News from the Pews, September 10th

CSCC UCC

7 days ago

4 min read

Head Start Programs Are Under Threat--Sign a Petition?
Parking Lot Dance Party This Saturday, September 12th
Burlington Pride Parade Is September 13th
Liturgy Leadership Training September 27th After Church
Can You Help With the Service Auction?
Fill Our Food Pantry?

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Head Start Programs Are Under Threat--Sign a Petition?

The federal government is proposing changes to Head Start that would roll back benchmarks that keep the program safe and high-quality. In Vermont and across the country, this critical program supports children from the lowest-income families with child care, education, and developmental support-- and the rental fees support our church's bottom line! There are decades of data that support the program's effectiveness.

As far as we know, our own in-house program has not been targeted.

If you can, please share why you support Head Start in Vermont. Use the template form here to submit your public comment this month. You may use the pre-formatted letter or amend it as you wish. Thank you!

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Parking Lot Dance Party is this Saturday. Don't miss it!

Thanks to so many volunteers from CSCC, StreetCATs and community partners. and community partners, we are ready to go!

Come hang out, eat, laugh, listen and dance as we support StreetCATs, our outreach partner.For any questions, call Matt Van Wagner 603-557-7504 or email at matt.vanwagner@gmail.com

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Burlington Pride Parade This Sunday, September 13th

The Burlington Pride Parade is next Sunday. Get your walking shoes ready! Let’s march to demonstrate our love for a community that has not always felt welcome or safe. This year’s parade will take place on Sunday, September 13th, starting at noon. For those who want to walk with our CSCC group, we will meet in the vestibule after service that Sunday and walk down together to the starting place, 182 King St. Contact Scott Mackey if you have any questions. Looking forward to spending a wonderful afternoon with some wonderful people.

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Liturgy Leadership Training September 27th After Church

Lay leadership during worship has always been an important tradition at College Street Church. If you're interested in carrying on this tradition by reading scripture or leading a unison prayer or responsive reading some Sunday, then this training is for you! Rev. Debbie Ingram will offer guidance on why the various worship elements are included, what they are trying to achieve, and how best to approach them when you're leading.

This 45-minute training session will be held in the Perkins Room on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 11:15 am to 12 noon. No registration necessary; all members and attendees are welcome. Come to build your confidence and enhance your enjoyment of helping to lead worship!

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Can You Help With The Service Auction on November 15th?

The Holiday Service Auction is a popular and fun event--and is budgeted to contribute $3,000 to the bottom line. It involves lunch in the Assembly Room followed by a good-hearted auctioning of donated services and goods. Examples from the past include favorite baked goods, doll clothing, tickets to concerts or shows, opportunities to attend dinner or lunch at someone’s home, invitations to go boating on Lake Champlain, and offers to clean yards or shovel driveways and walks. Of course, since the proceeds go to help the church, overbids are cheerfully accepted!

We need volunteers to help carry this off--runners, soup and bread cooks, people to set up and take down tables and chairs on the day, table decorations, etc. Look for sign-up sheets at the back of the church, forms on which to list your donated services or items and listen for announcements to see how you might be able to help.

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Fill Our Food Pantry

Several years ago the Youth Group built a Food Pantry and placed it on the corner of our church yard near S. Union St. It’s a great location and is often empty. This note is a rally call!

Let’s make sure there is food and/or other non-food items at least every Sunday. There is a link in the News from the Pews each week to sign up. When the link opens, scroll down for a shopping list of food and non-food items you can contribute. If can swing by and contribute during the week, that would be great too!

Thanks for your participation--Mary Alice Favro

Community Events

Hospitality for Burlington Baroque Festival Artists

Thursday, September 17, 2026, is the opening night of this year's Burlington Baroque Festival! As the festival's primary host, it would be especially meaningful for members of the College Street Church community to provide a meal for the artists and show our amazing hospitality.

If you are willing to bring a soup, some bread or dessert, or you’d be willing to help clean up after the meal, please sign up using this form: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AABAD29A3FDC16-65483879-soup.

Drop off your meal item at church in the Assembly Room on Thursday, 9/17, between 4:00 and 5:00 PM; the meal will be served at 6:00. If you are interested in staying for the performance, let Laura Labrie know, and she will send you a ticket.

Thank you for supporting the festival and welcoming the artists!

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Support Steven Tendo While He Awaits His Work Permit

Help Steven stay housed, fed and cared-for while he is waiting for his work authorization to be renewed. During this time, he is continuing his education to become a RN.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-steven-while-he-awaits-his-work-permit

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Dancing with the Burlington Stars Fundraising Event, Sept. 12th

Dancing with the Burlington Stars is a community celebration of local talent, team spirit and generous people coming together for a worthy cause. Local celebrities + dance professionals + 17 weeks to create, practice, and compete for the title of, “Dancing with the Burlington Stars 2026” = an awesome show on the Flynn Stage! Enjoy guest performances and cameos from the Alumni Cast! All proceeds support the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired to enable Vermonters who are blind or visually impaired, to be more independent, cultivate adaptive skills and improve their quality of life. Tickets at www.flynntix.org.