Mira Cabrera - Design and Publishing
November 2025
Pause
Rev. Elizabeth Gleich
Hello, dear church,
I write to you on my second day back in the church office, renewed after three and a half months away on sabbatical. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of time—thank you! My sabbatical was all that I hoped it would be and more: filled with unhurried time with family and friends, and also precious time just for me. I had space to tend to my inner life, something that had gone unattended for many years amid the busyness of new motherhood, full-time pastoral work, and general distractedness. I am eager to share with you all that I experienced and learned while I was away, but one short newsletter article will hardly suffice.
So, for now, I want to focus on just one theme that I have been tenderly holding with curiosity as I return to church life: time. How do we mark it? How do we spend it?
The bells of our church ring out on the hour, every hour, as they have (I assume) for hundreds of years. They announce to our congregation and the town of Middlebury, “Here is the time!” But over these past months, I’ve been asking myself: What are we to do with this time? What is it reminding me to “do” or “be”?
I realize this might sound a bit too philosophical or abstract—especially at this moment in our church life that is in full swing—programs, studies, youth group, the Church Bazaar, Advent on the horizon, and more—but I invite your patience as you step into my reflections for a few hundred more words.
This fall, I spent several days with 140 Benedictine sisters at a monastery in central Minnesota. It’s where I attended college, the College of St. Benedict, and it’s also where my Great Aunt Sister Theresa and Great-Great Aunt Sister Immacula were nuns. For these reasons and more, it’s a sacred place for me, and I chose to spend part of my sabbatical learning from their way of life, which is guided by the Rule of St. Benedict.
Written by St. Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century, the Rule is less a list of rules and more like a ruler—a measure by which Benedictines mark and guide their life, work, and spirituality. I found deep wisdom in its pages. I’ve been reflecting on virtues such as humility, stability, hospitality, and community—and on the Benedictines’ primary work: regular prayer.
At least three times a day, the sisters gather for what is called the Liturgy of the Hours. Morning, noon, and night, they pray and sing the Psalms and other scriptures. During my short stay, I experienced only a teaspoon of what it’s like to pray persistently in community, but even that brief exposure left a lasting impression. Prayer truly marks time for the sisters, with the help of their bells.
Like our church, Benedictine monasteries around the world have bell towers. Their bells ring out every fifteen minutes—not simply to measure time, but to call the hearer’s attention back to what truly matters: the presence of God in our midst. As Sister Joan Chittister writes in The Monastic Heart:
“The bells jog the memory that there are actually more important, more meaningful, more demanding dimensions of time than anything ordinary we can possibly be doing as they ring. The bells stop us in midflight to prod us to ask ourselves again if what we are doing is what we are really meant to be doing. But most of all, they are begging us to listen to the great issues of life, to the rest of life.”
Even if we can’t always hear our church bells (I can barely hear them from my office!), I invite all of us, as much as I remind myself, to mark our precious time with more intentionality. Though I do not live in a monastery, guided by a rhythm of prayer and work, I seek to create sacred pauses within my day to listen for the “still small voice of God.”
I am deeply grateful for the gift of a three-and-a-half-month pause. Now, as I return to this thriving, beautiful, and full community, I hope to carry with me a sense of that unhurried time into my pastoral ministry. Maybe we can do it together. Worship on Sunday morning is a wonderful start, as is our Wednesday Midweek Morning Prayer. But I wonder: what other ways might God be calling us to spend our time with the One who is always calling us into relationship?
Thank you, church.
With love and gratitude,
Elizabeth
P.S. You may be wondering—didn’t Pastor Elizabeth say she was becoming something like an “Oblate” of St. Benedict’s Monastery? Yes! I am now an Oblate Candidate, which means I’m in a formation process that means I will eventually be formally associated with the monastery and committed to living out the Rule of Benedict in the world. It’s just the beginning of this journey (or perhaps a new mile marker along the same road!), and I’ll be glad to share more as I go.
CHURCH COUNCIL Meeting October 8, 2025
At its October 8 meeting, Church Council discussed allowing several boards to operate with fewer members than the by-laws currently require. The Board of Membership and the Board on Pastoral Care have decided their work can be accomplished with nine members instead of twelve. The other boards have said they’re satisfied with their current member numbers. Council will ask the congregation to approve the changes, which require amending the church’s by-laws, at the annual meeting.
