Mira Cabrera - Design and Publishing
July 2026
Not a Dormant Summer
Rev. Elizabeth Gelich
“For everything there is a
season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
Summertime is often a quieter season in the life of the church, or at least that was my experience while serving congregations in Connecticut. Typically, worship attendance dropped significantly, church school ended, and many programs paused for a few months.
I arrived in Middlebury as your new Associate Pastor in 2019, just as summer was beginning. I expected to find a church slowing down for the season. Surely people had summer plans that would keep them from worship on Sunday mornings, especially in such a beautiful place as Vermont. Surely folks wouldn't want to hear me preach every Sunday in July!
Instead, I was surprised to discover that people here at the Congregational Church of Middlebury don't really take the summer “off.” Yes, attendance was slightly lower, but not by much. While the pace relaxed somewhat, I quickly realized this is a truly “year-round” church. I was impressed then, and I remain impressed today.
I'm grateful to report that this spirit has not changed during my seven years of ministry here. Looking ahead to July, our wonderful Yale Divinity School intern, Eliana, will be leading a weekly Bible study on the Beatitudes. May Poduschnick will not only continue church school throughout the month, but she will also lead “JYG in July,” a junior youth group experience meeting three days a week for service, learning, and fun.
In worship, we look forward to music led by special guests from both within and beyond our congregation. As for preaching, you won't only see me in the pulpit this July; we'll also have the opportunity to hear Eliana preach. Meanwhile, many of our ongoing ministries—Parent Playdate, Nifty Fifties, Lay Visitation, MiddWeek Morning Prayer, Walking Group, Ladies Lunch, Friday Night Community Supper, and more—will continue uninterrupted.
And while we're on the subject, I’d like to offer a special word of appreciation for May Poduschnick. As you can tell from the paragraphs above, she is already doing remarkable work with our children and youth this summer. I am grateful for her leadership, along with Ronnie's, in making Children and Youth Sunday on June 14 such a meaningful and joyful celebration. One of May's great gifts is the way she recognizes, encourages, and nurtures the talents of young people. It is truly inspiring to witness. Just two days later, she led a three-day Nature Bible Camp at Branbury State Park, bringing together children and adult volunteers from St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and Memorial Baptist Church. May has a remarkable ability to draw people into her ever-widening circle of care, connection, and participation. Thanks be to God for her ministry and for the children and youth she so faithfully shepherds.
I am grateful to be part of such a vibrant and vital faith community. At the same time, I hope this summer offers each of us opportunities for rest, renewal, and delight in the beauty of God’s creation. May this season be one of both faithful engagement and holy refreshment.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE june 2026
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Foster told members of Church Council on June 10 that the start of the roof replacement project has been pushed back to late July or early August. While the work is being done, the outdoor playground used by the Red Clover Children’s Center will be out of commission. Dan Brown said the church plans to set up a temporary outdoor play area at the north end of the church’s property.
Treasurer Cathy Chase told the Council the church should receive further information in July about efforts to recover funds that were stolen from the church by thieves who gained access to the church’s checking account. So far the church has recovered $5,400 of the $11,000 that was taken.
Pastor Elizabeth said her term as moderator of the Addison Association ended on May 31. Michele Brown is the new moderator and Pastor Andy is the new assistant moderator. Michele said 186 people attended the joint worship service in Vergennes last month that included members of all eight Addison County United Church of Christ churches. About 32 people participated online.
Pastor Andy said Eliana Cañas Parra, the church’s member-in-discernment at Yale Divinity School, has started her summer internship here. He told Council members he’d like to see them name a working group this summer to consider the future administration of the Friday Night Community Supper Program. Dottie Neuberger, who has run the program for 23 years, is stepping down, and in her absence much of the work of running the dinners will need to be taken on by church members, he said. Dan Brown and Nancy Lee Ross volunteered to be part of the group.
Moderator Leanna Maglienti said the church has created Incident Report forms that need to be filled out if someone is injured on church property. The completed reports should be submitted to Church Administrator Mira Cabrera or Ian Phair, she said.
Council members talked about ways to get more people to serve as greeters at Sunday service.
Pastor Andy and Pastor Elizabeth led an activity that encouraged Council members to think about the range of programming offered at the church, both by the church and by outside organizations. In the ensuing discussion, Pastor Andy said he’d like to see more members of the congregation share the work of putting on fellowship hour, and also of being at the church when outside groups use the building at night and on weekends. He also encouraged the Council to think of community groups the church might want to invite to use the building.
