Judy Albright and Mira Cabrera- Design and Publishing
June 2026
Rev. Dr. Andy NAgy-Benson
Dear Church,
A couple of weeks ago, we noticed a drop of water, then another, plopping onto the floor at home, falling from a place in the ceiling where water is not supposed to fall. We found a bucket. We phoned a plumber. And, lots of friendly goodwill and professional know-how and sheetrock dust later, the leaky pipe is fixed. The ceiling is almost ready to paint.
That is an ordinary story in the annals of homeowning.
But more than ordinary is the time I have spent in recent weeks thinking about the new-slate-roof-to-be at church. Thinking Thank you, church! for voting in support of a new roof and against a leaky sanctuary ceiling.
And I want to express thanks upon thanks to the saints of MiddUCC, whose sustained efforts over many months gave rise to a plan we could all agree on. That’s no easy thing, friends. The work of assessment, discussion, discernment, and decision-making is, indeed, work. Well done!
Bless you all, as summer opens up before us.
Peace,
Andy
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE may 2026
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
Church Council at its May 13 meeting appointed Erika Garner and Churchill Franklin co-chairs of this year’s Capital Campaign Steering Committee. It named five people who will serve as members: Michelle Nelson, Alyssa Sinclair, Pastor Andy Nagy-Benson, Moderator Leanna Maglienti, and John Emerson.
Dottie Neuberger, who is stepping down from the Friday night Community Supper program after 23 years, told Council that four people will run the program after she leaves: a general coordinator, a kitchen manager, a volunteer coordinator, and a money manager. She also talked about changes in the program since the COVID-19 pandemic, which for six years kept the church from holding the weekly suppers inside the church. Today the program has two components: the sit-down suppers, which have resumed in Fellowship Hall and which serve an average of about 150 people every week, and a program called In the Bag, which was launched during the pandemic and which continues to deliver groceries to about 200 adults and 125 children at their homes. The two programs spent about $44,000 on food last year, she said. Attendance at the Friday night sit-down suppers has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels but is slowly increasing, she said.
Treasurer Cathy Chase told Council the church has received refunds on five checks worth about $5,400 that were fraudulently written on a church bank account earlier this year. That represents about half the money that was stolen by thieves who gained access to the account and wrote 16 fraudulent checks totaling about $11,000. The church still hopes to receive refunds for the 11 other fraudulent checks. The account has been closed, and the new one is set up so Cathy is notified any time the bank is presented with a check written to someone other than a regular payee.
Michele Brown told Council members about $250,000 in endowment funds has been transferred from the building care and maintenance fund to a money market account where it will be available to help pay for this summer’s roof replacement project. She also said someone recently anonymously donated $14,000 towards the roof work.
Pastor Andy said he’s continuing to make preparations for this summer’s Senior High Youth Group’s service trip to Colorado. Five members of the group plan to participate.
Moderator Leanna Maglienti said Grady Ross will chair this year’s holiday bazaar, and Deb Farnham will be the vice-chair.
Council members voted to appoint Peter Hewitt to the Board of Pastoral Care and to appoint Setty Provencher to the Board of Mission and Social Concerns. Nominating Committee Chair Robin Bentley said she is continuing to look for someone to fill a vacancy on the Board of Christian Development.
Matthew Cox, 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.
Children & Youth
May Poduschnick
As we wrap up the “program year” for our Church School and youth groups, there is so much to celebrate. We began May with Green Up Day and wrapped up the month with our HOPE food drive — with plenty of meaningful activities in between.
Church School has officially concluded for the year, as the next few Sundays will be spent preparing for Children and Youth Sunday on June 14. During worship, our children and youth will present the musical A Tale of Three Trees by Anne Beresford. We will also recognize our graduating seniors and celebrate our Church School volunteer teachers and helpers during the service. This is always a joyful Sunday — a chance for our children and youth to lead many parts of worship and share their gifts with the congregation.
Immediately following that Sunday, we launch into Nature Bible Camp, June 16–18 at Branbury State Park. We always pray for good weather, but regardless, we know there will be fun, fellowship, and adventure. We look forward to days filled with nature exploration, swimming, recreation, creative activities, and learning around this year’s theme: Children of Faith. This camp is a combined effort of our church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, and many dedicated volunteers — including about a dozen of our senior youth group members.
