United Church of Christ | Doing God's Work in Connecticut and the World
This Week at MCC
10 am, Sunday, March 26, 2023
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Scripture: Ezekiel 37: 1-14, John 11:17-50
Sermon: To Death and Back
Service will be streamed: https://www.youtube.com/c/middleburycongregationalchurch
Click “continue reading” for this week’s worship bulletin.
Continue reading “”Dear friends in Christ,
I hope all of you are doing well this sunny, spring day. It was wonderful to see many of you at the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and Open Mic Night! A few pictures from the night are attached.
As we approach Holy Week, we have a lot going on here at MCC:
Soup and Scripture: Lent Bible Discussion on Parables of Jesus
All Wednesdays in Lent at 7pm we will have a discussion on the parables of Jesus. We will be in the Conference Room and on Zoom.
On Wednesday 4/5 there will be a soup supper at 6:30 preceding the scripture discussion. (Thank you, deacons!)
Volunteers Needed This Sunday: 3/26
We need a few volunteers this Sunday to help put candy into the Easter Eggs so we’re ready for the egg hunt on Palm Sunday.
MCC Egg Hunt and Easter Craft: 4/2
After worship on Palm Sunday, April 2nd, we will have our annual Easter egg hunt on the Green! Following the egg hunt, join us in the Social Hall for an all ages Easter craft to make a floral centerpiece to brighten your Easter table!
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
4/2: 10am Palm Sunday Worship, Egg Hunt and Easter Craft Workshop after worship
4/5: 6:30pm Soup Supper, 7pm Bible Study
4/6: 7pm Maundy Thursday Worship
4/9: 10am Easter Sunday Worship
Troop 5&6 Bottle and Can Drive: 4/1
Our Scout troops are having a bottle and can drive on Saturday 4/1, from 9am-1pm at Village Square Plaza at 530 Middlebury Rd.
The Virtual Swear Jar
Is your truth a tad less than couth? Your table talk too salty or spicy?
We have a solution! Give up cussing for Lent!
In a variation on the family Swear Jar, we invite you to drop a dollar or two whenever you let fly a naughty word. You can pay as you go, or book in advance.
How much is up to you. We suggest $1, $2, or $3 depending on the circumstances. It’ll be our little secret, unless, of course, the kids get wind of this. Maybe you’d better get the Sailor’s Special, just in case!
Or, if you prefer, you can always pick your donation and fill in the blankety-blank.
We can’t promise forgiveness, but we guarantee you’ll feel better after your donation to our Virtual Swear Jar! Check it out at middleburyucc.org/jar today!
(In case anyone is wondering, I’ve purchased the “sailor special,” just so I can be prepared.)
Spring Clean Up: Saturday, April 29th
Our annual Spring Clean Up of the church and parsonage grounds is scheduled for 4/29, starting at 8am. Tools and Supplies Needed: rakes, shovels, pitchforks, edgers, brooms, loppers, pruners, leaf blowers, tarps, wheelbarrows, trailers, and pickup trucks.
We’ll also be looking for a few volunteers the week prior to do some more detail oriented garden work prior to bringing in all the mulch on the 29th.
MCC Players Present As You Were
Dinner theater is back at MCC! Play rehearsals have begun! Mark your calendars for a performance like no other this Mother’s Day weekend. As You Were is the play written by our very own Chris A., which was scheduled to be performed in Spring of 2020. After three years of pandemic delays, the show will go on!
Charles P. Luckey Scholarship: Deadline May 31st
The application for the Charles P. Luckey Scholarship is available and is on our website:
https://www.middleburyucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Luckey-Scholarship.pdf
Scholarships are open to any high school student entering their freshman year of college that is a member of Middlebury Congregational Church and will be attending an accredited college or university.
All applications must be postmarked by May 31, 2023.
Mission Project: Easter Dinner Baskets for Middlebury Families
Spring is coming! So is Easter!. Again this year, we are asking for your contributions to three baskets for families in town. The lists of items are posted outside the kitchen: your generosity is much appreciated.
General Comments
One of the aspects of Lent is contemplating the depth of Christ’s love for us, which is demonstrated through his death on the cross. This poem, The Coming, by R.S. Thomas captures some of the beauty of Christ’s loving decision to be with us:
“And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look, he said.