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.
Summer is busy and Joyful!
We had a busy and joyful month of June!
Church School concluded with a celebration of the many talented children and youth in our congregation during Children and Youth Sunday. Many thanks to all of the children who learned their lines and bravely sang in front of the congregation; to their families for getting them to rehearsals; to Bea Hooper for her directorial skills; and to Ronnie Romano and the choir for providing musical leadership and support. It was a beautiful service in which we recognized our Church School teachers and helpers, honored and sent off our graduating seniors, Kisung and Rachael, and celebrated the vitality of our children's ministry. What a blessing it was.
As one program year ends, summer is anything but quiet! July brings Summer Church, a one-room class for all children entering Kindergarten through 8th grade, meeting during worship on the four Sundays of July. July also marks the midpoint of our intergenerational series, Church Family Dinner Talk, where people of all ages gather over a simple Wednesday evening meal followed by guided conversations exploring what it means to be Seeking God Together.
Parent Playdate will meet off-site in July to enjoy fellowship and time outdoors together. Summer is a wonderful season to appreciate the beauty of God's creation and connect with one another in nature.
The Nursery continues year-round, as always. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers and teen helpers who faithfully keep this ministry staffed and running.
JYG is trying something new this summer with JYG in July. We will gather three times each week during the four full weeks of July for a combination of service projects, learning opportunities, and fun activities. We are excited to launch this new initiative and see where it leads. There is never a dull moment at JYG!
It has been a wonderful summer so far, and we are excited to see what else God has in store in the life of our church.
-May Poduschnick
Nature Bible Camp
We hope you enjoy the above photos from this year's Nature Bible Camp! Thanks to all the campers, organizers, and volunteers for a wonderful camp session!
Gather & Share:
July's Theme is Picnic Basket
With summer in full swing, our donations for HOPE Food Shelf are sitting strong--over a TON so far this year! This month’s theme is Picnic Basket, inspired by the foods that make summer meals feel easy, cheerful, and shared. As you shop this month, consider adding something that could brighten a neighbor’s summer table:
🧂 Ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish
🥒 Pickles (yes to these heavy jars!)
🔥 BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or grilling spice rubs
🥗 Salad dressings — ranch, Italian, vinaigrettes
🍝 Pasta salads or boxed macaroni salad kits
🌽 Canned baked beans or corn
🍉 Shelf-stable treats like lemonade mix, iced tea, or cookies
These items are often a little heavier, which helps our total grow quickly, but more importantly, they help bring variety, flavor, and a bit of summer joy to HOPE’s shelves.
Bring a bottle, a bag, or a basketful. Donations may be dropped off in the office Monday–Thursday from 9–12, or brought with you to worship on Sunday.
Let’s keep feeding HOPE — one picnic basket at a time!
Music Ministry
Dear church,
As I write to you on my last day in the office before a summer break, radiant sunshine permeates every surface in my field of vision, dappling the landscape in vibrant color. The air is cool, inviting, and calm, gently beckoning all to go outside and stay there, taking in the miracle of it all. An early summer's day like this reminds me of how fortunate we are to experience the wonders of the world. These scenes of the world fill my heart with music, as the music we make is nothing more or less than a reflection of our lived reality.
In thinking about music at church for the next program year, I cannot even begin to contain my excitement! Here is what we have coming up.
Chancel Choir
As always, the Chancel Choir will continue singing in worship each week. We rehearse on Thursday evenings in Unity Hall (7:00-8:15pm) and Sunday mornings in the Sanctuary (9:00-9:40am). We sing music of all styles to elevate our collective worship of God. Please consider joining us next year—we want more singers!
Taizé
These special services will continue on the first Wednesday of each month in Unity Hall (7pm) starting in October. This year, we hope to hold a monthly rehearsal for singers and instrumentalists from our congregation and beyond, to help learn more new music and get more musicians involved with each service. Stay tuned for more details on this in early fall.
Handbells
We hope to hold regular handbell rehearsals after worship each week for this coming year. Bell ringers will likely prepare music to share in collaboration with the Chancel Choir. More information will be released about this later, but for now, you can look forward to hearing the bells in worship more regularly!
Children's Choir
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for…children's choir! The children and parents of the church have spoken, and they are saying: "YES, we want choir!" To test this new program, we will have children meet for a monthly rehearsal during regularly scheduled Parent Playdate time (second Saturdays), then sing at the service the following day. I am so very excited to explore this new music ministry and will have more concrete details in August!
