Middlebury Congregational Church

Dear friends in Christ,

I hope you’re all doing well this week. Things have been busy here at MCC as rehearsals continue for the play and we engage in spring cleaning and maintenance:

MCC Players Present As You Were: Tickets on Sale

Dinner theater is back at MCC! Play rehearsals are in full swing. Mark your calendars for a performance like no other this Mother’s Day weekend. As You Were is the play written by our very own Chris A., which was scheduled to be performed in Spring of 2020. After three years of pandemic delays, the show will go on!  The latest flyer is attached. More information and tickets can be found here: https://www.middleburyucc.org/mcc-players/

Vacation Bible School Registration is Live

Vacation Bible School is back this summer at MCC, and registration is now open!  Join us for “Hero Hotline”, June 19-23rd.  To register a child (K-6th), go to: https://middleburycc.breezechms.com/form/VBS2023.

To register a counselor (7th-college), please go to: https://middleburycc.breezechms.com/form/VBSCounselor2023.

If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Valerie at vbeard@middleburyucc.org. 

Spring Clean Up: Saturday, April 29^th

Our annual Spring Clean Up of the church and parsonage grounds is scheduled for 4/29, starting at 8am. Tools and Supplies Needed: rakes, shovels, pitchforks, edgers, brooms, loppers, pruners, leaf blowers, tarps, wheelbarrows, trailers, and pickup trucks.

We’ll also be looking for a few volunteers the week prior to do some more detail oriented garden work prior to bringing in all the mulch on the 29^th.

Interested in Joining MCC?

We’ve noticed a number of new faces around! If you’re interested in learning more about MCC or about joining the church please contact me! (kmanzi@middleburyucc.org). We’re looking to receive new members during worship on Pentecost, 5/28.

Charles P. Luckey Scholarship: Deadline May 31^st

The application for the Charles P. Luckey Scholarship is available and is on our website:

https://www.middleburyucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Luckey-Scholarship.pdf

Scholarships are open to any high school student entering their freshman year of college that is a member of Middlebury Congregational Church and will be attending an accredited college or university.

All applications must be postmarked by May 31, 2023.

Interim Faith Formation Coordinator Position Posted

As many of you are aware, Valerie Beard, our Faith Formation Coordinator, is stepping down at the end of this school year. Church leadership has decided to search for an Interim Faith Formation Coordinator for the 2023-2024 program year, and there is possibility that person may be eligible for the permanent position. We’re beginning a search for that position which is open to people outside of MCC and people affiliated with MCC. The job posting is available here: https://www.middleburyucc.org/job-openings-at-middlebury-congregational-church/

General Comments

As I mentioned last week, our Scout Troops 5&6 , Eversource, and the Town of Middlebury helped coordinate planting a new tree on the green for Arbor Day. I’ve attached a picture once everything was all done. Thank you to Doug P (scout parent and arborist) for the picture and for coordinating everything!

This Sunday we’ll have a guest preacher, the Rev. Jeff Lukens (a Troop 5 Eagle Scout), who grew up here at MCC.

See you Sunday!

Peace,

Pastor Katrina

Dear friends in Christ,

I hope everyone is doing well. It was lovely to see many of you during Holy Week and Easter. Thank you to everyone who donated to our Easter flowers! Janine SW was able to get some wonderful flowers. Pictures are attached of the sanctuary on Easter. We have a number of things going on at the church:

Strawberry Festival Planning Meeting. Wednesday 4/12@7pm

One of the focus areas identified at the Planning Breakfast this winter was to work on fundraising. In response to that, we’re thinking on ways to build up the Strawberry Festival this June. Join us tonight at 7pm, 4/12, to help us brainstorm and plan!

Tree Planting for Arbor Day: Thursday 4/13

Eversource in collaboration with the Town of Middlebury and our BSA Scout troops are planting a white oak tree on the Green in honor of Arbor Day this Thursday around 11am. This replaces a tree that the Town had to take down due to storm damage some months ago.

Additionally, at a different time, Eversource and the Town are going to trim the trees on the Green of dead branches. An arborist evaluated the trees on the Green, and one of the trees needs to come down due to damage, and there will be an additional tree planted once the damaged tree is taken down. That tree will also be a white oak tree.

Thank you to Eversource, the Town of Middlebury, and to our BSA Scouts!

MCC Players Present As You Were

Dinner theater is back at MCC! Play rehearsals are in full swing. Mark your calendars for a performance like no other this Mother’s Day weekend. As You Were is the play written by our very own Chris A., which was scheduled to be performed in Spring of 2020. After three years of pandemic delays, the show will go on!  The latest flyer is attached. More information and tickets can be found here: https://www.middleburyucc.org/mcc-players/

Vacation Bible School 2023

Vacation Bible School is back! Mark your calendars! Children entering K-6th grade (for the 2023-24 school year) are invited to join us at the Hero Hotline Headquarters June 19-23, 2023. Registration coming later this month!

Interim Faith Formation Coordinator Position Posted

As many of you are aware, Valerie Beard, our Faith Formation Coordinator, is stepping down at the end of this school year. Church leadership has decided to search for an Interim Faith Formation Coordinator for the 2023-2024 program year, and there is possibility that person may be eligible for the permanent position. We’re beginning a search for that position which is open to people outside of MCC and people affiliated with MCC. The job posting is available here: https://www.middleburyucc.org/job-openings-at-middlebury-congregational-church/

Spring Clean Up: Saturday, April 29^th

Our annual Spring Clean Up of the church and parsonage grounds is scheduled for 4/29, starting at 8am. Tools and Supplies Needed: rakes, shovels, pitchforks, edgers, brooms, loppers, pruners, leaf blowers, tarps, wheelbarrows, trailers, and pickup trucks.

We’ll also be looking for a few volunteers the week prior to do some more detail oriented garden work prior to bringing in all the mulch on the 29^th.

Charles P. Luckey Scholarship: Deadline May 31^st

The application for the Charles P. Luckey Scholarship is available and is on our website:

https://www.middleburyucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Luckey-Scholarship.pdf

Scholarships are open to any high school student entering their freshman year of college that is a member of Middlebury Congregational Church and will be attending an accredited college or university.

All applications must be postmarked by May 31, 2023.

General Comments

The season of Easter celebrating Christ’s resurrection lasts for 50 days. As we continue in the Easter season, I thought I’d share this section from an Easter sermon of 2^nd century bishop Melito of Sardis:

“God has clothed himself in humanity. For me a sufferer he has suffered; for one who was in prison, he was made captive; for one who was condemned, he has been judged; for one who was buried in the grave, he has been buried. But now he is risen from the dead. He cries out:

‘Who will contend with me? Let them confront me.

I have freed those who were condemned;

I have  given life to those who were dead;

I have raised up the dead from their graces.

Who will dispute my cause?

I am the Christ.

I have abolished death;

I have triumphed over the enemy;

I have trampled hell underfoot;

I have bound the strong one, and I have raised humanity up to the heights of heaven: Yes, I am the Christ.

Come, then, all you nations, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you. For I am your forgiveness.

I am the Passover that brings salvation.

I am the lamb who was slain for you.

I am your ransom, you life, your resurrection, your light.

I am your salvation and your king.

I will raise you to the heights of heaven.

With my own right hand I will raise you up, and I will show you the eternal Father.’”

Peace,

Pastor Katrina