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
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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
Gather & Share:
July's Theme is Picnic Basket
We’re just shy of reaching our first 2,000 pounds of food donated to HOPE this year — and July is the perfect month to push us over the top!
This month’s theme is Picnic Basket, and we’re calling on everyone to think beyond peanut butter and into the summer sunshine. What’s in your picnic basket?
🧂 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 heavier items help us reach our goal faster — and add joy to a neighbor’s table this summer! Bring in a bottle, a bag, or a basketful!
🧺 Drop donations off to the office (9-12) any time during the week or bring them with you on Sunday.
Let’s feed HOPE — and hit a TON!
Member Spotlight: Caitlin Myers & Andy Hooper
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Caitlin is an economics professor at Middlebury College, where she teaches courses on statistics, regression analysis, and causal inference. Her scholarship applies these tools to identify and measure the causal effects of abortion policies and abortion access on people’s lives. She led the economists’ amicus brief in the Dobbs case and recently testified before the U.S. Senate on its economic consequences.
A native of rural West Virginia and Georgia, Caitlin attended college in New Orleans and earned her doctorate in Austin, Texas—never living north of the Mason‑Dixon Line until she joined Middlebury’s faculty in 2005. When her first husband, Adam, was killed in a car accident in 2011, she remained in Vermont with their two young sons, drawn by the state’s beauty and the community’s support. She is now married to Andy Hooper, and their blended family includes four children ages 16–23 and a border collie mix named Ferris. In summer you’ll find her gardening or tending her flock of chickens; in winter she is happily fireside with a book, having yet to discover any affinity for snow sports.
Having spent most of her life outside organized religion, Caitlin is both surprised and delighted to have discovered a spiritual home at the Congregational Church. She looks forward to deepening connections within this welcoming community.
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Andy is a native Vermonter, born to Back-to-the-Land Midwesterners in Newport, Vermont and he did most of his growing up in Northfield, Vermont - just a couple gap roads away. He tried mightily to leave the Green Mountains, first attending college at UC Berkeley, then living in very rural Alaska, downtown Washington DC, and trying a year of law school in NYC. But try as he might to deny it, Andy is very much of Vermont, and at his best when living here.
His first two kids, Zeke and Bea, joined him while he was living and working in Montpelier. When his first marriage failed [spectacularly, in retrospect], after some self-improvement he found love again in Middlebury - and quickly brought himself and the kids to cohabitate with, and shortly thereafter marry, Caitlin Myers. Andy adopted Caitlin's sons, Finn and Cullen, a few years later. As the kids are beginning to launch, Andy and Caitlin look forward to discovering who they are together beyond being custodial parents.
Andy's primary hobby is local politics, where he reads books and listens to hours of weekly podcasts on subjects like development finance and road safety. He is currently the vice-chair of the Middlebury Select Board and has previously served on the Ilsley Library Board, the Addison County Solid Waste District and the Addison County Regional Planning Commission. If you have questions about any of these things, he's almost always excited to discuss them.
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
Q. How can I continue my financial support for the Church after I am gone?
A. By endowing your annual pledge to the Stewardship Campaign. Here are three illustrative examples:
- An annual pledge of $100 can be endowed with a bequest of $2,500.
- An annual pledge of $1000 can be endowed with a bequest of $25,000.
- An annual pledge of $10,000 can be endowed with a bequest of $250,000.
Please consider this option when reviewing your estate planning.
Planned Giving Committee; John Emerson, Sally Holland (chair), Tana Scott
helping hands crew
A big thank you to all you Helping Hands folks. We will be giving our hands a break in July and will not meet. We will resume on August 5th from 10:15 -12:30. Enjoy the time off, whatever you may do, and have a happy and safe summer!
Concert History
Are you aware of the Concerts and Stage Performances held at the Congregational Church of Middlebury and those events supported by the church but held elsewhere?
