Happening in Our Church!

Remembering Fred Barnes

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held in our sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 19, with a reception to follow. Come honor the incredible life of our dear friend and church member.

Stewardship Campaign Update

Thank you to the members and friends who have already made a pledge for 2025! The success of our stewardship campaign relies on everyone giving as they are able. We strive for 100 percent participation in pledging, and every gift matters. As we head towards the end of the year, both our participation numbers and the dollar amount pledged continue to rise and we are grateful for your support and consideration. If you have not yet pledged, paper pledge cards are available at the church and can be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the Treasurer at The Congregational Church of Middlebury, 30 No. Pleasant St, Middlebury, VT 05753. We also encourage you to pledge online at the following link: https://www.midducc.org/giving/make-your-pledge Thank you!

Cookies Needed for Community Supper this Friday

It is our Church's turn to provide the dessert cookies for the Community Supper this Friday, December 20. Please take a break from your busy holiday schedules to bake a batch of cookies/brownies/cupcakes (no nuts or peanut butter) for the Supper. You can drop them off during the week in the Fellowship Hall kitchen in the mornings, or before 3 pm on Friday on the cart at the Seymour Street entrance. We really need them for the Supper dessert this week! Thank you so much!

Blue Christmas

Stretching back to the first Christmas, there have always been notes of sadness and grief within this season of joy. This Thursday, December 19th at 7:00 p.m., all are welcome to attend a Blue Christmas Service at the Vergennes Congregational Church. It will be led by Rev. Elliott Munn and Lisa Bessette. This communion service will celebrate Christ’s birth with a gentleness that holds space to remember loved ones we’ve lost. Accompanied by the music of Sue Rakowski, we will open our hearts to the light that shines in the darkness.

Habitat Alternative Gift Fair

Join Habitat for Humanity of Addison County for an Alternative Gift Fair on Sunday, December 22nd during coffee hour. This event offers a unique opportunity to support Habitat for Humanity while giving a meaningful gift to someone you love. When you make a donation, Habitat will provide you with a card to give to your friends or relatives, letting them know that, in their honor, you have donated items like roofing shingles, wallboard, or nails. It's a wonderful way to give two gifts in one! Don't miss the chance to shop at the Habitat Alternative Gift Fair.

Christmas Services

The Congregational Church of Middlebury, UCC will have Christmas Eve Services, Dec. 24, at 4 and 7:30 p.m. The 4 p.m. service will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found on our website, www.midducc.org.The nursery (for ages 0-4) will be open and staffed for the 4 pm service.

There will also be a Christmas Morning Service held in Unity Hall at 10 a.m. on Dec. 25th. Check out our Christmas Guide for all the holiday highlights this season!

Seeking Pie Bakers!

The Community Supper Team provides meals to over 300 individuals each week. Meals are delivered to homes in the Addison area as well as available for dine in or take out in Fellowship Hall. As we strive to bring even more joy to all of our families and individuals this holiday season, your help in reaching our goal of 80 pies is appreciated and valued! If you are able to bake a pie (any amount is so appreciated!) please email Lilly Devlin at lilly@quimbycountry.com or call at 207-841-6250. We ask for pumpkin, berry, apple and just a few pecan pies. We are accepting pie drop off donations on Tuesday, December 24th between 10-2pm and Wednesday, December 25th between 1-2:30pm. If you are not able to make one of these times, please let Lilly know and she can coordinate a time that works for you. Thank you so much for your support and consideration!

Gather & Share: December

Holiday Baking Goods

i.e. sugar, flour, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, vanilla, spices, oil, boxed milk, cookie decorations, coffee, tea, hot chocolate

Thanks to All who helped make our annual Food Drive for H.O.P.E. a success! We are just 175 pounds away (since 12/6/24) from our 3-ton goal for 2024!!! You Rock! -Wendy Warren & The Board of Mission &Social Concerns

Attention! HOPE is urgently in need of certain food items. While you're at the grocery store, consider picking up a few of these items! list here: list

Lunch Bunches

The Ladies Lunch group will be meeting at American Flatbread at the MarbleWorks in Middlebury from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m on December 18th. Please note the date has changed to Wednesday to accommodate the Fred Barnes Memorial Service.

The Men's Lunch Bunch will not be meeting this month, to accommodate the Fred Barnes Memorial Service.

Red Clover Holiday Wish List

Dear Church Community,

The teachers at RCCC have put together a wish list of new toys and materials to expand children’s learning opportunities and grow our library of resources!

If you are interested in donating a gift to RCCC, please use this Amazon link to choose an item. You are welcome to send them directly to RCCC, but please share your name so we can say thank you!

Justice, Compassion, Democracy in 2025 & Beyond

What role, if any, should the Church have in engaging social and political issues in the public domain? Religious leaders are calling for varied responses to the emerging policies of our national government, and to rising Christian nationalism. Robin Meyers, a respected UCC pastor, has written an article that is sharply self-critical of responses by the Church and its pastors.

On two Sundays, January 5 and 19, following worship, we will discuss Meyers’s perspectives and explore alternative approaches. Together, we’ll ask, “Where do we go from here (or not)?” Our pastors will participate in the discussion, with John Emerson facilitating and posing key questions to guide our conversation.

PREPARING FOR THE CONVERSATION

Please read Reverend Robin Meyers’s article in advance and reflect on these questions:

- Which points in Meyers’s essay resonate with you?

- Where, if at all, do you disagree?

- Do the Bible and our faith traditions inform these issues?

- Should the Church (our Church) engage these matters publicly?

Join us at 11:30 a.m. in Unity Hall on January 5 and January 19.

Please help!

Our Friday night Community Suppers continue to grow. We have a core group of volunteers who serve our guests. But we need more! The commitment is only about 2 hours on Friday night and as frequent or infrequent as you want. The work is not hard but so important: set tables, serve food, clean up afterwards.

Looking for a way to help out at church? Have flexible hours? We are looking for volunteers to join our Hospitality team! You would be welcoming groups using our building during off hours. If interested, please contact Mira Cabrera at office@midducc.org or Jeff Ellison at buildingmanager@midducc.org

Online Fellowship Each Week!

Join us for Online Fellowship each week immediately after worship. Hal and Jean will lead us in sharing the good things that are happening in our lives, while connecting as a beloved community. It will be the same Zoom link every time.

Zoom link

Meeting ID: 876 3774 4686

Passcode: 063702