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June 28th will be Open and Affirming Sunday, a day when the United Church of Christ is invited to remember who we are. As people of God and disciples of the Risen Christ, we are worshiping God who sets the captives free and we are followers of Jesus who constantly affirms and ministers to people who have been cast out by others. We the Church are a people sent to witness to the world that God is loving, welcoming, and embracing everyone, not just the folks in our cul-de-sac who live our lifestyle in our “tribe.”

In 1985, the gathered UCC General Synod, our national church congress with delegates from every U.S. Conference, prayerfully passed a resolution calling on local congregations to “Declare Themselves Open and Affirming” to LGBT+ people in the full life of the church. Two years later the Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC certified the first 15 ONA congregations. Over the ensuing decades the courageous witness of the Coalition and of the UCC changed the national conversation and called the Church to exemplify Jesus’ all-encompassing love in our faith communities, for the world to experience.

This year is Grace’s 20th anniversary of answering the call to be ONA. On Monday evening November 20, 2006, the Grace Church congregation voted 126 in favor of and 54 not in favor of the Covenant of Openness and Affirmation. “Viewpoints representing all sides of this issue were expressed with all sides respecting one another,” according to one writer. Here is text from the covenant resolution:

Grace Congregational United Church of Christ
Covenant of Openness and Affirmation

” … and one of them, a lawyer, asked Jesus a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

In light of the Bible’s teaching, following the lead of the United Church of Christ, and reflective of our own mission, we the members of Grace Congregational United Church of Christ strive to be open to all regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabilities, economic status, marital status, age, faith perspective, or any distinction that is a barrier to the love we are commanded to embody.

We acknowledge that, historically, churches and society have often perpetuated exclusion, discrimination, persecution, and prejudice against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people based upon their sexual orientation. We believe such discrimination and continued silence is incompatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We affirm that all are children of God created in God’s image and all are welcome in the full life and ministry of the church.
Recognizing that we are not of one mind, yet called to ministries of reconciliation and wholeness within our church and in the world, we covenant to be an Open and Affirming congregation. With God’s help, we will work “… to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8)

What this means is that the Council, Diaconate, and Ministries of Grace Church are fully authorized to affirm marriage, membership, leadership, and full participation in the life of Christ’s Church for ALL. We can be proud — and thankful to God — that so many of our LGBT+ spiritual siblings who have dealt for years with judgment, secrecy, rejection, and outright religious persecution, find the joy and freedom offered by Christ, here in the United Church of Christ!

If you are struggling, questioning, wondering, anxious, or want to talk to someone about God’s love for you, no matter what you believe, who you are, how you’ve been hurt or ostracized, or how distant you may feel from the love of God, please come and talk to me. I will be open to listening to your story and your journey, and I will be affirming of God’s extravagant love and Grace for you and for everyone, based not on our sexuality or our skin color, not on our music preferences or our age group, but on God’s goodness and Christ’s resurrection. And I will happily show you a church that welcomes, embraces, and openly affirms you for who you are, because of who we are, and most importantly, because of who God is!

Blessings, — Terry

FROM THE PASTORAL MINISTER — May 1, 2026

On March 7, five of us from Grace attended a “Church Vitality Event” at a UCC church in Williston, where a wise and experienced church-growth coach, the Reverend Paul Nickerson, shared insights from national research on patterns and practices of congregational life in the 21st century. Reverend Nickerson started some interesting conversations, that day and since, among several of us who care about the Church and about Grace Church.

Rev. Nickerson pointed out that in the United States now, we have basically two generations who have mostly NOT been brought up in church. Meaning that MOST adults today may not even know what goes on inside a building with a steeple on top, or why. This may be hard to even imagine, for those of us who have been churched for some or all of our lives. Are we fully aware that many aspects of church life and culture that we take for granted and in which we find meaning, are foreign and meaningless to so many of our neighbors?

