DECEMBER COMPASSION OFFERING

THE CHRISTMAS FUND

The Christmas Fund is an annual special offering of the United Church of Christ. Each year at Christmas, UCC members are invited to give to this fund, created for the benefit of clergy and lay workers in our denomination. Orchard Ridge UCC has participated in generous ways for many years. 

Funds are disbursed in a timely and sensitive manner to benefit retired clergy with inadequate pensions, surviving clergy spouses whose needs may be great following the death of their spouse, retired church workers who often lack adequate pension plans, and currently serving pastors confronted with emergency financial needs. 

This year’s theme comes from John 1:16: “From Christ’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” The presence of God in our lives equips us to respond generously. 

Throughout December we will hear specific accounts of ways The Christmas Fund has proved essential for those who lead us in worship and mission across the United Church of Christ. Funds are collected by The Pension Boards of the UCC and are distributed carefully and thoughtfully for maximum benefit. 

Thank you for giving generously

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/

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 the Ministry of Adult Faith Formation.

Holiday Gift Tree to Support our Neighbors



We are happy to continue to the tradition of supporting the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) in our neighborhood by purchasing holiday gifts for families participating in the program.

Please look for the holiday tree in the Crossroads to purchase, wrap, and return gifts by December 18th. Talk to Pastor Kate for details.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Nov 30 – Dec 6

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.

ORUCC Christmas “Post Office”

Each Sunday in December, support our ORUCC Youth Service Trip and save a trip to the post office by “sending” your Christmas cards to fellow ORUCC friends through our Youth post office. You will have the opportunity to file your card by name; stop by each week to see if you have any mail! 50-cents per card suggested donation.

2023 Budget Year Ending

Our 2023 Budget year is ending. Thanks to all who have contributed to ORUCC this year and to all who have pledged for 2024. 

Before we close the books on 2023, please be sure you have fulfilled your 2023 pledge, and have returned your 2024 pledge cards. 

If everyone accomplishes these two tasks early in the month of December, your Treasurer, Office Manager, and Stewardship Team will be exceedingly grateful.        

Moderator-elect Message

“Serve the Lord with gladness!” Psalm 100

I was thinking about this verse as I reluctantly began the process of planning for Nominations for next year’s Ministries. It is my hope that the wonderful members who agree to serve on these Ministries do feel gladness as they contribute to the work of the congregation. However, I am not fond of asking people to do things, thus the reason for my reluctance. I feel that when people are interested and volunteer, they are more productive and engaged with the group. As we approach this Nominations “season” I hope that you will consider where you might best serve our congregation. I hope that you might actually volunteer for a Ministry or Mission Team. Please consider engaging with one of these groups. You can email me or call me if you’d like to talk about it some more: [email protected] or 609-712-0263.

There are brochures in a rack in the Crossroads near the TV screen that describe what each Ministry does if you aren’t sure. The brochures also mention some of the Mission Teams that are connected to each Ministry. Each Ministry needs a Chairperson who will set the agenda and plan the meetings. Each Ministry also has a Leadership Team Liaison who comes to Leadership meetings and conveys information. Briefly our five ministries are:

• Congregational Life-cares for members of the congregation individually or in groups with meals, game nights or other social activities

• Resources-cares for our physical building

• Christian Witness and Service-provides outreach & funding to local, regional and international service organizations and is responsible for our monthly Compassion offerings

• Adult Faith Formation-provides opportunities for adult education

• Youth Faith Formation-cares for our Sunday School and other youth education

We will also be looking for Financial Secretaries who gather and count money after the offering and put it in the safe. And we are starting a year-round Stewardship Mission Team that may need members. We will need one or two people to work on Nominations for 2025, and may need one or two new Leadership Team members.

I will be looking for a Moderator-Elect to service three years, the first year is spent learning the ropes with me, the second year as moderator and the third year as past moderator in an advisor role.

Don’t wait to see if we call you! Pick your area of interest, work with like-minded, committed people and enjoy getting to know other members. Serve the Lord with gladness!

Your moderator-elect,

Deanna Blanchard

Friday Breakfast Group – December 1

The next Friday Breakfast is set for December 1 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.

FREE COMMUNITY CAROL SING

December 2, 11 am



Organist Greg Zelek will host a Free Community Carol Sing Saturday, December 2 at 11:00am at Overture Hall, Madison. No tickets are required and all are welcome.

Women’s Book Group

Thursday, December 7, 1:30 pm

Please join Women’s Book Group at our last book discussion of the year on Thursday, December 7 at 1:30pm on Zoom. A link will be emailed. If you would like to join the email list please send a message to Deanna Blanchard at [email protected]. Deanna will lead this month’s discussion of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Be thinking about book suggestions for 2024, as our January 4th meeting will be a discussion of books we each want to suggest.

Movie Group

Thursday, December 14–7 pm

      December Movie–“Joyeux Noel

                            

Hello Movie Fans,

Thanks to Gerry Wetterson, we will be showing the 2005 film “Joyeux Noel” at Oakwood Village Performance Center at 7:00 on Thursday, December 14 with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

This “Christmas movie” fictionalizes a real event, the spontaneous, miraculous cease fire and celebration that took place on December 24-25 between the German, Scottish and French troops in the early months of World War I. While the lead characters in the film are fictional, the essential outlines of the story are accurate. The Crown Prince of Germany did sent the lead tenor of the Berlin Opera to the front to boost German morale, Scottish and French troops cheered his performance, which was accompanied by Scottish bagpipes and the soldiers did emerge from the trenches. The evening cease fire was extended to the next day, when a Latin Mass, drinking, football, burying the dead and fraternizing was the order of the day. Almost unbelievable given that these same men had been successfully killing one another for months. And they were also aware that in wartime, “fraternizing with the enemy” was punishable by death. 

The depiction of trench warfare (shortly after the film begins), the images of which we all carry, is comparatively restrained and will not, we hope, prevent you from seeing this powerful film.

For us, living with the tragedies of Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, the movie has singular meaning. What, if anything, makes possible the cessation-temporary or permanent- of extreme violence?



Hope to see you on the 14th

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Members of ORUCC are invited to apply for 2024-2025 college scholarships of $500 to $2,000 from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants should be planning to begin or continue education at any accredited 2- or 4-year college or university and should have a record of academic achievement, service to church and community, and demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is February 15, 2024.

Contact [email protected] for an electronic application. Questions? Contact Ann Evensen at [email protected]

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

By Zoom on Thursdays: 04:00 PM Central Time

    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

Click here to join Zoom meeting



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

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. 

Purchase Cards on the table

in the Crossroads each Sunday Morning!

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

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]

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?

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