Church Notices, Events and Activities
Next in Our Chamber Music Concert Series - Formosa Duo
Sunday, May 18th at 2pm in the Sanctuary
Cellist Sam Ou and pianist Chi-Chen Wu will perform works by Schumann, Barber and Rachmaninoff.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
What does it mean to "Sign the Book"?
Become a Member of the North Universalist Chapel Society
Are you curious about all things Unitarian Universalist? Thinking of joining our membership? Contact Sherry Belisle or Ann Wynia to answer your questions and possibly moving forward on the path.
BarnArts Rehearsals for the Sound of Music at North Chapel
If you see cars out front and are wondering what you are missing at North Chapel over the next few weeks, the parlor is being used by BarnArts for rehearsal space for the "Sound of Music" until they can rehearse outdoors at the end of the month.
The production will be from June 19th - 29th at King Farm, Woodstock, VT.
See more here: https://barnarts.org/sound-of-music/
Committee Cafe
Tuesday, May 13th at 6:30 pm in the Social Hall
Greetings to all Committee Chairs and Members,
The next Committee Cafe is to be a “bring your own dinner” (not a potluck) in the social hall at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 13th. We would like each chair and any committee members to tell us about what your committee has been up to and your ideas, plans and goals. We’re looking forward to seeing you all then.
Listening to Our Lives
Sharing Stories, Making Connections and Strengthening Friendships
With Leon Dunkley, Mary Blanton and Richard Schramm
Wednesday, May 14th at 3:30 pm in the Parlor
In these stressful times, here’s an opportunity to share what’s happening in our lives - our joys, concerns, triumphs, struggles - and to listen to the happenings of others in the North Chapel, supporting one another in the process.
Participants are invited to take a turn, share their stories, be heard by others, and ask for listener responses if they would like questions or suggestions.
When others are sharing, our job is to listen actively and to engage with the speaker when asked.
Our hope is that everyone will leave feeling better, more connected, more resilient. We hope that you will consider joining us at this gathering.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Richard Schramm.
Celebrating the Life of Vassie Sinopoulos
Saturday, May 17th at 2 pm
Celebrating the Life of Vassie Sinopoulos
We will gather next Saturday, May 17th in the sanctuary at 2 pm for her memorial service and after, on the back lawn, for a reception.
NOTE!
VOLUNTEERS - Still Needed for Bookstock, May 16-18
Thanks to those who have already signed up to volunteer at Bookstock 2025.
We are still looking to fill slots on Saturday and Sunday. If you are planning on attending an event, consider helping out with it while you're there anyway. It'll guarantee entry, too! Just click here:
https://signup.com/go/AsDCReR to learn more and choose the spot(s) youlike.
Visit Bookstock 2025 https://bookstockvt.org/ for event details.
Welcome to Bookstock 2025
Bookstock, Woodstock’s celebration of books and storytelling, will host a remarkable group of award-winning authors and poets at Bookstock 2025, on May 16-17-18. Opening night events take place at Artistree. On Friday there will be events at North Chapel and at Artistree. On Saturday and Sunday there will be more events in various venues including talks and readings by award-winning authors and poets, our great used book sale, exhibitors, music, activities for children, and food on and around The Green in the heart of our town.
Read the schedule here: https://bookstockvt.org/2025-schedule/
The One BIG Change at Bookstock 2025
Bookstock 2025 will seem familiar if you’ve attended past festivals. We’ll have your favorite activities on The Green, our used book sale, and author talks, poetry readings, and other events close by.
But we’ve made one change: you can get tickets for Bookstock events, which means you’ll get a seat for the talks you really want to attend!
That’s right: you can get (free!) tickets for our Opening Night celebration; author and poet talks; Steve Kemp’s walk on Mt. Tom; and our closing celebration featuring a showing of American Fiction and panel discussion about issues the film raises. You’ll also need tickets to attend workshops — there’s a small charge for those.
Get tickets now for poet & author talks & workshops!
Why should you get your tickets now?
Because it’s the best way for you to have a seat at the events you really want to attend.
You can always take a chance and show up for a talk: if there are seats or standing room, we’re not going to turn anyone away. But some of our smaller events have already filled up and we strongly suggest that you book your free tickets now for anything you really want to see.
What isn’t changing ….
Bookstock 2025 features many of the same activities that visitors loved: workshops where experienced teachers will help you polish a skill or learn a new one; talks by famous and emerging authors; poetry readings; exhibitors with books and book-related products; performances by terrific musicians; and, of course, our famous used book sale.
We’ve added some features that people told us they missed. You’ll be able to find information more easily at our clearly identified Information Booth. We’re offering some delicious food options right on The Green and close by and making it easier for visitors to find out about other options for lunch and dinner right in town or close by our village. Thanks to the generosity of the Hagedorn family, we’ve expanded the activities for children.
All these take place on Woodstock’s Village Green and at nearby locations. And all are designed for book nerds, people who are interested in books, and people who want to enjoy a day in our lovely town.
Learn more on our website (https://bookstockvt.org); subscribe for email updates (https://bookstockvt.org/subscribe); email us (info@bookstockvt.org); or follow us on Instagram.
Get tickets now for poet & author talks & workshops!
Long-time members will recall that North Chapel used to hold a big used book sale. Members of the church, some of them involved with the book sale, got together with Woodstock community members and representatives of Pentangle, Norman Williams Public Library, and the History Center, and created Bookstock!
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.
May 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 in the social hall downstairs.
Each month a different committee or group provides the refreshments.
For the month of May our choir will host the coffee hour.
For more information about the committees that keep North Chapel functioning, look here 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.