“Coach” Paul went on to describe the “Era of Attraction,” in past decades when most citizens of a local community were looking for a church home as they raised their children and as they sought meaning in their adult lives. All Grace had to do in those days was publicize service schedules and open the doors to the building, and people would stream inside on a regular basis, looking to grow and express their faith, connect with neighbors, and educate their children in the ways and Word of God. All people driving by needed to know was, “Everyone Is Welcome!”

These days, letting people know we are here and that we are good people, is not an effective invitation. Even directly inviting people, without a relationship and connection, is empty most of the time, if the invitee does not have much experiential context for the point and purpose of church life. Two generations, Paul reminds us, have known almost nothing about being an active part of a faith community. Pamphlets and banners won’t change this; only ongoing friendships and loving disciples modeling the compassion and concern of Jesus will make an impact.

So, we are reminded that the Vitality of our church and the abundant life of Grace, is planted in caring relationships, with each other and with people in our neighborhood and in our city. We practice taking our faith out into the world, which is sometimes awkward, messy, and frustrating. We notice that every person we meet is a child of God, who needs their Creator and Savior, and we remember that each person will meet the risen Christ, in us.

Wanting Grace to continue to grow and thrive, we go out, reach out, walk out, and connect with people who have no idea yet. And we pray that God will shine in our vitality, and work healing through our relationships, and build the Church for a new generation.

Our Vitality Team will continue to share, as we meet with Paul and each other in the days and weeks ahead. Talk to a member of Diaconate or to me with questions or for updates.

Blessings, — Terry

Prayerful Action Rather Than Learned Helplessness

“…Yeah, but what can we do?”

How often in these “tumultuous days” have you asked or been asked this question?

We are at constant risk of untenable stress levels. We feel it in our body, our mind, our spirit. Social scientists and psychologists have all kinds of theories and understandings about what happens to us when we face an “unprecedented” and constant barrage of noxious stimuli — anxiety, helplessness, exhaustion. So many of us are living under these heavy weights.

When we are angered and scared by the news of war and conflict and doom, it is natural and normal to want to fix it, right away, or at least to do something that will make us feel completely better in a hurry. But God doesn’t hand us a bazooka to blast away the badness; in my experience God gives us seeds to plant for a crop of goodness. We want quick solutions that decisively change the problem so we can go on with our lives; God usually invites us into slow growth that changes us and gives us new vision to navigate the world the way it actually is.
We might feel quite helpless right now. But part of a life of faith is knowing that God is always with us and is always willing to lead us deeper into building the kin-dom, a life and community of peace.

In our stress, let’s sit for a moment, together or alone. Breathe. Ask God what we can do today to make the world better. What seeds can we plant? Seeds of love, compassion, resilience, welcome, sharing, fairness, comfort, and community. And then, let’s do what God is leading us to do, and be who God is leading us into being, in these whelming days.

Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. — James 2:18

Things You Can Do:

1) Pray, worship, converse with people of faith and others. Read scripture, listen to justice preachers, listen for God speaking. https://www.biblegateway.com/

2) Attend and join Indivisible meetings and rallies. Pro-democracy education and advocacy. https://rutlandcountyindivisible.org/

3) Help Bridge to Rutland and attend their trainings. Ask to be invited to a Board meeting. Speak with Ellen Green for more about this. https://bridgetorutland.com/

4) Volunteer with Rutland Neighbors (formerly Companions in Wholeness). See their website for more info. Ellie McGarry or Linda Allen are good people so talk to. We are having our first annual “Winter Sleep-Out” March 20 and welcome you to participate and sponsor. https://rutlandneighbors.org/

5) Support the Grace Justice Action Task Force. Help organize monthly Action-Step Launch Meetings, read and contribute articles to the J-Mail, be aware of meeting date/times and tell people about it. Bring a friend or three to a meeting of the JATF.  Contact the Church Office for more info

6) Choose education over scrolling or denial. Intentionally choose a justice topic you want to know more about (so you can act on it!) and write specific questions and pursue learning on purpose. https://www.ucc.org/

With you in faith and action,  — Terry

Click to go to our JATF page

On the night of March 20, I hope to be sleeping outdoors. And it’s not training for my Long Trail hike. Well, maybe it is, but the main reason is for our 1st Annual Rutland Neighbors’ (formerly Companions in Wholeness) Winter Sleep Out!

