Mark Your Calendar for November 5th!

Worship & Work Sunday!

Wear your grubbies, and bring your

garden gloves, wheelbarrows

and garden tools to help spruce up the church grounds after worship! There may be a few indoor tasks to tackle also. There will be a free luncheon sponsored by the Ministry of Congregational Life. Please stay for lunch even if you’re unable to assist with the work projects.

Sign Up to Join a

Book Discussion Group

on Thursday evenings, beginning this evening?!

Part of our fall sermon & discussion series on “Indigenous Justice” is our BIG READ of Kaitlyn B. Curtice’s book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God. If you’d like to participate in the BIG READ, pick up a copy of the book right away and begin reading.

One great way to get the most out of the BIG READ is to participate in a small group of 8-12 people who are reading and discussing the book together in four 1.5 hr. sessions in a pattern of every other week (with an exception or two).

We are offering 6 discussion groups — 4 groups in homes, 1 group by Zoom, 1 group at Oakwood Village West. Click on the link below for dates/times/locations of groups.

Plan to read ahead of time the following sections of the book and come prepared to discuss: Week One: Introduction and Part 1; Week Two: Part 2 & Part 3 (chapter 9); Week Three: Part 3 (chapters 10, 11, 12) & Part 4 (chapters 13, 14, 15); Week Four: Part 4 (chapter 16) through the end of the book.

Click here to sign up for a discussion group

Questions?

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

An Evening with Kaitlin Curtice

Friday, October 20, 6:15 pm

Holy Wisdom Monastery

Our “BIg Read” this October is Kaitlin Curtice’s book, Native. We are excited to share that the author will be in town to speak and lead a writing workshop at Holy Wisdom Monastery October 21-22! These events are open to the public, and we highly recommend that anyone interested sign up soon. You can sign up for each event individually, or choose to attend both. Your book discussion small group might even consider going together! Please register at https://holywisdommonastery.org/kaitlin-curtice/

OCTOBER COMPASSION OFFERING

THE CROSSING

THE CROSSING spiritual roots are in progressive Christianity. Its mission is to provide an open, diverse, welcoming and faith-inclusive campus ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where students can deepen their relationship with God, each other and their sense of the world around them.

THE CROSSING encourages participants to interpret and apply the teachings of Jesus within a social justice framework, while incorporating their own personal spiritual reflections. This includes supporting the learning about justice from Christian and non-Christian traditions, as well as being invested in cultural diversity in our programming and worship gatherings.

THE CROSSING is committed to raising awareness about local and global human rights concerns, promotes a service, compassion-oriented approach to life, inspires courage to live as agents of peace, believes in environmental stewardship and justice, and affirms gender equality, identity, and individual preference in human sexuality.   

THE CROSSING welcomes all students and encourages them to collaborate on meaningful and impactful activities. Small group gatherings are central in our programming.

THE CROSSING programming is carried out in a casual and fun learning environment where students set the agenda, lead actions and activities.

THE CROSSING is jointly funded by the United Church of Christ, The United Methodist Church, and the American Baptist Churches, of Wisconsin.

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/

Name Tags are Coming

Beginning Sunday, October 8th, you have the option of ordering a permanent name tag: magnetic, lanyard, or pin. The cost is $7.50, but with the help of Orchard Ridge we are able to charge $5.00. We are asking that you pay what you are comfortable paying, whether that be more… or less. Any extra donations will go toward covering the cost of others and for future name tags.

—your Care of Creation Team

Sermon Talk Backs Resume Sunday, October 8

11:15 in the Swan Room

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Oct 5 – Oct 11

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.

Tomorrow–Friday Breakfast Group – October 6

The next Friday Breakfast is set for October 6 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.

Strengthen Your Faith!

Gain Spiritual Guidance & Enrichment!

The Ministry of Adult Faith Formation (AFF) would like your input to plan future adult faith formation opportunities. If interested, please click on the link below to recommend, suggest, or to give leadership to an opportunity that interests you. Thank you!

Click here to complete form

OCTOBER YOUTH EVENTS

October 22: Youth Service Celebration Sunday and 2024 Meeting

On October 22, we will celebrate the service trip our youth took to Duluth, MN, in July with a special worship service. After worship, please stay for a meeting about Service Trip 2024 for any youth (entering 8th grade-finishing 12th grade) who might be interested to attend.



October 27, 6:00-9:00 p.m.: Treinen Farms Bonfire and Corn Maze

An all-ages fellowship event! We have a bonfire ring reserved and will provide supplies for s’mores. Families are responsible for their own tickets for admission ($15.50 per person over 2 years of age, can be purchased online ahead of time or at the gate). Please RSVP to Pastor Kate ([email protected]) if you are planning to attend so that we can ballpark our s’mores supplies 

November 23: Thanksgiving Day Berbee Derby

Calling all ages of walkers, run/walkers, and runners! Join Rob and Lily Martens in the 5K or Julie Mazer in the 10K for the 20th Anniversary Berbee Derby! Sign-up with Team “The Fruit of the Spirit is not a Cranberry” by 10/29 to receive your team shirt. https://www.berbeederby.com/registration/ $40 per individual.

COVID Updates

The COVID response team is closely monitoring a recent increase in COVID cases that might warrant a change in masking policy. Thus far, neither the CDC, Dane County Public Health, UW Hospital and Clinics, nor other UCC churches have recommended any change in masking policy. For the present, therefore, we continue to endorse the CDC recommendations be up to date on vaccines, stay home if you are sick, wear a mask in enclosed areas if you are at higher risk or if you are concerned, and wash hands frequently. We will continue to keep the congregation informed about any new developments.