JYG has been busy wrapping up the year through our theme, My Neighbor’s Faith. Together we have explored different Christian traditions as well as other faiths, including Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Even though we have only scratched the surface, it has been a meaningful opportunity to learn about our neighbors and recognize how many of our shared values overlap. Our final JYG celebration will be June 14, followed by a short break before some informal summer gatherings begin in July.
Our nursery continues to hum along and will remain open every Sunday throughout the summer. Many thanks to the faithful teen staff and adult volunteers who make this ministry possible. If you are available to help on occasional Sundays this summer, please check out the sign-up sheet.
Parent Playdate continues with our final “regular” program on Saturday, June 6. If you are able to sign up to help with the meal or assist as host, we appreciate all the help to make this important ministry happen.
Wishing everyone a joyful beginning to summer!
-May Poduschnick
Seeking God Together
This summer, MiddUCC and St. Stephen’s Church are working together to host a weekly intergenerational faith exploration. All are welcome to come for dinner and a guided dinner conversation around the theme of the 7-week series: Seeking God Together. This program is accessible for people of all ages who are interested in growing in faith and learning from one another.
Wednesdays at 5:15 - 6:45 pm
Starting on June 24 through August 5
First four sessions held in MiddUCC Fellowship Hall (June 24 - July 15) and final three sessions held in St. Stephen’s Fellowship Hall (July 22 - August 5)
Gather & Share: June's Theme is SNack Time!
This June, we’re packing a little extra care into snack-sized packages.
Every can, box, bag, and snack that we donate to HOPE helps feed our Addison County neighbors.
You’re invited to bring healthy, shelf-stable snacks with you to church throughout June. Think of the kinds of things that are easy to tuck into a lunchbox, backpack, glove compartment, or pantry shelf:
granola bars, juice boxes or pouches, raisins, trail mix, nuts, crackers, applesauce pouches, fruit cups, pretzels, popcorn, cereal bars, or other individually packaged snacks.
Want to make it fun?
- Bring one snack for every member of your household.
- Pick up one extra box of granola bars when you shop.
Place your donations at church, and we’ll make sure they reach HOPE and the neighbors who need them.
Small snacks. Big care. Let’s keep the sharing going!
Music Ministry
Ronnie Romano
Dear church,
As the program year winds to a close, now is the time to think about summer music and new endeavors for Fall 2026-Spring 2027.
Perhaps you are a musician and would like to sing or play for us this summer! Most ideas are welcome here: vocals, instruments, solos, duos, trios, groups. If you are interested in providing special music in July or August, please contact me soon — I hope to have all summer music plans finalized no later than Monday, June 15th.
Maybe you'd like to join the Chancel Choir next season! We always have room for new voices and could especially use more tenors and basses. The choir is not an exclusive community, and you do not need to be an exceptional singer to join. The only requirements are that you can carry a tune, read basic music notation, and are generally available on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. I urge you to consider singing with us — the more voices we have, the more adventurous we can be with our repertoire, which benefits the entire congregation. Ask me or any choir member if you have questions. We have a great time at rehearsal, promise!
Or, wild card...you have an entirely new idea for music ministry at church! I'd love to hear what's on your mind and think creatively together about how to bring it to life.
If any of the above resonates with you, I warmly invite you to find me before or after worship, email me your ideas, or set up a time to meet. I value your feedback and perspective, and I want to do everything I can to continue serving this congregation as fully as possible.
I look forward to some time away this summer to recharge and reflect on future musical aspirations. I'll certainly see you at least a few Sundays this summer at church, and if not, surely around town!
With love,
Ronnie
Seeking Veggie/Herb Seedlings for CVOEO!
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You're Invited: Game Night for Grown-Ups!
Are you ready for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition? The Board of Membership invites you to our upcoming Game Night for Grown-ups!
Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Unity Hall
Target Audience: Adults only
What to Expect:
Three Game Zones: We will feature distinct areas with games like Pictionary, Left-Right-Center, and Apples to Apples.
Snack Share: Please bring a snack to share. We ask that your contribution is enough to feed at least four people.
Provided for You: The Board of Membership will supply drinks (water, seltzer) and paper goods for the evening.
Future Fun: If we have a great turnout, we hope to make this a recurring event on our church calendar!
