epiphany 2020 · 2020. 1. 1. · wednesday morning in the sanctuary at 7:00 a.m. fourth sunday...

Epiphany 2020

January 2020 Vol. 64 No. 5

PUBLISHED FOR THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF GRACE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, RUTLAND, VERMONT

January 5 – Epiphany Sunday Communion Sunday

Chapel Service 8:30 AM

Sanctuary Service 10:00 AM

James Davis of Middlebury College, preaching Sanctuary Sunday

January 12



Reverend John Barclay, preaching Whole Church School Program

Handbell Concert 4:00 PM

January 19 – Jazz Sunday

with the Onion River Jazz Band



January 26


Sanctuary Service 10:00 AM Whole Church School Program

Pizza Party to Unwrap White Gifts

11:30 AM in Fellowship Hall

All children and youth are invited to Join

us for a pizza party as we unwrap and

sort the white gifts so they can be

distributed to local organizations.

Epiphany Tree Burning

4:30 PM in North Clarendon

Un-trim your tree and bring it to the

Ashcroft-Billings farm, 731 Creek Rd

in North Clarendon, for a bonfire

and celebration. We will sing

Epiphany carols and enjoy cocoa and

cookies. This is an outdoor event

so please dress warmly!

Sunday, January 5—Epiphany! Plan on participating in a day of Epiphany activities as we Celebrate the Light together!

Sunday Worship in January

From the Church Council: Mark your calendars now for our Annual Meeting to vote on the 2020 Budget.

Sunday, February 9, 2020 after worship

Watch for more information.

- The Star

The Interim Search Committee continues to meet

regularly and is interviewing candidates for the

position. The Vermont Conference of the UCC

sends us resumes of candidates who have

expressed an interest in our position. The

resumes can include a lot of detail about the

person and their training for the interim

position. In addition, we’ve asked for recordings

of sermons and other information that will help us

to make an informed decision.

We have not yet found the right person for our

church. In the meantime, we continue to fill the

pulpit weekly with preachers we feel will bring

interesting viewpoints and an understanding of our

church and the greater church. The committee

welcomes your feedback and suggestions about

the weekly preachers and what you think the

future of Grace should look like.

The committee is: Kelly Thompson, Gary Salmon,

Bonnie Kelly, Ruth and Richard Westfall, David

and Carolyn Hazen, Barbara Kirk, and Diane

Chartrand. Please feel free to contact any of us

for more information or to offer suggestions. You

may also send your comments to graceucc@

gracechurchvt.org.

News from the Interim

Search Committee

Pledge Information

We will be holding open FY

2019 until Thursday, January

9th. If we receive your

payment by then (check date

must be no later than 12/31/19) it will post to

the 2019 fiscal year; payments received after that,

no matter what their date, will post to the 2020

fiscal year.

In related news, it's not too late to make a

pledge for 2020! Finance has prepared a draft

2020 budget, to be presented at the Annual

Meeting on Sunday, February 9th - and we could

use your pledge. We will happily receive it from

now through the end of the year... but it makes

planning the budget much easier if we have it by

January 16th. We can mail you a pledge card, or

pick one up in the office Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m-

4 p.m. Contact Beth at beth@ gracechurchvt.org

or Kit at [email protected]. Thank you!

Personnel Committee Updates

Thank you, thank you to everyone who

participated in the annual staff review process!

We received many items of “green sheet

feedback” regarding our staff members this time

around, and it helped to provide well-rounded

staff assessments. Reflective conferences have

been held this past month with all staff members.

Thanks for your participation in this ongoing process!

Don’t forget!

Food Shelf Sunday—January 5th

February STAR Deadline—

January 13th

- The Star

Healing Ministry By Rev. Bob Boutwell

Healing is one of the most important ministries of the church. The anointing

with oil and healing prayer is considered to be one of the sacraments like

baptism, communion, and ordination in some churches. It is one of the ways

that God blesses, cleanses, heals and forgives us. It is mentioned in the Letter of James in the Bible

(James 5:13-15) as one of the ministries of the Deacons or Elders of the church. The Rev. Bob

Boutwell offers healing prayers, laying on hands and anointing with oil at his church office Wednesday

mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. You may come by appointment or just drop in. You may also

contact him during the fellowship time following the morning worship service. He will be assisting at

the Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness on Sunday, December 22 at 4:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Grace Church will not be offering a Healing Prayer service on the second Sunday of the

month until further notice. From time to time Healing Prayers may be offered during the regular

Sunday morning worship service. Those who need healing are invited to contact the Rev. Bob

Boutwell by telephone at 802.773.3057 or by email at [email protected].

