2023 Youth Mission Trip Meeting

Sunday, 10/2/2022 after church services (@11:00)

ORUCC Sanctuary

Who should attend? Any youth who is currently in 7^th grade through 12^th grade is eligible to attend the trip. Parents/guardians should also attend this meeting with their youth.

From Kristin Muckian: I’ve just confirmed our destination (Hint: It is been called “The Air-Conditioned City”), our dates (7/9/2022 – 7/16/2022) and some fundraising opportunities this next month! If you have any questions or concerns – please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or I can be texted/reached at 608-225-4103.



Sharing Our Stories: Appreciative Inquiry Visioning

9:00am Oct. 9, Nov. 13 & Dec. 4

We want to hear your voice!

Are you interested in the future of ORUCC? Come join these visioning sessions! It’s okay if you missed the first one in September, there is still a chance to have input and share. Everyone’s voice matters, so please make a point to join for these 9am sessions on Sunday morning. Here is a look at the themes and questions and the dates to mark in you calendar.

October 9th: What do you value about yourself, about ORUCC, about UCC?

November 13th: What do you think are our core values? When have you felt our core values expressed best?

December 4th: If you woke up from a deep slumber and came to ORUCC in 5 years and everything you dreamed and imagined and visioned came true, what would it be like? What would you see, feel, hear, smell? How would people be meeting? Who would be there?

If you can’t be there for one of the Sundays, we still want to hear from you. We are still working on a virtual option for this process and ways of including voices who cannot make it on Sunday morning for any of these.

 A Service of Celebration for the Life of

Stanley Maurice Heffernan

 Sept. 29, 1923 – May 19, 2022

Service at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Madison, Wisconsin

Saturday October 8, 2022

1 p.m. 

Click here for obituary

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Sept 29 – Oct 5

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.

Friday Breakfast Group October 7

The next Friday Breakfast is set for October 7 at 8:30 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.  

This Week in Children’s Programming: 

PreK-2nd grade students will enjoy music at 9:00 and then hear another story about the time when Jesus was at the Sea of Galilee. Jill Westberg and Josie Gilbert will share that Jesus modeled kindness towards people with disabled. Jesus even had the power to heal a man who was paralyzed! Children under the age of 5 are invited to stay as long as they are able and then transfer to the nursery to play with Antonia Wuschner and Amalia Sherrill.

3rd-5th Grade will continue their Peacemaker exploration. Last week, they explored giving their anger to God. This week, they will talk about another important piece of becoming a peacemaker - forgiveness. Through a variety of active stations, they will consider peace and forgiveness. Sally Allen and Jadyn Gilbert will guide them through the process.

Music Connections: This week, children in grades 2nd-5th + (middle schoolers and high schoolers are welcome to attend as a participant or helper) are invited to play hand chimes after the children’s moment. Additionally, we will continue our rhythmic and spoken exploration of the scripture, “Be Still and Know that God is Peace.” Chris Thomas is our Music Connections volunteer, this week.

Save the date for Sunday, October 23. That day, we’ll share music that we’ve developed on the above passage during worship. That morning, children will rehearse with me at 9:50 AM in the Johnson Room (K-2). Any child who wishes to participate must attend Music Connections for two out of the three upcoming Sundays (10/2, 9, and 16). 

Safe Sanctuary Training for Youth Volunteers

Sunday, October 2, 9AM

At Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, we believe that our church should be a safe sanctuary for all those who come in good faith. Most importantly, it should be a safe sanctuary for the children and youth who are entrusted to us.

Toward this goal, our congregation has adopted a Safe Sanctuary policy: a set of policies, procedures, and educational programs to reduce the possibility of child sexual or physical abuse, or any type of sexual misconduct or harassment from occurring in our congregation. These policies express our keen interest in protecting our children and youth, while maintaining the trusting atmosphere of our congregation for the entire congregation, adults and children alike.

On Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9:00 AM, we will conduct our annual Safe Sanctuary training program. Every volunteer who works with kids and youth will need to receive the training (which involves reviewing and discussing the policy) before helping out in the kids’ programming. It should take approximately 30 minutes. Thank you to our volunteers for helping to make ORUCC a welcoming and safe space for our youth!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

All knitters, crocheters, and crafers are invited to meet at the church on the first Monday of every month at 1:30. This group produces many of our church’s shawls for our Prayer Shawl Ministry. The next meeting will be on

October 3. If you have questions, please call Sandra Dyar at (608) 271-2409.

Save the Date! ORUCC Treinen Farm Corn Maze & Bonfire in Lodi, WI, Friday October 21st 6:30-9:30

We have reserved our own bonfire area with benches and picnic tables on October 21 from 6:30-9:30. Feel free to bring your own food if you wish and we will provide s’mores! This area will serve as our home base while you enjoy and explore the farm, pumpkin patch, animals and maze.

To join us, purchase your own ticket at this website and upon arrival ask for the Orchard Ridge UCC Bonfire area.

Women’s Book Group

As we enter into the first full week of fall, ORUCC Women’s Book Group is looking ahead to our discussion of The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin on Thursday, October 6. We will meet on Zoom from 1:30pm to 3pm with Judy Winkel leading our discussion. The Zoom link will be sent to the book club list by email later this week. Please email Deanna Blanchard at [email protected] if you’d like to be added to that list.

Wayfinding: Conversations Toward a Theology and Spirituality of the Elder Years

Wednesday, October 19, 9:30 am

Zoom October 20, 4:00 pm

YOGA IS BACK AT ORUCC

Instructor Leslie Linser    

I offered classes this past June at ORUCC, and I again will offer classes this fall and possibly into winter. The classes will be every Thursday at 5:30 pm starting Oct. 13th and then every Thursday after that. There will also be two different designated times for beginners as described in attachment.(see below)

As before, my goal is to offer a yoga class grounded in spirituality. Having a spiritual practice may mean different things to different people. A Spiritual practice can simply be something one does on a regular basis where one is aware of their body, mind and soul and finding the connection between them. The class design will give space for meditation and prayer along with physical movement and breath. For more information click the  LINK  

Voter Canvassing-September and October 2022

Thank you to all who responded to the call for canvassers for the Midterm Election of November 8, 2022! Please use this link to sign in (even if you canvassed this summer) at  https://forms.gle/YjgiqggAN6U7sS9x7. All canvassers are asked to sign in and attend a training session. A link to a recording of the training is available to those unable to attend the online tutorial. Here are the upcoming canvass dates:

                  CANVASS DATE # 1 — TH SEPT 29 from 4-7pm

                  CANVASS DATE # 2 — SUN OCT 9 from 1:30-4:30

                            MEETING PLACE: Lake Edge UCC

Canvassers are still needed! Watch this video link to see and hear July canvassers from ORUCC & other congregations. Hear their reflections and feel the excitement of their canvassing days. 

Contact Ruth Ann B with questions or feedback—608-334-8761, if text, please ID yourself. 

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 or a Welcomer?

It has been easy finding Lay Liturgists & Communion Servers, but much more challenging finding Coffee-Makers and Welcomers!

We need volunteers!

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

After selecting one or more dates, 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