This week’s announcements
Weekly announcements are usually updated on Thursday. Archive of old announcements.
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- ORUCC Weekly Announcements for May 29th
Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice
Weekly Announcements
for Thursday, May 29
Meditation Group–Zoom only
Friday, May 30
9:30 – 10:30 am
Zoom
Sue Dixon
Sunday, June 1
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Celebrating Children & Youth Ministry
and Graduating Seniors
9:00 am – Parents Together Peer Support Group
Romero Room
9:00 am – Children & Youth Faith Formation
10:00 am – Worship
Sermon: Kate Mackey
Lay Liturgists: Josie Gasser & Ben Lancor
Musical Offerings: TRU Function
Ice Cream Sundae Social after worship
Meditation Group
Thursday, June 5
8:30 – 9:30 am
Romero Room
Becky Baumbach
June Compassion Offering:
Refugee Resettlement in Dane County
The June Compassion Offering is Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Services at Jewish Social Services of Madison (JSS). JSS works to empower individuals and families across cultures and generations through compassionate, community-based support. Rooted in Jewish values and open to all, JSS provides critical services across Dane County—from senior and family support, immigrant assistance, spiritual care, programs addressing housing insecurity, and a weekly meal site. At the heart of this work is a deep commitment to caring for the vulnerable and welcoming the stranger.
The Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Services Program, the largest at JSS, has been a cornerstone of the JSS mission since the aftermath of World War II. Since then, JSS has successfully settled newcomers from around the world. Recently, the federal government cut off funding for recently arrived refugees, promised them to build new lives here and to thrive as our neighbors. JSS remains steadfast in its commitment to these individuals and families—offering housing support, case management, and a compassionate welcome. Your support through the Compassion Offering helps bridge a critical funding gap and will honor our promise to those seeking safety and a new beginning in Madison.
June 22nd Sunday Morning Summer Solstice Outdoor Worship hosted by Flicker Wild Church
End of May greetings, Orchard Ridge UCC!
After a flurry of blossoming, here at the end of May it’s as if all of a sudden all the leaves on the trees are out, and the daisies and other wildflowers are welcoming back their summer friends, the hummingbirds and the butterflies. Amid the buzzing, bumptious energy of the season, it’s been a joy for us as a family to celebrate Kindred’s first birthday, and as I’ve been reflecting on the first year of her life, gratitude has been welling up for you all—for the love and kindness and generosity of spirit that ORUCC has wrapped her and our whole family up in. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a joyful, welcoming, progressive spiritual community, and for ORUCC to be the spiritual home for us and for our daughters. Thank you!
I appreciate how at ORUCC there’s an understanding that “all of the congregants are ministers,” as the weekly bulletin puts it. For me, my ministry efforts (in addition to vocations of family and writing), have been directed to planting a new church start – Flicker Wild Church. Flicker started gathering on the Fall Equinox of 2023 out of a sense of call to host outdoor, seasonal, and earth-honoring spiritual community. The seeds of it trace back to a “wild church” circle that the ORUCC Care of Creation team organized when they did a study of my book. From the start of Flicker, participation from ORUCC folks has been integral to our community. After almost two-years now, I’m excited to share that Flicker has continued to emerge, grow, and cohere into a vibrant spiritual community! With a few grants from the Wisconsin Conference and national setting of the UCC, I am stepping into a more formal role of “Convening Pastor.” We recently made a video introducing ourselves – hopefully you can feel some of the spirit here.If you’d like to experience Flicker our Solstice gathering will be June 20th, 6pm at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
On Sunday, June 22nd we will be offering an ORUCC x Flicker Wild Church collaborative, outdoor worship experience at our 10am hour. We’ll gather outside on the church lawn, in a circle, around a fire, and we will link our day’s praise to the liturgy of the Solstice season and to the day. And then following worship, we’ll offer a chance to learn more about Flicker and the Wild Church Network during a Q&A conversation, which Rachel Bauman, Associate Conference Minister will be joining us for. I look forward to worshipping with you on the 22nd, and to sharing a glimpse into “wild church” with our ORUCC community.
