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.

Flicker Pop-up Full Moon Wild Church

Sunday, October 29, 5:00 pm

Donald Park, Pops Knoll Parking lot entrance

Julia Burkey & Daniel Cooperrider are hosting a full moon pop-up wild church gathering in Donald Park at the Pops Knoll entrance, and have reserved the shelter so we can share a potluck following the sacred circle and wander. Bring some delicious food to share by full moon light. Read here for more of the information about Flicker

ORUCC Thanksgiving Day Berbee Derby Team

(Sign up by 10/29)

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

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/

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Oct 26 – Nov 1

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.

Sermon Talk Backs

Sundays at 11:15 am in the Alfred Swan Room

Come share in an opportunity to discuss how the sermon of the day touched you spiritually. This is hosted and facilitated by members of Adult Faith Formation.

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 fill out the form (corrected link)

OCTOBER YOUTH EVENTS



Tomorrow–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 

New Meditation Group

Beginning November 2^nd, two meditation groups will be offered for you to expand your spiritual practice; Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. in-person at the church and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. You are invited to join us at either or both times!

The current meditation group has grown and, is expanding to include an in-person option on Thursdays, from 8:00-9:00am, in the church meditation room. It is very flexible and open to anyone to drop in any time! The hope is that this option will meet the needs of some new persons, and that some Friday folks may go to both, or move back and forth between groups.

Meditation is a time for stillness and being intentional about being in divine presence to grow in our relationship with our God/Source. November is a good time to go inward and see what the Spirit has in store for you. There are many different methods for connecting with the divine and centering our hearts such as Centering Prayer, Breath Prayer, Walking meditation, Guided meditations, Loving kindness meditation, etc. The Thursday group will learn and practice various ways to create heart space and nurture this connection.



No need to register, just come! If you want to know more, contact Sue Dixon ([email protected]). She is the contact person for both the Friday and Thursday groups. The Thursday group will be co

Friday Breakfast Group – November 3

The next Friday Breakfast is set for November 3 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.

MOVIE GROUP MEETS NOVEMBER 7th FOR “EL NORTE” (THE NORTH)

Hello movie fans,

Please join us for the ground-breaking 1983 film “El Norte” at 6:30 at the Oakwood Village Performance Center, with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

This independently (non-Hollywood studio) produced film, co-written and directed by Mexican-American director Gregory Nava, tells the dramatic story of an indigenous Guatemalan brother and sister (played by Hollywood unknowns Zaide Silvia Gutierrez and David Villapando) escaping the violence and terror of the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996.) The film is roughly divided into three parts: the escape from their village, their treacherous journey across Mexico and their struggles to survive in 1980’s Los Angeles. Three languages are spoken- K’iche, Spanish and English (with sub-titles)- as the movie explores the inner and outer worlds of two teenagers escaping one hostile world and trying to survive in another unforgiving world. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the first for an American independent film, and was an immediate critical success.

We at Orchard Ridge, having housed the Honduran Aguilera family for two

months in 2019, may be especially attuned to the issues of loss, remembrance

and struggle raised in the film.



Hope to see you on November 7.

McFarland UCC Presents Mark Charles

The McFarland United Church of Christ (UCC) is hosting a free event for members, community partners, and the public to attend a presentation by Mark Charles, national indigenous author and speaker on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a reception following. 

The presentation will be held in the McFarland Village Center.  This presentation is an important step toward building meaningful collaboration and justice work around the “Doctrine of Discovery” and related issues. Many people are unaware of the Doctrine of Discovery, what it is, and the need for acknowledging the multi-faceted oppression of Indigenous Peoples within the context of the Doctrine. Mark Charles is a well-known indigenous journalist, advocate, consultant, politician (he ran as an independent for President in 2020) and Navajo Tribal member. His presentation will be thought-provoking. 

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the Doctrine of Discovery and its wrongful historical and current day impact on Indigenous Peoples.

Moderator’s October Update from Hal Evensen, ORUCC Moderator

Hello! 

