This week’s announcements
Weekly announcements are usually updated on Thursday. Archive of old announcements.
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- ORUCC Weekly Announcements for October 9th
Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice
Weekly Announcements
for Thursday, October 9
Meditation Group – Zoom only
Friday, October 10
9:30 – 10:30 am
Zoom
Sue Dixon
Sunday, October 12
9:00 am Faith Formation for children and youth
10:00 am – Worship
Sermon: Julia Burkey
Lay Liturgist: Deanna Blanchard
Musical Offerings: ORUCC Bell Choir
Restorative Justice Circle after worship (see below).
Men’s Group – in person
Monday, October 13
7:15 – 8:30 pm
Day Room/Romero Room
Jim McNamara
Mennonite Action Event
Tuesday, October 14
5:45 – 9:00 pm
Friendship Hall and Worship Hall
(see below)
Wayfinding Retreat
Wednesday, October 15
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Holy Wisdom Monastery, Middleton
Julia Burkey
Choir Practice
Wednesday, October 15
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Bruce Gladstone
Meditation Group
Thursday, October 16
8:30 – 9:30 am
Romero Room
Becky Baumbach
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Pastors’ On-Call Schedule
Your pastors are here for you! Pastor Julia is on call. Please do not hesitate to reach out to her with your pastoral care needs, questions or concerns. She can be reached at [email protected].
October Compassion Offering:
Al-Ahli Gaza Hospital
During this terrifying time, Al-Alhi Gaza Hospital is one of the few remaining Hospitals able to provide medical services to families in Gaza. The Hospital is run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, a UCC Mission Partner organization, and is staffed by both Palestinian and international professionals from around the world.
Several times in the past two years, Al-Ahli Hospital was bombed and invaded by Israeli ground troops. Throughout these attacks and subsequent evacuations of the Hospital grounds, Al-Ahli’s staff of 116 have shown heroic courage and determination, setting up tent clinics and mobile services in nearby towns and villages, and always returning to the Hospital to provide ongoing medical care for the wounded.
Your donation to Al-Ahli Gaza Hospital will literally save lives and enhance healing, providing children and families with emergency and trauma care, treatment for burns (primarily children), physical therapy for wounds and loss of limbs, treatment for malnourished (starved) children, and more.
Our Generosity at Work: Compassion Offering for September
We are delighted to report that September’s Compassion Offering for the Guatemala Medical Resources Partnership (GMRP) amounted to $5,345.08. GMRP serves up to 700 patients per week in a very poor district about three hours south of Guatemala City. Thank you for your generous donations!
Restorative Justice Circle
Circles – sometimes called peace circles or talking circles – are an intentional, structured form of dialogue that draw on the wisdom and practice of indigenous communities around the world. Circles offer a different way of being together and quality of conversation, and can be used for deepening relationships, and sharing stories and perspectives around a wide variety of topics and situations. Engaging in the practice of Circle is inherently transformative because we experience the world from more perspectives than our own, and drawing on diverse knowledge and experience in this way often generates options and solutions for challenges that are outside the box of conventional thinking and go beyond what one person or a small group could generate on their own.
You are invited to get a taste, by participating in a Circle after the worship service on October 12th (concluding by 12:15 p.m.). There will also be an opportunity to go deeper, with a more intensive Circle retreat / training experience on November 7th and 8th. More information will be shared about that on October 12th, or you may reach out to Barbie Jackson ([email protected]) or John Lemke ([email protected]).
Mennonite Action Event at ORUCC October 14th
Mennonite Action is coming to Madison on Tuesday, October 14, at 5:45 pm, as part of their national To Build Our Courage tour! This training will offer skills in noncooperation, grassroots organizing, and mutual aid, along with time for worship in prayer, song and sharing a meal together. Join us as we seek courage, inspiration, and deeper commitment to peace and justice. Learn more and sign up here: Registration Link. This event at Orchard Ridge is co-sponsored by our Immigration Justice and Palestine Justice Mission Teams.