How to Sign Up: Please add your name to the sign-up sheet
June Taizé
Taizé service will be held on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. in Unity Hall. This will be the last Taizé for the program year; we will resume again in October.
Founded in 1940s France in the wake of World War II, the Taizé style of worship was created to foster unity among Christians of all traditions. The Taizé community served as a safe haven for refugees fleeing persecution, bringing people together through simple, contemplative worship and the minimalist monastic lifestyle. Pilgrims would sing the Taizé chants in their own language to reflect their personal relationship with God. Today, Taizé continues to inspire millions worldwide with its message of peace, reconciliation, and inclusion.
Our service features repetitive chants, reflective silence, heartfelt prayers, and the warm glow of candlelight. It’s a chance to step away from life’s busyness, immerse yourself in a contemplative atmosphere, connect with our loving God. Mark your calendar and we'll see you there!
The Gratitude Collection
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 of gratitude for the Tech the AV Teams. The Tech Team is responsible for vetting and installing the equipment that helps our services run smoothly from a technology standpoint. The AV Team makes all our online streaming possible by staffing the sound and video equipment during services; these volunteers make sure the cameras are pointed in the right direction and that the microphones are capturing audio. All this behind-the-scenes work allows access to our services for those who are unable to attend in person.
Here is a note sent through the office by Tucker, who was able to view the memorial service of a good friend even though he lives far away:
"...I am deeply thankful to have been able to watch the service. And I can't help but notice that it has almost 200 views only a few days after posting! Please send thanks to those (including yourself if that is who it is!) that have installed the equipment and time to record these services for those that can't be there in person, and with multiple angles which helped capture speakers that stood up in every corner of the church..."
Gratitude for all that you do, Tech and AV Teams!!
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 newly installed "Gratitude Jar" outside the church reception window and we'll add it to the gratitude collection for a future Church Matters!
helping hands crew June Update
A little change with Helping Hands for June and July. With many schedules involved over the next couple of months the best time to meet next will be on Monday, June 29 from 10:15-12:30. Being so late in June we therefore will not meet in July. Any questions you can reach out to Dorothy Douglas at 802-989-0405.
Office Hours
The Church Office hours will be M-Th 9-12 through the summer. Mira is at the reception desk most days until 4:30, but reserves the afternoon for post-office trips and away-from-desk duties. Should you need assistance, please get in touch at office@midducc.org or call 802-388-7634. We're glad to help! Happy Summer!
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June Birthdays
Mary A. Williams June 01
Janet Franklin June 01
Ellyn Curtin June 01
Alice Livesay June 01
Nellie Walcoff June 02
Dana Severson June 02
Adelynn Leonard June 03
Angelika Brumbaugh June 04
Heather Viens June 04
Sara Marshall June 05
Ellen R Whelan-Wuest June 05
Maureen Williams June 06
Richard Westfall June 06
John Klinck June 06
Christopher Wright June 06
Katy Smith Abbott June 09
Stella Andrews June 09
Matthew Cox June 10
Judy Jessup June 11
Katie Wallace June 11
Diana Landwehr June 12
Peter Vant June 13
Nancy Ward June 15
Mal Chase June 17
Sarah Tully June 17
Uwe Luksch June 17
Walter Stugis June 18
Jeff Munroe June 18
Patrick Deering June 18
Peter Nelson June 20
Jim Douglas June 21
Rik Poduschnick June 21
Cathy Fowler June 22
Annie Livesay June 23
Candy McLaughlin June 25
Patrick Greene June 27
Cindy Marshall June 28
Erik Bleich June 28
Hadley Evans Nash June 28
Tim Hollander June 30
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June Anniversaries
Steve Abbott & Katy Smith Abbott June 3
Jim & Margaret Eagan June 3
Larry & Cindy Jones June 11
John & Sherry Klinck June 11; Celebrating 65 years!
Steve & Kathy Jewett June 13
Tim & Mary Williams June 13; Celebrating 62 years!
Stephen & Aimee Diehl June 14
Donald & Kristie Skor June 17
James & Elizabeth Davis June 20
Mark & Jenny Orten June 23
Andy Hooper & Caitlin Myers June 27
John & Amy Emerson June 29
Jim & Joyce Foster June 29
Andrew & Jessica L’Roe June 30
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Church Calendar
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Church Activities
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