Church Notices, Events and Activities
Our Annual Pledge Drive
North Chapel is sustained by your donations.
The church is vital to us all and to the wider community.
We hope you will make a pledge to our 2026 Stewardship Drive SOON.
The Annual Pledge Drive determines the budget for the coming year.
We hope that you will inspire others to pledge.
Please read and share the lovely, heartfelt letter from Dana Hale,
read the FAQ's and use the form linked below.
There are also some packets with this information on the table in the back of the church.
Thank you for your generosity.
Here are the links to the inserts:
Holiday Flower Donations
This is a wonderful time to remember loved ones by making a donation in their name towards poinsettia plants that will be decorating our sanctuary.
The names will be presented in the upcoming Sunday and Christmas Eve bulletins.
Please send your donation to the office, attn. Ann Wynia with “poinsettias” in the memo line or drop it in the collection basket at a service.
Information Session - School District’s Rebuild Working Group
Sunday, December 21st in the Social Hall
The School District’s Rebuild Working Group is developing a bond proposal for 2026 designed to be more affordable than the 2024 plan and help the community avoid even higher costs down the road. The Group is holding information sessions to educate residents on the plan and ensure they address the community’s priorities.
To make the proposal more affordable they are:
Taking advantage of a new state funding program for school construction and private fundraising so voters are only responsible for 70% of the cost of the project.
Making reductions to the 2024 plan.
Working with the state legislature to offset resident property taxes by (1) increasing taxes on second homeowners and (2) increasing the homestead exemption eligibility for residents.
These efforts can offset inflation since 2024 and ensure a more affordable path to rebuild the school.
Their plan aligns with state redistricting, which does not call for building closures but focuses on the reorganization of school administration staff into larger districts.
Rebuilding WUHSMS will ensure it remains a regional center of education for the 28 communities it serves + potentially more in the future.
We will hold an information session at Coffee Hour after Sunday's service on 12/21 - all are welcome!!
More information on all of this please see this page:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18okPYkXcNMj458u1UGZJ85MHgJg0CkKEngrr6iuERxo/edit?usp=sharing
Book Club for January 2026
Meeting Thursday, January 15th at 7pm on Zoom
A brilliant story of the immigrant experience is in The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood. You'll love the characters, especially the hilarious young man with a quick tongue. The author is a gifted writer that will keep you engaged until the very end. We'll meet next on January 15th.
Contact Sherry Belisle (sherry.belisle@gmail.com or 802-457-1919) for the Zoom link and more information.
Knit and Crochet for the Haven
In the Social Hall after Sunday Services
Please join us in a knitting/crochet circle for craft to be donated to the Haven.
We will be gathering at coffee hour to stitch handmade items for homeless families in the Upper Valley.
Bring your yarn and your needles. No experience necessary!
NEW: Meditation Sessions
Friday mornings 9:45-11 in the Meditation Chapel
Led by Judy McClain, the sessions are open to all.
Long-time and beginning meditators alike will feel comfortable here.
Join the Choir!
Rehearsals are held on Sundays in the Sanctuary at 9am and Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6 in the parlor.
Please come if you are interested in being in the choir.
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.
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.
