Books for Sale

Rev. Daniel Cooperrider, Senior Pastor Julia Burkey’s spouse, will be selling copies of his book for $25 after worship in the Crossroads area on

November 20th. Venmo or Check preferred.

NO YOGA NOV 24

Thursdays 5:30 Friendship Hall

Instructor Leslie Linser    

A slow flow class with a spiritual intention. Bring a yoga mat.

For questions email Leslie at [email protected]  

Sharing Our Stories: Appreciative Inquiry Visioning

9:00am Dec. 4

We want to hear your voice!

Are you interested in the future of ORUCC? Come join these visioning sessions! Everyone’s voice matters, so please do join us.

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?

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Nov 17 – Nov 23

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.

Moms on a Mission



Moms on a Mission is a grassroots group of mothers and others who show up outside East High School every day to foster a nonviolent environment by being present, creating relationships, and de-escalating conflict. You can help this mission by contributing money to pay for snacks for the youth that MOMs distributes during the lunch period. You can also sign up as a volunteer to be present at East High during the lunch period. To read more about this mission and donate for snacks or volunteer see https://justdane.org/moms/. JustDane is acting as the fiscal agent for these contributions.  

FreeCycle

(formerly the Really, Really, Free Market)

This Sunday, November 20th

Bring gently used items to trade or give away

Leave them in Friendship Hall before worship

and return afterwards to “shop”

We want:

toys, puzzles, games

books

kitchen and bath items

art and craft supplies

small electronics

yard and garden items

(Please, no clothing, no furniture or other large items)

November Wayfinding

Self Compassion, Forgiveness & Peace with the Past

Zoom Today,November 17, 4:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

us02web.zoom.us/j/86747507302?pwd=Q01qSnNjWnV4aFg1ek80Qi9ZMkg2Zz09

Meeting ID: 867 4750 7302

Passcode: 823000

Dial in: 1 312 626 6799  

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

Holiday Post Office: Share your Christmas cards with your church friends or reach out to a new friend by using the Holiday Post Office sponsored by our youth. Each card you send will cost 50 cents. Our Holiday Post Office will be up and running on the following Sundays: 12/4, 12/11 and 12/18.  

Youth Service Trip Bake Sale: We’ll be hosting our annual bake sale in Friendship Hall on Sunday, 12/11. Prices will be $6/half dozen; $10/dozen. 

We appreciate your willingness to support these events!

Greeting Card Ministry returns to ORUCC!! 

Many of you may recall the efforts of long-time ORUCC member Dianne Stevens who’s “Secrets from the Garden” photo greeting card sales have generated thousands of dollars in proceeds since 2003, all of which have been directed toward efforts to support housing stability for individuals and families in our local community. Dianne raised over $25,000 in proceeds from the sale of her beautifully crafted cards, an enormous achievement though maybe not completely surprising to those who know her!   

While the covid pandemic effectively curtailed card sales it has also been Dianne’s desire to pass her supplies and this ministry on to others. Serendipity stepped in with ORUCC members Peg Knueve and LuAnn Greiner teaming up to share their respective artistic skills and relaunch this creative effort in both new and familiar ways. On Sunday November 13th, we’ll take time during worship to recognize Dianne and to introduce “Original Designs”, a new line of greeting cards featuring original artwork and nature photography from which proceeds will continue to be directed to housing stability in our community. A variety of cards will be on display in the Crossroads and available for purchase after worship and any time you are stopping by ORUCC!

Women’s Book Group-Dec.

Our ORUCC Women’s Book Group will discuss THE SENTENCE on Thursday, December 1, 1:30-3:00pm, via ZOOM. The main character is Indigenous, as are several prominent characters. Author Louise Erdrich’s personal knowledge of running a small bookstore informs her novel, as do recent events in Minneapolis. The plot involves a ghost, a loving adult relationship, and the universal wonder of a newborn baby. Don’t miss the list of recommended books at the end! The South Central Library System has multiple copies, as well as large-print and downloadable editions. You are welcome to participate in our discussion of THE SENTENCE even if you haven’t been able to discuss books with us recently, or ever before.

Please contact Deanna Blanchard at [email protected] to be added to the email list and receive the book announcements and Zoom link.

Thanksgiving Year-Round

Did you know that the ORUCC Thanksgiving Fund is now a “Year-Round” donation fund? This means that donations are accepted 365 days a year.

The donations are used to purchase Woodman’s gift cards, which are distributed in varying amounts ($10-$20 is common) to Southwest Madison neighbors in need. Our local social and case workers ask if ORUCC will continue to support food and gas needs via gift cards through 2023.   

November and December are targeted months for this Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund.  We will especially appreciate donations by early November, so our neighbors may receive this food/gas assistance in time for Thanksgiving. Donations are also welcome through the holiday season and beyond – into 2023. Thank you for considering this call out.   

To donate, go to https://orucc.org/contribute/support/ and click on the link-box “Contribute to the Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund”.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

Common Wealth Development has partnered with the Meadowridge Library, Meadow Neighborhood Center, and the WI Department of Revenue to create a future Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VITA) site in the Meadowood neighborhood. This site will serve individuals in southwest Madison. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant program is an Internal Revenue Service initiative that supports free tax preparation service for low to moderate income people

Volunteers are needed to operate the site to serve as coordinators and tax preparers. Free online and virtual trainings are provided through the IRS along with mentorship support from other volunteers. During the first year, volunteers will work at the Central Library VITA site , 201 W. Mifflin St., to gain hands on experience to enhance their learning.



If you are interested in making a difference, learning how to prepare taxes, and committed to the work, this might be the volunteer opportunity for you! A background in accounting or tax preparation is not required.

We are hosting two 30 minute-information sessions: Friday, Nov 18, 2022, at 1:15 pm and Tuesday, Nov 22, 11:45 am. 

For more information on this amazing opportunity, email [email protected] or [email protected].

An Invitation from MMC to ORUCC



On Sunday, November 20^th, four of us voice actors from Madison Mennonite Church will be leading in a 3-part celebration of the audiobook that will soon be released. Some of you may recall that early in May we used the Frank Room to create an enclosed portable space for recording, but alas, that proved not to be workable. We moved to Audio for the Arts to record my historical fiction of three book titles: Shadows, Loyalties, and Passages about Anabaptists during the American Civil War.

We warmly welcome you to join us for any/all of the celebratory events.

• 4:00-4:45 pm, Adult Christian Ed, featuring Joanne Juhnke, Alan Tripp, and Mark Wagler, reading short excerpts in the sanctuary from the book narrator that each performs.
• 5:00-6:00 pm, Worship in the sanctuary with music, a skit, scripture and a sermon that all relate to civilian experiences conveyed in the trilogy.
• 6:10-? pm, refreshments and fellowship in Friendship Hall.

Contact Evie Yoder Miller, [email protected], with questions.

Save the date! Our All Church January retreat is back in action! January 13-15th!

If you are interested in helping please reach out to [email protected].

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, but much more challenging finding Coffee-Makers and Welcomers!

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