Mira Cabrera - Design and Publishing
January 2026
Rev. Elizabeth Gleich
Dear Church,
Happy New Year! As we cross the threshold into 2026, I look back with gratitude and look ahead with hope—hope for our church, and yes, for our nation and our world. Each of us carries things from 2025 into this new year: some hard and heavy, some joyful. I am grateful that we worship a God who can hold it all, and who is with us through it all.
As this new year begins, I am keenly aware of all that has happened, and all that continues to happen, to bring us to this moment. At the top of my mind are the many hardworking volunteers who welcomed hundreds of people into our sanctuary on Christmas Eve. Thank you. I am also deeply grateful for our Budget Managers, the Budget and Stewardship team, our Treasurer and Financial Secretary, and others who have been working diligently to close out our 2025 finances and present a thoughtful budget for 2026, especially as we prepare for our Annual Meeting on January 25.
My gratitude extends to my colleagues, each of whom serves this church with care, faithfulness, and integrity. And I give thanks to God for this congregation—for the many ways you step up, in big and small ways, to live out God’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves.
As we step into this new year together, please know that my heart is full. It is a joy and a gift to be one of your pastors.
As we begin 2026, I invite you to receive this blessing from Jan Richardson:
BLESSING THE THRESHOLD
This blessing
has been waiting for you
for a long time.
While you have been
making your way here,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
biding its time,
praying.
This blessing has been
polishing the door,
oiling the hinges,
sweeping the steps,
lighting candles
in the windows.
This blessing has been
setting the table
as it hums a tune
from an old song
it knows,
something about
a spiraling road
and bread
and grace.
All this time
it has kept an eye
on the horizon,
watching,
keeping vigil,
hardly aware of how
it was leaning itself
in your direction.
And now that
you are here,
this blessing
can hardly believe
its good fortune
that you have finally arrived,
that it can drop everything
at last
to fling its arms wide
to you, crying
welcome,
welcome,
welcome.
—Jan Richardson
“Heart Coming Home”
With gratitude and hope,
Pastor Elizabeth
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE December 2025
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
here
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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 News
The Church School and Youth Programs are looking ahead to the season of Epiphany and our annual Star Words, which will be shared on the first Sunday of January. Be on the lookout for Magi handing out stars!
Church School Changes for January
In January, we plan to split our current PreK–4th grade class into three classes:
PreK–Kindergarten - Teacher: Stacia Greene
Grades 1–2
Teacher: May PoduschnickGrades 3–4
Teacher: Annie MagriGrades 5–8
Teacher: Rik Poduschnick
We are excited to welcome Annie Magri as our new Grades 3–4 teacher! We are taking a leap of faith in creating these new classes and hope they will be well attended.
We will also be moving back downstairs into the Red Clover classrooms, using all three rooms downstairs, as well as the Youth Room and the Carpenter Room upstairs. We are always deeply grateful for the amazing team of teachers and helpers who make Church School possible.
Nursery -The nursery continues to be open each Sunday for our youngest members. Our January theme will be Sharing. The Song of the Month is “Sharing” by Raffi.
Junior Youth Group (JYG) - Junior Youth Group enjoyed a wonderful December filled with fellowship and fun. In January, we look forward to continuing our study of “My Neighbor’s Faith” while continuing to build this special community of middle schoolers.
Christmas Pageant - We are so proud of our cast, directors, angels, shepherds, cattle, holy family, and everyone involved in the Christmas Pageant. It was beautiful and touching, and we are deeply grateful for all the support that made it such a success.
Bulletin Board- Have you noticed the newly updated Bulletin Board outside my office? If you enjoy creating bulletin boards and would like to help, please let me know! We plan to change the board with each liturgical season, and there is also an interactive section—stop by and share your feedback.
Those are just a few highlights closing out 2025. Look for more details in the Annual Report. Always grateful for the love and support from our community to make this possible.
-May Poduschnick
Music Director
Dear friends,
As 2025 draws to a close, I think of all the wonderful music that has been made this year and the human beings who made it: volunteer singers, professional instrumentalists, church staff members, community members, visitors from far and wide. A tapestry of lived experiences that created unique music that no other congregation could imitate in exactly the same way.
I am grateful for each and every moment of vulnerability, humility, and humanity that was amplified by the sound of music this year. I am in awe of the power of music to draw connections across boundaries and quickly create pods of community. And most of all, I confess that I don't know what it all means, other than the clear evidence that music feeds our souls, sustains our health, and gives us life.
I think of a line from a UU hymn that speaks to me: "even to question, truly, is an answer." With the advent of 2026 close on the horizon, as I make music and move through the world this year, I seek not to know the answers or always understand why, but rather to not know the answers and be comfortable in that state of not-knowing. For me, this mindset allows a greater capacity to experience awe, to tap into the mystical state of flow, and, perhaps counterintuitively, to be more open to learning and embracing new ways of thinking.
