After more than 200 years, the Middleburgh United Methodist Church has become Nourished at Middleburgh, a new more community-centered church with a “vision that moves beyond the traditional framework.”
“Our church culture has shifted,” said Pastor Maryellen Moore, explaining Nourished at Middleburgh’s focus.
“Through our research and many conversations with the community, we have decided to recreate our church.”
Still located at 281 Main Street, the new church is, actively welcoming a greater variety of people, Pastor Moore said, calling it “a safe refuge without judgment for families and individuals who have felt excluded from other religious settings.”
Nourished’s Sunday church service will be an informal time of sharing and learning how the scriptures apply to daily life, “sometimes around a meal and sometimes meeting people where they are,” she said.
There will also be a weekly Bible study to expand on the Sunday message—or other topics.
Part of Nourish’s outreach will include its already successful Twice Is Nice mission store, which has three goals: to help people in need through the sale of donated, high-quality clothing and other items; to help the environment by decreasing what goes into landfills and to use a percentage of the income to keep the Blessing Box filled; and to maintain the condition of the church and property.
The Blessing Box is located inside the Mission Store, and open Wednesdays from noon-6pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9am-3pm.
Those in need can find a revolving supply of food, feminine and baby needs, pet food, and cleaning products.
Donations are welcome.
Call, email, or stop by.
Finally, Nourished is planning a variety of community events, including mini-concerts and open-mic nights, drum circles, Zumba, and dance gatherings.
For those looking to focus on the physical and spiritual, there will also be a healing room with alternative healing modalities such as Reiki, energy balancing, and yoga.
It will also be a place for dinner theater, game nights, trivia challenges, and puzzle time.
The former sanctuary, newly redesigned, will be available for events, both private and public.
There will also be many opportunities for volunteering; call (518) 827-5126 or (518) 491-7365, or email Pastor Moore at melenamoore2323@gmail.com.

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Nourished at Middleburgh will cut the ribbon on its new faith community with a day-long celebration set for Saturday, September 21, from 10am-4pm.
At 10am will be the ribbon cutting, followed by a Blessing of the Animals at 10:15am.
All day there will be craft vendors, cornhole, a balloon pop and Plinko and the Healing Room will be open.
There will be a bounce house from 10am-1pm and 2-4pm, and at 11am, the food booths will open. There will be face painting from 2-4pm.
Entertainment will include: 12-12:40pm, cloggers; 1-2pm, Paul Rosenberg, Tom White and Friends, a family-community hoedown; 2-3pm, performances by Tom and Geri White; 3:15pm, music/Zumba.
For more information, call (518) 827-5126.