Sunday Bulletin

Calendar of Events

Monday, 3/16             Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, 3/17             7:30 AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, 3/18      Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
                                  5:30 Choir Rehearsal in Organ Loft
Thursday, 3/19 3:15 Cherub Choir
                                    4:00 Youth Choir

Happy Birthday this week to:
Hadley Whitlock today, 3/15
Caroline Armbruster on 3/16
Lauren Jennings and Katie Ziegler on 3/17
Bea Gaines on 3/18
Deborah Martin and Douglas Pearce on 3/19
Cassandra Damon on 3/20
Christina Young on 3/21

Happy Anniversary this week to:
Michael and Deborah Martin today 3/15

Announcements

The ushers today are Annie-Vera Frye and Rodrigo Pilla.  Thank you for helping today.

Our deepest sympathies to Louise Deuso for the loss of her daughter, Jennifer Daly who was born to eternal life on February 9, 2026.

Lamoille Valley Foster and Adoptive Family Association - Mission Moment
We are pleased to welcome Kate Zieger as our March Mission Moment speaker, representing the Lamoille Valley Foster and Adoptive Family Association (LVFAFA). Kate is an active member of the organization and the mother of two young children, Ella and Wes, whom she first fostered and later adopted.

LVFAFA is dedicated to creating a supportive and welcoming space where foster, adoptive, and kinship parents in the Lamoille Valley can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. The organization also provides educational opportunities for members, helps plan and fund fun family events, and supports summer camp opportunities for children in foster care.

Their vision is for all foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to feel supported and celebrated. LVFAFA works within the community to raise funds that help cover foster parent expenses such as summer camps, extracurricular activities, clothing, sporting equipment, and more.

To learn how you can support this mission or if you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact the Morrisville DCF Office Resource Coordinator, Andrea Burton, at andrea.burton@vermont.gov

Lenten Prayer Sessions Began March 10th!
Pastor Dan invites you to an online Lenten lectionary prayer session on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon from March 10 through March 31

The link can be found in the Quest or the online bulletin. Email Pastor Dan if you have any questions.  dan@stowechurch.org

Congregational Financial Meeting
Sunday, March 22nd | Immediately Following Worship
Please join us in Fellowship Hall for an important congregational conversation focused on understanding our finances — where we stand today and where we are headed together.  We had some very helpful feedback at the Congregation meeting, we listened - THANK YOU - and this meeting is intended as follow up.

We will review the financials (income statements and balance sheets) of the SCC Endowment Fund and the 2026 YTD, plus an update on the 2026 Stewardship campaign and the Steeple Fund Capital Campaign. 

Grounded in our commitment to complete transparency and faithful oversight, we will share comprehensive and fully updated financial reports. This presentation will provide greater detail and clarity beyond what was shared at our Annual Meeting, ensuring that every member has a clear and accurate view of our church’s financial position.

As we look ahead, we do so with purpose — building forward together, committed to resources and renewal, and thoughtfully funding the future of SCC.

Come, listen, review the presentation materials, and be part of this important conversation as we move forward in faith, unity, and confidence.  If you cannot attend in person please let us know and we will send a zoom link.

With Grace & Peace,  The Executive and Finance Teams

Stewardship Update
As of March 12, 2026 we have received 87 pledges for a total of $287,514.  Our goal is $325,000, and we are now at 88% of our goal.  Sincere thanks to all of you who have already pledged. There are pledge cards on the table in the Narthex. Sincere thanks, Nancy Money, Stewardship Chair

Pastor Dan invites you on a journey of finding God in the world around us, and that surrounds us each day. 

Lent is 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday, leading to Easter. Throughout the centuries, Christians have set aside time to fast, pray, read, reflect, serve, and give with intentionality. We prepare our hearts for a season of renewal and rebirth. This year, we are encouraging the following Lenten daily devotional as a guide along the way. It is free to download, and each daily reflection is only a few minutes to read. However, if possible, please include a few minutes of silence. The link for this download is available on our website and in the Quest.

We are actively looking to hire a Nursery Care Coordinator. If you or if anyone you know might be interested, you can reply to the office or have them get in touch with Oana or Taryn, that would be wonderful!  It's $25 per hour, for about 90 minutes of work/ time on a Sunday morning.  Any loving and eligible high school students and adults are all welcome and encouraged to apply!  

Lenten Simple Soup Suppers. Every Wednesday during Lent, area churches are hosting Simple Soup Suppers like St. John’s in the Mountains use to do. They will begin at 5:30 pm. March 18th will be at Jewish Community of Greater Stowe. March 25th will be here, Stowe Community Church.  Suggested donations of $8.00/adult and $5.00/child.  All donations go directly to Lamoille Community Food Share.

SCC Youth Service & Fundraiser Night
March 27, 5:00–8:00 PM
Join us for a combined service project and fundraiser to support youth room renovations. During this event, we will:

• Sell hot cocoa in front of SCC to raise funds for improvements to our youth space

• Create “Lucky Charm” baskets to deliver to people in our lives that we are lucky to know

It will be a meaningful evening of service, creativity, and community. We are so grateful for the enthusiasm and generosity our youth continue to bring to SCC. We look forward to seeing everyone at these upcoming events! 

New Member Orientation on April 19, 2026 following the morning worship service in Fellowship Hall in person or Zoom meeting on Monday April 20, 2026 at 6pm. These are for anyone interested in learning more about our church or signing up to become members. We will welcome new members on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at our 9:30 worship service.

Musical Notes by Karen Miller

Prelude: The chorale tune "O Mensch, Bewein' Dein' Sunde Gross (O Man, Thy Grievous Sin Bemoan) first appeared in the Teutsch Kirchenampt, in Strassburg in 1525.  It was later harmonized by J. S. Bach, and he also wrote a chorale prelude based on this tune.  This was included in his Orgelbuchlein.  The melody remains in the soprano line but in a highly ornamented style.

Anthem:  The text to "The God of Love My Shepherd is" was written by George Herbert.  Herbert (1593-1632) in his youth was a favorite in the court of James I.  He took Holy Orders and then served as rector in Bemerton, near Salisbury, for three years.  He was a poet and wrote The Temple, a collection of his poems.  He was not known as a hymn writer in his lifetime, partly due to the psalm tradition, but one hundred years later the Wesleys included 40 of his poems in their Hymns and Sacred Poetry, 1739.  Herbert's text reads:
The God of Love my Shepherd is, and He that does me feed;
While He is mine and I am His, what can I want or need?
He leads me to the tender grass, where I both feed and rest;
Then to the streams that gently pass; In both I have the best.
Or if I stray, He doth convert, and bring my mind in frame,
And all this not for my desert, but for His holy Name.
Surely Thy sweet and wond'rous love shall measure all my days,
And as it never shall remove, so neither shall my praise.

Offertory:  The composer of the chorale tune "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend" is unknown.  The melody first appeared in the Cantionale Germanicum of 1628.  Several Baroque composers used the tune to create chorale preludes for the organ, including Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748).  A contemporary, cousin, and friend of J. S. Bach, he was a town-organist and court musician in Weimar.  He wrote several pieces based on this melody.  This one is simple, short, and includes an echo effect by alternating phrases on two manuals.

Postlude:  Dom Paul Marie Joseph Benoit (1893-1979) was a Benedictine monk/organist at the Abbey in Clervaux, Luxembourg.  He created a large body of organ works, only half of which have been published.  His collection Pieces d'Orgue contains nine of his pieces.  "Fidelis Servis" has a lilting melody with chromatic accompaniment and a hint of romanticism.