March Compassion Offering

One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing®, an ecumenical offering sponsored in Lent by the United Church of Christ, provides humanitarian and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and the work for long- term recovery. Because the UCC works in partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response and recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.  

VIDEO

You can make a donation by check, on the memo line, please write “compassion” and mail to ORUCC, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711, or donate online from our website. The link is https://orucc.org/contribute/support/

Lenten Schedule of Sermons

March 26 A Celebration of Heart Room Ministry

April 2 Immigration Hospitality – Palm Sunday

April 7 Good Friday Service 7 pm



Easter 2023 Schedule April 9

6:30 am Sunrise service on the ORUCC Lawn with the three rituals of Burning Ashes of Regret, Communion and Renewal of Baptism, followed by homemade brunch.

9 am Make and take Easter crafts for children

10 am Easter Worship Service with Choirs

11 am Easter Egg Hunt for children of all ages

Support Heart Room



Heart Room has supported 15 families and 60 children to find and keep stable housing for long-term thriving. ORUCC members have contributed or pledged funds that support three years of rental assistance per family. Coupled with other supports from professional partners, families then can meet their goals for thriving. 

The Heart Room Mission Team thanks you for pledges and contributions of all sizes. Your recent pledge statement from the church will let you know any balance on the Heart Room pledge for the eight currently enrolled families. Any donations are gratefully accepted as well. Remember you can pay the church by check or online at LINK

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Mar 23 – March 29

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.

New to the Church?

You are also invited to a series of New Members Classes with the Pastors and Leadership Team of Orchard Ridge UCC. You may find the classes helpful even if you don’t intend to join the church at this time.

Sunday, March 26, 9:00 a.m. — Informational Class in the Anne Frank Room

Sunday, April 2 (Palm Sunday), 9:00 a.m. — Informational Class in the Anne Frank Room

RSVP to [email protected], or 608-271-7212. At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith. In preparation for this series, you may wish to browse ORUCC’s website: www.orucc.org.

Maundy Thursday Dinners in Homes

April 6th, 6-8 pm

Might you be interested in attending a Maundy Thursday meal in a home on April 6, 6-8 pm?

Both Pastors Julia and Ken will be hosting dinners along with 4 others!

In the past, the host has provided a Mediterranean main dish, and has either invited the guests to bring side dishes to share or to bring a favorite beverage (e.g. wine). Your host will be in touch with you about this. Be sure to let your host know if you have any dietary restrictions.

If you have trouble with this online signup tool, there will be signup sheets on the table in the Crossroads the next two Sundays. Or you can contact Ken Pennings to let him know which host you’ve chosen ([email protected] or 608-556-2371).

After supper, your group will share in a brief litany of Communion remembering Jesus’ last supper with his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem.

Click here to sign up

We are looking for Brat Fest Volunteers!



Would you be willing to donate a few hours at Brat Fest to benefit our Youth Service Trip? Brat Fest has a variety of volunteer positions from set up, grilling, trash pick up, serving, event take down. Our church has to fulfill 20 hours of set up to qualify for fundraising and we really need your help.  

To sign up go to:  https://app.initlive.com/JE/63v6refjssjaf2

You must create a sign on, choose a T-shirt size and check that you are volunteering to benefit a charity. Then, choose Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ as your benefiting organization. You get to choose the date, time and position you’d like to volunteer for. Ask your friends to join you – as our teens know – it’s more fun to volunteer as a group! Plus, you get the t-shirt and a free brat for every shift you work. Sign up today – these shifts go F-A-S-T..

Death Cafe at ORUCC, April 1st 2pm-4pm

Madison Mennonite Church invites you to an opportunity to talk about death, dying and grief in a safe environment. Plus there will be cake!

Sign-ups are appreciated for food planning purposes.

Immigration Justice Mission Team



The Dane Sanctuary Coalition is in critical need of people to join their volunteer driving program. People in the program provide rides to an immigrant/family who has a scheduled appointment in Immigration Court in Milwaukee or Chicago. Volunteer drivers only commit to a specific ride based on their availability. 

If you have interest in this opportunity, please contact Ruthanne Landsness at 608/234-2882, or join us for an orientation session on Sunday, March 26, at 11:30 via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83273119669?pwd=S2dZQ0JmT0VFcVBWUGJsbW5SYlh1Zz09. Thank you.

It’s Time for Camp Registration!

Registration for all of our UCC camps (Moon Beach, Daycholah, and Cedar Valley) is now open. There is such a variety: kids, adult, family, glamping, the arts, sailing….Some of the sessions, like Camp Awesum and Family Camp fill up quickly, so check out the brochure today.

Click the LINK to sign up today!

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like “free” “personalized” “complimentary” or “customized.” A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like “for a limited time only” or “only 7 remaining”!

The Crossing

2023 Annual Gala

April 14, 2023 6 pm

The Crossing Board of Directors and Staff invite you to join us for an evening of storytelling and fellowship. Enjoy a meal provided by Blue Plate Catering, connect with Crossing students, alumni and other community members, and be inspired as students share their Crossing experiences from this academic year. Tickets are $75 per person for the meal and event. There is also an option to sponsor a student for $60. And, of course, donations above the ticket price are always appreciated. Tickets are on sale HERE. Questions? Contact Sue Dixon at [email protected] or 608-712-9050.

YOGA

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]  

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, a Lay Liturgist or

to assist with Holy Communion?

It has been fairly easy finding Lay Liturgists and Communion Assistants, 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

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to Assist with Holy Communion

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