Java & Jesus (Hybrid)

In-Person in the Alfred Swan Room at the Church, or by Zoom

    July 31–Jim McNamara facilitating

Click here to join J&J by Zoom

Contact  Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list, or if you’re having trouble accessing the Zoom meeting. The Zoom Link will also be included in the Saturday Worship Email.  

Technology Fundraiser

The church is moving ahead with technology improvements, and we are welcoming contributions to help pay for them.  Hybrid meetings in the Alfred Swan Room are already happening; these permit people present in the room to share the event with those connected from home via Zoom.  Next up we will be adding technology to make it possible to hold larger hybrid meetings and enhanced educational events in Friendship Hall.  To learn more please read this post from the ORUCC Website Link .

You can make a donation by check, on the memo line, please write “AV” and mail to ORUCC, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711, or donate online at LINK tech fund.

Women’s Book Group

The next ORUCC Women’s Book Group Zoom meeting will be Thursday, August 4 from 1:30-3:00pm. Hope Soroos will lead us in the discussion of All The Frequent Troubles of our Days : The True Story of the American Woman at the Heart of the German Resistance to Hitler by Rebecca Donner. All women are welcome to join us! Please email Deanna Blanchard to be added to email notifications at [email protected].

Friday Breakfast Group August 5

Join us for Friday Breakfast Group August 5 at 8:30 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. The group meets on the first Friday of the month and is open to all, both men and women. It is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Contact Louise Jeanne, Link for more information

Autism Support Positions available on Madison’s near west-side,

just a few miles from ORUCC

Guide a young woman who is a member of ORUCC and who has autism to enjoy time in her home and community, as she builds new skills. All you need are the qualities of being reliable, fun-loving, and open to new learning. This opportunity brings many rewards, including the joy of knowing you’re making a positive difference in her life, $16 per hour, mileage reimbursement, and benefits if working 30 or more hrs./wk.

Current available hours include Monday- Friday

• Morning Fitness Coach - you may also workout while mentoring her;
• Afternoon Meal-Planning & Cooking – share your skills and love for cooking.

Driving is part of both positions, so you must have a reliable car and car insurance.  Applicants will show proof of COVID vaccination and agree to use a mask when in public. To learning more, email [email protected] 

or call Laurine at 608-333-3101.

CAR DONATION

The Car Donation Mission Team is pleased to announce that we have donated a Toyota Sienna minivan to an Afghan family of eight. This was a genuine cooperative effort among many partners. First, many thanks to Paul and Jennifer Eggerling-Boeck who generously donated their van. This was their second car donation, by the way. Our partner in determining a suitable Afghan family is the First Baptist Church/Bethany United Methodist Church Refugee and Immigration Ministry. This ministry has working relationships with five Afghan families in the Allied neighborhood. This ministry also provided significant financial support for bringing the van to A1 condition. Finally, many thanks to Scott McGettigan, the owner of Turn Two Auto in Verona. Scott donated significant time to the upgrading of the donated van. Scott is also the son of Orchard Ridge member Judy McGettigan.

The five Afghan families will all benefit from the use of this van since the recipient is the only English speaker in the five families and plays a key role in helping the other families transition to independence. While all the dads are employed, the moms do not drive, so organizing shopping trips, school and other appointments, and simply getting around can be challenging.

If you have comments or questions about either the Afghan families or the car donation program, call or email Baxter Richardson.

BUILDING ACCESS

As many of you know, we’ve kept a key to the church “hidden” outside the building for many years. We want to be more secure about our building, at this time. We are placing a key in a combination lock box near the same place as the “hidden key”. If you need access to the code, please contact any of the pastors, the moderators, or Jon Blanchard.

Moderators and Ministry chairs should already have a key to use the building as needed for meetings, but if you are a leader of a group who uses the building often, please get in touch with Julie W in the office to arrange for a key. Thanks for keeping our building safe!

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of July 28 – August 3

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 week for our devotional practice at Orchard Ridge UCC. You will see these posted daily if you are part of the “Members & Friends” Facebook group. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the church office.

From the Immigration Justice Team

Plan ahead for the Casa Alitas Clothing Drive!

Summer and Fall clothing

Think young families

Kid’s clothes, men’s and women’s small sizes, tennies



We’ll begin receiving donations August 8!

Thank you in advance for your donation.

Associate Pastor Search

Update from the Search Committee for the Associate Pastor of Children, Youth, and Families and Tammy’s Transition Team

Last month, the search committee had a candidate interview with them and the pastors, but that person ultimately took another position as a solo lead pastor of a church. We are committed to and trust this pastoral search process. Many thanks to the search committee for their loving, steadfast work and may they feel our deep gratitude as they continue their search.

As Tammy shared in her note to the congregation on June 23, Julie Mazer will step up as our Interim Education Coordinator to coordinate and oversee Sunday morning programming for children and youth. Julie will work with Tammy beginning in mid-July to ensure a smooth transition. Additionally, Kristen Muckian will lead a team for the annual mission trip. As an adult chaperone of this trip for seven years, Kristen is well-equipped to plan next summer’s trip. Thank you Julie and Kristen!

News for Covid Response Team

The COVID Response Team met Sunday, June 5th, and decided not to change anything, but to hold steady where we are. Positive test rates in Dane County are up currently, which we are watching.

We continue to recommend that masks be required during worship, in order to extend the broadest welcome to all. For small groups that use the church outside of the worship service, they may continue to work with the pastors to make the best determination for their group.

We are starting to digest the new COVID metrics that have become publicly available, and to consider how they might guide our decision-making in the future. 

While the recommendations continue to evolve, we reiterate that by wearing even a non-fitted N95 mask – freely available outside Worship Hall – the wearer essentially ensures that nobody can be considered a “close contact” during worship. (It would take hours of continuous exposure to an unmasked individual for this to be the case!) This frees us from the need to be concerned with “contact tracing,” etc. if any of our friends test positive for COVID — although we do appreciate being able to pray for them during Joys & Concerns. Please keep telling us when you test positive for COVID after being in worship or at a church function.

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, an Assistant to the AV Technician,

a Welcomer, a Lay Liturgist, to assist with

Holy Communion or to host summer “Lawn Lemonade”?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to serve as an Assistant to the AV Technician

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to sign up to assist with Holy Communion

After selecting a date, you will need to click “Submit and Sign Up” at the bottom of the page, then enter your name & email address, then click “Sign Up Now.”

Questions or problems signing up?

Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected] or 608-556-2371.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30