Orchard Ridge

United Church of Christ

Weekly Announcements

April COMPASSION OFFERING

One Great Hour of Sharing

Share the Light!

For 75 years One Great Hour of Sharing has provided an ecumenical response to disaster relief, refugee resettlement and community development around the world. The United Church of Christ joins multiple other denominations [including Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Presbyterian Church (USA), American Baptist, African American Episcopal, Church of the Brethren, and more] to express God’s love through water programs, agricultural assistance, infrastructure improvement and emergency shelter.  

Our One Great Hour of Sharing Compassion Offering for April provides rebuilding and grass roots assistance in today’s challenging world.  Please give as you are able to address the effects of war, climate-imposed migration, natural disasters, chronic poverty and oppressive political structures.  Working with local partners and ecumenical networks, One Great Hour of Sharing can be trusted to bring timely, just and effective programs where they are needed most. 

 VIDEO

 Thank you for giving generously

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/

Friday Breakfast Group – April 5

The next Friday Breakfast is set for April 5 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

From the Ministry of Christian Witness & Service:

Our ORUCC congregation has supported JustDane for many years and it is the recipient of our compassion offering for the month of March. JustDane is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a fundraising event on Thursday, April 11th. We encourage you to attend! Below is a link where you can learn more about this event and purchase tickets ($50). If you would like to connect with other ORUCC members who will also be in attendance, email LuAnn Greiner at [email protected]

JustDane’s 50th Anniversary Celebration: Thursday, April 11th from 6pm-8:30pm at Madison College Mitby Theater with live jazz and a presentation by Fr. Gregory Boyle and homeboys from Homeboy Industries. Purchase tickets by April 5th.

JustDane 50th Anniversary Celebration, feat. Father Boyle of Homeboy Ind. Tickets, Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

Friday Breakfast Group – April 5

The next Friday Breakfast is set for April 5 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.

Friday, April 5, 7:00 pm is Movie Group Night

Watch “The Burial” and discuss the Film

Oakwood Village Performing Arts Center



The Burial is a riveting court drama. The 2023 American legal drama film directed by Maggie Betts and written by Betts and Doug Wright. The Burial is a riveting court drama based on the story of Jerry O’Keefe, who decides to take on a large funeral company and hires attorney Willie E. Gary to help him. Jerry and Willie remained friends well after the trial was over. Jamie Foxx is Willie E. Gary, Tommy Lee Jones is Jeremiah O’Keefe.



Join us at 7 p.m. on the 5^th and enjoy the discussion 

Help with Dinner for The Crossing Campus Ministry

It’s our turn to bring dinner to college students at The Crossing, our campus ministry, on Wednesday, April 10. We’re making a nacho/taco bar! You can help by bringing groceries to church on Sunday, April 7, or cooking, serving, and/or cleaning up on Wednesday, April 10.  Sign up here. Contact LuAnn Greiner ([email protected]) or Julie Horst ([email protected]) with any questions.

Lunch and Learn

April 10^th, 11:30

Our very own ORUCC member, Bev Davis, will share her insights on Bullying.  “What you may not know about bullying, learning to believe in yourself can be a lifetime struggle.” This presentation will be enlightening, inspirational.  Bev Davis is an Award-Winning Author, Chaplain/Pastor, Speaker. 

Bev is the author of four books, holds a Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago and is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner (NCCDP). She has spoken to audiences throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. She understands anti-bullying from knowing the subject first-hand from being bullied as a young person growing up in Chicago. 

Join us of Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, April 10^th at 11:30.  We dine at 11:45 from a wonderful buffet.  $10 per person. The program begins at 12:30. Please RSVP  Steve Sheets, [email protected] . 

Confirmation 2024

Confirmation will be offered this spring for all youth in 7th-9th grade who have not yet been confirmed. This is a special time in the life of our young people where they will be invited to explore their own faith, and learn and grow together! Classes will resume on April 7th, 3:30-5:30 p.m., with Confirmation Sunday on Pentecost, May 20th.