You may place a request for prayer in the offering plate at worship on Sunday morning, or by calling

the Church Office, and you will be prayed for by the church’s Prayer Group which meets every

Wednesday morning in the Sanctuary at 7:00 a.m.

Fourth Sunday Welcome Table Dinner

Sunday, January 26, 2020—5:30 p.m.

The Welcome Table Dinner is a free meal offered the 4th Sunday of each month

thanks to the help of many volunteers. Volunteers are needed each month to:

To volunteer or to learn more, contact Sarah Pulcer (775.8861/ [email protected]).

- help prepare food

- be a table host

- help serve

- help with clean-up - donate desserts & food

- coordinate the meal

Boy Scout Tree Collection

On January 4 and 11, local Boy Scout troops will help you to dispose of your

Christmas tree. To schedule your tree pickup, please call 802.438.8721 or email

[email protected]. Donations will be accepted at pickup and will

benefit Boy Scout Troops 105/112/120.

- The Star

Handbell Concert - January 12, 4 Pm

The Grace Handbell choir, Tintinnabula, will be joined by Vermont’s

premier handbell ensemble, Northern Bronze, to offer a concert of

seasonal handbell pieces.

Jazz Sunday Celebration

January 19 at the 10 AM service

On Sunday, January 19 at the 10 a.m. service, Grace Church will celebrate and

worship in a special jazz service. The guest musicians that day will be Onion River

Jazz Band, a talented group based in Burlington that has been inspiring congregations all over Vermont

with their energy and spirit. This seven-piece ensemble will play jazz arrangements of hymns as well as

other powerful music. The choir will sing gospel arrangements in the African American tradition. Feel

free to "rise up singing” if you feel the spirit! After the service, the band will play jazz music in

Fellowship Hall.

Paramount Players and Grace Church

Present Shrek the Musical

July 16, 17, and 18 at the Paramount Theater

We are excited to announce the first Paramount Theatre and Grace Church

collaboration! The Paramount Theatre’s Paramount Players, directed by Eric

Mallette, and the Grace Congregational Church music department will present

the award-winning family show, Shrek the Musical, on July 16, 17, and 18, 2020, at the Paramount

Theatre. Auditions are open to all, and will take place at Grace Church on January 5, 7, 9 (by

appointment only) and January 11 for callbacks. Rehearsals will begin on June 8. Please see the

church website for details.

Choir rehearsals reminder

Rehearsals begin again in early January:

Sunday, January 5: Joyful Noise at 11:45 a.m.

Monday, January 6: Handbells at 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday, January 8: Children’s Choir at 4 p.m.; TTBB choir at 6 p.m.; Sanctuary choir at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 15: Children’s Choir at 4 p.m.; SSAA choir 6 p.m.: Sanctuary Choir at 7 p.m.

Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord.

- The Star

Make a New Year’s Resolution to BE THE CHURCH and be involved in our community !

Grace Volunteering Opportunities in our Community

Mondays at the Vermont Food Bank—10 a.m. to 12 noon

Come join others from Grace in preparing backpack food bags to go home with

children over the weekend.

Wednesdays and Saturdays – Habitat for Humanity

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. … come for all or part of that time!

Volunteers with all skill levels welcome for work at 120 Crescent St.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020, Noon to 5:00 PM

Red Cross Blood Drive here at Grace

Give something that means something : sign up to donate blood in January, when the need is great. Call

1-800 RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org; enter GRACECONG to schedule an appointment.

Rutland Meals Challenge Packaging - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!!!

The Rutland Meals Challenge packaging event will be held on Saturday, January 18. Since 2013, the

Rutland Meals Challenge has added 245,000 meals to the local emergency food system, providing

meals to a dozen local food shelves, including the Community Cupboard of Rutland and the Vermont

Food Bank. This year they would like to add 30,000 servings to that total, and need over 200 people

to make this event a success! There are opportunities for set-up, breakdown, packaging shifts, box

builders, carton hauling & stacking, and movers & shakers (who refill the food bins as we work).

Each volunteer must sign up individually, even if part of a team. Available shifts:

9-9:30 a.m.;9:30-11a.m.; 11-12:30 p.m.; 12:30-2 p.m.

Fast-paced, easy, fun, creating goodwill, and friendships for people of all ages. If you are interested

sign up directly by visiting https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4baeac22abf94-rutland4.