I wish you a restorative and relaxing summer. It always seems to fly right by…but here's hoping you can slow down enough to appreciate the beauty of it all!
Love,
Ronnie
Member Spotlight: Meet the Flint Family
We are delighted to welcome the Flint family to our church community. They have been searching for a place where their faith, values, and family life could come together in a meaningful way, and they are grateful to have found a congregation that feels aligned with what matters most to them.
The Flint family includes two teachers – Steve and Melissa, three daughters -
Mackenzie, Abigail, and Lily, and their beloved Labradoodle, Ruby, who is truly part of the family. Their oldest daughter, Mackenzie, is finishing her final year at UNE and hopes to become a teacher. Abigail has graduated this year from high school and is looking ahead to a gap year filled with discovery and possibility. Lily, their youngest, is 13 and active in our Junior Youth Group.
Teaching is an important part of the Flint family story. Steve teaches S.T.E.M. for kindergarten through eighth grade, while Melissa has spent many years enjoying teaching first grade. They also share a love of helping kids find a place where they can belong and grow, whether through school, or other activities that build confidence and community. As a family, the Flints enjoy camping, traveling and spending time together. Steve enjoys woodworking in his spare time, while Melissa has recently developed an interest in gardening. The family has helped at Community Supper and found it very eye opening and enjoyable. They are especially grateful for opportunities that help their daughters experience faith in a real and lasting way, and they look forward to growing in community alongside all of us.
We are thankful to have the Flint family with us.
The Gratitude Collection: For those who help host
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 for all those who help host events in our building. Did you know that over the past year we have hosted events for community groups including Elderly Services, Charter House, Habitat for Humanity, CSAC, Addison County Chamber of Commerce, Migrant Justice, the ACLU, Porter Hospital, Atria Collective, MUHS, The Preservation Trust of Vermont, Pollinator Pathways of Addison County, the Middlebury Community Music Center, The Vermont Pastel Society, and more!?
Here is a note sent through the office by Nadine, who organized a community festival including events that took place in our building:
"...I am so moved by all your church community did to host the events this past week.
We are grateful for the spaces, the love, the attention, and the support! Please pass on our gratitude to Mira, Ruth, your hospitality team and any others — the set ups, the flyers in the lobby, the cleaning, kitchen access, and beyond truly made us a home base...
How lovely to share in community and work together moving from me to we..."
Gratitude for all those that make hosting possible, from our staff (especially Building Managers) to our Hospitality Team Members who greet folks at the door, even after business hours! MiddUCC knows how to be a good neighbor!
We love collecting and amplifying the gratitude you feel for our Church community and beyond! Have some gratitude you'd like to pass on? Email it to office@midducc.org OR drop a note in the newly installed "Gratitude Jar" outside the church reception window and we'll add it to the gratitude collection for a future Church Matters!
Vermont Reads: Charity & Sylvia
The Vermont Humanities Council's "Vermont Reads" book for 2026 is a graphic novel titled "Charity and Sylvia" by Tillie Walden. Created using archival materials from our own Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury, it's a groundbreaking biography of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, who lived together as life partners for 44 years in Weybridge, Vermont. Fun fact: they were also quite active at the Weybridge Congregational Church!
There are a number of Charity and Sylvia-related events happening this summer that we want to make sure you know about:
1. Charity & Sylvia Community Art Fest
Sunday, July 19th, 4–7pm, at Weybridge Congregational Church. Open to all! You'll be able to:
- Contribute to a community quilt (no sewing skill required!) honoring Charity & Sylvia and celebrating our own current, living community
- Make prints at a special Charity & Sylvia–themed block printing station — bring a t-shirt, tote bag, bandana, or something even more creative to print (we'll also have some extra t-shirts and tote bags on hand)
- Eat delicious food prepared by Mexico in Vermont (provided free of charge thanks to a grant from the Vermont Conference's Hope Fund)
- Play lawn games and hang out with church folks, neighbors, and anyone else who comes through
2. "Drawing on the Archive" Exhibit
Now through January at the Henry Sheldon Museum. This exhibit invites visitors into a layered conversation between past and present, pairing the Museum's archival and object collections with Tillie Walden's contemporary illustrations from the graphic novel. Together, these materials illuminate the lives of one of America's earliest documented same-sex couples, who built a shared home, tailoring business, and life in early Vermont. Through original documents, 19th-century artifacts, and Tillie's artwork, the exhibition reveals not only Charity and Sylvia's story, but also the creative process behind bringing history to life in graphic form.