Here’s an update on what the Leadership Team (lay leadership) has been up to so far this fall:

• We have had a lot of discussion about our future over the past few months. We have seen a lot of change, and new possibilities: finally, ORUCC has all three pastors! And we are seeing new energy in the life of the church. One of the bright spots has been Julie Mazer and her newer role as the Youth Education Coordinator: she has flourished, and we are finding that she is also enabling our pastors to focus more effectively on older youth, intergenerational ministry, and other new ways to engage in ministry with youth and families. To gain time to explore this area, we had extended Julie’s contract to December, a few months ago. Since that time, some more developments: (1) an anonymous donor in our church is funding an extension of her contract to the end of this school year (June 2024); (2) Leadership Team has committed to further supporting her role through the 2024-25 academic year. We are pleased and excited to keep Julie in her expanded role with us, and we look forward to what’s ahead!

• We have been considering emergency preparedness and active threat preparedness, prompted both by some members of our congregation and as part of a broader outreach effort from Dane County Emergency Management (DCEM). We recently met with Nathan Bubenzer, an ORUCC member and Emergency Safety Manager for Meriter, who helped answer some of our questions and addressed our concerns. As a next step, Pastor Julia has invited Charles Tubbs of DCEM to our church on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 11-1PM; keep an eye out for an announcement!

• We have also had a lot of discussion – spanning several months – over the realities of our budget. The disruption that normally occurs when a church changes pastors, combined with the pandemic and other larger trends seen in society, has led to a budget shortfall in 2023. At the same time, we believe that our church has a great opportunity to capitalize on new energy and engagement: we are poised for growth and positive change! Through thoughtful research, discussion, and prayer, we have found ways to trim the budget while holding the line in our core mission areas, as we draw on our savings as an investment toward this future. Our discussion and work continue: as mentioned earlier, we are modernizing our approach to Stewardship, with a mission team that will meet all year, rather than just in the fall, in order better address our financial goals. Our church has changed lives, both beyond our doors and within our congregation, and we will continue to do so as we do God’s work in the world!

We are working to help ORUCC live into its vision statement to be Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, and Committed to Justice and invite everyone to please feel free to reach out to any of the moderators ([email protected]) or leadership team member (see the color poster on the bulletin board) with any questions, comments, suggestions, or offerings of support!  

ORUCC Member Manuel Ramminger, Co-Founder of Ethical Trading Company invites you…



We would like to extend the opportunity for people at ORUCC to volunteer with Ethical Trading Company specifically in running our store at the Eastmorland Community Center at Madison’s east side. Ethical Trade Co empowers through trade artisans and farmers that are vulnerable to exploitation and modern slavery. This trade relationship provides a livable wage in artisans’ respective communities and empower them to break out of extreme poverty –

the root cause of exploitation and modern slavery. 

Currently the store is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11am-5pm at 3565 Tulane Ave. Volunteers would sign up for a whole day or half day shift and tasks would range from welcoming customers, answering basic questions about our nonprofit and product, and checking customers out. Occasionally help with pricing or restocking may be needed. 

As the holidays pick up our store gets much more busy but at times it can be slow especially before thanksgiving so volunteers are advised to bring a book or something else to work on. 

Questions? Email Manuel at [email protected]

Virtual Wayfinding will gather on the 3rd Wednesday in person and virtually over ZOOM the 3rd Thursday from 4pm-5:15pm beginning October 19th

By Zoom on Thursdays: Oct 19, 2023 04:00 PM Central Time

    Nov 16, 2023 04:00 PM

    Dec 21, 2023 04:00 PM

    Jan 18, 2024 04:00 PM

    Feb 15, 2024 04:00 PM

    Mar 21, 2024 04:00 PM

    Apr 18, 2024 04:00 PM

    May 16, 2024 04:00 PM

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87998025473?pwd=dEEzcFkvSnBNdzNUaE5BK2RxUDZqZz09

Meeting ID: 879 9802 5473

Passcode: 573548

Dial in

1 312 626 6799 US 

Falls Prevention Exercise Class

Tuesday & Thursday at 10:00 AM starting November 7

Several people expressed interest in the balance and strength exercise classes and most wanted a morning class. There is no formal charge but donations can be made to benefit the Heart Room fund that provides support for families in transition from homelessness. Everyone is welcome to come to learn some principles of falls prevention through exercise — even if you prefer to work out elsewhere.  Contact Joyce Pohl at [email protected] if you have questions. 



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.

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?

IFeel 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