April Compassion Offering:

One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is a cornerstone of United Church of Christ’s mission:

• OGHS supports global refugees working to reach new homes and build new lives.
• OGHS addresses emergency needs arising from hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes.
• OGHS develops sustainable resources and skills among communities (both domestic and international) weakened by chronic poverty or climate challenges.
• OGHS works in long-standing partnerships with denominations such as Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Presbyterian Church (USA), Church of the Brethren, and with ecumenical alliances such as Church World Service.

Now more than ever, our partnerships are essential and cherished.

Now more than ever, our assistance is crucial to support the homeless, the hungry, the victims of war.

Now more than ever, it is our privilege to offer tangible support which saves lives.

Give as you are able. Be the face of God’s love in the world. Thank you.

Sunday, April 27th, is Immigration Sunday!

After worship, join the folks who traveled to Arizona for a border immersion trip in January 2025 to discuss the trip and hear their reflections on their experience there. The border wall, the Samaritan campsite, crosses in the desert, well-known authors, music, great food – all fascinating. We welcome your questions. 

Upcoming Sunday Morning Opportunities…

Mark your calendars: there many special events offered both before and after worship!

• April 27, 9:00 a.m. Care of Creation Mission Team Presents: Gardening with Native Plants, with Jeff Epping; 9:00 a.m. New Members Class 4th Session; and also 11:15 am Presentation by members of the 2025 ORUCC Border Immersion Trip.
• May 4, 9:00 a.m. Parents Together Support Group; 9:00 a.m. UCC Mission Partners in the Holy Land – See below! 11:15 Worship & Work Sunday!

Java & Jesus adult faith formation in the Alfred Swan Room at the 9:00 hour on the following dates: May 11 & 18.

Stay up to date on ORUCC Children and Youth happenings

Want to stay up to date on the latest with children and youth at ORUCC? Check out our weekly updates here:

https://orucc.org/keeping-current/children-and-youth-news//

The ORUCC office will be closed Fridays starting tomorrow

Due to a change in Office Manager George Decker’s work schedule, the ORUCC office will go back to being closed Fridays starting tomorrow, April 25, 2025. Our new office hours will be 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday through Thursday.

“Godly Living in Ungodly Times” class resumes this morning, Thursday, April 24th

The Godly Living in Ungodly Times class will meet again today, 10-11:30 am, in person in the Swan Room and via Zoom, and 7-8:30 pm Zoom only.

The Zoom link for this morning’s class is:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81642534898?pwd=QJHI0cbOOca9pmYLNSxPvPilDqjZ

The Zoom link for this evening’s class is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83262009425?pwd=XiAuwXZGhQWxzUAxTAaiMkL07b1z

Classes will be held for three sessions after Easter. Contact David Anderman at [email protected] if you have questions.

Earth Month speaker at 9:00 am this Sunday, April 27th in Friendship Hall: Jeff Epping

Jeff Epping was the director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison for 25 years. He received the Award of Merit from the American Public Gardens Association in 2023 for his work as an early innovator of eco-friendly gardening practices and use of native plants in the landscape. He pioneered techniques like leaf mulching, organic lawn care, gravel gardens and living mulch. More recently he designed the extensive gardens at Epic Systems in Verona. Plan to attend to learn about sustainable landscapes and practices to promote pollinators at home and in the community.

Women’s Book Group to meet Thursday, May 1st

The Women’s Book Group will gather in person in the Alfred Swan room and on Zoom on Thursday, May 1st from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Mary Neuhaus will lead us in discussing Switchboard Soldiers by Madison author, Jennifer Chiaverini. Looking ahead to June, we will be reading The Crossing Places by Ella Griffiths. Deanna Blanchard [email protected]

Special Opportunity: Sunday, May 4th, at 9:00 am, in the Alfred Swan Room

How UCC Mission Partners bring hope to the Holy Land

During the past 16 years, ORUCC members Diane Dulin and Tom Beilman have traveled multiple times to the Holy Land. They’ve seen firsthand how UCC Mission Partners (partner organizations) bring hope and friendship to oppressed peoples, amidst the constant stress of military occupation. Come and hear inspiring, informative stories about the vital work of these Mission Partners.

