Mira Cabrera- Design and Publishing
May 2026
Tending to the growth
Rev. Elizabeth Gleich
Dear Church,
It has been almost a year since I returned from my 3.5-month sabbatical, and I thought it might be nice to give you an update on how I have been continuing to work on some of my goals!
As some of you may remember, last September I became an Oblate Candidate with St. Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota (https://sbm.osb.org/partnership/oblates/). Oblates are people who feel called to live out Benedictine values — such as humility, hospitality, prayer, and community — within their everyday lives while remaining formally connected to a specific monastic community. This path is especially meaningful to me because of my deep familial roots in Benedictine spirituality: my aunt and great-aunt were Sisters at St. Benedict's Monastery. On September 19, God willing, I will formally make my perpetual commitment to the Oblate way of life.
In the months leading up to this, I have been tending to my spirituality in a variety of ways. In January and February, I took an online class through the School of Theology at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, called “The Perpetual Wisdom of the Rule of St. Benedict.” Through this one-credit course, I had the chance to formally study the Rule and reflect on the ways its wisdom remains relevant to 21st-century life. It was a rich and rewarding exploration of a tradition I love deeply, and I'm pleased to share that I earned an A!
When I visited the monastery last September and prayed three times a day with the Sisters, I was reminded of how much I love and miss communal prayer with this community. Their prayers, known as the Liturgy of the Hours, consist of chants, psalms, and silence. The life of a Benedictine revolves around these prayers, also called “Opus Dei”, or the Work of God. The idea is that prayer is God’s work in us, and our work in God. As Sister Joan Chittister writes, “Our prayer, our very lives, are a work that God is doing in us… our very creation is God's work, crafted for the good of the world.”[1] Benedict teaches that frequently pausing to pray in community is central to Benedictine life, and that the work happening outside of formal prayer is also a form of prayer. Every part of communal life, for Benedict, is sanctifying. This is good news for those of us who cannot stop to pray multiple times each day!
Since returning from my sabbatical, I have been meeting regularly with my friend the Rev. Caryne Eskridge of Weybridge Congregational Church to pray the Liturgy of the Hours together. Caryne also has a deep affinity for the Benedictines and spends a week each year on retreat with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania. These gatherings have been a meaningful way to stay connected to my prayer life and to pray in community. I also meet online once a month with my cohort of oblate candidates to pray, discuss our shared reading, and explore how this tradition applies to our daily lives.
What does all of this mean for my work as your pastor? It means I am spending more time thinking and praying about what it means to live and work in community — about the humility required to grow and learn together, the importance of deep listening (to God and to one another) for our mutual flourishing, and how remaining rooted in one place (what Benedictines call stability) can lead to the transformation of both self and community.
This month, May 11–15, I will spend five days at St. Benedict's Monastery, which I am very much looking forward to. Thank you, again, for supporting my spiritual growth and education. I am a grateful pastor.
Elizabeth
[1] Joan Chittister, The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 2010), 126–127.
A Joint Worship Service of the Addison Association, United Church of Christ
Sunday, May 31st at 10:00 a.m. at the Vergennes Congregational Church, 30 S. Water Street
On Sunday, May 31st, the congregations of the Addison Association of the United Church of Christ will gather together for a joint worship service at the Vergennes Congregational Church. This is believed to be the first time in recent memory, and possibly ever, that all Addison Association churches have worshipped together on a Sunday morning!
The pastors of each congregation will participate in leading worship. The choirs from each church will join together in song. Our Conference Minister, Rev. Lynn Bunjak, will preach. Childcare and Church School will be provided for all children. The church has a large parking lot with accessible parking available.
We encourage every member of every congregation in the association to join us in Vergennes that Sunday. Occasions like this one are rare, and there is something powerful about the churches of our association worshipping together as one body! For those unavailable to be there in person, you can join the livestream at www.facebook.com/vergennesucc.
Following worship, all are welcome to stay for lunch and the Addison Association Annual Meeting and program, which will begin at noon and conclude by 1:30. The program will consist of a "listening session" facilitated by our VT Conference Minister, Lynn Bunjak and Associate Conference Minister, Paul Sangree, which is an opportunity for members across the association to share their perspectives on the life and future of our churches in Addison County. We hope you will join us for some or all of the day!
Schedule:
10:00 a.m. – Joint Worship Service
11:00 a.m. – Lunch
12:00–12:30 p.m. – Addison Association Annual Meeting
12:30–1:30 p.m. – Listening Session facilitated by the Conference Ministers
All are welcome. We hope to see you there.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE april 2026
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
At its April 8 meeting, Church Council learned from Treasurer Cathy Chase that the church checking account compromised by thieves in February has been closed. Fraudulent checks continue to be presented to National Bank of Middlebury, but because the account is closed those checks are being denied. Before the account was shut down, thieves wrote 11 fraudulent checks totaling about $11,000. So far, the church has recovered about $4,200 related to four checks. Police are investigating the theft and the church hopes to recover all of the funds eventually. The thefts occurred after someone obtained unauthorized access to the financial records of a non-profit with which the church does business.