Moderator Leanna Maglienti led a discussion of personnel policies. Only two church employees, Pastor Andy and Pastor Elizabeth, are considered full-time, which the church defines as working at least 32 hours a week. Two part-time positions are nearing that threshold – Building Manager and Church Administrator – and the church may need to consider classifying them as full-time, she said. Council members asked the Personnel Advisory Committee to review the personnel policies to allow for full-time employees besides the pastors. Council members asked about the budget implications of the change, and agreed to continue the discussion.
Michele Brown reviewed the monthly treasurer’s report. Church revenue and income are on pace to meet annual goals, she said.
The Council voted to appoint Susan Baker to the Board of Trustees, replacing Michael Georgio, who has moved away from Middlebury.
The Council reviewed the text of a proposed job description for the church’s Financial Secretary. Irene Zaccor, who does that work now, is moving away from Middlebury, and the church will need to replace her by the end of the year.
After returning from Executive Session, Council approved this motion: “Having reviewed the self-assessment of our Senior Pastor, Church Council affirms that our church community continues to thrive under and benefit from Pastor Andy Nagy-Benson’s leadership, inspiration, and dedication. We are grateful for the devotion and care he shows to both the church and the greater community. We are blessed by his many talents and applaud his accomplishment in earning his Doctor of Ministry.” The Council voted to offer Pastor Andy a cost-of-living increase in 2026 “as resources allow.”
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.
See you at our 101st Annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 8!
Bring your family and friends to see how we have transformed the floors of our church into a festive Holiday Bazaar. Special display areas are filled with handmade and homemade crafts, fashion and fine jewelry and scarves, and themed gift baskets for bidding. Our extensive book room attracts all ages, as does the toys, puzzles and games room. The garden table area is home to a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants and a huge assortment of garden-related items. Historically, church bazaars have always featured homemade and homegrown foods for sale, and our 101st Annual Bazaar is no exception. Along with our ever-popular homemade soups and pies, shoppers can visit the food table to choose a specialty treat, cookies, candies, breads, jams and much more. This year’s quilt is the raffle prize for one lucky winner. Handcrafted by our own Dorothy Douglas, this beautiful Braided Irish Chain Pattern quilt is 90’’ x 88’’ and features colorful Robert Kaufman batiks.
Please do come and enjoy some fun browsing!
FROM OUR director
of children and youth ministries
May Poduschnick
Children in our Church School have been learning about the Creation story from Genesis. We’ve had many big questions and wonderfully curious minds! During our Big Meeting times, we take time to review lessons from the previous month and reflect on how these stories connect to our own lives. Going forward, we also hope to have our Pastors take turns to be guests at Big Meetings so kids can ask those big questions to the pastors directly.
The key takeaway from the Creation story we want the children to remember is this: God created everything in nature and beyond—in all its amazing complexity and diversity. God also created each of us, with our own unique story, life experience, and spirit, in God’s image. And God said it is ALL GOOD. And then, God RESTED!
That’s a lot of theology packed into just a few chapters! We may not have all the answers or even agree on every detail of creation, but it’s a wonderful beginning to an inquisitive, faith-filled journey.
Nursery
Our nursery has been continuing with our Book of the Month, LOVE the World by Todd Parr, and our Song of the Month, “Jesus Loves Me This I Know.” We repeat the same book and song each week so that, by the end of the month, the message has truly taken root—even for our littlest ones.
In November, our book and song of the month will focus on thankfulness. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for! We’ve also been taking advantage of the beautiful fall days by finishing our nursery time outdoors, playing and enjoying God’s creation together.
Parent Playdate
Our Parent Playdate group enjoyed a beautiful autumn afternoon at Champlain Orchards, sampling fresh apples, donuts, and cider, and sharing good conversation along the way. This continues to be a meaningful ministry that supports and encourages our young families during an especially busy season of life.
Junior Youth Group (JYG)
Our Junior Youth Group is spending the next few weeks focusing on community building and establishing a strong group identity—so that our youth not only recognize one another at school or outside of church, but truly see and care for one another.
