Middlebury Congregational Church

Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope all of you are doing well this week. As we approach October, there are a few things to highlight:

Get Your MCC Liberty Puzzle

As part of our Stewardship campaign, we’re selling MCC Liberty puzzles. A picture of the puzzle is attached. (It comes without the words on it.) Get your heirloom-quality, laser-cut wood MCC Liberty Puzzle in time for Christmas giving! Order by Sept. 25 at https://www.middleburyucc.org/giving-to-mcc/puzzle/

Book & Bake Sale and Book Donations & Volunteer Sign Ups

The Mission Board is hosting another book and bake sale, this year on October 22^nd. Through October 9^th we’re collecting: soft and hard cover books of all shapes and sizes in good condition. puzzles, CDs, and DVDs. (Please no encyclopedias.) There is a bin outside the church office where donations can be dropped off.

We need volunteers to help with various aspects of the Book and Bake Sale: sign up sheets are up on the bulletin board outside the Social Hall.

Additionally, Katie P made a lovely flyer for the sale, and that’s attached.

Sunday School Registration

Sunday school has started, but registration is still open. Registration can be completed online here: https://middleburycc.breezechms.com/form/SundaySchool

Additionally, some pictures of Sunday school the past couple Sundays are attached!

General Comments

I watched the funeral for Queen Elizabeth earlier in the week in the hopes that there would be some good church music, and I was blown away by some of the pieces. I found the service overall quite moving because it was really touching for me to hear pieces of the funeral liturgy I’ve said countless times officiating funerals be arranged and sung so beautifully. Whether you’re a queen or an everyday person, the words are the same.

My favorite piece from the funeral was from the committal service, and it was the “Russian Kontakion of the Departed.” You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PswgH-YbeU

This piece is a setting of a prayer I regularly use for committal/graveside services:

“Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy Saints: where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing but life everlasting. Thou only art immortal, the Creator and Maker of man: And we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return: For so thou didst ordain, when thou createdst me, saying, Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. All we go down to the dust; and, weeping o’er the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy Saints: Where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing but life everlasting.”

I love the way that prayer manages to convey with so few words the hope of the gospel while acknowledging the heartbreak of loss.

Peace,

Pastor Katrina

Dear friends in Christ,

I hope you’re all doing well this week. It was wonderful to see many of you this past Sunday for Homecoming. We have a number of things happening in the life of the church:

New Members/Church Info Meeting: 9/18

We’re planning on receiving new members this fall. If you are interested in joining the church or want to learn more, we’re planning an information meeting after worship this Sunday, 9/18. Let me know if you’re coming! If you’re interested in joining the church and cannot make that meeting, please also be in touch with me (kmanzi@middleburyucc.org) so we can make things work.

Sunday School Registration

Sunday school resumed this past Sunday, but registration is still open. Registration can be completed online here: https://middleburycc.breezechms.com/form/SundaySchool

Book & Bake Sale and Book Donations

The Mission Board is hosting another book and bake sale, this year on October 22^nd. Through October 9^th we’re collecting: soft and hard cover books of all shapes and sizes in good condition. puzzles, CDs, and DVDs. (Please no encyclopedias.) There is a bin outside the church office where donations can be dropped off.

Get Your MCC Liberty Puzzle

As part of our Stewardship campaign, we’re selling MCC Liberty puzzles. A picture of the puzzle is attached. (It comes without the words on it.) Get your heirloom-quality, laser-cut wood MCC Liberty Puzzle in time for Christmas giving! Order by Sept. 25 at https://www.middleburyucc.org/giving-to-mcc/puzzle/

Volunteers for the Office

We are looking for volunteers who would be available to help out in the church office as we sort what comes next for staffing.  

Some of the things we’re looking for coverage on are: being in the office set times to answer the phone and let people in, making copies, sorting the mail, etc.

If interested please contact Sal S, chair of Trustees (chemdocsal@gmail.com) or Ellen A, chair of Church Council (spirit2000@aol.com)

Homecoming Volunteers: Thank you!

I want to thank all our volunteers who helped make our celebration this past Homecoming possible! Thank you to everyone who lent us tents and activities, and thank you to everyone who cooked, set up, and cleaned up. I’ve attached the photos ShawnaLee took on Sunday, including the silly photo, which is quite silly. If anyone took any photos on Sunday that you’d like to share, please send them along to me.

General Comments

This week we’re back following the lectionary, the ecumenical calendar of scripture readings for worship, and the gospel lesson is Luke 16:1-13, the parable of the dishonest manager. This is arguably one of the most confusing texts in the whole Bible. St. Augustine, flummoxed by the parable, is often credited as saying: “I can’t believe that this story came from the lips of our Lord.” I skipped the parable the last time it showed up in the lectionary, but this Sunday I’ve decided to give it a go. So, come this Sunday to see if we can glean some worthwhile meaning from a story about a manager who cheats his boss.

I hope everyone has a good week!

Peace,

Pastor Katrina