Church Notices, Events and Activities
Bell Ringing for Freedom Followed by A Peace and Prayer Vigil
Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution Against Tyranny and for Liberty and Justice for All!
Friday, April 18th at 6pm
This evening at 6pm bells will be rung all across the country in a symbolic act of solidarity for our democracy, inspired by the events of April 18th, 1775, when Boston’s Old North Church signaled the start of Paul Revere’s ride.
Our bell is one of four in Woodstock that were manufactured in Paul Revere’s foundry.
Come join us on the front steps of North Chapel for the ringing of our historic bell and stay for a time of silence and meditation in the Sanctuary as we stand in solidarity with others across our country and show our support for our neighbor Mohsen Madhawi, and others who have been detained or wrongfully arrested.
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At the same time, our minister, Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley will be attending the Community Gathering for Mohsen Mahdawi at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Hartland, 8 Brownsville Road, Hartland Four Corners, VT.
A large gathering is expected there so arriving early to be seated is advised.
If you would like to carpool to that event, please contact Joanne this afternoon.
Thank You for Your Donations for the Easter Flowers in the Sanctuary
Easter flowers for the sanctuary are traditionally purchased with donations made in memory of or in honor of family members, friends, or special occasions.
2025 Memorials
From Bill Forster in memory of Vassie Sinopoulos, Chris Lloyd & Elizabeth Bond.
From Ralph & Fran Lancaster in memory of their parents.
From Caroline Connolly in memory of her mother Carol Anne Maciel and grandmother Caroline E. Churchill.
From Mary Blanton in memory of Diana Leslie.
From Ed & Donna Durgin in memory of her mother Susanna Richards,
Vassie Sinopoulos & Gordon Pine.
From Pru Schuyler and Akankha Perkins in memory of Wayne Thompson.
From Barbara Abraham in memory of her sons, Ryan and Alex Abraham.
From Jan Kelsey in memory of her parents.
From Judy Williamson in memory of Penny Mons.
From the Beirne Freiman family for those affected by unjust wars of oppression and invasion.
Last Anti-Cabin Fever Dinner of the Season
Tuesday, April 22nd at 6 pm in the Social Hall
We hope you will join us for our closing dinner of the season on April
22nd with Chef Matt McClure!!
Chef Matt McClure of the Woodstock Inn will be preparing an amazing spring
feast! We will start with whipped ricotta, English peas, sweet carrots,
mint chermoula and almonds followed by sorghum roasted duck with fondant
roasted potatoes, braised radicchio, and duck jus. Dessert will be Vermont
maple cake with whipped cream!
Dinner is served at 6 in the social hall of the North Chapel in Woodstock.
$20 for adults, $10 for kids. Reservations are required and can be made by
visiting our website, emailing us at changetheworldkids@gmail.com or by calling 646-708-1780.
We can’t wait to celebrate Spring with all of you!
Caregiver Gathering
Tuesday April 22nd, 4:00 PM, North Chapel Library
As part of our life journey, whether young or old, there may be times when we are called upon to take care of others, be they family or friends or needy strangers. Although it’s a role motivated by love for which we may receive many thanks, it also can be a role that requires difficult changes in how we live our lives and may bring up hard to manage and often painful feelings. Caregiving is complicated and caregivers, like those needing care, often experience a need for support and understanding.
If you are currently helping someone struggling with a mental and/or physical health challenge and would like a chance to share your experiences with others in similar caregiving circumstances, please come to our gathering. This will be a chance to not only share your stories but also to identify other ways the North Chapel can support you, and those you’re caring for, through a difficult time. Everything that’s shared will be treated as confidential. Dave Cook and Richard Schramm.
Earth Day with Rev. Mariama White-Hammond
April 23rd, 6-7:30 on Zoom
Join us to celebrate Earth Day with Rev. Mariama White Hammond! We will have a virtual presentation followed by Q&A.
Rev. Mariama White-Hammond is an advocate for ecological & social justice, youth engagement, and Spirit-filled organizing. She is a pastor and founder of the New Roots African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She previously served as the Chief of Energy, Environment, and Open Space in the City of Boston.
Virtual via zoom
Register: https://www.sustainablewoodstock.org/event/earth-day-with-rev-mariama-white-hammond/
For more information, please contact Heather Knoll - Program Coordinator, Sustainable Woodstock at 802-296-1595
A Pride of Woodstock Event - Drag Story Hour
Saturday, April 26th at 3pm in the Parlor
Drag Story Hour (DSH) is just what it sounds like...
