AUGUST COMPASSION OFFERING

The Great Turning Catholic Worker House of Hospitality

The Great Turning Catholic Worker Farm is a community on the west side of Madison offering hospitality and community to people experiencing homelessness. We prioritize mothers with their children, refugees, asylees, and immigrants. Guests have been referred to us by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, folks in the Meadowood and Prairie Hills neighborhoods, and soon the Catholic Multicultural Center.

A ‘house of hospitality’ within the Catholic Worker movement provides shelter, and often food and clothing, to those in need. The Catholic Worker was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in New York in 1933 amidst the Great Depression as a way to live out Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel values– responding to the needs of those immediately around them.

At the Great Turning, we usually expect to have from one to four adult guests and one live-in volunteer. We come together for one community meal each week (we’d like to do more, with more support), a monthly roundtable discussion, and other time together with guests depending on support needed that we can provide.

We’d like to thank all of you at Orchard Ridge UCC for your support. This is a community endeavor, and not something our organization is trying to do in isolation. If this model resonates with you, consider joining us for a work day on Saturday, August 12 from 8:00 am to noon (1409 Lucy Ln), focused on both outdoor projects for the house and inside projects that more directly benefit guests. In addition, we are looking for other kinds of support including meal preparation, childcare, transportation for guests, gardening, house maintenance, and financial support. Or see the listing in the ORUCC e-post each Thursday throughout the month of August for household items to donate. Thank you!

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

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/

Women’s Book Group – August 3

ORUCC Women’s Book Group will meet on Zoom on Thursday, August 3 from 1:30-3:00 pm. This month’s book was switched with September and we will be discussing Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Deanna will lead the discussion and will send a Zoom link. If you’d like to join this group please email Deanna at [email protected]

Friday Breakfast Group – August 4

The next Friday Breakfast is set for August 4 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.

Welcomer Orientation

August 6 or August 13

11:10-11:35 Swan Room

Join Susan Wagoner for a review of the updated Welcomer Volunteer Instructions after worship on August 6 or August 13. This is an opportunity for Welcomer volunteers to ask questions, discuss tasks, and locate the supplies that are needed. These meetings are also open to anyone considering volunteering in the future. 

If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, a copy of the Welcomer Instructions will be available outside the Swan Room.



Contact Susan at [email protected] if you have questions, are interested in an alternative date to review the instructions, or would like to discuss volunteering as a Welcomer.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Aug 3 – Aug 9

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.

Kids in the Garden During Worship

For a few Sundays this summer, we will offer “Kids in the Garden” during worship. This is a time for kids to experience the joy of God’s creation as they tend the children’s veggie garden. Kids who wish to join in will begin by gathering in the worship service. All are welcome!

Aug. 6: Adult Leader Rachael Lancor

Aug. 20: Adult Leader Rachael Lancor

Join Us For Movie Group, Thursday, August 10th

MOVIE GROUP meets August 10 at 7:00 in the Oakwood Village Performance Center with discussion in the Dakota Room. The 1989 film, “Driving Miss Daisy” won the Academy Award for Best Picture and a Best Actress award for Jessica Tandy. But before more on the film, an invitation.

As you may know, Oakwood Village has made available the 2nd Thursday of each month for us to select the film to be shown. We would, therefore like to invite you to both suggest films (some of you are already doing this) and act as facilitators for our discussions. In fact, as you may recall, this was the way Movie Group previously worked. Please contact Steve Sheets, Baxter Richardson or Doug Loving if you are so inclined.

“Driving Miss Daisy” was enormously popular when released. And why not? It is, in many ways, a “feel good” movie, with wonderful performances by Jessica Tandy as Daisy Werthan, the 72-year-old wealthy Jewish widow, Morgan Freeman as the 60 year old Hoke Colburn, her Black chauffeur, and Dan Akroyd as Daisy’s 40 year old son. But the film is also very historical in detailing a 25-year relationship (1948-1973) set in deeply segregated Atlanta. All three protagonists are aware of the changes taking place and the film is excellent in exploring their reactions, but in subtle ways. And for those who love film details, please note the understated ways the film marks the passage of time. 

Some things for us to consider might be whether or not, although Daisy and Hoke seem vastly different, how different are they really? What, ultimately, brings them to understand their common humanity? And yet, can this mutual understanding be seen as a genuine friendship? How authentic can a relationship between the privileged and the oppressed actually be? And, for us, how different, in racial terms, is 2023 from 1948 or 1973?

Hope to see you August 10th.

Youth Newsletter

Looking for the Youth Newsletter on the website?

Click on the LINK

Purchase Cards on the table

in the Crossroads each Sunday Morning!

Updated Masking Policy

In response to recent declines in COVID infection numbers and a steady low level of local community spread, the ORUCC COVID Response Team has updated the masking policy:

• Masking is optional throughout the building
• Those with symptoms of illness should refrain from entering the building
• Individual decisions to mask or not mask are to be respected
• This policy may be revised with changes in infection number or levels of community spread 

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

Click here to set-up and/or tear-down for Outdoor Worship

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