Grace Church in the Wider Community

Souper Bowl Food Collection: January 5 through February 2

The Church School invites everyone to participate in our Souper Bowl Food Collection from

January 5 through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2. (See page 8) Help us to Fill the Shelves! Plan to bring

your food items, which will be donated to the Community Cupboard.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4baeac22abf94-rutland4

- The Star

ON-GOING WEEKLY

EVENTS

SUNDAY

8:30 Chapel Service

9:00 Choir Rehearsal

10:00 Sanctuary Service

11:15 A Time of Fellowship

11:45 Joyful Noise

Choir Rehearsal

MONDAY

8:00 AA

5:30 AA

6:45 Tintinnabula

7:00 Boy Scouts

TUESDAY

9:00 Yoga

12:00 Staff Meeting

5:00 Women’s AA

6:00 Bereavement Support

6:30 Wit’s End

7:00 AA

7:00 GA

WEDNESDAY

7:00 Prayer Group

8:00 AA

11:30 Men’s Luncheon

12:00 AA

4:00 Children’s Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

THURSDAY

12:00 AA

FRIDAY

8:00 AA

AA - Alcoholics Anonymous

GA - Gamblers Anonymous

GPS - Grace Pre-School

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

12.31

CHURCH OFFICE

CLOSES AT NOON

1.1

CHURCH OFFICE

CLOSED

1.2

1.3 1.4


1.5 Epiphany Sunday

Communion

Food Shelf Sunday

11:30 Children and Youth pizza

party/opening of white gifts

2:00 Shrek auditions (appt only)

4:30 Epiphany Tree Burning at

Ashcroft-Billings Farm

1.6

9:30 Women’s Small Group

5:30 Music Committee

1.7

9:00 Yoga


7:00 Compassionate Friends

1.8

7:00 Prayer Group

8:30 Property Committee

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Bible Study

9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry

4:00 Children's Choir

6:00 TTBB Choir


1.9


6:00 Diaconate Sub-Committees

6:30 Diaconate

1.10

1.11


2:00 Shrek ensemble call-backs

3:00 Shrek call-backs

1.12 Soup Sale Sunday

11:45 FAST potluck lunch

4:00 Handbell concert

1.13

STAR DEADLINE

1.14

9:00 Yoga

12:00 Red Cross blood drive

1.15

7:00 Prayer Group


Open

9:30 Bible Study


6:00 SSAA Choir


1.16

1.17 1.18

Rutland Meals Challenge

(see p. 5)

1.19 Jazz Sunday

Equal Exchange Sales

1.20 OFFICE CLOSED

1.21

9:00 Yoga

9:00 Sewing Group

1.22

7:00 Prayer Group


Open

9:30 Bible Study


6:00 TTBB Choir


1.23

6:00 Church Council

1.24

1.25

1.26

5:30 Welcome Table Dinner

1.27

1.28

9:00 Yoga

1.29

7:00 Prayer Group


Open

9:30 Bible Study


6:00 SSAA Choir


1.30

1.31

- The Star

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

12.31

CHURCH OFFICE

CLOSES AT NOON

1.1

CHURCH OFFICE

CLOSED

1.2

1.3 1.4


1.5 Epiphany Sunday

Communion

Food Shelf Sunday

11:30 Children and Youth pizza

party/opening of white gifts


4:30 Epiphany Tree Burning at

Ashcroft-Billings Farm

1.6

9:30 Women’s Small Group

5:30 Music Committee

1.7

9:00 Yoga


7:00 Compassionate Friends

1.8

7:00 Prayer Group

8:30 Property Committee


Open

9:30 Bible Study

9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry


6:00 TTBB Choir


1.9


6:00 Diaconate Sub-Committees

6:30 Diaconate

1.10

1.11


2:00 Shrek ensemble call-backs

3:00 Shrek call-backs

1.12 Soup Sale Sunday

11:45 FAST potluck lunch

4:00 Handbell concert

1.13

STAR DEADLINE

1.14

9:00 Yoga

12:00 Red Cross blood drive

1.15

7:00 Prayer Group


Open

9:30 Bible Study


6:00 SSAA Choir


1.16

1.17 1.18

Rutland Meals Challenge

(see p. 5)

1.19 Jazz Sunday

Equal Exchange Sales

1.20 OFFICE CLOSED

1.21

9:00 Yoga

9:00 Sewing Group

1.22

7:00 Prayer Group


Open

9:30 Bible Study


6:00 TTBB Choir


1.23

6:00 Church Council

1.24

1.25

1.26

5:30 Welcome Table Dinner

1.27

1.28

9:00 Yoga

1.29

7:00 Prayer Group


Open

9:30 Bible Study


6:00 SSAA Choir


1.30

1.31

- The Star

Youth News!

Sunday, January 5—Join us

after worship for pizza and help

unwrap the white gifts to the

manger. Then bundle up and bring your family to

the Epiphany Tree Burning at Ashcroft-Billings

Farm at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 18—Rutland Meals Project

(see page 10 for more info). Sign up with a friend.