The son looked.
Far off.
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Color. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows; a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The sky. Many people
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs. The son watched
Them. Let me go there, he said. “
Peace,
Pastor Katrina
Dear friends in Christ,
I hope everyone is doing well and that you’ve all weathered the latest snow storm. Though, I think based on talking with a number of you, we got more snow here on the Green than other places in town. We have a number of things happening this week:
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Open Mic Night: 3/17
You’re in luck to get a head start on St. Patrick’s Day 2023 with a mile-high corn beef on rye!!
Freshly made corn beef and swiss cheese piled high on bakery rye bread with just enough sides to make it a meal. All yours for just $8
We have a lot of corned beef, so tell your friends to come. The Facebook event is here: https://fb.me/e/40p9oPdZT
You can pick up your orders to go or stay and join us for fellowship and entertainment while you eat. We will be hosting our first ever “Open Mic” night in our social hall. Bring a friend, support our youth, and enjoy a one of a kind evening. No Blarney!
When: Friday, March 17, 2023
Where: MCC Social Hall
TIME: 5:00-7:00 pm
Pre-orders are appreciated: You can contact the church office at 203-758-2671
St. Patrick’s Day Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers for Friday to help in the kitchen, with setup and clean up, and to cashier. If you’re available, contact Ellen!
The Virtual Swear Jar
Is your truth a tad less than couth? Your table talk too salty or spicy?
We have a solution! Give up cussing for Lent!
In a variation on the family Swear Jar, we invite you to drop a dollar or two whenever you let fly a naughty word. You can pay as you go, or book in advance.
How much is up to you. We suggest $1, $2, or $3 depending on the circumstances. It’ll be our little secret, unless, of course, the kids get wind of this. Maybe you’d better get the Sailor’s Special, just in case!
Or, if you prefer, you can always pick your donation and fill in the blankety-blank.
We can’t promise forgiveness, but we guarantee you’ll feel better after your donation to our Virtual Swear Jar! Check it out at middleburyucc.org/jar today!
(In case anyone is wondering, I’ve purchased the “ sailor special,” just so I can be prepared.)
Soup and Scripture: Lent Bible Discussion on Parables of Jesus
All Wednesdays in Lent at 7pm we will have a discussion on the parables of Jesus. We will be in the Conference Room and on Zoom.
On Wednesday 4/5 there will be a soup supper at 6:30 preceding the scripture discussion. (Thank you, deacons!)
Southern New England UCC Conference Regional Gathering: 3/19
On March 19th from 2-5, we are hosting the Conference’s regional gathering for clergy and church leaders in our area. We’ll be looking for some volunteers to help with set up and clean up. You’re also welcome to attend the event to connect with other churches in our region. More info is here: https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/17300610?month=3&year=2023&day=1&display=m
MCC Players Present As You Were
Dinner theater is back at MCC! Play rehearsals have begun! Mark your calendars for a performance like no other this Mother’s Day weekend. As You Were is the play written by our very own Chris A., which was scheduled to be performed in Spring of 2020. After three years of pandemic delays, the show will go on!
Mission Project: Easter Dinner Baskets for Middlebury Families
Spring is coming! So is Easter!. Again this year, we are asking for your contributions to three baskets for families in town. The lists of items are posted outside the kitchen: your generosity is much appreciated.
Donations Needed: Faith Formation
Throughout the month of March, Faith Formation is looking for donations of:
• Plastic Easter Eggs
• Individually wrapped Easter candy
Any contributions can be left in the box in the Social Hall. Thank you!
MCC Egg Hunt and Easter Craft: 4/2
After worship on Palm Sunday, April 2nd, we will have our annual Easter egg hunt on the Green! Following the egg hunt, join us in the Social Hall for an all ages Easter craft!
Silver Lake Registration is Open
Silver Lake Camp (the camp run by our United Church of Christ Southern New England Conference) registration is open as of today: https://www.silverlakect.org/
General Comments
As we approach St. Patrick’s Day, thought I’d share a portion of a prayer attributed to St. Patrick. The prayer is called St. Patrick’s Breastplate. This section is my favorite part because it is a beautiful description of how Christ is always with us:
“Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”
Peace,
Pastor Katrina
