ORUCC youth render valuable service in Nashville

Our Youth Service Trip participants returned to Madison on Saturday, July 20th. We had 25 youth serving in Nashville with several different organizations, including an outreach for people experiencing homelessness, a community garden, a drop-in summer childcare program, Soles4Souls, and a local public school. Thank you for your prayers and support of our youth. 

Our Generosity at Work: Compassion Offering for June

We are delighted to report that June’s Compassion Offering for Casa Alitas, a non-profit, immigrant welcome center near the border in Tucson, Arizona, amounted to $3,280. Casa Alitas provides a warm welcome, food, clothing, and shelter for a few days for legal asylum seekers who have crossed the border. Casa Alitas provides services to 1,000 to 1,500 guests every day.

The Wisconsin Council of Churches’ comments on the two proposed constitutional amendments on the

August 13th ballot

Doug Poland, partner at Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Ruling Elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison

Wisconsin voters who cast ballots in the statewide Partisan Primary Election on August 13 will be confronted with two questions on their ballot that, if they receive a majority of “yes” votes, will amend the Wisconsin Constitution. It is important for all Wisconsin voters to understand these questions and what they will mean for our state if they receive a majority of “yes” votes. And it is important for all of us who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ to consider the impact of these proposed amendments in the context of our shared faith.

A Christian faith contextual perspective on governmental power, its legitimacy, and how we respond

It is difficult not to see the proposed constitutional amendments—which were passed solely by the Wisconsin State Legislature and are not subject to a gubernatorial veto—as an attempt by the Legislature to grab for itself power that it does not now and never has had. This appears to be another attempt by the Legislature to vastly expand its own power and to take away power that has been used by Republican and Democratic Governors alike for decades to ensure that federal funds are quickly distributed to those in need in times of emergency. This attempt to seize control over spending is reminiscent of the Legislature’s recent attempts to unilaterally block the distribution of funds for environmental programs that the Legislature and the Governor already had approved during the biennial budget process. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in a 6-1 decision on July 5 held that the Legislature’s claims to authority to block the distribution of these funds violated the Wisconsin Constitution by intruding on the Governor’s core powers.

In considering how to vote on August 13, we, as Christians, should consider the justness of the existing laws and government structures that ensure our neighbors will receive emergency assistance in times of disaster, and we should consider how an attempt by one political body to seize power solely for itself and its own control will impede the swift distribution of relief to our neighbors in need of times of emergency. Just as Jesus opposed and challenged the unjust laws in his day to ensure that God’s justice and mercy were done, and the earliest disciples similarly challenged prohibitions by the authorities on their acts of mercy and healing, we as followers of Jesus Christ have an obligation to engage in our civic lives in a way that most actively promotes mercy, compassion, and healing, and that resists efforts to seize power and control that serve no just purpose.

So, as we approach our opportunity to vote on proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution, I encourage you to question how the decisions you make in casting your ballot reflect how you are called by God to discipleship in Jesus Christ, not only in serving your faith community, but in our shared public life as well.

Read the entire article here to learn more about the specific questions on this August’s ballot.

This article was prepared by the author in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Stafford Rosenbaum LLP or Law Forward, Inc.

Madison Mennonite Church seeks an Administrative Assistant

This is a part-time position at 6 hours/week (.15 FTE).

Madison Mennonite Church’s Administrative Assistant collaborates with the Pastor and lay leaders to equip the MMC community in its mission and vision. The Administrative Assistant provides organizational support to the congregation through financial bookkeeping, communication and information sharing, and record keeping. This is a primarily remote position with occasional in-person tasks and meetings in Madison, WI.

The complete job description may be viewed here.

“Kids in the Garden”

”Kids in the Garden” is our yearly summer enrichment program. During worship, children ages 6 and older (ages 5 and younger must be accompanied by a caregiver) will be invited to hear a nature-themed story, visit our Children’s Garden plot to collect herbs, and make a snack to serve after worship. This program will be offered three more times throughout the summer: 8/4,11, & 25. While there is no staffed nursery care during the summer, children of all ages are always welcome to remain in service or to visit the “Crossroads” with a caregiver as well.   

There is no regularly scheduled 9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Children and Youth during the summer. Sunday School will resume on September 8th!

Ushers Needed!

Please consider helping on Sunday mornings by being an usher during our services.

Please sign up using the link below….or contact Jon with questions at [email protected]

Usher Signup Genius

JULY COMPASSION OFFERING

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Food Pantry: Helping at home in our church neighborhood

Did you know that Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (GSLC) offers a weekly (Thursday) food pantry? This pantry located at 5701 Raymond Road opened its doors in 2005 and currently serves up to 75 eligible individuals and families each week.   Rick Thomas, GSLC Outreach Director, reports that the pantry has experienced record high demand (up to 50% more attendance) since late winter 2024. He also reports that local pantries have seen fewer food products come from Second Harvest, the main supplier to Dane Co food pantries, due to high demand throughout the county. GSLC has had to rely heavily on an internal pantry fund to maintain an adequate supply of food items on the pantry shelves. Additional funds are much-needed at this time. Can we at ORUCC help?

We invite ORUCC members to make monetary donations to the GSLC food pantry fund through our July Compassion Offering. Your donations will go toward direct purchase of food items that best meet the needs of food pantry clients. Please consider a generous donation to keep the GSLC food pantry well-stocked for those in need.

Additional ways that you can help:

–         Food, paper goods or personal items are also accepted year-round at the GSLC Donation Room during weekday hours.

–         Volunteer at the GSLC Food Pantry: Assist with registration, act as a host or help with stocking the shelves. Thursdays, 9:30am-Noon or 5:30pm-7pm. Familiarity with languages is a bonus, such as Spanish, Middle Eastern dialects, others. Contact: Rick [email protected] or ORUCC contact Jane [email protected]



–         Volunteer your time in the ORUCC Veggie Village garden where we tend and harvest fresh vegetables for the GSLC food pantry. Contact: LuAnn Greiner [email protected]

VIDEO

Please give generously. Thank you.

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 Month of July

For the summer months our Daily Reflections will take on a new format, and a new name: Summer Seeds for a Growing Spirituality. There will be one set of Readings for each of the summer months.



Summer Seeds for a Growing Spirituality: July

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 the church office.

Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings Now Through the End of

September 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, an Usher, 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 an Usher

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