For Holy Week, Youth are invited to do a bit of at-home studying using this document, which incudes a podcast to listen to and some reflection questions. Any adults who would like to join in the study are welcome to check it out!

Balance Exercise Class

Just a reminder that the exercise class will meet at 9:30 instead of 10 on Tuesdays, to attend David Anderman’s class “Reading the Bible Seriously but not Literally”.

We will concentrate on balance and posture exercises on Tuesday for about 1/2 hour. We will continue the balance activities with additional strengthening exercises on Thursday mornings at 10:00 through April 18.

Even if you have not attended classes in the past few months you can attend this class to learn a routine to improve balance and reduce risk for falls. Email

Joyce Pohl at [email protected] if you are interested or have questions. A small donation to the Heart Room is encouraged for those who attend classes. 

Reading the Bible

Seriously But Not Literally

Tuesday mornings 10-11:30 am

in the Alfred Swan Room

(Zoom if there is interest)

April 16 – May 21 (8 sessions)

Led by David Anderman

Our text will be The Emancipation of God: Postmarks on Cultural Prophesy by Walter Brueggemann, a world-renowned UCC Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures scholar. The book is a collection of recent short essays which originated as blog posts; they are readable and largely non-technical essays intended for the mythological ‘person-in-the-pew.’ The book is available on short notice from Amazon. Most local bookstores could order it but I would be surprised if any have it in stock. List price is $28.00. Good theology doesn’t come cheap. Neither does bad theology, for that matter.

Our first session(s) will look at the passages traditionally quoted by those opposing LGBTQ+ affirming theologies. Brueggemann sets them alongside the much more numerous passages of welcoming neighbors and of offering hospitality to strangers. This specific issue will open up broader consideration of the nature of Biblical interpretations. Other topics will include exploring what it means to be a Biblically-informed and -directed church in a capitalist empire that co-opts religious institutions and faith; and how a ‘declining’ church can offer hope to a discouraged and down-hearted, sometimes cruel culture.

Through these examples, we will learn ways of taking the Bible seriously but not literally. Two secondary texts will also be referred to. I have just started reading Reading Genesis by Marilyn Robinson, another well-known and UCC author. Fascinating passages about her reading of the book of Genesis. I will also refer to the essay The Symbol Gives Rise to Thought by Paul Ricoeur, a French philosopher who self-identified as a Reformed Christian.

Please email me if you are planning on coming, or have questions.

David Anderman, [email protected]

We would love to have you at the all-ages, rescheduled All Church Retreat in April at Daycholah Center!

If you’d like to join for the whole weekend, the cost is $200 for adults (12+) and $140 for children (6-11, children under 5 are free). This includes lodging for two nights, dinner Friday night, three meals Saturday and one meal Sunday morning. The church is able to supplement part of the weekend financially from our budget, which is already reflected in the cost.

We have partial and full scholarships available, so please reach out to us if financial help would make this more accessible for your family, or if you’d like to pay extra to sponsor someone anonymously.

Register here and please pay registration fees on the church website.

Here are some FAQ for our retreat:

Who are our retreat leaders? And what are we doing?

Pastor Kate & Pastor Julia are coordinating a wonderful time with games, fun, and wandering the grounds in between thoughtful programming, delicious meals and plenty of down time to read and relax.

Our Saturday morning retreat leader is The Rev. Kirsten Worzala-Dumke, Chaplain at UW Carbonne Cancer Center and former pastor of Parroquia Santa Maria (a Spanish-language congregation associated with Luther Memorial Church ELCA). Kirsten is also a trusted friend of Pastor Kate.

After some free time, Saturday afternoon will include Wild Church with Pastor Julia’s spouse Daniel Cooperrider around the fire.

Leslie Linser will offer an opportunity for all-abilities Yoga on Saturday evening.