Sunday, January 26—Welcome Table Dinner.

Come at 5 p.m. to help set up, and stay to serve

the dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Grace Church Youth and Family Ministry

Church School Schedule

Sunday, January 5—Join the Youth Group after

worship for pizza and help unwrap the white gifts

to the manger.

Sundays, January 12 and 26—Whole Church

School program

Souper Bowl Sunday, February 2

More than 23 years ago, ‘Souper’ Bowl of Caring

began with a simple prayer from a single youth

group: “Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football

game, help us to be mindful of those without even a

bowl of soup to eat.”

We can help alleviate hunger! On ‘Souper’ Bowl

Sunday, February 2, our youth will hold soup

pots at church doors as they join young people in

churches all across the country to collect money

for those who are hungry and hurting. Money

collected at Grace Church will go to The

Community Cupboard. Please support the youth

of our church in this effort to “love our

neighbors” by dropping your dollar in the soup

pot on Souper Bowl Sunday!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Grace Church would not appear in all its holiday splendor without the loving hands of many people.

Thank you to those creative volunteers! Here are a few images of this year’s wonder:

May you all have a happy and most healthy New Year. Blessings, David Hazen

- The Star

Women’s Small

Group January 6

9:30 -11:30 a.m.

We gather in the Parlor for

conversation, fellowship,

and study. All are welcome to join us. To learn

more about the group, contact Sue Best

(775.5079; [email protected]).

Women’s Ministries Sewing Group—Tuesday, January 21

We welcome new people to join us in sewing school bags for Church World Service

Kit Program. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month through April, 9 a.m. to1

p.m. We are now collecting items for the CWS Hygiene Kits, which help struggling

families in the face of floods, hurricanes, violence, or grinding poverty and help to

make the difference between sickness and health.

ITEMS NEEDED:

Hand towels (approx. 16”x28”), washcloths, finger/toenail clippers, toothbrushes in original packaging,

bars of soap (bath size, wrapped), standard size band aids, combs (large tooth). Boxes for these items

will be at the West and Center Street doors.

Please contact Helen Willis (773.2115) or Dena Ackerman (773.6435) with any questions.

Women at Grace Church

Women’s Ministries Soup Sale Sunday, January 12

Individual containers of soup will be available for

sale immediately after each service for a

suggested donation of $5. Come browse and

help support mission in our community.

Soup makers needed! Willing to make soup?

Contact Helen Willis (773.2115) or Sue Best

(775.5079/ [email protected]).

We are Looking for Knitters!

A Prayer Shawl is a gift to someone, to “wrap” them in prayers and bring them love,

comfort, and strength. Many blessings and prayers are knit into each shawl as they are

made and then they are blessed during a worship service. If you know of someone who

would benefit from a shawl please contact the Office (775.4301).

The Prayer Shawl Ministry group will meet on Wednesday, January 8 at 9:30 a.m. We would love

to have you join us on this date or on the second Wednesday of each month for an hour or so to

knit, crochet, and pray. We have yarn, needles, and patterns or bring your own. Want to learn? We will

teach you! For more information please call Marty Barclay at 802.775.1076.

- The Star

Christmas Poinsettia Memorials Poinsettias given in loving memory of the following:

In memory of loved ones

Axel J. and Jane Olney Anderson

Lee, Betty and Leland “Skip” Benger

H. Martin Brown

Carl Carlson

Hellin Carlson

Richard and Frances Chamberlain

Angela Combes

Joan Dean

Pierre A. Delfosse

John Densmore

Pamela Dent

Judy Newton Emery

Janet Fountain

Fritz Harlow

Mr. and Mrs. John Hazen

Brittney and Hope Hedding

Ned and Hazel Hemenway

Basil and Phyllis Henry

Dr. and Mrs. Palmer Jenkins

Mary Johnson

Charles Ketcham

Cora W. and Clarence B.

Ladabouche

Members of the Lingenfelter and

Kulas families

Eleanor and Burton Morse

Herman E. Netsch

Nathan W. Netsch

Bernice Newton

Haven Newton

Rosemary Newton

Jasmine Noel

Donald and Dorcas Parker

George W. Parker

Barbara Pearsall

C. Arthur and Harriet Potter

Robert Grant Potter

Anna and Edward Pulcer

Maria Pulcer

Members of the Richardson and

Rivers families

Charles R. Spencer

Richard Stack

Thomas W. Stanley

Gilda and Corrado Tassoni

J. Allen and Frances Taylor

Lincoln O. and Helen R. Weeks

Lincoln O. Weeks III

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. White

Stephen W. White

William W. White

Meredith Ellis Whitman

Ethel Y. Williams

Curtis Yerrick

Mildred Y. Young

Kirk Zimnick

- The Star

The Church Council is working on ways to communicate information from their meetings to the congregation.

