UCN Annual Strawberry Festival
June 27th, 12 pm-4:30 pm
Come to the annual Strawberry Festival at the United Church of Northfield and enjoy local fresh picked strawberries on homemade shortcake or with an ice cream sundae featuring Ben and Jerry's vanilla ice cream, all topped with fresh homemade whipping cream. Saturday, June 27, 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. Take out orders and Gluten Free biscuits are available on request. Bring your family, friends and neighbors for a delicious summer treat and enjoy the local Fiddlers Group!!
Contact: Laura Ranker 802-610-4032.
United Church of Northfield
Statement of Purpose:
Meeting in faith, honoring diversity, transforming through love and kindness, serving the community with joy.
Vision Statement:
The United Church of Northfield places faith as the foundational building block upon which everything we work to do is placed. Faith in God, each other, and the smaller and larger community, that good will be done and that justice will prevail if we commit to it. In our church we warmly welcome all who come through our doors or whose paths we cross, and will strive to demonstrate our acceptance and openness to who they are, what gifts they bring and how they see their place in the world. Our church is known by all for both its inspiring historical presence overlooking our town’s common, and as a source of promise, hope and faith in action serving our community.
United Church of Northfield
Weekly Meditation
You have heard it said, never speak of religion or politics at the dinner table. I would tell you, “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops” (Matt 10:27),
In Matthew 10:27, Jesus is telling his disciples to abandon decorum by telling our rude Uncles they're being a jerk. When we allow hate to live among us, it transforms us; only when we shed light upon it can hate be healed.
But being the person who breaks silence comes at a cost. People do not often respond well to discomfort. In Christian tradition, this is exemplified by Jesus on the cross. Jesus showed us love by exposing human greed, fear, corruption, and hate. Jesus’ love made people uncomfortable, and they killed him for it. In giving up his life, Jesus showed us that True Love doesn't ignore others' uncomfortable realities; True Love embraces the truth.
The reason we celebrate moments like Pride Month and Juneteenth is that, as a society, we need to understand the lived experiences of others. We cannot ignore homophobia and racism in our communities; ignoring that type of hate allows it to grow. We need to acknowledge that trans students are being attacked by our government, and that the government is doing this socially and institutionally. We need to recognize that racism still lives among us and that last Sunday a one-year-old child was shot dead by police in a Mississippi Walmart when his mother was accused of stealing diapers she had a receipt for.
These uncomfortable realities are the dark conversations Jesus tells his followers to bring into the light.
Church is the perfect place for communities to practice the patience and love needed to have these difficult conversations. They are gathering places where we can meet people who are different from us and learn their truths. Within those truths lies True Love.
However, Christian congregations can be the worst perpetrators of burying uncomfortable truths, to maintain " the peace, " so we don't lose members, so we can keep the building funded, so that we don't upset our biggest donors. When Congregations do this, they sacrifice love for comfort. That is not True Love; that type of peace is a lie.
Jesus asks us to commit to love. To sacrifice our comfort for it. I do not think spiritual communities in America today need to die on a cross in order to live into the example of Jesus' commitment to love. I think we can demonstrate True Love through acknowledging and responding to other people's truths.
Rev. Devon Thomas
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Join Us For Sunday Morning Services
Reverend Devon Thomas will be leading the service at 9 AM.
Enhanced Church audio for the hearing-challenged. Thank you, Joe and Mary McDaniel for the gift of four assistive listening devices. If you need one please speak to an usher.
Want to view the service live with ZOOM? Contact Laura Ranker for the link- lranker@myfairpoint.net
Worship services start at 9:00 A.M. each Sunday. All are welcome! Need childcare? Email to arrange-lranker@myfairpoint.net
If you are interested in renting Howe’s Hall for an event, business meeting or other function please contact the Howe’sHall Co-ordinator, Laura Ranker, at lranker@myfairpoint.net
Open and Affirming Covenant of Faith
The United Church of Northfield is an open and affirming congregation. We are committed to making justice and inclusion a reality in our world. We embrace and celebrate diversity and the dignity and worth of every individual. Whatever your age, race, beliefs, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, or physical, cognitive or emotional abilities; we value you
and invite you to participate fully and without reservation in the life, leadership and mission of our church as we seek to be an expression of God's love in our community and the world.