ORUCC Welcomes 17 New Members!

Becky Rice is a native of Kentucky, growing up in western KY on the Ohio River. She has been a resident of Wisconsin since 1976, living in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and currently Madison (since 1988). Becky has worked in a variety of administrative support positions in the Madison area, including at UW-Madison, as well as at Edgewood College until her retirement in 2017. Her favorite activities include: walking (outdoor weather permitting); researching family history; visiting old cemeteries; exploring the back roads of Dane County and surrounding counties; attending Brewers games (or any baseball game for that matter); and train spotting. Her major activity during the early days of pandemic confinement was to build a Facebook family history page, working collaboratively with cousins to gather, scan (or transcribe) and post ancestral pictures and documents, with some documents dating back to the 1700s. Her wish list includes: an opportunity to see the Northern Lights; to ride in the cab of an Amtrak locomotive; and to visit all the Major League Baseball parks in the US (as well as the Baseball Hall of Fame). Becky is the mother of one daughter, and grandmother of a 20-month-old grandson.

Bob Millholland is a retired Madison west-sider, living with his wife of 38 years, Karen. They have two grown children; John of Madison and Sarah, living in the Boston area. Bob spent his career in health care, a majority the time as the Cancer Registry Manager at UW Health, where he oversaw a team of data analysts reviewing medical records to create a database of cancer information for the benefit of public health surveillance, improving medical care and advancing cancer research. Bob is a life-long Wisconsin resident (except four years at Indiana University, Bloomington). Bob and Karen enjoy travel, especially to Latin America, and spending time at their family cottage on the Western Shore of Michigan. The couple has participated on numerous short-term service trips in Latin America, connecting and working with indigenous peoples. Bob also enjoys cycling, reading, music, movies and cooking. Bob was drawn to Orchard Ridge’s vibrant and active community, and the commitment to social justice. He was struck by the welcoming presence of ORUCC where orthodoxy is not part of the menu. 

Sean Horton hails from Eagan, Minnesota from a loving, Lutheran family of five and a close extended family. He spends much of his time on computers between working as a software developer and being a lifelong video gamer and anime fan. Julie Horton grew up local out by Paoli in a conservative, homeschooling family of four but quickly grew into a vegetarian, hippy liberal. They met during college working over the summer at Yellowstone National Park – spending the summer hiking and playing music together. They’ve been married for 11 years and attended Living Hope Church which became Damascus Road Church until 2023. Homemaking demands most of Julie’s time these days, but she tries to sneak in reading, dreaming, crafting, and adventuring in nature whenever possible. Their 3 kids – Mabel (6), Gilbert (3), and Ursula (10 mo) – keep things loud and exciting. Since Covid, they’re all home together and (most of the time) love it. Sean continues to love gaming and origami. We look forward to knowing you all more and deepening our love for God together. 

Susan Soric was born in St. Louis, raised in Springfield, MO, and spent most of her adult life in Chicago where she worked for the University of Chicago as a writer and publication specialist, and later as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ as a chaplain and pastor. Susan and her spouse Claire Purkis are parents to Robin,13, and Harry, 9. They moved to Sun Prairie from Chicago in late June 2022. Thinking they’d never find a home church as cool as justice-loving Wellington UCC, Chicago, they were overjoyed to find that ORUCC fits them like a glove.  Susan is especially excited about the beautiful blend of justice and earth-centered spirituality at ORUCC, and the radical welcome here. The whole family felt so cared for by ORUCC during a rough patch late this past summer. As for hobbies, Susan likes drumming, singing (especially with Claire), photography, travel, and piecing together photographs, letters, and stories from her family history. Susan’s earlier life in Springfield, MO, included working as a newspaper journalist and columnist for the Springfield Daily News a regional newspaper in Southwest Missouri.

Claire Purkis is Susan’s spouse of 25 years and is from Yorkshire in England and moved to Chicago in 1996 . She has been a social worker for 22 years and worked in social services for almost 30. Claire currently works for Dane County Area Agency on Aging and oversees the case management and senior nutrition programs through the county. She loves kayaking, being in and on clean water and spending time in nature. She is a trained singer and actress and loves to perform and is a bit of a ham. She loves singing duets with Susan. One of her favorite things to do is share tea or coffee and conversation with friends and to make new friends. Claire and Susan volunteer as foster parents for Underdog Pet Rescue and Claire is obsessed with dogs. Claire believes that compassion, appreciation of and kindness to others are important values and that it’s important to listen to and value people’s stories and experiences. As new transplants to the area, with no close living family, Claire, Susan and their children are seeking ways to make community and to deepen human connections.

