Mira Cabrera - Design and Publishing
October 2025
TBD TITLE
Rev. Dr. Andy Nagy-Benson
Dear Church,
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CHURCH COUNCIL Meeting September 11, 2024
At the September 10, 2025, meeting of Church Council, Michele Brown offered an update on the budget. Through August, the church’s income has reached 60 percent of its calendar-year goal, close to the 67 percent it would be if the church were to meet that goal at a steady rate. Summer giving is typically lighter than at other times of the year, she said. Expenses are on target at 67 percent of budgeted levels.
Church funds that had been set aside to support La Comunidad, a monthly, church-sponsored dinner for Spanish-speaking migrant workers, will be directed instead to migrant farmworker support organizations such as Addison Allies Network, she said. The church has suspended the monthly gatherings.
Pastor Andy Nagy-Benson, who recently returned from sabbatical, said a lot of his time since coming back has been devoted to offering pastoral care. He also told Council members that preparations for the annual stewardship campaign are underway; the church is preparing for the annual CROP Walk fundraiser; he will participate in Middlebury College’s annual Student Involvement Fair this month; the junior and senior high school youth groups have resumed meeting; and he and Katy Smith Abbott will teach a four-part adult education class this fall called “Parable and Painting: The Return of the Prodigal Son,” which will consider Rembrandt’s painting and a book by Henri Nouwen. While he was away on leave, Pastor Andy received his doctoral degree in Creative Writing and Public Theology from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, attended a writing program in Arkansas, and visited Puerto Rico with his family.
Church Moderator Leanna Maglienti said annual staff evaluations should be ready for Council review in October and November. About 50 people signed up to attend the All Church Retreat Sept. 19 and 20 at the Silver Bay YMCA Conference and Family Retreat Center. After discussion, the Council approved a columbarium governance document, which calls for the duties of the columbarium committee to be assumed by the Board of Trustees, a change that will need to be confirmed by the congregation at the annual meeting.
Council members appointed Margaret Eagan to a vacancy on the Board of Pastoral Care. Annie Moore-Cox, who chairs the Nominating Committee, talked about efforts to fill vacancies on church boards. She said the church has about 82 positions on boards and Church Council, and it’s been difficult to keep all of them filled. Pastor Andy said Council members might consider engaging in a longer-term discussion about whether some boards can function with fewer members. Such a change would require amending church by-laws. Annie also suggested the Council consider amending the by-laws to allow board members who want to continue serving to keep their post when their term expires. (Our by-laws require them to leave the board for at least a year.) Some departing board members have expressed a willingness to continue serving, she said.
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.
FROM OUR director
of children and youth ministries
May Poduschnick
Welcome Sunday was truly a warm and joyful start to our church program year! Old and new families came together for worship and then enjoyed a beautiful picnic at the Franklin’s home. We could not have asked for better weather, and the food and company were outstanding. We are so grateful to the Franklins for their hospitality, to the Board of Christian Development and the Board of Membership for hosting, and to everyone who attended and made it a success!
Although we only had a short two-week break in August without Summer Church and other programming, Welcome Sunday was still a wonderful way to launch our Church School year.
This fall, we’ll continue with the same rhythm:
- Big Meetings (all children PreK–8th grade together in Unity Hall) on the first Sunday of each month, returning to the sanctuary afterward to join in Holy Communion.
- Regular Church School classes on other Sundays, following school vacation and holiday schedules.
Our curriculum this year focuses on New Beginnings—starting with the Creation story and the Patriarchs this fall, and moving into the New Testament to explore how Jesus’ encounters with people gave them new beginnings.
The Nursery is also active and lively, with the outdoor playground being well used in the beautiful weather. Each month we’ll highlight a Book of the Month and a Song of the Month, alongside other favorites we read and sing. For September, the book is The Peace Book by Todd Parr, and the song is "I’ve Got Peace Like a River." By returning to the same book and song each week, we hope to reinforce the theme of peace—what it means, and how it can look and feel in our lives.
Junior Youth Group (JYG) and Senior Youth Group (SYG) both held their first meetings on September 14. SYG meets weekly on Sunday evenings, while JYG meets every other week. It is such a joy to see our young people together, sharing their energy, fun, and faith. As these groups grow, we hope they will continue to be a source of support, learning, service, and joy within a loving community.
- SYG is led by Pastor Andy, Pete Nelson, Steve Abbott, and Diane Munroe.
- JYG is a combined effort of St. Stephen’s, St. Mary’s, and our church, supported by a wonderful team of parents and staff from all three congregations.