Sunday morning will close with worship facilitated by Pastor Kate & Pastor Julia.

Will this be super fun? Yes definitely!

What is the sleeping situation? If you have specific questions reach out to our wonderful Daycholah coordinator Kaitlyn: [email protected]

Some rooms are private and some are shared, and if you’d like to request a private room please reach out. The facilities have twin size mattresses and you will need to bring bedding.

If I do register, what should I bring?

Sleeping bag or warm blanket & sheets and pillows for a twin size bed.

Towels and toiletries.

Warm outdoor clothes and rain boots.

Cozy indoor clothes and indoor shoes.

Is Daycholah accessible? Yes! They have accessible rooms as well and an elevator in the dining hall building. They also have a golf cart that could be used for traversing Daycholah.

While is no way we could say there are no trip or fall hazards, Daycholah staff will do everything they can to assist with any guest needs. If there are specific requests, please know we will do our very best to accommodate.

For other questions related to the facilities, meals, and lodging, contact Kaitlyn: [email protected]

Here are the registration links again:

REGISTRATION FORM

PAYMENT SITE

We cannot wait to share time with you in the New Year!

Julia & Kate

Meet Palestinian Christian Usama Nicola

Sunday, April 7, 9:00-9:50 am, Alfred Swan Room

Arrive early. Seating for 28!

Click here to join by Zoom, or paste the following into your browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83649436657?pwd=R2hVU0drV1N2VTZlMVJoRmI4K2VtUT09

ORUCC’s Palestine Justice Mission Team invites you to join us for a Zoom interview direct from Bethlehem with Usama Nicola. Nicola (pictured above) is a tour guide extraordinaire and he co-leads an organization that helps Palestinian children and youth cope with the trauma of occupation. Come and learn about the many obstacles that families in the West Bank face as they try to live their daily lives. See and appreciate Usama’s steadfast determination (Arabic: sumud) to persevere in the face of such obstacles.

Mark your Calendars for an in person presentation by Diane Diane Dulin on Sunday April 21

Diane Dulin will report on her trip to Palestine and Washington, D.C.

Report from the Stones Cry Out solidarity delegation 

Sunday, April 21, 11:15am-12:30pm, Friendship Hall 

Click here to join by Zoom, or paste the following into your browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83649436657?pwd=R2hVU0drV1N2VTZlMVJoRmI4K2VtUT09

For ten days in February-March, ORUCC member Diane Dulin participated in the Stones Cry Out solidarity delegation to the occupied West Bank of Palestine and Washington, D.C. Organized by the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace and sponsored by eight nationally recognized advocacy groups, this delegation of 23 American Christian leaders met with Palestinian religious and civil society leaders, community leaders and everyday residents — Christians, Muslims and Jews — at such varied places as churches, nonprofits and NGOs, a refugee camp, a privately owned farm, and public places such as the Apartheid Wall and Nelson Mandela Square in Ramallah. Diane will share with us the clear and consistent messages that delegates received and brought back to their elected officials in Washington, D.C., and are now sharing across US denominations. 

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

Jeanne’s reflections will resume on April 11.

By Zoom on Thursdays: 04:00 PM Central Time

    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 

There is a new campaign to raise $200,000 to rebuild and strengthen the 17 lakeside cabins at Moon Beach, a place that has been a source of renewal for so many of us over the years.  Here’s a little more background from the folks at Moon Beach:

“The foundations, crafted decades ago with cinder blocks, stumps, and pine posts now require restoration to ensure their longevity and stability against the elements. By repairing and restoring the foundations with a firm footing for the footprint and base of the cabins, we can ensure their stability and compliance with regulatory standards, allowing us to maintain them for generations to come.”

With a matching grant already announced, the goal is to raise $100,000 that would then net the campaign $200,000. For those of us at ORUCC who love Moon Beach and who have the ability to give, thank you for your consideration.  Click here to donate.

Sign Up Now Through the End of June 2024!

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