Rutland Neighbors, you will remember, is the group of which Grace is a part, helping to feed, clothe and connect with our unhoused (and tenuously housed) neighbors in Rutland — because, ya know…Jesus.

If you haven’t dropped by our Strongs Avenue location (where the Methodist Church meets on Sundays — formerly Mintzer Brothers), come on down, we’re open in the morning Monday through Thursday. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll be amazed —coffee and meals being served, warm clothing being provided, pantry items distributed to those in need. All in an atmosphere of fun, friendship and welcome!

Anyway, back to the sleeping outdoors. The event is one night where folks choose to sleep outdoors.  They do this to call some attention to what we can do and are doing to help our local unhoused folks who face these challenges every day. Ellie McGarry, our director, says, “This event is about awareness and solidarity — helping our community understand what it means to sleep outside in the cold and why Rutland Neighbors exists.”

We will be gathering on the evening of Friday, March 20 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (who have generously offered campout space) and we’ll hear speakers, share food, and offer each other encouragement… then we’ll flop our sleeping pads and bags under the large tent or maybe under the pavilion there, and try to get some sleep. Hopefully the weather that night will not be too wintry…

The thing is, we get to make this choice, and it’s for one night. Our unhoused neighbors don’t have the same choices and privileges, day after day, night after night. Rutland Neighbors is working hard with low funds (our state funding was cut) to provide big help. If our sleeping outside one night can get some attention, invite volunteer energy, and raise money while also reminding people that we have neighbors facing these stark challenges and obstacles even to their basic survival, it will be worth it!

Please find a Sleep Out-er to sponsor (even just $10), and/or consider joining us yourself for the Sleep Out. Visit rutlandneighbors.org to learn more, to register or to donate.

I hope to be there on March 20, and I hope my layers of wool and my down sleeping bag will keep me warm! — Blessings, Terry

Once again, it’s time to say to say thank you to our wonderful pastoral intern, Lynn Pilcher. We hope it’s not good bye! The second chapter of her intern work with Grace officially came to a finish at the calendar end of 2025, although she has graciously agreed to lead our Congregational Care Team training and encouragement gathering on January 10, 2026.

Lynn has ably led vital educational and support groups, visited Grace people at home and in-care facilities, preached and led worship, and been a strong resource for ministry at Grace during her intern time with us. She’s added a lot to our faith community these past couple of years, and personally I’ve been very grateful for her help, her compassion, and her skill. I know she will be a good pastor, if she chooses to minister in a church, and a good “anything else” regardless of where she chooses to apply her gifts and talents!

Having recently graduated Luther Seminary, Lynn continues to prepare for ordination to the ministry, following the guidelines and accepting the guidance of the Southwest Association of the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ. She is interacting with the Committee on Ministry of the SWA, writing an ordination paper, anticipating an “Ecclesiastical Council” to welcome her into the fold, and she is prayerfully considering the role and the setting in which she will feel called to serve.

If you have a chance to let Lynn know how her time with us has blessed Grace or been impactful in your life, please drop her a line or let her know in person. However God’s path unfolds as she moves forward in faith and vocation, we wish her all God’s blessing! — Terry

“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you…When you see this, your heart will rejoice; your entire being will flourish like grass.”    – Isaiah 66: 13a, 14a

At some point, in some way that is beyond our normal comprehension, God made the decision to come and join human history, in the bodily form of a baby placed in a feeding trough in what is now the Palestinian (West Bank) city of Bethlehem! As we know, this changed the world forever, not only spiritually but in every other way we can name.

