Author: Katrina Manzi

Dear friends in Christ,

I hope you’re all doing well this week. It was lovely to see many of you at worship on Sunday and at the Memorial Day parade. I’ve attached some photos of our members and scouts. (Photos by Michael Mastroianni).

We’ve got a number of things coming up in the life of the church:

Pentecost & Confirmation Sunday: June 5^th

This Sunday we’re celebrating Pentecost and welcoming Emma A, Emily C., and Thomas Z., into full membership in the church as they affirm their baptisms and own our church covenant. You’re welcome to wear red for Pentecost to help celebrate the day. We will also have music from both our Cherub and Adult Choirs.

Strawberry Festival: June 5^th from 5-7:30pm

This Sunday evening is our Strawberry Festival here at the church and green. Strawberry shortcake is $8 a serving, and we do encourage preorders. Contact the church office to place an order. You can take your shortcake to go or you can eat indoors or outdoors. I’ve attached the flyer. Please come and enjoy the strawberries and the company!  J

I’ve also created a Facebook event to help get the word out, so if you’re on Facebook, here it is: https://fb.me/e/1yRXuM3sn

Upcoming Memorial Service

6/11 @ 10am: John Spain

• Service and reception are at the church.

Celebration Sunday & Picnic: June 12^th

Next Sunday is Celebration Sunday! Join us for worship as we celebrate some of the joys of this past program year together. Following worship, a picnic lunch will be provided.

Sundaes on Sunday is Back: June 19^th and June 26^th

Sundaes on Sunday returns this summer for a limited time only on June 19^th and 26^th from 5:30-7 at the church. Sundaes are $3. I’ve attached the flyer for more details. Sundaes on Sunday is a wonderful time for fellowship and some great homemade salted caramel sauce and hot fudge!

Vacation Bible School Registration is Open!

Vacation Bible School is June 27th through July 1st. It’s open to grades K-5. Registration can be found here: https://middleburycc.breezechms.com/form/VBS2022

For more information contact our Faith Formation Coordinator Valerie Beard: vbeard@middleburyucc.org

Mission Opportunities

• Diaper Drive: We’re collecting diapers through June 5th to lend a hand to parents in need in our area. Diapers can be brought to worship and left on the Multiplication Table, or you can drop them off at the Church Office from 9-3.
• Operation Paperback:Operation Paperback is an organization that collects gently used paperback books to send to U.S. troops overseas and military families and veterans here. Paperback donations can be brought on Sundays and left on the Multiplication table or brought by the church office.

COVID Update

Just as a reminder, cases in our community do remain high enough that the CDC recommends wearing masks indoors. It’s also prudent to test if you feel any bit unwell or are going to be in close contact with people in a vulnerable population. At church, masks continue to be optional.

General Comments

We have an exciting weekend ahead of us with a lot to celebrate. Monday marked a year since we returned to worship indoors, and I’m looking forward to celebrating Pentecost in our sanctuary once more and to the return of our Strawberry Festival. I want to thank you all in advance for all the work everyone has put in and will put in to make everything happen.

See you Sunday!

Peace,

Pastor Katrina

Dear friends in Christ,

We have a number of things going on that I want to make sure you’re aware of. My brief comments about the shooting in Uvalde are at the end:

Pentecost and Confirmation: June 5^th

During worship on June 5^th we will be celebrating Pentecost and our confirmands will affirm their baptisms and be welcomed into full membership in the church. The color for Pentecost is red, so if you want to be extra festive (and ready for Strawberry Festival), you can wear red on June 5^th!

Strawberry Festival 2022: June 5^th

The Strawberry Festival will be June 5^th from 5-7:30 here at the church and green. Strawberry shortcake is $8 a serving, and we do encourage preorders. Contact the church office to place an order. You can take your shortcake to go or you can eat indoors or outdoors. I’ve attached the flyer. Janine SW is serving as our festival chair this year, so if you’re interested in volunteering, let her know (you can also contact me, and I’ll put you in touch with Janine.)

Charles P. Luckey/Mission Board Scholarship

Applications are being accepted for the Luckey/Mission Scholarship. Church members who are high school seniors attending college or university in the fall are eligible to apply. The application can be found here: https://www.middleburyucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/luckey_mission_2022_pdf_scholarship_application-1.pdf

Celebration Sunday: June 12^th

During worship on June 12^th, we will celebrate a number of aspects of our life together from this past program year. After worship, a picnic lunch will be provided. So, please come and enjoy this time of celebration and fellowship!

Vacation Bible School Registration is Open!

Vacation Bible School is June 27th through July 1st. It’s open to grades K-5. I’ve attached the flyer with a bit more info. Registration can be found here: https://middleburycc.breezechms.com/form/VBS2022

For more information contact our Faith Formation Coordinator Valerie Beard: vbeard@middleburyucc.org

Mission Opportunities

• Diaper Drive: We’re collecting diapers through June 5th to lend a hand to parents in need in our area. Diapers can be brought to worship and left on the Multiplication Table, or you can drop them off at the Church Office from 9-3.
• Operation Paperback:Operation Paperback is an organization that collects gently used paperback books to send to U.S. troops overseas and military families and veterans here. Paperback donations can be brought on Sundays and left on the Multiplication table or brought by the church office.

Shooting in Uvalde, TX

The news coming out about the shooting in Uvalde is devastating. I’ve been thinking about this verse from Jeremiah that’s quoted in Matthew after Herod slaughters all the small children around Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”- Jeremiah 31:15

When faced with horror like what happened in Uvalde, in Newtown, it can be difficult to know what words to say or to pray. In situations like this I often think about the apostle Paul writing that we sometimes don’t know how to pray, but that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. Our sighs, our tears, our anger, etc., all those are perfectly acceptable prayers.

I also think this quote from John Calvin is always sensible advice when praying in difficult times: “We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown.”

The Southern New England Conference has some resources for talking to children about difficult topics, including gun violence. The information can be found here: https://www.sneucc.org/talking-with-children-and-teens-about-tough-issues

As we rightly pray for the families and community of Uvalde, for those in our own community still affected by Sandy Hook, and for no shooting like this to ever happen again, I’m reminded of this prayer from the Book of Common Worship that I use regularly in worship:

“O God, in your loving purpose answer our prayers and fulfill our hopes. In all things for which we pray, give us the will to seek to bring them about, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Peace,

Pastor Katrina