Blessings,
Daniel Cooperrider (Pastor Julia Burkey’s spouse)
—
Daniel Cooperrider, Convening Pastor of Flicker Wild Church & author of Speak with the Earth and It Will Teach You: A Field Guide to the Bible (Pilgrim Press), Gold Winner in the 2023 Nautilus Book Awards. danielcooperrider.com
Women’s Book Group to meet June 5th
Please join the Women’s Book Group on June 5th at 1:30pm. Leslie is back from their travels and will lead us in discussing The Crossing Places by Emily Griffith. We will meet in-person in the Alfred Swan room and on Zoom. July’s book will be Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Deanna Blanchard is the contact person.
Friday Breakfast Group – June 6th, 9:00 a.m.
The next Friday Breakfast is set for June 6 at 9:00 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. All are welcome! The group meets on the first Friday of the month and includes both men and women. Join us for this informal chance to connect and converse on many topics. Contact Louise Jeanne, Link for more information.
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:
Summer Intergenerational Pen Pals
The summer pen pals initiative presents a wonderful opportunity for our congregation to connect across generations. Older and younger pen pals will be paired up to share in a fun and meaningful exchange of experiences, stories, and encouragement. Participants will commit to sending three heartfelt snail-mail letters throughout the summer.
At this time, we are gathering interest in the program. Please fill out THIS form or contact Julie or Kate if you would like to be considered for our Pen Pal program. The deadline to express interest is May 30th.
Witness from Palestine: Rev. El-Yateem Shares Firsthand Insights
Rev. Khader El-Yateem, ELCA Executive Director for Service and Justice, will speak on Gaza and the West Bank: A Struggle for Survival Amid Genocide on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00pm at Midvale Community Lutheran Church in Madison. Recently returned from a solidarity visit to Palestine, he will share firsthand accounts of the current situation and the global response. All are welcome. Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Interfaith Peace Working Group. Register here. Read more about the speaker and this event.
See the Oscar-Winning Documentary No Other Land at Christ Presbyterian
Our Palestine Justice Mission Team invites you to sign up for a free screening of the 2025 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature on Sunday, June 8 at 5 PM, Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E Gorham. No Other Land tells the story of Palestinian resistance in the Masafer Yatta community. RSVP required. Donations will support impacted communities. This event is sponsored by local peace and justice groups.
ORUCC Palestinian Justice Team–putting your faith into action!
The UCC leaders have clearly stated that if we are a JUST PEACE church, we must ACT in support of peace in Palestine! Our mission team has been working with our Madison Mennonite friends on this issue, joining their local & nationwide Mennonite Action vigils and letter writing campaigns.
ORUCC and other faith groups are invited to join Mennonite Action Madison, Madison Rafah Sister City Project, Jewish Voice for Peace, CODEPink, and Interfaith Peace Working Group at the “No Kings” march and rally in Madison on Saturday, June 14.
The goal is to show a large Palestinian solidarity contingent marching together and speaking out against
· the continued destruction of Gaza,
· the blockade on humanitarian aid
· and the increased violence in the West Bank.
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025 Meeting Time: 1:45 pm
Meeting Location: Base of Bascom Hill (or edges of the crowd, depending on size of crowd)
Schedule: Gather at 1:45 pm, march at 2 pm from Library Mall to the Capitol, rally at 3 pm
Bring: Signs & banners (including name of your faith/peace group), Palestinian flags, keffiyehs
Ideas for signs and banners:
· Send Aid, Not Bombs
· Send Food, Not Bombs
· Stop the Genocide
· God Loves Gaza
· Ceasefire NOW!
PLEASE JOIN US!
Questions? Contact [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]
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 Welcomer, an Usher, 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
Click here to sign up as a Welcomer
Click here to sign up as an Usher
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 Ken Pennings at [email protected] or 608-556-2371.
Spiritual
Nourishment
for you!
Daily Reflections: May 15 – 31
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. Starting in June, we will be posting a full month (instead of week by week) of Daily Reflections. Today’s Daily Reflections are for the rest of May. 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. 8:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey: available
Office hours: Tuesday – Thursday 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
& by appointment Tuesday – Thursday 9:30 am – 5 pm
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available
Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm
by appointment
608-556-2371 EMAIL
Associate Pastor Kate Mackey: available
Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
by appointment
608-358-6143 EMAIL
Julia and Ken (try 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 any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, 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
