Dear friends in Christ,
I hope you’re all doing well this windy/rainy week. We have a number of upcoming events in the life of the church:
Church Info Session: 10/9
We’re having a second informational session about the church in the Conference Room at 11:15 on Sunday 10/9 for those who are looking to learn more about the church or who are interested in joining the church. We will be receiving new members on 10/23 during worship.
Book & Bake Sale and Book Donations & Volunteer Sign Ups
The Mission Board is hosting a book and bake sale on October 22nd. Through October 9th 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.
October Open and Affirming Events
- Saturday 10/15: Screening of Pray Away in the Social Hall @6:30pm
Join us on Saturday 10/15 for a screening of the Netflix documentary Pray Away. We’ll have popcorn! If you have a Netflix account, you’re also welcome to watch at home. The film follows LGBTQ Christians and Christian leaders grappling with the impact of “pray the gay away” ministries/conversion therapy. The film is PG-13. If you’d like to attend the screening and need childcare, please contact Pastor Katrina (kmanzi@middleburyucc.org) so we can schedule childcare at the church.
- Wednesday 10/19: Pray Away Discussion
Online on Zoom and in person in the Social Hall @ 7pm
Join us for an opportunity to learn about and discuss the topics and themes brought up in Pray Away. A Zoom link will be emailed out prior to the date.
Preschool Pie Fundraiser
The Preschool Fall Fundraiser is underway! From now until 10/21, the preschool is selling pies, cookie dough, and other goods to raise funds for special STEM activities for the school. Pick up will be 11/8, just in time to make Thanksgiving dessert a little bit easier. Please use the link to order, and plan to pick up in the social hall on November 8th. Email vbeard@middleburyucc.org with questions. Thank you!
https://my.mcmfundraising.com/2022-fall-preschool-on-the-green/preschool-on-the-green
Advent Workshop: 11/13
This fall, we will host an Advent craft for all ages! After church on November 13th, we will be making advent wreaths. Everyone is invited to join! Some of our older Sunday School children and youth will be leading this craft.
Over the next month, we will be looking for donations of small glass jars (like you may have jam or yogurt in, or small mason jars). We are also looking for a few handy people who are willing to slice some logs to make wood rounds, for the base of the wreath. Please see Valerie Beard or a member of the Board of Faith Formation if you have any questions.
Mission Opportunities
The United Church of Christ has recently issued two appeals for aid in response to recent natural disasters: one for the terribly flooding in Pakistan and one for the recent hurricanes.
- Donations for Pakistan relief can be made here: https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/pakistan-emergency-appeal/
- Donations for Hurricanes Ian and Fiona can be made here: https://support.ucc.org/donate—hurricanes-2022?inf_contact_key=d0ca562a15c10c8289ab476047d993afd18a532c4142cb79caf2b269de1401fa
General Comments
I’m glad to be back in Middlebury after spending most of last week in Memphis. Last week was the orientation for a program run by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards to provide professional development and support for young, early career UCC clergy. So, I’ll be doing twice yearly continuing education with the cohort of clergy I met this past week for the next four years. We covered a lot of ground this past week: overview of the program, talking about racial justice, getting to know you activities, doing some personality/brain mapping inventories, touring the First Congregational Church of Memphis and learning about their mission activity, and learning how the UCC retirement and health benefits work. If you’re interested in learning more about what I’ll be up to for the next number of years, here’s a video that gives an overview of the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQL-tmhtp2A
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Katrina