Both groups are looking forward to supporting the 2025 Addison County CROP Walk—with SYG serving as crossing guards and JYG walking together as a group. Please come out and support this vital event!
Finally, our Parent Playdate had to be canceled in September due to illness, but will resume on the second Saturday in October (10/11).
Children and Youth Programs are off to a strong start, and we are always excited to welcome kids and their families into our church community.
With Love,
May Poduschnick
Director of Children and Youth Ministry
from our music director
Ronnie Romano
TBD RONNIE
Warmly,
Ronnie
Adult Study: Parable and Painting
Pastor Andy and Katy Smith Abbott will lead a four-part adult education series on Tuesday evenings in October (7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th) from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Classes will be held in Unity Hall. Our exploration of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) will be supported by two masterpieces: Henri Nouwen’s book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and Rembrandt’s painting by that same title. If you would like to participate, please order a copy of Nouwen’s book. More information will be forthcoming—for now, mark your calendars! As always, all are welcome.
First Midd UCC All-Church Retreat Recap
On September 19–20, our church family gathered for the First Midd UCC All-Church Retreat at Silver Bay YMCA on the beautiful shores of Lake George in Silver Bay, NY. The retreat began Friday evening with dinner and program time and concluded after lunch on Saturday. Some participants arrived early or stayed later to enjoy the peaceful setting and the many activities Silver Bay offers.
This retreat was created as a time for relaxation, renewal, and connection—and it lived up to that purpose. The program was intentionally laid-back, allowing space for laughter, fun activities, games, shared meals, and meaningful fellowship. Whether gathered around the dining tables, roasting marshmallows at the campfire, walking along the lakeshore, or joining in group activities, participants found joy in deepening their connections within our church community.
This short getaway reminded us of the blessing of being together outside our usual church setting and the importance of nurturing relationships within our congregation. Many expressed gratitude for this time and enthusiasm for making it a continuing tradition in the years ahead.
If you have ideas for future retreats—including timing, length, or program suggestions—please email may@midducc.org to help guide future planning. We hope to be back at Silver Bay next year! For more photos of the event, make sure to follow our facebook and instagram pages!
Green Team Social Hike
Sunday, October 19 the Green Team will be organizing a social hike after worship. Timing: 11:30 to 1:30 (at least for now), and exact location is TBD, but we’ll leave from the church after church. Stay tuned for more details!
get ready for crop walk
AThe 50th Annual Addison County CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, October 5. Registration will open at 12:00 on the Middlebury Town Green, with walking group “team photos” at 12:30. The two-mile walk through town will begin at 1:00. CROP Hunger Walk, a program of Church World Service (CWS), invites walkers and donors to raise money for global relief efforts and for local organizations working to address hunger and food insecurity. With our support, CWS is able to work with their partner agencies around the world to alleviate suffering and respond quickly in the wake of natural disasters.
Here is the link to walk with or donate to the MiddUCC Team:
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/team/midducc-missions
Countdown to the 2025 101st Anniversary Holiday Bazaar:
Saturday, November 8, 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
The Church Bazaar needs your help!
The annual church bazaar is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a huge success! This beloved community event relies on the generosity of our wonderful volunteers to help with everything from setting up to selling to post-bazaar clean up.
We are looking for volunteers to help with the tasks during Bazaar week, including:
Set-up & Decorating: Help us transform the space by decorating and setting up tables the week leading up to the event.
Donation Collection: Be on hand to collect and organize goods donated by the community.
On-the-Floor Assistance: Lend a hand during the bazaar itself by assisting shoppers, answering questions, and helping to keep everything running smoothly.
Book Room Crew: Assist with the important job of transporting, packing, and unpacking books for the always-popular book room.
Breakdown: Help us pack everything up and break down tables at the end of the bazaar.
We also kindly ask for your donations of gently used goods. Your contributions are what make the bazaar so special and help us raise funds for our church community.
If you are able to donate your time or goods, please contact Grady Ross at grady.ross1990@gmail.com or sign up on the volunteer sheet posted in fellowship hall.
Thank you for your continued support!
BAZAAR WEEK SCHEDULE
Set Up, Arranging, Pricing Days:
Wednesday, November 5: Donations can be dropped off from 9:00AM – 5:00PM at the Upstairs North Pleasant Street entrance. Bazaar workers will be setting up spaces, sorting, and pricing merchandise and non-perishable food items.
Thursday, November 6: Workers continue to receive, arrange, and price from 9:00AM – 5:00PM.
