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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.
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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 will meet for a half day retreat on Saturday, March 28th.
We will hear reports from the various ministries of the church in
terms of their visiion for the next 3-5 years
and what specific resources are needed for the coming year. If you
have any comments, feedback or suggestions regarding the life of the
church and our future, please do not hestitate
to speak with Pastor Stacy
or to our moderators, Alicia Collins and Annie
Gatewood.
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Contact
the Union Church in Waban
Aidan Cunningham,
Office Manager
Karen Salides, Director of Childrens
and Youth Ministries.
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THIS SUNDAY
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No Bible Study this week.
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Choir Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.
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Mindfulness Group meets at 9:00 in the Muse Room (the last classroom on the left at
the very end of the hall.)
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Palm Sunday Worship Service 10:00
a.m. With
the children leading us, we will wave our palms and sing Loud Hosanna
as we follow Jesus into Jerusalem at the beginning of this Holy
Week.
The last day to order Easter Blooms is this
Sunday.
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Children's Choir Rehearsal 11:30 a.m.
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Hunger Interest Group meets at 11:30 a.m. For details please see the
mission/outreach section below. Child care provided.
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NICA trip prep meeting at 11:30 a.m.
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 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.
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Sunday
school classes on March 29th: Children will begin in
worship and leave after the Children's Time. All children are welcome.
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.
Sunday
School Schedule: PreK-3rd Grade
March
29th: -Holy Week (Mark 11:1-11; 14:1-15:47)
Sunday
School Schedule 4th grade & up:
March
29th:-Lesson: Jesus the Savior: Death
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Mission/Outreach
Upcoming Opportunities
~~~
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. Child care will be provided. 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.
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...
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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.
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Tuesday the 31st at 7:00. Priscilla will lead us in a discussion of Barbara
Brown Taylor's book "Learning to Walk in the Dark." All
welcome!
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 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.
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 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.
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6:15 p.m. Suggested donation $5/person;
family cap $20 to help cover cost of the food. Please RSVP.
Child care will be provided.
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Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil
Service
Saturday 7:00 p.m., child care available
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