress of this important
initiative, and about this opportunity for us to build relationships
with some young children at our partner school. (For more information,
see below.)
* The terrific Computer Coding Club will
begin again ! Thursdays after school beginning April 30th.
See Rob for more information on this great opportunity to volunteer in
this after-school program. No expertise required. (For more information
see below.)
* The fabulous Multi-cultural night
on March 26th, 5-7 pm should be great fun, and a chance to
meet parents and staff over ethnic food. The energized Parent Council
has invited elected officials, city leaders, others to attend in order
for decision makers to learn more about Russell and how they can
support the school. Want to car pool? (For more information see below.)
* The revived Music Program has permeated the school. The first concert
was amazing and the program is now fully funded by Union Church,
Hancock Church, Russell School and Community Music Center Boston. Stay
tuned for next concert date.
* Other connections have been in play including Liz
Caronna working with staff re: behavior challenged students; Kathy
Malone as student teacher, church folks supporting Literacy Night.
* The Russell School Parent Leaders are hoping to join us at church
one Sunday this Spring!
Help
kids learn to program! --
Russell School Computer Club,
Thursdays April 30th to May 28th from 2:45 to 4:30PM
-- Come
for just one day, or all 5!
We're
working with the Russell School in Dorchester to introduce 4th and 5th
graders to programming. Volunteer to join us on one or more
Thursday afternoons. As a volunteer, you'll work with a few 4th and 5th
graders as they explore this new skill creating projects in the Scratch
Programming Language. No programming skills are required -- help
the kids to focus on the goals of their projects and encourage them!
Contact
Rob Purser (rob@purser.org)
for more information.
 YOU are cordially invited to
a very special event at the William Russell Elementary School
750 Columbia Rd. Dorchester, MA
Orientation
Night: Celebrating our Multiculture
Thursday,
March 26th 5-7 PM
- Meet our families, meet our teachers, see
our classrooms, and enjoy dance, art and our ethnic food!
- Our school serves many children of many
languages and cultures. We want to celebrate that!
- Our successes are many and we hope to
celebrate some of our strengths with YOU on March 26th.
- Our guiding principles are Learning,
Collaboration and Results and we would like to continue our
collaboration with YOU.
- Our school has hopes of continuing to be
strong, and YOU are in a position to continue to support us and
help us.
We very much hope to see YOU At Russell School, and
thank you,
Parent Leaders, Maria Flores & Mr. and
Mrs. Harrington. Principal, Mrs.Tamara Blake RSVP by
3/19/2015 to: flores422x@aol.com
and dasanharrington@hotmail.com
Consider Becoming a Mentor
at the Russell School!
By
Mark Smith
For some time now, several UCW members have beenkicking around the idea
of becoming mentors to young boys at UCW's partner school in
Dorchester, the Russell School. With many questions and details
about the kind of project UCW members could commit to, Jaap and I went
to the school last week to meet with the school's principal Tamara
Blake. Ms Blake spoke of the needs for her kindergarten-age boys
to have positive adult interaction to help them develop the social
skills they'll need to do well in school this year -- and the years to
come. Together, we brainstormed how a mentoring project could
work for her students. Jaap and I left the school inspired to get
something off the ground this year - and the two of us have committed
to begin to work one-on-one with young boys at Russell and see where
the project (and the spirit!) leads. So, beginning on Monday
March 16, we are launching a new effort and we invite other to consider
joining us. To start, we are committing to a weekly one-on-one time
with students at the beginning of the school day (8:15am) for 15-20
minutes. We will begin by developing friendship and trust with
the boys, reading and drawing with them, playing games and other
activities. After two or three weeks, we will share our
experience with others at UCW and answer questions about what is
required to get involved with kids at the Russell. In the mean time,
please see me or Jaap for more information.
And, like all things of the spirit, stay tuned...
|
|
|
________________________________
|
|
Nicaragua
Planning and preparation for our next trip to
Nicaragua in the Spring of 2016 is under way.
If you think the you may be interested
in joining the UCW group on our next trip, or
would simply like to learn more about the program, Sue Hadley and
Judy MacDonald will be available in the Crocker Chapel after service
this Sunday to answer any questions you may have. Also
please take a moment to answer this survey.
Results will help in the planning of the trip. Paper copies
are available in the Crocker Chapel as well. Thanks you!
NICA Trip Planning Meeting:
Our next NICA trip
planning meeting is today after worship on March 29th in Stacy's
study.
|
|
 Prayer Group
Wednesday Mornings
at 7:30 a.m.
Prayer Group meets
every Wednesday. Throughout the season of Lent, please consider walking
the labyrinth that is laid out in Memorial Chapel.
|
|
 Coffee with Stacy
This is a drop in
time to share a cup of coffee and conversation. Please also feel
welcome to set up a time with Stacy by emailing her here.
|
Russell Multicultural Event
Thursday, 5 -7:00 p.m. at Russell School.
See
details above in Mission/Outreach section..
|
Saturday 8:30 a.m. - noon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Our Lenten Journey:
companion on the path.
In
our "go it alone - pull yourself up by your bootstraps" secular
culture, it is good to remember that as people of faith our life is a life
lived together. We are members of the body of Christ, beloved to
God and beloved to each other.
During
Lent, the worship team invites you deeper into this reality by taking up
an intentional practice of praying for another person or praying the prayer
of another person within our community.
Here
is how it will work. You will find in the pews a basket with cards
in it. Take a moment to write down a prayer that you have for
yourself, someone you love or for the world. For example you could
write "Please pray for me -- your name"
or "Please pray that I may have greater insights as to
where my career is to go -- your name" or "please pray
for the end to childhood hunger -- your name". Whatever
prayer is on your heart write it down and then place it in the offering
plates as they pass. You can include your name or leave your prayer anonymous. Whatever feels right.
The
deacons will then take the prayers and place them in a basket in the
front of the church by the prayer station. On your way out of the
sanctuary you are invited to take a prayer from the basket. This
will be the prayer you commit to praying
throughout the Lenten season. You are free to take one
or many. But please pray these prayers intentionally through the
season. As a sign of your prayer, please light a candle and place
it as an offering in the prayer station. As the season progresses so too
will the light of our prayers.
These
offering of prayer will not replace our spoken prayer time during the
service but will provide an opportunity to deepen our prayer over a
sustained period of time as we hold each other and the concerns of our
hearts very intentionally and personally for each other.
In
the words of Lord, Alfred Tennyson "More is wrought by prayer that
this world dreams of." May it be so!
|
|
__________________________________________________________
|
|
________________________________
|
|
|