3. Free Copies of the Book
Thanks to a grant, Weybridge Congregational Church has 20 copies of Charity and Sylvia on hand. If you'd like one, stop by the MiddUCC office and Mira can set you up — while supplies last!
4. Still to Come
A community discussion session for this wonderful new book, and (hopefully!) a visit from Tillie Walden, the author.
Save the Date: All-Church Retreat October 16-17
Last year’s first Midd UCC All-Church Retreat was a wonderful time of relaxation, renewal, and connection, and we are excited to begin planning for year two!
Please mark your calendar for October 16-17 for the All-Church Retreat and start thinking now about making the trip to Silver Bay YMCA on the beautiful shores of Lake George. Whether you came last year or would be joining us for the first time, this retreat is a special opportunity to step away from our usual routines and spend time together as a church family.
The retreat will include shared meals, comfortable accommodations, recreation activities, and programming for both adults and children. There will be time to relax, play, connect, and enjoy the peaceful lakeside setting, along with opportunities for meaningful conversation and fellowship across generations.
More details will be shared in the coming months, but for now, we hope you will save the date and begin making plans to be part of this meaningful time together!
Bible Study with Eliana: The Sermon on the Mount
Many theologians and faith leaders consider the Sermon on the Mount to be the epitome of Jesus' teachings. For many, discipleship and the nature of God’s Kingdom are defined by what Jesus considers important, the kinds of statements he makes, and what he calls his followers to do and to be in the Sermon on the Mount.
In this 4-week Bible study, we will look at Matthew Chapters 5-7 and compare them to Luke's version (Chapter 6, known as the Sermon on the Plain). Both versions of the Sermon contain some of the most well-known passages in the New Testament, including the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, and other very familiar passages.
Dates: Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29, and August 5.
Time: 12:00-1:15 in Unity Hall.
Seeking God Together
This summer, MiddUCC and St. Stephen’s Church are working together to host a weekly intergenerational faith exploration. All are welcome to come for dinner and a guided dinner conversation around the theme of the 7-week series: Seeking God Together. This program is accessible for people of all ages who are interested in growing in faith and learning from one another.
Wednesdays at 5:15 - 6:45 pm
Starting on June 24 through August 5
First four sessions held in MiddUCC Fellowship Hall (June 24 - July 15) and final three sessions held in St. Stephen’s Fellowship Hall (July 22 - August 5).
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July Birthdays
Halina Lyons July 1
Michelle Nelson July 1
Mel Kobelin July 2
Deb Venman July 2
Meg Wallace July 2
Nikolai Luksch July 4
J.D. Maurais July 6
Ella Nagy-Benson July 7
Willie Glen July 9
Benjamin Emerson July 10
Jeremiah Hayes July 10
Jack Hopkinson July 10
Katie McMurray July 10
Jackie Davies July 11
Shannon Gleason July 11
Elliott Slavin July 11
Eric McFerran July 12
Nancy Merolle July 12
Estelle Wright July 12
Simon L’Roe July 14
Natalia Nulsen July 14
Zoe Reid-St. John July 14
Eleanor Orten July 15
Louisa Orten July 15
Sophia Lee July 17
John Emerson July 18
Elizabeth Anderson July 19
Julie Berg July 19
Sarah Donnelly July 19
Kate Livesay July 19
Jakee Zaccor July 19
Rayna Erno July 23
Randy Stacey July 23
Cynthia Stacey July 23
Cheyenne Brown July 26
Charlie Beazley July 27
Eric Berg July 28
Blair Kloman July 28
Stephanie Mitchell July 28
Louise Whalen-Wright July 28
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July Anniversaries
Rik & May Poduschnick July 2
John & Lisa Evarts July 5
Willie Glen & Josie Masterson-Glen July 7
Reeves & Kate Livesay July 7
Tara Affolter & Steve Hoffman July 8
Dana & Katharine Scribner July 11
Sam Prouty & Mel Kobelin July 12
Eric & Helen McFerran July 13
David & Debbie Deering July 19
Natasha Causton & Scott Hunsdorfer July 21
Elizabeth Gleich & Elliott Munn July 22
Patrick & Stacia Greene July 22
George & Sue Cady July 23
Joe & Mira Cabrera July 23
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Church Calendar
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Church Activities
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