...drag performers reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.
Emoji Nightmare and Katniss Everqueer, two of Vermont's favorite queer performing artists, will be sure to delight and captivate audience members of all ages as they share stories focused on individuality, activism, gender, creativity, expression, and social responsibility.
DSH was created by Michelle Tea and RADAR Productions in San Francisco in 2015. The Vermont Chapter of DSH was created by Emoji Nightmare and Nikki Champagne in 2017. In 2021, Emoji joined the national board of directors for DSH. For more information on DSH, visit DragStoryHour.org.
“What would you do if ICE came to Woodstock?”
Rights & Rhythms - Solidarity in Action
May 3rd, 3:00, at the Little Theater, 54 River St, Woodstock
Join Migrant Justice and the Woodstock community for an afternoon of solidarity and empowerment!
Learn practical steps on how to support our neighbors, including a brief training on community response if ICE officials arrive in Woodstock.
Enjoy live music, delicious food, and an atmosphere of unity as we celebrate the vital contributions of migrant and immigrant workers to our community.
Together, let's build a supportive and informed Woodstock!
Training from 3:00-4:30
Music and Community Celebration from 4:30-6:00.
Fresh Salad Greens!
Some Sundays after the service, Madeline and Maureen from Ferndene Farm will be in the social hall selling fresh salad greens. They will have a selection that may include: red and yellow chard, salad mix, small red romaine, butterhead, arugula, kale, thyme, dill, parsley and baby cucumbers!
Stop at their table and say hello to see what they have to offer.
March Book Club
Thursday, May 22nd at 7pm on Zoom
We will meet on line at 7:00 on Thursday, May 22nd to discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby von Pelt. This is a delightful story given from the point of view of an octopus. Things covered are aging, mistakes in life, compassion, understanding, and above all the intelligence of creatures we thought we knew, like sea creatures! Fabulous ending! The story is so popular that the book has been published in many foreign countries.
Contact Sherry Belisle at sherry.belisle@gmail.com or 802-457-1919 for the Zoom link and more information.
From Tatum Barnes, Director of Spiritual Exploration
Would you like to help out in the Children's Classroom on an upcoming Sunday morning?
Please use this simple sign-up sheet to be a classroom helper.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DACAF22A0FFC61-51458884-upcoming#/
This is a new calendar for 2025.
Please choose some Sundays so that you can get to know the children and give Tatum some support.
Coffee Hour After the Services
Please join us after the Sunday Services for coffee hour and lunch in the social hall downstairs.
For the month of March the Committee on Ministry will host.
This is a very small committee so please step in to assist them if you are able.
For more information about the committees that keep North Chapel functioning, look on our website's Leadership page and consider joining us.
Here is the schedule for 2025
January - The Board
February Music & Worship Committee
March - Committee on Ministry
April - The Justice Project
May - Choir
June - Welcoming, Engagement and Membership Committee
July - Nomination Committee
August - Finance Committee
September - The Board
October - Music & Worship Committee
November - Choir
December - Welcoming, Engagement and Membership Committee
Leon's Open Office Hours
Tuesdays from 3 to 5 pm and Wednesdays from 12 to 2 pm.
Please text him at 802-369-5104 to be sure his schedule has not changed.
Joanne's Church Office Hours
Administrative Assistant Joanne Boyle is usually in the church office on Monday and Friday from 1-3 and on Wednesday and Thursday from 11am - 4.
She also works from home.
Please call or text her at 802-369-9838 to be sure her schedule has not changed
Donate to the Food Shelf!
Please remember to make a donation to the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. There is a bin in the church entrance where you can drop off your contributions.
Contact Amy McElroy or Judy Williamson for more information.
Kitchen Updates
~From Deb Rice~
IMPORTANT
If you are planning to use the kitchen in the social hall, to prevent plumbing problems and other damages, please contact Deb Rice beforehand.
Be aware that there are specific directions for the use of the oven and stove as well as the dishwasher and sinks.
Plan to leave the kitchen as you found it, and take home your leftovers unless arrangements have been made.
Thank you.
Composting at North Chapel
Good news! North Chapel has a new simpler composting system. No need to separate meat, bones or dairy; ALL food scraps can go in ONE 5 gallon bucket.
Compost will be picked up as needed by Zach Cavacas of Music Mountain Composting from the shed out back, and a clean bucket left for us to use next. This is possible because of the large scale of his operation, which produces Vermont Black Gold garden compost from the scraps.
