Stewardship Campaign Update

Thank you to the members and friends who have already made a pledge for 2025! With the solid participation of 72 percent of our members, we are nearing our goal of $475,000 with $461,364 pledged as of December 8. If you have not yet pledged, please help us reach our goal of 100 percent participation by pledging what you can! 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!

Parents & Caregivers Gathering

December 14th

Parents and caregivers of children 4 and under are invited to our next gathering this Saturday, December 14th at 4 p.m. Enjoy food, fellowship, and provided childcare—come connect with others!

Christmas Pageant

December 15th

Celebrate the season with us during our worship service on Sunday, December 15th, as we present our Christmas Pageant! Bring your family, friends, and festive spirit as we come together to rejoice in this special tradition.

Online Fellowship

December 15th

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

Celebration of Retirement

Join us at fellowship hour to honor our beloved church member Judy Albright, as she retires from her many years of service as part of the church staff. Extra special treats and smiles will be served up at fellowship hour in her honor!

Gather & Share: December

December theme is: Holiday Baking Goods

i.e. sugar, flour, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, vanilla, spices, oil, boxed milk, cookie decorations, coffee, tea, hot chocolate. We are now just 175 pounds from our 3-TON goal for 2024!

-Wendy Warren & The Board of Mission and Social Concerns

Hook, Needle, and Stitches

December 15th

Once again it is 3rd Sunday and Hook, Needle & Stitches will be meeting at Fellowship Hour. I will not be in town for this Sunday so I hope you all have a good time chatting and crafting together. Be well. Sincerely, Chris

La Comunidad

December 15th

La Comunidad is an outreach program of The Congregational Church of Middlebury that consists of a free, monthly meal for local, Spanish-speaking people—migrant workers, families of migrant workers, and others unaffiliated with farms. It offers a gathering point and as the name suggests, a focal point for community. This month, La Comunidad is happening on December 15th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. We welcome volunteers to come and join the dinner, play with kids in the nursery, clean up or offer rides for our guests. Contact May Poduschnick (may@midducc.org) if you would like to be involved. Spanish not necessary although helpful.

Celebration of Retirement

December 15th

Join us at fellowship hour to honor our beloved church member Judy Albright, as she retires from her many years of service as part of the church staff. Extra special treats and smiles will be served up at fellowship hour in her honor!

Quest for the Spirit

December 16th

Come join on a Quest for the Spirit! Pastor Elizabeth is leading a class on a variety of Christian meditation practices. The class will meet Mondays at 1:30 p.m. in Unity Hall,(Dec. 2-16). All are always welcome. 

Zoom link

Green Team Meeting

December 16th

Our next Green Team meeting will be on Monday, December 16 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. If you are interested in being a part of fulfilling our mission as a Creation Justice Church we would love to welcome you to our team! Contact any of our members (Eliana Cañas Parra, Diana Davidson, Hal Colston, Judy Jessup, Leanna Maglienti, Su Reid-St. John, Paige Russell) or call the church office at 802-388-7634 if you would like to be involved or learn more about our work.

Midd Week Morning Prayer

December 18th

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

Zoom link

Lunches

December 19th

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 19th. Please sign up here or by calling the church office at 802-388-7634 by Monday, Dec 16th so we can let them know how many people to expect. The cost of the lunch will not exceed $15. We will pre-order a variety of flatbreads and large salad bowls to share. Please note whether you would like meat or veggie. If you are gluten free, you can order when you get there. Also please note the start time is now 11:30 am.

The Men's Lunch Bunch will be held at Rosie's Restaurant on December 19th at noon. If you plan to attend the lunch or have questions, please contact Mal Chase at patandmalchase@gmail.com. 

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.

Christmas Services

December 24th & 25th

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. There will also be a Christmas Morning Service held in Unity Hall at 10 a.m. on Dec. 25th.

Justice, Compassion, Democracy in 2025 & Beyond

January 5th & 19th

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.

Help for HOPE

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.

Hospitality Team

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 the office at office@midducc.org or Jeff Ellison at buildingmanager@midducc.org

Help Still Needed!

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.

Please sign up!

From the Deacons...

Copies of the Upper Room and These Days devotional guides are on the Communications table at the rear of the sanctuary.  Please take one if you would like!

Click to sign up...

Greeter

Fellowship Hour Hosts

Community Supper