Workday at The Crossing

Do you care about UW students and want to help ensure they have an inviting and welcoming space to belong in community, explore their faith, advocate for justice and become their authentic selves? You are invited on August 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to join Sue Dixon & other Crossing Board members to help prepare The Crossing campus ministry building – 1127 University Avenue – for the fall semester. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work!” Our goals for the morning include mulching the gardens outside and cleaning inside. If you are interested in working outside, please bring gloves and tools for mulching. All interior cleaning supplies will be provided. Feel free to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Contact Sue Dixon at 608-712-9050 or [email protected] if you have questions. For more information about The Crossing click here to visit their website.

AUGUST COMPASSION OFFERING

United Church of Christ Outdoor Ministry

Many at Orchard Ridge have experienced community and spiritual renewal at Moon Beach over the years. So many of us have warm memories from across the seasons:

• From the summertime: With multigenerational family camps, autism family camps, memory family camps, and rainbow family camps. 
• From the fall: With retreats offering educational enrichment and an opportunity to create our art in community with others. 
• And from the winter: With a getaway to the peace and beauty of a north woods epiphany retreat. 

Along with Moon Beach, Daycholah Center on the shores of Green Lake, and Cedar Valley located on over 100 beautiful acres near West Bend, comprise our United Church of Christ outdoor ministry here in Wisconsin. And here at Orchard Ridge, we have a strong tradition of supporting our ministry, by participating in and volunteering to support our ministry programming. 

Now, we are asking those of us who know and love our outdoor ministry to give financially, too. With our support, we can ensure a sustainable future for Moon Beach, Daycholah Center, and Cedar Valley. And preserve our special places as sources of spiritual renewal for generations to come.

Thank you for giving generously and giving what you can. This video shares more info.

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/

Registration is now open for the Black History for a New Day (BHFAND) group course

Registration is now open for ORUCC’S group course for Black History For A New Day (BHFAND) Mondays 7-9PM Sept. 16-Nov. 18 either on Zoom or at church.  

Please join us! Those who have taken BHFAND and those who haven’t – all are welcome. As one participant states ‘We should never underestimate the impact of processing this history together in community.’ 

CLICK HERE to register by Sept. 6, 2024

Choose MONDAY EVENING Option  

Use Code ORUCC

Course fee is $300 for first time participants and $150 for those of us repeating the course, funds which support Nehemiah’s important work. Send/bring a check payable to ORUCC (with Black History in memo line) to the office by September 30. 

Check out BHFAND for a course overview. 

Contact Ann Haase Kehl at [email protected] or 608.658-2336 with any questions. Note: Ann will be away and unavailable Aug 23-31.

“Kids in the Garden”

Last call for the summer: Sunday, August 25th

”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 one more time this summer: Sunday, August 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!

SAVE THE DATE!

Welcome Back Picnic (Rain or Shine)

Sunday, September 8th, immediately after worship

Come celebrate the launch of our program year with a delicious picnic lunch prepared and served by our Hospitality Mission Team! Donations will go toward the 2025 Youth Service Trip.

Can you help with setting up and/or tearing down the outdoor picnic?

Click here to sign up

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the Month of August

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: August

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