Each month a summary of Council meetings will appear in the Star. Because it takes a month to approve the

prior month’s minutes, these will be a month or two behind!

November 21, 2019 Church Council Meeting

Lindsey reported from the Stewardship Committee: 118 pledges have been received for a total

of $245,235. The average pledge is $2,078, which is $320 more than last year's average. We are

78% of the way to last year's pledge figure. Of the 118 pledges, 55 have been increased from last

year, 15 have been decreased, with the rest remaining the same.

Laura presented the Personnel report: Personnel Committee served lunch to the staff at a regular

Tuesday staff meeting time. Laura reported to them how the year has progressed and that there is

no recommendation for increases in staff salaries in 2020. Matt presented the current budget: 2019 pledge income is close to budgeted figures. There have

been changes to the Trust Accounts.

Ellen made a motion that the proposal made by the Personnel Committee for children and youth

coverage be part of the budget. Matt agreed to add it to the budget.

David reported that the interim search is underway with interviews occurring.

Another community conversation about the transition at Grace with Rev. Paul Sangree of the

Vermont Conference will be November 24 immediately following the 10 am service.

Fred addressed the use of the parking lot reserve fund, which was intended to be used for parking

lot repair and maintenance. One important project is installing light in the West Street lot. The cost

could be $5-$10,000 if we install a pole and light. GMP may be willing to put a light on their pole.

The catch basin also needs to be rebuilt. Fred made a motion to again hold property reserve money

from the budget. Mary seconded. Council approved restricting the property reserve to property

expenses and not touching it for the budget without Council approval.

The couches in the lounge will be replaced using money from the Property budget.

Members of the Church Council: Greg Ellis, Chair; Mary Ashcroft, Fred Bates, Bob Boutwell, Diane Chartrand,

Lindsey Coutermarsh, Winnie Denis, Matt Getty, Ellen Green, David Hazen, David Hoffenberg, Randy Kelly,

Barbara Kirk, Tegan Kirk-Elkin, Tracey Marsh, Ken Nelson, Alastair Stout, Kelly Thompson, Laura Zmurko

From the Church Counciil

From the Church Council ...

- The Star

Th

e

Sta

r (U

SP

S

518

-900

) is

p

ub

lish

ed

b

y

Gra

ce

Co

ngre

gati

on

al

Un

ited

Ch

urc

h o

f C

hri

st i

n

Ru

tlan

d,

Verm

on

t 05701.

Peri

od

ical

po

stage p

aid

at

Ru

tlan

d,

Verm

on

t . P

ost

mast

er:

S

en

d c

han

ge o

f ad

dre

ss t

o:

Gra

ce C

on

gre

gati

on

al U

nit

ed

Ch

urc

h o

f C

hri

st

8 C

ou

rt S

treet,

Ru

tlan

d, V

erm

on

t 05701

Web

sit

e: w

ww

.gra

cech

urc

hvt.

org

e-m

ail: gra

ceu

cc@

gra

cech

urc

hvt.

org

Tel. (

802)7

75-4

301 F

ax. (8

02)7

47-3

288 Ja

nu

ary

2020

Vo

l. 6

4 N

o. 5

Peri

od

ical p

ost

age p

aid

at

Ru

tlan

d, V

erm

on

t .

Grace Church Memorials

The Sanctuary and

Chapel Flower Memorials

January 5 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of

Matthew Wingfield by his family.


Meredith Ellis Whitman by her family.

January 19 to the glory of God and in loving memory of

Arnold Johnson and Lloyd and Bertha Wilkins

by Peg Johnson.


Barbara J. Heaton by Ron Heaton and family.

(Please note: If you would like to have a flower memorial in

memory of a loved one or for a special celebration, please contact

David Hazen: 483.2337/[email protected]).

The Church Spire will be illuminated


Francis and Jeanne McVeigh by their family.


David Sharp and Angela Combes by the Prayer Group.

January 19 to the Glory of God.


Dick Guertin by Theresa Jones.

****If you would like to have the Church Spire lit in

celebration or in the memory of a loved one please contact the

Church Office (775.4301). The cost for this is $20.

Church Office Closed

Wednesday, January 1 and

Monday, January 20

http://www.gracechurchvt.org/

mailto:[email protected]

epiphany 2020 · 2020. 1. 1. · wednesday morning in the sanctuary at 7:00 a.m. fourth sunday...

Documents