Pastor Elizabeth Gleich told the Council about 180 people from different faith traditions attended a potluck dinner and sing-in at the church in March. The event, sponsored by the Middlebury Area Clergy Association, allowed participants to share their concerns about recent federal immigration enforcement actions. She also told Council members that all eight United Church of Christ congregations in Addison County will gather for a common worship service on May 31 at the Vergennes Congregational Church. There will be no service at our church that Sunday. This may be the first time all Addison County UCC churches have worshipped beneath the same roof.
Pastor Andy Nagy-Benson said he plans to meet with Gus Jordan and Dottie Neuberger to discuss the future of the Friday Night Supper program. Dottie, who has run the program for many years, is stepping down in January.
Robert Foster, who chairs the Board of Trustees, said preparations for the roof replacement project are continuing to move forward. Under the contract trustees are reviewing, the project’s cost is capped at $555,000. Work is scheduled to start by July 1 and to be completed in about nine weeks, although it’s possible the contractor will be able to start sooner. Moderator Leanna Maglienti said that while the church will have to set aside 10 parking spaces for workers, all of the spots in the church parking lot on Seymour Street will remain available to members.
Council passed a motion appointing Ian Phair, Erika Garner, Michele Brown, and Sally Holland to leadership positions on the 2027 Budget and Stewardship Committee, which will conduct a drive to raise money for church operations next year.
Leanna shared with Council members two documents related to church safety. The first outlines steps churches can take if federal immigration agents seek to enter a building to make an arrest. It was prepared by the United Methodists of Susquehanna and Upper New York and shared with our church in February, 2025. The second is an 11-page document revised in March 2025 that outlines the church’s safety policies and procedures. Council agreed to ask the church’s two building managers to draw up emergency exit maps for any rooms that do not have them posted already.
Respectfully Submitted,
Matthew Cox, Church Clerk
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Between annual meetings, the Church Council meets once a month to fulfill its responsibility to coordinate the church's programs and business. Council has the powers generally ascribed to a corporation's board of directors.
The Church Council is composed of the following Church members: Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, and the chairpersons of the six church boards. Also, there are three at-large members. One is elected every year and serves a 3 year term.
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The basic life and work of the church is under the direction and supervision of church boards, which meet monthly at the All Boards Meeting and report to the Church Council. Members of these boards are elected from the membership of the church.
Children & Youth
May Poduschnick
Happy Eastertide!
We launched the Easter season with a beautiful service followed by an exciting Egg Hunt. Our high school “elves” did a wonderful job hiding over 550 stuffed candy eggs all over the town green for our young egg hunters, including 5 Golden Eggs. The rain did not deter us—by the time the hunt began, the precipitation had ended. Nothing like starting the season on a high note!
We also welcomed three new Confirmands the following Sunday, April 12.
Parent Playdate continues to meet monthly for parents of preschool children. Pastor Elizabeth plans the adult program while I supervise childcare, including music and teaching moments for the children. This ministry is made possible by the many volunteers and teens who help watch babies and children, prepare food, set up, and clean up. If you are interested in contributing food or being the host/hostess or help in any other way, click the links or contact Pastor Elizabeth or me. Many hands make this possible!
Church School is humming along, with only two more gatherings in May before we culminate with Children & Youth Sunday on June 14, 2026. You are in for a treat as the children and youth present the musical The Tale of Three Trees. Don’t miss it!
We are also gearing up for our second Nature Bible Camp, June 16–18, 2026, at Branbury State Park. Please share this opportunity widely with friends and neighbors—participants do not need to attend our church to join. This year’s theme is Children of Faith, highlighting children in the Bible and the important roles they played, and how their faith in God made a difference. We look forward to continuing this new tradition of beginning the summer with a joyful outdoor camp. This is a joint effort of the Congregational, St. Stephen’s, and St. Mary’s congregations.
Junior Youth Group (JYG) continues its journey through My Neighbor’s Faith. In April, we learned about our Jewish and Hindu neighbors through guest speakers and, when possible, visits to local places of worship. In May, we will explore Buddhism and Islam. We also remain active in our community by serving at the Friday Night Community Supper and participating in Green Up Day with our church.
The Nursery continues to be a joyful place filled with the sounds of play and music. Thank you to the teens and adult volunteers who faithfully staff the nursery year-round, as well as for special events (Annual Meeting, new member gatherings, Ash Wednesday, and more). If you love holding babies, we could use your help—signing up even once a quarter (four times a year) would make a big difference.