Sunday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. “Parents Together” Support Group

Raising kids is hard work, full of joy and challenge. Are you looking for some community as you navigate the ups and downs? Parents are invited to come together for a peer-led parents’ support group to share our experiences. The group will meet for approximately 45 minutes in the Oscar Romero room, facilitated by Claire Purkis and Joanna Beilman-Dulin. This will be the soft-launch of a group that will likely meet regularly in the fall.

Sunday, May 4th

WORSHIP and WORK 

Immediately following the worship service there will be opportunities for everyone to help with inside and outside projects.

Wear your grubbies to church. Bring your work gloves, your energy, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes (for spreading mulch), dandelion diggers, pruners and garden shears, if you plan to work outdoors.

Plan to enjoy a free lunch in Friendship Hall with your friends and family.

Volunteer Opportunity at Camp Awesum

Camp Awesum Family Camp is a weeklong summer camp at Moon Beach for families with kids on the autism spectrum. Volunteers are needed! Volunteers supervise activities for the kids, giving parents respite during the first half of the day; in most afternoons, volunteers get to enjoy Moon Beach! You don’t need to be an autism expert; just bring your caring, patient self. We need volunteers for weeks in June and August. If you’re interested or want more information, please reach out to Hal Evensen – volunteer since 2017 – or one of the pastors. Thank you for your consideration! Additionally, you can click here for more information: https://bit.ly/ORUCC-Awesum

Immigration Justice Mission Team Updates

May 2nd 3pm Day Without Latinx and Immigrants 

You are invited to join Pastor Julia and members of the Immigration Justice Mission Team for statewide ‘Day Without Latinx and Immigrants’ strike and rally on May 2nd. We will meet together at 3:00 pm at Brittingham Park (829 West Washington Avenue) then march to the Capitol at 4pm with a 4:30 rally at the Capitol.

May 6th 2pm Support Refugees Friend-raiser & Fund-raiser

At Capitol Lakes 333 W Main Street in Madison, the authorized Refugee Resettlement agency in Dane County will make a presentation to inform us and ask for help for refugee neighbors. 

Madison Learning Community to offer fall class on the Book of Acts

The Madison Learning Community will offer a fall 2025 class on the Book of Acts, co-taught by the Rev. Dr. Tisha Brown, former Associate Conference Minister of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. This class will explore the literary, religious, theological and social worlds of Acts, in English. For details, including cost, click here (and scroll down).

May 23-25 Brat Fest Fundraiser for Youth Service Trip

One of the biggest fundraisers for the Youth Service Trip is coming up! All youth attending the Service Trip are expected to sign up to participate in the Brat Fest fundraiser. But did you know that anyone who would like to volunteer under our group’s name (Orchard Ridge UCC) will also have their hours counted toward our fundraiser? It’s true!

Please sign up here if you would like to participate.

Please Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings!

A Number of Open Slots

in the Near Future!

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

• Page #1: Choose the date you are available to volunteer and select the box that says “SIGN UP“.  Then, at the bottom of the page select the box “SAVE & CONTINUE“.
• Page #2: Enter your first/last name and your email address. Then select the box at the bottom of the page “SIGN UP NOW“

Questions or problems signing up?

Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected] or 608-556-2371.

Individual plots available in the ORUCC garden! 

Are you interested in having access to a little plot of land to grow your own produce? If so, the ORUCC Veggie Village (on the east side of the property) has 2 community garden plots for lease this gardening season. Fee is $35 for a 12 x 12 foot plot. Email LuAnn Greiner at [email protected] by April 12th if you are interested and/or have questions.

Heart-Opening Opportunity

Are you feeling sad, scattered, isolated? Are you wondering where God is right now? The Thursday morning Meditation Group would love to have you join us, breathe in God’s presence, and ground yourself in love.

Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 am in the Romero Room. Questions? Contact Susi Petta at 608-712-9539 or Becky Baumbach at 608-239-0221.

Come sing with us!

Join our Choir!

All singers are welcome to join our Choir! Rehearsals are Wednesday

evenings from 7:00 to 8:30pm. We sing in worship the first and third

Sundays of the month, gathering for rehearsal 9am those Sunday mornings.

Please share your voice with a group of music-loving friendly people! For more information, email Bruce Gladstone at [email protected].

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

Daily Reflections: April 17 – 24

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. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office. Please note that Jeanne is taking a break from the Daily Reflections until May 8, 2025, when they will return to the Weekly Announcements. Accordingly, we are again offering last week’s Daily Reflections.

Daily Reflections: April 17 – 24

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30