Friends—
Knowing that many of you are very busy—I am still asking for assistance at the potluck on October 14th—for set up (5-6:30pm) and/or take down 6:30-8:00 pm!. Our Mennonite partners/church-mates have a crew of four and we need another four persons to assist. If you are attending the To Build Our Courage program and the potluck meal that begins at 5:45pm—we’ll be sure you can do so. We need folks for “set up” and “take down” — and will appreciate any amount of time you have to offer.
CONTACT: Ruth Ann B—VM @ 608-334-8761 or email at the address below! I’m available to answer any questions—and will get back to you promptly.
THANKS !!
Ruth Ann Berkholtz 🙏🍁
This training is being brought to you by ORUCC’s Immigration Justice Team.
Worker Justice Wisconsin Presentation and Conversation
Sunday, October 19, 2025, 9 am, Friendship Hall
Join us on Sunday, October 19 at 9 am for a presentation and conversation with Robert Christl from Worker Justice Wisconsin about issues facing immigrant workers in Wisconsin.
Worker Justice Wisconsin (WJW) is a worker center that educates immigrant employees on their rights and how to organize their coworkers to improve working conditions. WJW is the only worker center in the region where workers can go when they experience problems and want to learn how to address them.
Robert Christi, Interim Executive Director, will discuss issues such as low wages and wage theft frequently faced by immigrant workers, including recent successes. There will be opportunity to discuss how faith communities can become involved in WJW campaigns.
For more information, contact Paulette Harder of the Immigration Justice Team. Thank you!
Pen Pal Meet-Up October 19th
Did you participate in this summer’s Pen Pal Program? We hope you had a rich, enjoyable time sending and receiving letters in the mail. It’s never too late to get a message out if you fell behind. Save the date for an in-person Pen Pal Meet-Up!
Join us in Friendship Hall after worship on October 19th for lemonade and conversation. RSVP is not necessary, but appreciated. RSVP to Julie Mazer at [email protected]
Stay up to date on ORUCC Children and Youth happenings
Want to stay up to date on the latest with children and youth at ORUCC? Check out our weekly updates here:
Please Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings!
AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!
We are seeking volunteers to serve on Sunday mornings for in-person worship. You need not be a member, simply a person who loves ORUCC and is eager to find a place to serve! Young people are welcome to sign up too!
Would you consider serving one or more times as a Coffee Maker, a Host, a Lay Liturgist, or to assist with Holy Communion?
Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!
Click here to sign up as a Coffee Maker
Please note that the previous Welcomer and Usher signups have recently been combined into a new signup named “Host.” Please sign up to be trained into this new position:
Click here to sign up as a Host
Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist
Click here to assist with Holy Communion
- Page #1: Choose the date you are available to volunteer and select the box that says “SIGN UP“. Then, at the bottom of the page select the box “SAVE & CONTINUE“.
- Page #2: Enter your first/last name and your email address. Then select the box at the bottom of the page “SIGN UP NOW“
Questions or problems signing up?
Contact George Decker at office@orucc.org or 608-271-7212.
Spiritual
Nourishment
for you!
Daily Reflections for October
We are grateful for the ministry of Jeanne Moberly, who is a member of Adult Faith Formation, as she puts together a set of fresh readings every month for our devotional practice at Orchard Ridge UCC. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office.
Office Manager George Decker
available Mon.-Thurs. 7:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey: available
Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
by appointment
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Associate Pastor Ken Pennings is on sabbatical though November 30, 2025.
Pastor Kate Mackey: available
Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
by appointment
608-571-5418 EMAIL
Julia tries to take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days,
Kate Friday and Saturday
Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.
In case of a pastoral emergency, please call Julia or Kate, as they are available by phone and text, and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.
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Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
1501 Gilbert Road
Madison, WI 53711
608-271-7212
Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice 1501 Gilbert Road | Madison, WI 53711 US
