News from the Pews, September 17th
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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 targetted. 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! _______________ |
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 sanctuary 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! ______________ |
Farewell to Pastor Jessica on October 4th On October 4th we will be bidding farewell to Pastor Jessica Derise, our interim pastor for the last 18 months. More details will be forthcoming, but please mark your calendars. ______________ |
Neighbors in Need Offering October 4th On Sunday, October 4, we will receive the UCC Neighbors in Need Offering. This offering is designated for justice work in local churches and in their communities. Because the overhead costs are supported by the national UCC offices, 100% of the collection will go to specific justice projects. In addition, 1/3 of the offering is designated to support American Indian congregations affiliated with our denomination on reservations in North and South Dakota. _________________ |
Report on VPR on Recent ICE Protest A recent protest at an ICE facility in Williston ended with a group of interfaith religious leaders arrested for trespassing, including Rev. Jessica Derise from College Street. This report discusses what led them to stage this protest, what happened that day and how faith guides their activism. ______________ |
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. ______________ |
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 |
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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 |
September 6, 2026 https://youtu.be/UIuF7qm6u5o
August 30, 2026 https://youtu.be/Q5EaxWeFa3Y
August 23, 2026 https://youtu.be/s_1Ka_AGutc
Additional service videos can be found on our YouTube channel at |
ONGOING MISSION OPPORTUNITIES |
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Sign up to bring coffee, juice, and treats, and clean up after the service. |
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