School has started for most of our local kids, and the Church office has been busy preparing for the new program year. We had a full and fun summer, with Nature Bible Camp at Branbury State Park and a Senior Youth Group service trip in June, Junior Youth Group (JYG) activities throughout July, and Backpack Blessings and our JYG Kickoff in August. Even without school in session, there was plenty to keep everyone busy!

As we look ahead, we are grateful for a new program year and all the exciting opportunities it brings. Church School will officially begin on Welcome Sunday, September 13, following our “soft launch” on August 30. We’ll kick off the year with our annual Church Picnic at the Franklin’s home in Cornwall. We’ll continue our familiar schedule of Big Meeting on the first Sunday of each month, followed by Communion, and Church School classes on the other Sundays. Church School and Big Meeting will begin together in Unity Hall before breaking into classes.

This year’s teachers are PreK/K: Stacia Greene with teen helpers; Grades 1–2: May Poduschnick; Grades 3–5: Annie Magri, assisted by Melissa Flint and Nancy Adams, with one more volunteer still needed; and Grades 6–8: Rik Poduschnick, assisted by Ethan Lee.

The Nursery has been open throughout the summer and will continue to operate every Sunday morning. One change this year is moving from the Firefly Room to the Honeybee Room, which is better suited to our growing number of babies and youngest children.

We are always looking for additional volunteers in our children and youth programs. Whether you can help once a month, once a quarter, or just once in a while, every bit of help makes a difference. Please reach out if you’d like to get involved!

JYG is excited to welcome our new 6th graders to the group! We’ll continue meeting twice a month on Sunday evenings at the church and collaborating with youth from St. Stephen’s and St. Mary’s. We’ve had a busy summer together, so check out the bulletin board outside May’s office to see some of what we’ve been up to!

We’re looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growing, serving, and building community together.

May Poduschnick, Director of Children and Youth Ministries

On Monday, August 17, members of our JCL Team and congregation traveled to the United States District Court in Rutland to attend a naturalization ceremony welcoming approximately 20 new U.S. citizens.

The ceremony was presided over by the Honorable Mary Kay Lanthier, with Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas also in attendance. As part of the celebration, our group presented copies of the Declaration of Independence to the new citizens, as well as to Judge Lanthier and Secretary Hanzas. Pictured here are John Emerson and Judy Albright presenting one of the books on behalf of the team.

Those who attended came away describing the ceremony as a joyful and deeply meaningful experience—and they encourage others to attend one, too! Naturalization ceremonies are open to the public and take place regularly. The next is scheduled for Friday, September 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the Montpelier courthouse.

Consider going with friends or family to help welcome some of our country’s newest citizens and share in a truly special celebratory moment in the lives of your neighbors.

For this month’s food collection, we’re focusing on Meatless Mondays. Plant-based staples not only stretch a family’s budget but also offer healthy, hearty meals that everyone can enjoy.

We’re collecting items like

• beans
• lentils
• pasta
• rice
• canned vegetables
• peanut butter
• hearty plant-based soups

These ingredients that make it easier to prepare nourishing meatless meals at home.

Your donations help stock HOPE’s shelves with versatile foods that families across Addison County truly appreciate. Together, we can turn simple ingredients into comfort, health, and dignity for our neighbors.

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 addressed "to all 'worker bees' at a most special Church."

"Thank you, in no particular order, to Pastors Elizabeth & Andy, for well chosen words and pacing, and for dedicated musicians Jeff and Ronnie who inspire and 'lift' us creatures. And the Choir, so fine...And the real critical energy of all staff members..."

Gratitude for the work that brings us all together in shared purpose. heart

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 "Gratitude Jar" outside the church reception window and we'll add it to the gratitude collection for a future Church Matters!

Mira Cabrera, Church Administrator