There are so many musical projects in the near future that are exciting me more and more each day. On Ash Wednesday, we'll perform the entire Fauré Requiem with our own Chancel Choir, volunteer singers from the community, and professional musicians. If you're interested in singing with us, we would LOVE to have you. Please fill out this form to sign up or email me with any questions.
We'll continue monthly Taizé services in February, blending silence, music, and prayer in a candlelit bath of calm.
I will also offer a recital of solo piano music on Sunday, January 18th at 3pm in Unity Hall. I have never given a solo piano performance before and look forward to sharing some of my favorite pieces of piano repertoire with you!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Love,
Ronnie
P.S. Always remember: every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!
Epiphany Stars!
On January 4th, we will celebrate Epiphany Sunday and continue our cherished tradition of offering "Epiphany Stars" to anyone in the congregation who would like one. Each star has a word printed on it, and you are invited to reflect on this word as a guide throughout the season of Epiphany—or even the entire year.
Just as the magi followed a star to find Jesus, we hope these stars will help guide us closer to God in the year ahead. We encourage you to place your star in a spot where you will see it regularly—on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror, car dashboard, work cubicle, or even tucked in your wallet—somewhere it can inspire and remind you of your spiritual journey.
May God bless and guide us all as we journey together!
Taking Down the Greens
I hope you and your family enjoyed a Merry Christmas!
We hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas holidays.
In order to get ready for the Epiphany season, the garlands, interior wreaths and tree need to come down. We would love to have your help on Monday, January 5 at 10:00 a.m. Mark your calendar and hope to see you then!
Any questions you can reach out to Dorothy Douglas at jdmamidd@comcast.net or 802-388-6257.
Sermon Discussion
The JCL Team will host an after-Church discussion of Pastor Andy’s sermon on Sunday, January 11 at 11:30 a.m. in Unity Hall. Andy has not yet divulged his subject, but the sermon promises to address matters that relate to the JCL agenda. We hope you will plan to be there and participate!
JCL Team: Judy Albright, John Emerson, Gary Gillen, Candy McLaughlin, Caitlin Meyers, Andy Nagy-Benson
Community Supper Pantry
Friday Night Community Supper has started a pantry shelf of items often requested by our guests, especially those in unstable housing situations. We will welcome donations on the first Sunday of each month, beginning this Sunday, January 4.
Needed Items:
- Blankets (clean; gently used welcome)
- Mylar emergency blankets
- Sleeping bags (clean; gently used)
- Hand & foot warmers
- Socks and gloves
- Small flashlights (with batteries)
Food & Drink (non-perishable)
- Instant oatmeal packets
- Peanut butter (small jars)
- Jelly
- Energy drinks
- Hot chocolate packets
- Shelf-stable milk
- Bottled water (12–16 oz)
- Individual cereal boxes
- High-energy snacks
- Beef jerky or meat sticks (protein)
- Cheese sticks
- Chicken or tuna pouches
Bring your donations to church this Sunday and we'll make sure they reach those in need!
Parent Playdate
The next Parent Playdate will be held on Saturday, January 10th from 4-6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. If you’re a parent with a child ages 0-4, join us for a meal and conversation while your children are cared for in the nursery. Siblings are welcome. Please RSVP to Pastor Elizabeth at elizabeth@midducc.org.
PotLuck Lunch
The tables will be set to enjoy a potluck luncheon immediately following the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 26. All you need to do is bring a dish to share! Food that needs to be refrigerated or kept warm can be dropped off in the kitchen at the Fellowship Hall kitchen before church.
Our Board of Membership & Communications volunteers will receive your dish and follow your instructions. Be prepared to let us know if your dish is vegetarian, nut-free or gluten-free. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone for a warm and joy-filled time together.
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January Birthdays
- to view birthdays for any month of the year SIGN IN to our online directory.
- Click on Calendar in the upper left of the screen.
Erika Evarts January 6
Margaret Eagan January 9
Enid Engler January 9
Jim Eagan January 11
Andrew Jordan January 12
Alex Bleich January 13
Lyn DeGraff January 13
Skyeler Devlin January 17
Al Stiles January 17
Diane Munroe January 18
Ashlynn Foster January 21
Bonnie Stevens January 21
Jeff Buettner January 24
Lois Huldin January 24
Diana Davidson January 26
Ethan Kent January 28
Isadora Luksch January 28
Charles Jakiela January 29
Lili Luksch January 29
Sally Holland January 30
Jon Andrews January 31
Ada Munro January 31
Jane Owen January 31
- to view birthdays for any month of the year SIGN IN to our online directory.
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January Anniversaries
Ed & Mary Williams January 1
Carole & Michael Cummings January 2
Judy Albright & Dory Gorton January 6
Matt & Alison Dickinson January 7
Buz & Angelika Brumbaugh January 13; Celebrating 65 yrs!
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