Our JYG Sleepover (Oct. 24–25) is one opportunity to strengthen those bonds through games, shared service, and simply spending time together. Partnering with St. Mary’s and St. Stephen’s has been a new adventure—one with a few learning curves—but it’s been a wonderful example of ecumenical cooperation, showing how we can be stronger together than apart.
Once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our dedicated nursery staff, Church School teachers, helpers, JYG co-leaders, and all our volunteers who make these ministries possible. Thank you for helping nurture faith, joy, and connection in our children and families.
With Love,
May
from our music director
Ronnie Romano
There are so many wonderful musical things to look forward to in November and beyond!
November Taizé - 11/5/25
We'll begin the month with another Taizé service in Unity Hall: contemplative chants, the warm glow of candlelight, prayers for the community, and sacred silence. Taizé services are now on the first Wednesday of each month going forward, 7:00pm in Unity Hall. All are welcome to attend; please contact me (ronnie@midducc.org) if you are interested in getting more deeply involved with the music for these services.
Chancel Choir
We are looking to recruit more singers to join us for the Advent & Christmas season! This is some of the most wonderful music of the year and I'm already excited about it all! If you are someone who loves to sing but can't make a longer-term commitment to the choir, we would love to welcome you to sing with us for the month of December. Please contact me if you are interested.
Handbell Choir
The bells will ring in the service on Sunday, November 16th. We continue rehearsals on Sunday mornings after worship in the Sanctuary from 11:30-12:30. Beginners and more advanced ringers are all welcome! Please consider joining this lovely ministry, decompressing each week with the calming sounds of bells.
Looking much farther ahead, there are plans in motion to perform the Fauré Requiem for the Ash Wednesday service in February. There will be opportunities for community participation from beyond the Chancel Choir. This accessible yet incredible piece of music never fails to move me and I can't wait to share more details about this as things unfold.
I hope you all may find a moment to slow down and behold the stunning transition from summer into winter. As the trees turn vividly different colors at uniquely varied paces, may you too be reminded that some things take time to change, that we each move at our own pace, and that there is beauty all around us, if only we pause to behold the ever-present bounty.
Love,
Ronnie
New Member Sunday is coming up!
Prospective Member Meeting: After the worship service on November 2, our pastors and representatives from the Board of Membership will host a gathering for prospective members. Childcare provided. This gathering will offer an opportunity to ask questions, to learn more about our church, and to explore what membership means at MiddUCC. Please contact Pastor Andy – andy@midducc.org – if you have any questions in advance.
New Member Sunday: New members will be welcomed to our congregation during the service on November 16.
November Food Drive: Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness
This month, our giving theme reminds us that care and compassion shine not only through full plates, but through clean homes and restored dignity. For November, we’re collecting spray cleaners, laundry detergent, toilet cleaner, dryer sheets, dish soap, window cleaner, and sponges. These heavier items are especially welcome as we inch closer to our next ton of donations—let’s make it happen!
Our Jr. and Sr. Youth Groups are stepping up in a big way, hosting food drives at both the Middlebury Co-op and Shaw’s on November 22nd this month. Stop by to show your support, cheer them on, and help give our year-end total an extra boost!
This Month's Taizé Service
Looking for a quiet space to pause and pray? Join us for our monthly Taizé Prayer Service on November 5th at 7:00 p.m. for an hour of candlelight, song, silence, and reflection.
The Taizé style of prayer comes from an ecumenical Christian community in France known for its meditative and simple chants. Together we’ll share beautiful music, scripture, and silence. It's a lovely opportunity to rest in God’s presence and listen for the "still, small voice" within.
Please note that our Taizé service will be held in the sanctuary this month to accommodate bazaar preparations.
All are welcome — people of all Christian traditions (or simply those seeking a quiet time of prayer). Come as you are and bring a friend.
Green Team & Art in Unity
Art in Unity and the Green Team are collaborating on an environmentally friendly event in preparation for the holidays! Did you know that a large portion of the estimated 25 percent extra trash that is tossed out during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is composed of gift wrap? A large percentage of wrapping paper (including anything decorated with foil, glitter, sequins or has ribbons and bows attached) can’t be recycled.