This keeps money in the local economy, waste out of the landfill, and returns nutrients to the soil. We will get the household rate of $25 per pickup.
Spirit of Life In Sign Language
Polly Forcier would like others to know that they are welcome to come to the altar on Sundays and offer Spirit of Life in sign language. She thought those that have learned it could take turns. Contact Polly if you're interested.
Do You Want a Name Tag?
At the Sunday services, you may have noticed many of us have hand made name tags that we wear on a string around our necks.
They are stored on a board in the entry to the sanctuary.
Want one?
If you’re new, we would love to learn your name.
If you have been a member or friend of North Chapel for a while, you may have lost yours.
Here's an opportunity to replace it.
Just look for Ann Wynia on Sundays. She usually sits in the back row near the guest book table.
She will be happy to take your name and create one for you.
Rental Spaces Available At North Chapel
Sanctuary - Social Hall - Parlor - Library - Meditation Chapel - Private Office Downstairs
The Back Lawn "Riverside Garden" and Pizza Oven
We welcome you to inquire about holding conferences, meetings, classes or events in
any of the spaces at North Chapel.
To see a 3D video of the whole building look here.
Contact the office for a rate sheet and more information.
The North Chapel Directory is Updated Monthly
If you would like a PDF of the newest directory sent to you
or would like a copy printed for you contact the office.
Enlarged Type
Enlarged copies of the weekly bulletin, with the Order of Service and the sheet music of the hymns for the week will be available at the back of the church each Sunday.
Just ask the greeter for a packet.
Woodstock Area Food Shelf
There is a bin to drop off non perishable foods at the entrance to the church. The Woodstock Community Food Shelf maintains an open, well-stocked food shelf providing basic nutrition to our neighbors in times of need.
Learn more and donate here: http://woodstockfoodshelf.org/
North Chapel Listserv News
Since its inception, nearly two thirds of all North Chapel members have subscribed to the North Chapel Listserv and it is fast becoming a popular communication tool among those subscribers.
As a subscriber, you will find in your inbox each morning a “digest” of all messages submitted by members the previous day. If no messages were submitted the previous day then, you will not receive a digest in your inbox for that day.
Subscribing is easy: send an email to the office . In the subject line, please type, “Subscribe Me”.
Is InTouch, our weekly newsletter “lost in the mail”?
Our weekly newsletter. "InTouch" is emailed out each Thursday evening. The Sunday Service reflection is sent out when it is available. I hear that some people don't get this newsletter, or the Sunday Service in their inbox.
We use Constant Contact as our email server and often these emails are sent to spam or promotions folders.
The best way to deal with missing these emails is to add northchapelcommunications@gmail.com to your contacts list. (This is an email address that we use for certain things, but not the regular office email address.)
(For those of you using Gmail, here are instructions for adding InTouch to your contacts: https://www.wikihow.com/Add-Contacts-in-Gmail?mc_cid=d9795d1b04&mc_eid=cad0f3b77e )
There is also a link to each week's InTouch newsletter on our website here: https://www.northchapelvt.org/news-events. Bookmarking that page for future use might be helpful.
Finally, if you're having technical difficulties, feel free to contact me. I look forward to helping everyone stay up to date with the news, events, and opportunities offered at North Chapel. Email office@northchapelvt.org or call 802-457-2557.
Please share this info?
Thanks, Joanne
THE HUB IS HERE TO HELP YOU DURING A CRISIS
The HUB:
Is a new program that makes it easier for you to get help during a time of need.
Is a central point of contact for you.
Is a connection with an experienced community volunteer who responds quickly and will help you get assistance.
Is confidential and respectful of your situation, whether due to divorce,job loss, family illness, financial stress, and food or heat insecurity.
Can help you if you live in Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, or Woodstock.
Works with many local organizations such as Barnard Helping Hands and Ottauquechee Health Foundation.
Four Ways to Contact The HUB
Online: Complete an Application at: https://apply.thehubneighbors.org/form
Phone: 802-457-7214
Email: apply@thehubneighbors.org
Pick up an Application: Outside the Ottauquechee Health Foundation office at Simmons House at 30 Pleasant Street, Woodstock. The HUB is a Project of Woodstock Community Trust, a non profit 501c3 organization.
Ongoing Activities
For more detailed information about our regularly scheduled activities, read more on our Interest Groups page.
Keep an Eye on Our Church Calendar
This page is updated weekly.