Happening in Our Church!

MIDDWeek Morning Prayer

Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. we have MIDDWeek Morning Prayer via Zoom. During this service, we share prayer concerns, meditate on scripture, and listen to centering music.

Zoom link

You can also call in at 929-436-2866, with meeting ID 865 4123 2698. All are welcome!

Helping Hands

A BIG thank you to all who joined us to take the greens down in the sanctuary and in Unity Hall on January 6th. Our next monthly Helping Hands Crew gathering will be on Monday, February 3rd, from 10:15 to 12:30. All are welcome to join us. We are not sure yet what our tasks will be, but bring your mop pail, as there are always surfaces that need a light touch.

See you then; if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Dorothy Douglas at jdmamidd@comcast.net or 802-388-6257.

Gather & Share: February

The February theme is: Rice and Beans

HOPE WISH LIST: Rice of all kinds, canned beans, Progresso-style soups, canned pasta, Knorr-style pasta & rice sides

Thanks to All who helped make our annual Food Drive for H.O.P.E. a success!

—The Board of Mission and Social Concerns

Sunday is Big Meeting!

Big Meeting is a time when all the church school aged children/youth can meet in one big group and have a worship time that is tailored for a younger audience.

Big Meeting happens the first Sunday of each month during our program year (Sept – June), which is also Communion Sundays. Children and youth are dismissed after the passing of peace and will reconvene in Unity Hall with May Poduschnick. During our Big Meeting time, we will have a mini-service, following the liturgy of the main service but shorter and with more opportunities for questions and dialogue. After our time of prayer and lighting of candles, we will rejoin the main service for Communion and kids will find their parents/guardians to sit until the end of the service.

Justice, Compassion, and Democracy in 2025 and 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. After-worship meetings on January 5 and January 19 were well attended, and many people, with varied perspectives, shared their perspectives.

On Sunday, February 2, following worship, we will continue our discussion. We plan to break into smaller groups to better facilitate shared conversation. We will first convene in Unity Hall as usual.

PREPARING FOR THE CONVERSATIONS

Please read articles by Bishop Mariann E. Budde and by Vermonter Carl Krieg in advance and reflect on these questions:

Should the Church (and our Church) be engaging these issues at all?
Have we already taken steps to engage them? When? How? Are we comfortable or uncomfortable with these activities?
What constructive steps might we take in the coming months to work for justice, compassion, and peace – as Jesus instructed? How, without crossing a line that some might see as being too explicitly political?

Join us at 11:30 a.m. in Unity Hall on February 2.

Epiphany Stars

Come and join your fellow Star followers!

Let’s embark on a journey together with our "star words." Share your word, your initial reactions to it, and what you hope to learn or gain from it. This is a shared experience—we’re all companions on this path. Whether you reconnect with familiar faces or meet new ones, you’ll find a welcoming space here.

Choose one of these times to join:

Sunday, Feb 2, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Youth Room)

Tuesday, Feb 11, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM (Carpenter Room)

Sunday, Feb 16, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Youth Room)

Have questions? Feel free to email may@midducc.org.

About Star Words:

On January 5th, we distributed "Epiphany Stars" with special words printed on them. This tradition invites you to reflect on this word as a guide throughout the season of Epiphany—or even the entire year. If you missed the star distribution, don’t worry! You can stop by the church office, or send us your address and we will gladly send stars to you.

California Wildfires 2025 Support

As we continue to pray for and support those who experienced unimaginable loss in the wake of the fires in California, we invite you to support the UCC's recovery efforts! Donate to the UCC's California Wildfires 2025 Appeal here: https://support.ucc.org/california-wildfires-2025. Your gifts will support the community's immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts as we work with local communities to ensure an equitable approach to their long-term recovery. You can also mail a check payable to the United Church of Christ, PO Box 71957, Cleveland, OH 44194. Please be sure to note "California Wildfires 2025" in the memo section of your check. Our EIN: 34-1927041. Thank you for your assistance in helping families and communities who are in great need in the aftermath of these hurricanes. Your heartfelt support will make a difference.

Online Fellowship Hour

There is online fellowship immediately following the Sunday worship service every week. Join us for a time of conversation and and joy! Come as you are from wherever you are!

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

Celebrating Jeff Ellison

Join us after worship on Sunday, February 9th during fellowship hour to celebrate Jeff Ellison and his years of dedicated service as our Building Manager! Jeff has been an incredible part of our church community, keeping our space running smoothly with care and commitment for many years. Stop by for fellowship, gratitude, and refreshments as we honor Jeff’s hard work and the lasting impact he’s made in this space. Hope to see you there!

No Taizé in January

There is no Taize this month. We will return in February. You can read more about this special monthly service here.

Everybody Wins!

Vermont at Mary Hogan is desperately seeking more mentors for students in grades 2-5. Everybody Wins mentors are matched with a student and pairs read and play games together for one hour each week. Student participation in EVerybody Wins is completely voluntary. If you're looking for a way to make a difference in the life of a local child, please consider applying to be a mentor with us. If you'd like to learn more please visit www.everybodywinsvermont.org or contact Sarah at middlebury@everybodywinsvermont.org. The deadline for new applicants is January 31st.

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