The use of music as part of the various services is quite common at the Congregational Church of Middlebury, Vermont. Currently we host musical groups such as The Chancel Choir, Hand Bell Choir, Organ, Sing for Social Justice, Taize Choir, and Dad’s Band. Here are a few more concerts and stage performances held in the past:
[unknown date] Organ Recital: Mrs. G.D. Miner (organ), Mrs. J.W. Pitts (contralto), Mrs. Cushing Hill (soprano), Mr. D.A. Darroch (violin), Mr. Benjamin Stewart (baritone).
Jul. 30, 1862 Organ Exhibition: Mr. Moore
1864 The pipe organ is installed in the balcony, and a concert given by John Knowles Paine
Oct. 13, 1940 Historical Play: part of the 150th Anniversary of the Religious Society
Dec. 9, 1943 Organ Recital: E. Power Biggs
Mar. 22, 1964 The Dedication Ceremony of the Organ: names of organist and pastor not listed
Jun. 18, 1976 The Unfinished Revolution: Hal Worthley
Nov. 15, 1986 Alan Parshley (French horn), Ramond Anderson (violin), Jean Anderson (piano)
Aug. 8, 1988 Four Centuries of Organ Music: Pamela McClain (organist)
Apr. 22, 1990 The Creation: Franz Josef Haydn (composer), Beth Thompson Kaiser (soprano), Wayne Hobbs (tenor), David Ripley (bass / baritone), Chorus and Orchestra under the direction of Jeffrey Rehbach
Jul. 15, 1990 Early American Music: Bayley Hazen Singers: 7:30 pm at the Congregational Church
Feb. 1, 1992 Marathon of the Arts, a United Way Benefit at the Congregational Church of Middlebury on Saturday,
February 1, 1992 from noon until midnight
Jun. 5, 1994 Morning Worship at the Congregational Church: Susan Armstrong (guest organist)
Jun. 5, 1994 Organ Double-Header (Middlebury Congregational Church and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church):
Susan Armstrong-Ouellette
Oct. 25, 1996 Onion River Jazz Band
Oct. 20, 1998 Harmonic Brass
Oct. 9, 2002 Harmonic Brass
Jul. 17, 2003 Hand Bell Concert: The Circleville Presbyterian Church Bell Choir
Aug. 9, 2003 Concert: Randy McGee (tenor) and Pamela McClain (pianist)
Jun. 24, 2007 Tuba Concert: Gene Pokorny, The Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
May 16, 2009 Bicentennial Celebration Concert – Saturday, May 16, 2009, 7:00 P.M. – Jessica Allen (Conductor),
Jeff Rehbach (Tenor), Louse Wright (Soprano)
Jan. 8, 2010 Renewal Chorus
Mar. 9, 2011 Requiem: Gabriel Faure, Joe McVeigh (baritone), Jakub Kraus (boy soprano),
Requiem Chorus and Orchestra, Jessica Allen (conductor)
Are you aware of other special music that has been performed in our church?? If so, please let me know!
Malcolm W. Chase
Church Historian
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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
Jeremiah Hayes July 10
Katie McMurray July 10
Jackie Davies July 11
Shannon Gleason July 11
Eric McFerran July 12
Nancy Merolle July 12
Estelle Wright July 12
Zoe Reid-St. John July 14
Eleanor Orten July 15
Luisa Orten July 15
Andy Giorgio July 16
Sophia Lee July 17
John Emerson July 18
Julie Berg July 19
Sarah Donnelly July 19
Kate Livesay July 19
Jakee Zaccor July 19
Thaddeus Stowe July 21
Rayna Erno July 23
Randy Stacey July 23
Cynthia Stacey July 23
Charlie Beazley July 27
Max Beazley July 27
Helen Wright July 27
Eric Berg July 28
Blair Kloman July 28
Stephanie Mitchell July 28
Cathy Munteanu July 28
Louise Whalen-Wright July 28
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July Anniversaries
Rik & May Poduschnick July 2
Jessica Wright July 3
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
Michael Roy & Lisa Gates 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
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