Blog

March 31 – Benefit Concert

Each year, Mentor Connector volunteers guide over 150 vulnerable youth (age 5-21) through life-changing friendships to build goals, character, and skills to be successful in life. Everything they do, every family they serve, and every dollar they spend is focused on creating sustainable, lasting change for Rutland County youth.

Join us on March 31st to support Mentor Connector at our Benefit Concert full of many local musicians, including:

Grace Church Sanctuary Choir
Slate Valley Singers
Grace SSAA Choir
Jennifer Hoult, harp
David Castonguay, baritone
Barry Cohen, bassoon
Court Gettel, flute
Christy Papandrea, flute
Diane Chartrand, piano
Alastair Stout, piano

*Freewill Offering will be collected to support Mentor Connector.

April 14 – One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of  Sharing (OGHS) is one of the UCC special offerings.  Your offerings can do more than you can imagine!

On Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019, our congregation will be giving our offerings to OGHS as way to help:

  • Specific Natural Disaster support
  • Refugee Emergency support
  • Church World Service Kit assembly
  • Sustainable Development Ministries

Coin boxes and giving calendars are available on the literature tables just at Grace Church.  Follow ‎@OGHS_at_UCC Twitter feed to keep yourself up to date on how UCC is making change with your change.

March 21 – Soup Bowls for Hunger

It’s time for the 13th Annual DKG Soup Bowls for Hunger Event!

This wonderful event will be held on Thursday, March 21st, 2019 within Rutland Senior High School’s Cafeteria. Enjoy a bowl of soup, crackers, a roll or two, dessert, and beverage. All of the soup bowls are made by local school students and professional VT potters, and you get to take your bowl home at the end of the night!

This event is sponsored for the 9th year by Delta Kappa Gamma Society of women educators, and there will be two sittings (4:45 PM and 6:15 PM), both with top quality bowls to choose from. A raffle for various donated items will also be available on the side!

Tickets are just $20.00 per person and must be purchased in advance, beginning Friday, March 1st. Call Rutland High School’s Main Office at (802) 773-1955 or Ann Bannister at (802) 747-0569 to order your tickets. Tickets may also be purchased at Phoenix Books in Downtown Rutland, Vermont. Cash or checks can be made payable to Soup Bowls for Hunger only, please!

ALL proceeds will be donated to Rutland Community Cupboard, BROC-Community Action Food Shelf, and the Brandon, Pittsford, Poultney and West Rutland Food Shelves.

Spring Spiritual Growth Opportunities

The Life Long Learning reVision group have heard your ideas and requests. 

We would like to make some of them possible. Below is the list generated last spring.  We know we can grow in our faith while we grow in our knowledge with and through each other.

We ask you to let us know of the opportunities in which you would participate.   After Lent, we will be able to offer the groups that will grow together.

To make us aware of your interest:  Please contact the Life Long Learning group or look for our flyer in the church bulletin.

  • Ecumenical learning groups
  • Travelogues
  • Bus trips
  • Groups to attend local offerings together
  • Tours of houses of worship – local and distant
  • Young families/parenting education/support
  • Youth-led phone/tablet/computer help for adults
  • Video series (Constantine’s Sword, etc.)
  • Meditation

Mar. 4 – Israeli Film Series

This year’s International Film Series at Castleton University begins on March 4th.

“Since 2015, the Castleton International Film Festival has brought award-winning films from around the globe to audiences in Rutland County. While past editions have focused on French cinema, Latin American cinema, and American independent film, this year’s slate is the result of a collaboration between the Media and Communication Department and the Rutland Jewish Center. With major funding from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and additional support from Jewish Communities of Vermont, this year’s series will highlight contemporary films from Israel.

The festival runs March 4 through March 18 and is free and open to the public. Screenings are held in Herrick Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.”

– Castleton University

When: March 4, 2019 at 7:00pm

Where: Herrick Auditorium at Castleton University

About: One Week and a Day will be the first film in the series.  All screenings are free and open to the public.

Upcoming dates and films:

  • 3/6 The Dive
  • 3/11 Foxtrot
  • 3/13 Virgins
  • 3/18 Menashe

For more information here.

Mar. 13 – Bobby Jo Valentine Concert

Begin your journey through the Lenten season with a concert of music and storytelling.

When:  March 13 at 5:30pm

Where: Grace UCC Fellowship Hall

We are located on the corner of Court and West.  For parking, enter our lot from
West Street.   Street parking is also available on Court Street.

The handicap entrance may be accessed through the north side portico of Grace Church via the parking lot.  The elevator is located in the central part of the building.

About:  Bobby Jo Valentine is a multi-faceted songwriter and storyteller who grew up on the seaside of Northern California. His songs are both earthbound and mystical, and speak of the gentle, everyday spiritual awakenings of an openhearted life. He will offer a concert of music and stories to begin our journey through this Lenten season. Dinner will be served at 5:30 followed by a concert at 6:30pm.

Free-will offering

Mar. 2 – Service of Prayer and Reflection

Join us as we visit the First Baptist Church for a Service of Prayer and Reflection.

When: Saturday, March 2, 2019, 8:30-10:00am

Where: First Baptist Church, 81 Center Street, Rutland, VT

About: We will gather with the Rev. Patti Stratton and members of the First Baptist Church for a continental breakfast and a time of fellowship, a Service of Prayer and Reflection and to experience their labyrinth.  Please join us.

For more information, please contact: rutlandfbc@gmail.com or call 773-8010.