Beloved Unitarian Church of Montpelier members and friends, As we greet the turning of the year and gather once more, I am filled with gratitude for the journey we share.  This year holds much possibility for our beloved community. In May, we embraced a new vision statement to guide us as we continue to nurture … Continue reading Fall 2026 Letter from the Minister

November 6, 2024 Dear ones, We knew this would be a momentous Election Day regardless of the outcome. Some of you may have approached Election Day with trepidation and fear, others with hope and optimism, or perhaps with a desire for it to just be over with. We now have a clearer picture of what … Continue reading Post-Election Pastoral Message from the Minister

Dear ones, In just about three weeks I will be on a plane headed for the Philippines. This sabbatical time will be a chance for me to fulfill a long hoped-for trip to my ancestral homeland, the place where both my parents, and many generations before them, were born and raised. This trip was originally … Continue reading Rev. Joan’s Upcoming Sabbatical Leave

Dear UCM community, It has been thirteen long weeks since flood waters turned our lives upside down and forced us to close our building. During these weeks, dozens of volunteers, contractors, and our staff have worked hard to get us to this point. Now we are doing the final preparations to welcome our community back … Continue reading Letter from the Minister, Fall Newsletter 2023

Rev. Joan shares a message on the two year anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in our community along with an update on the Air Quality Project.

Dear UCM community, I want to thank you for the thoughtful and engaged congregational meeting you held this past Sunday, February 13. It was wonderful to see robust participation with over 120 of you logged on (and with some Zoom screens with multiple household members), a mix of church members as well as non-member congregants. … Continue reading A Letter from the Minister (February 2022)

Dear ones, After nearly six years of serving as your Minister, I will be taking my first Sabbatical this coming July through September. I am so blessed to be in a vocation and serving a congregation that supports this kind of rest and renewal. The past six years of ministry with you have been vibrant … Continue reading Rev. Joan Sabbatical Announcement

Please watch the video message above regarding possible unrest in our state capital in the coming days. The UCM Executive Team has issued this statement regarding church community safety: “In light of last week’s violence at the Capitol and the uncertainty surrounding the potential for similar conduct in Montpelier this Sunday, the Executive Team has … Continue reading Message from Rev. Joan — Taking Care and Living Our Values in the Days Ahead

Dear ones, The events that transpired yesterday at the United States Capitol were disturbing and disheartening. I imagine many of you watched with fear and dismay as armed rioters stormed the Capitol building while our members of Congress took part in their constitutional duty to certify the Electoral College results of the 2020 Presidential Election. … Continue reading Pastoral Message from Rev. Joan, January 7, 2021