Wayfinding: The Soul Tasks of Aging, Toward a Theology of the Elder Years is coming BACK!!!



Every 3rd Wednesday morning 9:30am October 18, 2023- May 15, 2021. We begin our gathering for refreshments, 9:45am- 11:15am programming.

Please RSVP to Office manager Julie W if you plan to participate by replying to this email LINK. Please also reach out out if you’d like to see a virtual Wayfinding gathering as well.

Balance and Strength Exercise Class

I am a retired Physical Therapist who worked mostly with older folks with multiple medical problems. I was especially interested in balance issues and falls prevention. I served on the Dane County Falls Prevention Task Force for several years and taught classes about preventing falls and injuries.

I am interested in sharing this information in an exercise class at ORUCC this autumn and winter. It would include balance activities, strengthening exercises and posture exercises for people at risk for osteoporosis (everyone). I propose having a class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:00 or afternoons at 2:00.

All are welcome and activities can be adapted to individual abilities and aches and pains. There is no charge for the class but I ask for donations to causes supported by the church. Please let me know if you are interested and what your time preference is. Contact me at [email protected]. 

MOVIE GROUP MEETS

OCTOBER 10th for

“The Imitation Game”

Hello movie fans,

We are meeting on October 10th at Oakwood Village for a 6:30 showing of the 2014 film “The Imitation Game” with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

The film is based on a real event- the breaking of the German encrypting device (Enigma) universally believed to be unbreakable- by a team of British mathematicians and cryptologists. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence and the lead scientist at Bletchley Park, where the team operated in total secret. One of his colleagues is Joan Clarke, played by a terrific Keira Knightley. All of the significant characters in the film were real people.

Although the film is largely set in the early WWll years (1939-42), the film opens in 1951 with Turing’s arrest for being gay. The film then skillfully moves between his arrest, his early private school education and his pivotal role in breaking the code.

The film is thus two genres: the biopic (Turing) and a WWll spy thriller (Will the team break the code in time to prevent an apparently unstoppable Nazi onslaught?) Comparisons with the recent film “Oppenheimer” would be interesting.

Although the film got eight Academy Award Nominations (winning one) be forewarned: this film is very dramatic, riveting really, but only in some aspects accurate in its portrayal of what actually transpired at Bletchley Park. And how truthful is the picture we get of Alan Turing?

You will love this movie.

Hope to see you on the 10th. 

Over 55 October 11^th

We Welcome Cristopher Kolakowski

Speaking About the Korean War

Christopher Kolakowski is the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. In this role, he is responsible for setting strategic direction for the museum, managing, and coaching the staff and allocating resources. A respected voice in his field, he has written numerous publications. He is the author of “The Virginia Campaigns,” “Last Stand on Bataan: The Defense of the Philippines,” “The Stones River & Tullahoma Campaigns: This Army Does Not Retreat” and “Nations in the Balance,” which will be published in 2022. He is a lifetime member of the United States Naval Institute and has been distinguished as an honorary colonel of the 116th Infantry Regiment of Virginia National Guard.

Mr. Kowlakowski will speak to us about the Korean War.  Join us October 11^th at 11:30, our luncheon ($10 per person) begins at 11:45, with our program at 12:30.

Want to end prison lockdowns, reduce the prison population, and reinvest taxpayer funds in community-based alternatives?

Orchard Ridge is an organizational member of MOSES, a community group focused on racial justice in the criminal legal system that is part of a statewide network called WISDOM. You may have seen articles in the New York Times and elsewhere about the months-down lockdown at Waupun and Green Bay prisons. This is happening  because of staff shortages, not anything bad the incarcerated people have done. People are being kept in their cells 23 hours a day and not given access to medical care, substance abuse treatment, or psychological services. This lockdown is similar to extended solitary confinement, which is considered a human rights violation. Many of the people who are in prison could be released with no risk to public safety. The solution to too few prison staff is to reduce the number of prisoners, not to mistreat incarcerated people.

WISDOM is asking people to gather on the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday October 10th from 12-1 pm to urge the governor, state legislature, and Department of Corrections to end the lockdowns, reduce the prison population, and reinvest taxpayer funds in community-based alternatives. I hope some of you will join us. If you are unable to attend in person, I hope you will write to the governor to express your concern about this issue.

Please talk to Barbie Jackson in Fellowship Hall after services on Oct. 1st if you would like more information.

ORUCC Choir

The choir will rehearse every Wednesday night and sing in worship on the first and third Sundays of the month, with some exceptions.

ORUCC Handbell Choir Seeks New Members!



Come have fun and make music with us! We would love to add members to our ensemble. It is only necessary to know how to read music. Past experience with handbells is not required! If you played an instrument in high school or college and want to experience making music again, or you ARE in high school or college and think bells might be cool (they are) please join us! Contact handbell choir director, Bethany Schultz to learn that you could love handbells! [email protected]

Purchase Cards on the table

in the Crossroads each Sunday Morning!

In Case you Missed It!

Link to Sermons…..

From Vision Quests to Theft Protection-9/24/2023

Rev. Ken Pennings

Click here

The Treasure in Earthen Vessels-8/27/2023

Rev. Ken Pennings

Click here

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