Friday, Nov. 7: Friday is the last day to drop off donated items, and the first day to drop off perishable foods including baked goods (whole pies, etc.) and soups from 9:00AM – 5:00PM. On Friday, Theme Baskets should be brought to the church between 9:00AM – noon. (To make alternate arrangements to drop off Theme Baskets, contact Chris Ketcham).
Bazaar Day:
Saturday morning, Nov. 8: Perishable foods (pies, soups, food table baked goods) can be delivered 8:00 - 8:30AM at the Seymour Street Portico entrance. Workers should not park in the church parking areas. Workers need to be in place by 8:30AM for any last-minute instructions and final set up.
DOORS OPEN - Saturday, Nov. 8: 9:00AM – 3:00PM. Plan to come out to see all the wonderful offerings we’ll have for sale. Invite your family members, neighbors and friends to join you!
Sunday, Nov. 9: The Second Chance Sale & Quilt Raffle Drawing: Immediately after Sunday worship in Fellowship Hall, we sell items not sold at the Saturday Bazaar. Be on hand for the Quilt Raffle Drawing when we announce the lucky winner of the beautiful Quilt generously donated by Dorothy Douglas.
On Sale Now! 2025 Quilt Raffle Tickets
The quilt raffle is back and tickets are on sale now! Handcrafted by our own Dorothy Douglas, this beautiful Braided Irish Chain Pattern quilt is 90’’ x 88’’ and features colorful Robert Kaufman batiks. See it for yourself hanging in fellowship hall where you can purchase tickets. Contact Deb Farnham with questions at farnhamd52@gmail.com!
Stewardship Season
As we enter October, the Stewardship Team has been hard at work to help communicate our 2026 goals and how your pledges are used. Below you will find a preview of our Stewardship booklet! Where do your pledge dollars go? Read ahead for more information on how your dollars come together to support worship, education, community care, and our building.
Helping Hands
Helping Hands will meet on October 6th from 10:15 to 12:30. Bring gardening tools, as the gardens will need attention, as well as a bucket, for cleaning never ends in the building.
If you have only a few minutes to spare or can join us for the duration, all are welcome. You can reach Dorothy Douglas at 388-6257 or jdmamidd@comcast.net with any questions.
Now On View: Art in Unity 'Sacred Circle' Prints
You may have noticed new artwork along the hallway outside Unity Hall—welcome to the second Art in Unity pop-up exhibit! This installation invites us to bring creativity into our spiritual practice, with pieces that explore community, the natural world, and the creative process itself.
An exhibition guide is available at the Communications Table outside Unity Hall and at the top of the stairs outside the sanctuary. All works are for sale, and 20% of proceeds support Art in Unity—helping expand arts programming here at MiddUCC.
Email office@midducc.org or stop by the office if you would like to purchase artwork.
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october Birthdays
Kathy Jewett October 1
Harper Smith October 1
Rich Carpenter October 3
Sara Kent October 4
Jim Robinson October 6
Tiffany Sargent October 6
Dana Scribner October 6
Chris Giorgio October 7
Deb Karpak October 7
Steve Abbott October 8
Diane Mott October 9
Melissa Mae Bartley October 11
Deb Farnham October 11
Lettie Kubacki October 11
Jane Campbell October 12
Rick Viens October 12
Al Zaccor October 12
Anna Hardway October 14
Aurelia Lyons October 14
Gail Miller October 14
Mark Orten October 14
Amy Emerson October 16
Mary Lou Webster October 16
Spencer Cadoret October 17
Evie Stinson October 17
Joe Smith October 19
Tara Affolter October 21
Tory Heatherly October 22
Michaela Kubacki October 22
Allison Swift October 23
Theresa Gleich Munn October 24
Wendy Warren October 24
Saadi McDowell October 25
Chris Ketcham October 26
David Hallam October 27
Kaitlyn Evarts October 28
Helmut Hietzker October 28
Sherry Klinck October 28
Christina Hardman October 29
Dory Gorton October 30
Kay Bussiere October 31
Churchill Franklin October 31
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october Anniversaries
Jennifer & Erik Bleich October 6
Churchill & Janet Franklin October 7
Jeff & Erika Garner October 9
Randy & Cynthia Stacey October 10
Beth Campbell & Steve Young October 13
Mark & Nicole Foster October 17
Holly Puterbaugh & Lois Farnham October 20
Mary Lou Webster & Bruce Jensen October 22
Bob & Mary Jo Champlin October 24