I am always grateful for everyone who shows up, feeds us, cleans up after us, cares for our children, teaches Church School, and contributes in countless ways to our Children & Youth Ministry. We truly could not do this without you. You have my sincere gratitude and appreciation.
Gratefully,
May
Director of Children & Youth
Music Ministry
Ronnie Romano
Dear church family,
As the rush of Holy Week and Easter gently subside, the choir has a moment to breathe and regather our strength as we prepare for the final several weeks of our church year. I can’t wait to begin dreaming up new possibilities for next year and beyond! I feel so deeply proud and content with all of the music-making that happened in church so far this year, and that is due in no small part to your willingness to say “yes” to everything I’ve thrown at you. So, thank you!
It’s never too early to start thinking about summer music. Do you have a musical offering you’d like to share with the congregation this summer? We need some musical volunteers! Please contact me directly or put folks in touch with me who might be interested by email - ronnie@midducc.org. I always enjoy seeing musical contributions arise right from within our congregation. There are so many wonderful skills to be shared and I hope you will consider serving your church in this way.
With winter ever so slowly turning to spring, so too are my thoughts turning to new ideas for future musical programming. Please don’t hesitate to speak with me if you have ideas for the music program going forward. Some of my most valuable and successful ideas have come from spontaneous conversations that I’ve had with members of this church, and I am always willing to consider new approaches. I’d love to get together with you to share a coffee or quick meal and chat about music!
As I draw my second year as music director to a close (has it really been 2 years already?!), I am awash with gratitude at everything you have given me at this church. I truly mean it when I say I feel honored to serve as your music director, and I so appreciate all of the love that you show me all the time. I can’t wait to see what we cook up next!
With joyful anticipation,
Ronnie
Director of Music
MiddUCC Green Team Updates
The month of May brings us well into the season of Eastertide, and with it, an abundance of opportunities to rejoice in new life. While caring for creation is a year-round activity, the Green Team is offering multiple opportunities for engagement this spring.
Green Up Day is Saturday, May 2 and the Green Team is combining efforts with the youth groups again this year. All are welcome to join in the effort! We’ll meet at 10:00 am that morning on the front steps of the church. Bags will be provided, and we will fan out in the downtown area, cleaning up a portion of the banks of Otter Creek, the Marble Works, and the Town Green. This is the 56th year of this annual state-wide event, and participating in your own town or neighborhood is also an encouraged option.
Our next Green Team meeting is Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 PM via Google Meet. New members are always welcome! Contact office@midducc.org if you would like to be involved or learn more about our work.
Looking ahead to early June, our annual seedling giveaway is evolving into a special collection for our friends and neighbors at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). While we have typically given at least half of our seedlings to CVOEO, we wanted to center that relationship this year and donate all of them. So, whether you have some of your own homegrown seedlings to share or prefer to purchase a few at a local nursery to bring that Sunday morning, we will be hosting a special vegetable/herb seedling collection on Sunday, June 7 after the service and encourage you to bring a few to donate. Tomatoes, squash, broccoli, and cucumbers were especially welcome last year. Thank you all for your consideration of this important ministry for our neighbors—every year our seedling offerings have been tremendously appreciated!
May's Taizé Service
The next Taizé service will be held on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in Unity Hall.
Founded in 1940s France in the wake of World War II, the Taizé style of worship was created to foster unity among Christians of all traditions. The Taizé community served as a safe haven for refugees fleeing persecution, bringing people together through simple, contemplative worship and the minimalist monastic lifestyle. Pilgrims would sing the Taizé chants in their own language to reflect their personal relationship with God. Today, Taizé continues to inspire millions worldwide with its message of peace, reconciliation, and inclusion.
Our service features repetitive chants, reflective silence, heartfelt prayers, and the warm glow of candlelight. It’s a chance to step away from life’s busyness, immerse yourself in a contemplative atmosphere, connect with our loving God. Mark your calendar and we'll see you there!
Gather & Share Theme for May
This May, we invite you to join our new HOPE Food Shelf theme: Meatless Mondays.
As we gather for worship each Sunday, we also have an opportunity to care for our neighbors in a very practical way. We encourage you to bring shelf-stable, meatless food items and place them on the altar before worship as a visible sign of our shared commitment to feeding our community.
Think protein-rich, nourishing items that can help make a simple meal: beans, lentils, rice, pasta, boxed mac and cheese, canned soups, peanut butter, shelf-stable milk, canned vegetables, tomato sauce, quinoa, oats, ramen, or other vegetarian pantry staples. Please bring shelf-stable items only.
Our gifts support HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects), which serves Addison County. HOPE’s mission is “to improve the lives of low income people in Addison County, Vermont, by working with individuals to identify and secure the resources needed to meet their own basic needs.” HOPE’s food shelf serves over 3,000 people each year, offering non-perishable foods as well as other essentials to local individuals and families.