Join Art in Unity and the Green Team after worship on Sunday, November 30 to create custom wrapping paper that can be appreciated as works of art to complement your gifts and easily recycled. We look forward to seeing you there!
For November 2025 Green Team meeting:
The next Green Team meeting will be on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Contact any of our members (Eliana Cañas Parra, Diana Davidson, Hal Colston, Judy Jessup, Leanna Maglienti, Su Reid-St. John, and Paige Russell) or office@midducc if you would like to be involved or learn more about our work.
Greening of the Church
Helping Hands will not meet on November 3rd, our usual first Monday of the month.
We will be meeting instead at 12:30 on November 24th to decorate the sanctuary for the Advent season.
Please join us to help hang the garlands, put up wreaths and decorate
the tree. It is a beautiful sight when it is all up, so come be a part
of this annual endeavor!
All are welcome, as many hands are going to be needed. I hope to see you then. Any questions, please reach out to Dorothy Douglas, 802-388-6257 or jdmamidd@comcast.net.
Poinsettia Orders
It is hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner! Help fill our sanctuary with the beauty and joy of Christmas by ordering a poinsettia in memory or in honor of a loved one. Each plant adds to the joy of our worship space and reminds us of those who brighten our lives, past and present.
After the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service, you may take your poinsettia home to enjoy—or donate it to the Board of Pastoral Care, who will share the donated plants with members of our community who could use a little extra joy this season.
Order your poinsettia online using this form, or stop by and see Lisa Evarts after service in Fellowship Hall, where she will be accepting orders in person on Nov. 2nd, 9th, and 16th.
This month in our spaces
Our church building is a beautiful space where we worship and work, gather and learn, and where we find solace and delight. This month, we wanted to share with you a brief report of the many outside groups that have met in our spaces over just the past 30 days! This month we hosted many and various not-for-profit groups including Easterseals, Habitat for Humanity, Elderly Services, a Charter House Coalition Board Meeting, Counseling Service of Addison County, Atria Collective, The Addison Central Educational Endowment Fund, Vermont Public Research Group, and a Red Clover Children's Center Trunk-or-Treat event! A big thank you to all who maintain our building (especially Mike Rowe, Wendy Warren, and the Helping Hands crew), as well as our Hospitality Team Members. We couldn't do the good work of hosting these community organizations without your time and talents!
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November 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.
Gregg Marston November 1
Pamela Quinn November 1
Michael Cummings November 3
Jill Ruffa November 3
Paul Saronson November 3
Debbie Deering November 4
Victoria Luksch November 4
Levi Nuceder November 4
Brett Viens November 4
James Davis November 6
Bronwen Kent November 6
Tanya Lehman November 6
Ben Cram November 7
Josie Masterson-Glen November 8
Trevor Schnoor November 8
Matthew von Behrens November 8
Frank Winkler November 10
Jennifer Stefani November 11
Caitlin Myers November 12
Jae Davis November 13
John Evarts November 13
Linda Foster November 14
Josie Abbott November 16
Arthur Esser-Calvi November 17
Mira Maglienti November 19
Mona Rogers November 19
Sydney Penniman November 20
George Cady November 21
Frank Van Gansbeke November 21
Doug Sinclair November 23
Caroline Marston November 24
Mary Alice Beazley November 25
Mary Jo Champlin November 25
Cheyenne Curtin November 28
Harper Sinclair November 29
Sandy Youell November 29
Callum Krahn November 30
- to view birthdays for any month of the year SIGN IN to our online directory.
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November Anniversaries
Vanda & David Crook November 6
Conor Stinson & Ellen Whelan-Wuest November 12
Jeff & Diane Munroe November 13
Charles & Nancy Jakiela November 17
Did we miss your birthday or anniversary?
We don't know there is a mistake if you don't tell us! If you or a loved one have a birthday or anniversary coming up that you'd like us to know about, or if you're aware of a mistake, please let us know by emailing office@midducc.org OR by submitting this form. We want to celebrate with you, and no one wants to miss the party! THANK YOU for letting us know!
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