Part of what we are celebrating at Christmas, then, is that God did something new and different to break through to God’s beloved Creation, when the word became flesh. All around the world, we have myriad wonderful ways of celebrating the gift and miracle of Emmanuel, God with us. What if this year, we honored the birth of Christ by doing something new and different ourselves?

What if, in response to God’s new and startling inbreaking, we set an intention this Advent to express our devotion to God and our welcome of the Christ child by trying something we have not done before? Could your Advent season and your life be enhanced by a new behavior, maybe a spiritual practice, or an activity, a mission, a quest, or a new healthy habit? Is there a book you wanted to read, but haven’t taken the time, or could your new thing be journaling, going to Dismas House for dinner with the Missions and Service Team, meeting for prayer with the Pastoral Minister, joining a bible study, praying alone for 5 minutes a day, joining the choir, or even saying hello to a pain-in-the-backside neighbor?

We are churchy people, or we wouldn’t be reading this, probably. We each have ways we have experienced God’s presence and ways we have expressed our love and discipleship, to this point in our lives. So…what’s next? Grace can walk alongside you, encourage you, embrace you in your quest, but the deciding and the doing, that’s up to you, pilgrim. Up to you and the One who made you, Loves you, and Holds you.

Pray. Talk to God, even for a moment. Listen, breathe. What do you sense God is calling you toward, as your next step closer to Christ? I’m guessing that step will bring you challenge, fullness, and ultimately, JOY.

Advent, even the word, means that God is coming this way. What if we lean into God’s imminent approach in a new and special way this season? What if we take a step closer, too?

Wishing an Advent Full of New and Ancient Wonder to our Entire Grace Family!     — Terry

In this season of highlighting our gratitude, I’m thankful for the Rutland County Interfaith Council, of which I am privileged to be a regular participant.

We are a group of faith community servant-leaders who gather nearly every month for a couple of hours. Each of us is invited to bring our own lunch, and the hosting member provides beverage and something sweet or snacky to share. Around this table come together a local Rabbi, Imam, and Pastors from the Methodist, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, UCC, Baptist, Lutheran, Non-denominational, and Community churches. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone, but really any clergy from any worshiping group is welcome.

The conversation is never boring. It’s a safe space for sharing our struggles, joys, and hopes as people who care deeply about our communities and who have different perspectives and experiences, speaking from various diverse vantage points along our sacred journeys. We support each other, learn about other faith traditions, and hatch plans together for making Rutland County a better place to live — for everyone.

You can imagine what happens when we share a table in this way. We discover things… such as how we are all beautifully unique, yet we have so much in common. We hear our shared concerns, fears, hopes, and dreams and we celebrate together some recognizable triumphs and insights from our personal spiritual lives and from our faith families. We and our distinct individual faith communities have so much to offer this world — and we are better together. Conversation and connection, friendship and mutual education toward full and happy lives, seem to be part of the pervading goodness of Divine design.

I’m so grateful that in our own United Church of Christ, we celebrate diversity of faith expression, which means that as a UCC minister, I get to be friends and colleagues with an interfaith crowd. My faith and experience as a Christian are certainly richly enhanced and deepened by my ongoing connections with people of other traditions and beliefs. I passionately believe that Rutland and the world are made better by these relationships of openness and understanding.

My Aunt Thelma told us years ago about the days of her childhood when the families on her street did not mix across sectarian lines; in other words the Methodists didn’t talk to the Baptists and the Episcopalians didn’t mingle much with the Congregationalists, even a few houses down the sidewalk. She was very pleased to see progress in her day toward tolerance and unity, and I think she would be very proud and admiring of our simple lunch and conversation with the Interfaith Council of Rutland County. Thanks be to God, who made us all!

By the way, you and your family are warmly invited to this year’s

Rutland County Interfaith
Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 pm
at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church –
First Baptist Church
6 Church Hill Road, Rutland VT

Blessings — Terry