Giving matters because hunger is rarely just about food. A few donated pantry items can help stretch a family’s budget, make room for other urgent needs, and remind our neighbors that they are not alone. When we bring what we can, we take part in a wider ministry of dignity, care, and community support.
To learn more about HOPE and its work in Addison County, please visit their website. Or, continue below to the "Gratitude Collection" to read a special note of thanks the office recently received from HOPE.
Food Drives coming up!
Mark your calendars: on Friday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Board of Mission and Social Concerns will be holding food drives for HOPE at Shaw’s and the Middlebury Co-op.
We are looking forward to a strong day of community giving, and we hope you will consider being part of it. Watch your email for details about how to sign up for a shift and help us give this year’s poundage a real boost!
The Gratitude CoLLECTION
Here in the office we have the pleasure of receiving notes of gratitude in the mail, over the phone, and in person. We thought it would be nice to have a place to collect these little gestures of gratitude and share them with our wider community...what better place than our monthly Church Matters publication?! Welcome to The Gratitude Collection!
This month: A note of gratitude from HOPE, on MiddUCC's efforts to collect food each month through the Gather & Share campaign.
Dear Members & Friends,
From all of us at HOPE, thank you for your multiple, generous contributions to our food shelf. Over the past 5 months, we've received 7,765 lbs of food! Your donations have been instrumental in helping us keep our shelves stocked with healthy food options and non-perishables for neighbors struggling to make ends meet.
We are deeply grateful for your commitment and compassion. It is because of donors like you that low-income people in our community have a place they can turn to in their time of need.
With your support, we can make a significant impact in the lives of the 1,000 people we serve each month.
With heartfelt gratitude and warmest regards,
Susan Perine, Ambassador of Gratitude for HOPE
We love collecting and amplifying the gratitude you feel for Church and beyond! Have some gratitude you'd like to pass on? email it to office@midducc.org and we'll add it to the gratitude collection for a future Church Matters!
Did you know? Message from Planned Giving Committee
Our Church celebrated the Bicentennial of our historic Church building in 2009. Generations of Church members have ensured that it is regularly maintained. At our Tricentennial in 2109, will the same be true? The answer will depend significantly on bequests to the Church. The recent vote by the congregation to replace the church’s roof underscores that our endowment is critically linked to the preservation of our beautiful building. Please consider including our Church in your will. Call us if you would like more information.
Planned Giving Committee (Sally Holland, chair; John Emerson; Tana Scott)
Invitation to College Students for Brunch!
On May 3rd, please join the college ministry team for an informal brunch at Taste of India after worship--We'll meet at the church offices and walk over to a together to share a meal. Questions? Can't come but would like to be on our email list? email Pastor Elizabeth Gleich: Elizabeth@midducc.org
Monthly Ladies Lunch!
Did you know there is a monthly social gathering for the women of the church at the Waybury Inn?
The Ladies Lunch offers a delicious home-style meal shared with church friends, both old and new. At $20 per person, it is a wonderful value, and the setting is lovely. The Waybury has graciously reserved two tables in the front dining room especially for our group, with easy parking, convenient restrooms, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
The group typically gathers on the third Friday of each month at noon. A head count is required, and reservations must be submitted by the Wednesday before the lunch, so please be sure to email Nancy at cvpropnf@gmail.com if you would like to attend or be added to the list of ladies who lunch!
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may Birthdays
Paige Russell May 1
Alison Dickinson May 2
Alyssa Sinclair May 2
Lucas Nelson May 3
Sofia Anderson May 4
Felix Poduschnick May 4
John Harrell May 5
Maya Troy May 5
Nancy Jakiela May 6
Jim Foster May 7
Alex Marshall May 9
Nate Marshall May 9
Andy Nagy-Benson May 10
Bob Foster May 13
Lois Kaufmann May 13
Elliot Munn May 13
Bob Champlin May 14
David Preble May 14
Cathy Molloy May 16
Mary B. Williams May 16
Nancy Foster May 17
Stacia Greene May 17
Stacie Baldwin May 18
Jackson Kubacki May 18
Tim Williams May 19
Holly Puterbaugh May 20
Galen Fastie May 21
Irene Barna May 22
Eliana Cañas Parra May 22
Michael Durst May 23
Elizabeth Gleich May 24
Lucy Poduschnick May 24
Buz Brumbaugh May 25
Aiden Cole May 25
Ron Rucker May 25
Sara Rose Ruffa May 26
Nancy Adams May 27
Barbara Kent May 29
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May Anniversaries
Mark & Shannon Gleason May 4
Donald & Leanna Maglienti May 8
Glenna & Richard Emilo May 15
Andy & Gwen Nagy-Benson May 17
Jim & Dorothy Douglas May 24
Diana Davidson May 25
Robert & Nancy Foster May 25
Peter & Margaret Carothers May 30
Hugh & Candy McLaughlin May 31
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Church Calendar
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