Church Notices, Events and Activities
TURNING YOUR LAWN INTO A POLLINATOR MEADOW
Tuesday, July 15th, 5:30-6:30pm at 132 Shurtleff Lane, Woodstock
If you would like to learn more and see a large lawn turned into a pollinator meadow, we will be hosting an open house to share our pollinator meadow on July 15th, 5:30-6:30pm at 132 Shurtleff Lane, Woodstock (street parking, please do not pull into driveway). Rain date: July 17th, 5: 30-6:30 pm.
Jeannie Lindheim will talk about how she started the pollinator meadow and Stephanie Reger and Jeannie will answer any questions you may have. Stephanie Reger is of Wilde Bee Farm.
Jeannie Lindheim
617-633-6338
This is a photo of part of our upper meadow~
Join the Oneness Global Summit
July 18, 19, 20 from 6-9pm on the Back Lawn
Life as we know it is changing.
The global landscape is shifting before our eyes and uncertainty is the new norm. Let’s come together for peace with enlightened spiritual philosophers and teachers, Sri Preethji and Sri Krishnaji.
Day 1 - Peace Within
Day 2 - Peace in Relationships
Day 3 - Peace with Abundance
Optional: 5-6pm picnic - Bring your own food, blanket and lawn chair.
9-10pm Music Around the Fire - Bring your own instruments and reflections.
Registration: theonenessmovement.org
DO YOU LOVE MAPLE CREEMEES?
Save the Date – Sunday, July 27th from 10 to 11:45
No need to go all the way to Barnard to enjoy one of Silver Lake Syrup’s maple creemees, just come to church on Sunday, July 27th. You will hear about the strategic plan the board is developing with facilitator Delia Clark, and we hope you will share your thoughts. Please join us on July 27th.
Pizza Nights
Every Wednesday from 5 to 7
Bring your friends, a chair toppings to share - By donation
Would you like to learn how to operate the pizza oven or be part of the team who set up and cook the pizzas?
If you are interested, please contact Mary Blanton.
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.
Book Club for July 2025
Meeting Thursday, July 24th at 7pm on Zoom
We've chosen a memoir by Alison Bechdel, compelling enough to be turned into a musical. Most reviewers wrote that they couldn't put it down, especially in the last 50 pages. For sharing her own identity-forming memories, the author prompts us to look more deeply into our own. Join us on July 24th for a discussion about Fun Home.
Contact Sherry Belisle for the Zoom link and more information.
HomeShare Vermont Open House
Wednesday, July 30, 1:30-3pm at the Thompson Center
Ever wonder if homesharing would be right for you? Or do you have a friend who has room in their home and could use some extra income and/or help around the house?
We’ll be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, July 30 from 1:30-3 p.m. where you can learn all about homesharing. You’ll have the opportunity to speak with people who are currently homesharing and ask the HomeShare staff questions about the screening and matching process.
We’ll have delicious cookies, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, refreshments and a few prizes for our Trivia wizards in the crowd. The HomeShare Vermont Open House at the Thompson is sponsored by AARP Vermont.
Shari Borzekowski
Aging at Home Resource Manager & HomeShare Vermont Case Manager
802-457-3277 ext. 3
The Thompson Center, Your Resource to Age Well
Electric Bike Lending Library
August 13th-20th on the Back Lawn
Free e-bike loans are returning to North Chapel on August 13th-20th! The Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library lets you choose among four different models – from “cargo e-bikes” that can haul groceries or kids to lighter-weight “commuter e-bikes” – and borrow them FREE to see how e-bikes serve your everyday transportation needs.
We have different rental lengths depending on what day you choose to borrow. Sunday August 17th will be our "Demo Day" where you can reserve a bike for two hours to ride around town.
Learn more and reserve an e-bike at https://vitalcommunities.org/uvell.
For questions contact Heather Knoll, Program Coordinator at Sustainable Woodstock: 802-296-1595 or programs@sustainablewoodstock.org
Order Your Free Window Inserts Now
Drafty windows? High heating bills? This fall, Sustainable Woodstock will be collaborating with WindowDressers, a nonprofit organization, to make custom-built, interior storm window inserts for residents of: Woodstock, Pomfret, Barnard, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Hartland, Windsor, and Reading. The inserts are easy to install, removable, and reusable. They let light in, keep drafts out, and reduce heating costs.
We measure windows during the summer, so now is the time to sign up!
Inserts are free, and there is a limit of 10 inserts per household. The inserts are high quality and low cost because they are built at barn-raising-style Community Build at North Chapel. Everyone who orders inserts also participates in the Community Build.
Check to see if you qualify for inserts: We generally build inserts for people at or below the moderate income level, but this is a guide - not a rule. Check to see what income-level your household falls under at https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/income-limit.
WindowDressers Will be Back for Another Build Week
November 6th - 12th in the Social Hall
Would you like to volunteer to help? There's a job for everyone!
Learn about volunteer opportunities here.
Sign up by contacting: Heather Knoll, Program Coordinator at Sustainable Woodstock: 802-296-1595 or programs@sustainablewoodstock.org
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 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.