Don Lusk: I grew up in southwestern Minnesota, on our family’s farm. Now that my parents have passed away, my younger brother still works the land. My wife, Laurine, and I have been married for 50 years and we have 2 adult children, Megan and Josh. For a time, we lived in the Orchard Ridge neighborhood, and our children attended Sunday School and were confirmed in this church. After Megan graduated from high school, she purchased a condo near here and then rejoined ORUCC. Now Laurine and I are happy to rejoin, as this feels like our church family. I worked for 50 years operating our family’s home-building and residential-remodeling business. I retired just a few years ago, and now I enjoy helping Josh, as he operates his own remodeling business. Josh is engaged to a wonderful woman who has 3 children from a previous relationship, one of which is still living with her mom. Laurine and I can now enjoy attending this youngest daughter’s ball games and seeing the fun Josh is having as a “bonus dad.” I have always enjoyed remodeling and landscaping the homes we’ve lived in, and kayaking is now helping me to get out into nature, all around Wisconsin. Laurine and I live in Belleville, on little Lake Belleview, so we can also enjoy watching the geese, ducks and cranes, and kayaking from our own dock.

Laurine Lusk: I’m married to Don, who is also joining the church. We have two adult children, Megan and Josh. Don and I each grew up on farms outside of Jackson, Minnesota, so we both had a strong work ethic instilled at an early age. After having children, we have lived in 3 states while pursuing school services that would better meet Megan’s autism-related needs. I spent my adult life helping others, as a disability advocate. This began as I worked for state agencies, assisting families in pursuing the school services their children needed. Next, I was given the position of Family-centered Specialist, as I helped to start the Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program. As a board member for the Autism Society of America, I was the representative to the US Department of Education and I worked on various congressional initiatives. After Megan began receiving adult services, I worked for Wisconsin’s Medicaid Program, IRIS, advocating for Megan and the other 12,000 participants. Happily, Megan has become a strong self-advocate. So, I’m beginning to step back from my earlier responsibilities as I plan to spend more time gardening, kayaking and traveling. Also, Don and I were previously members of ORUCC, before moving to Verona and then Belleville,

and now we’re thrilled to be rejoining this wonderful church community.

Jenny & Adam Whitacre met in Denver, CO after both attending school in Colorado. They moved to Madison in 2020 to be closer to Adam’s family in WI and Jenny’s family in MN. Jenny began her career as an elementary school teacher in Brooklyn, NY, before attending physical therapy school in Denver. After graduation, she worked with people recovering from brain injuries at Craig Rehab Hospital. She is now a physical therapist at St. Mary’s Hospital. She enjoys outdoor activities and sci-fi novels and movies. Since son Jack’s arrival two years ago, most of Jenny’s time is spent with him singing, dancing, and swimming.

Adam grew up attending ORUCC and moved to CO for school. He hiked, backpacked, and rode his bike across much of the state. Since moving back to WI, he enjoys fly-fishing, hunting, cycling, and helping with land restoration projects in southwestern WI. Jenny and Adam were drawn to the church because of the welcoming community, beautiful music performed by all ages, and the connection between spirituality and wilderness. Jack has grown especially fond of playing in the nursery with other kids and caregivers. Jenny and Adam are continuously grateful for the support the church provided their family over the last few years and are excited to officially be members.

Anthony Mitchell…..

Anthony Mitchell & Emily Heimlich

A’Millia & Aaliyah

Shazia Kirmani: I was born January 16, 1978, a squirrel to an immigrant Pakistani family. I have a beautiful 13-year-old son and a lovely 9-year-old daughter, who live in Texas with their father. My partner Nick and I live in Madison, Wisconsin. I am a spirit being, who continually asks, “Who am I? And what is my purpose?“ I believe I am one with all of you, with all other spirit beings, and with all that is. I try to pay attention to what is happening in all realms, dimensions, and planes of existence. My passion is finding a tangible solution to the problem of homelessness. I will never stop trying to validate the value, worth, and importance of every living being! No human left behind! After my precious father died, my family cut me off. But in all of you at ORUCC, I gained a new family. Thanks for welcoming me into this community of unity, justice and love!