May Compassion Offering:

Madison Arcatao Sister City Project (MASCP)

The May Compassion Offering is for the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project (MASCP). Arcatao, El Salvador, is one of Madison’s ten sister cities. Since 1986, Madison and Arcatao have worked together to learn from each other in solidarity across international boundaries. As part of the U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities (USESSC) network, MASCP works for social change by building and defending sustainable communities and economies. They communicate regularly with the community in Arcatao and lead delegations to learn what’s happening there and to share what’s happening here. The delegations then share what they’ve learned with the wider Madison community. 

Your donations will support college scholarships for students from Arcatao and projects in the Arcatao community and surrounding rural areas. Specific priorities are set locally by the community board, with community members or local businesspeople providing the labor. Recent efforts have included building a wall to protect against flooding and repairing two wells to filter out dangerous heavy metals. The wells will provide safe drinking water for over 500 families for the next 25 years. See the well project.

Learn more about the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project before worship on Sunday, May 18th

Perhaps you’ve read in the news about the United States’ current political relationship with El Salvador. During the 9 am hour on Sunday, May 18th, MASCP invites you to a presentation about Madison’s history with our sister city, news from the 2025 delegation, and plans for continued advocacy.  

Our Generosity at Work: Compassion Offering for April

We are delighted to report that April’s Compassion Offering for UCC’s “One Great Hour of Sharing” (OGHS) amounted to $6,338.25. OGHS is a cornerstone of United Church of Christ’s mission and, among other things, supports global refugees working to reach new homes and build new lives

and addresses emergency needs arising from hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes. Thank you for your generous support of OGHS!

An appeal from John Leonard to help support Worker Justice Wisconsin

Please help me support Worker Justice Wisconsin (WJW) by making a donation through my page. You can reach my page at www.classy.org/fundraiser/6355486 or by using the QR code to the right.

WJW is a non-profit organization where non-union, mostly immigrant workers can go when they experience wage theft and other workplace problems. With a small but mighty team, they have recovered nearly $348,000 in stolen wages, incubated two worker cooperatives, helped organize four workplaces, and offered Workers’ Rights Training to nearly 1,900 people since 2022. WJW is the only worker center in the state of Wisconsin (by way of comparison, the city of Chicago has nine)!

For years, Worker Justice Wisconsin has made a tremendous impact in Dane County with a very tight budget, but their federal funding (22% of their annual budget) is in jeopardy. I am fundraising for their “Don’t Despair! Organize!” campaign to ensure that WJW can empower vulnerable workers to know and defend their rights well past the present crisis.  

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//

Prayer Shawl Ministry update

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will take a meeting break for the summer. There is always a need for more shawls, so you are encouraged to continue crocheting and knitting on your own and turn in shawls to the church. If you need more yarn, please contact Sandra Dyer at (608) 271-2409.

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.

Witness from Palestine: Rev. El-Yateem Shares Firsthand Insights  

Rev. Khader El-Yateem, ELCA Executive Director for Service and Justice, will speak on Gaza and the West Bank: A Struggle for Survival Amid Genocide on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00pm at Midvale Community Lutheran Church in Madison. Recently returned from a solidarity visit to Palestine, he will share firsthand accounts of the current situation and the global response. All are welcome. Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Interfaith Peace Working Group. Register here. Read more about the speaker and this event. 

Please Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings!

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.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

Daily Reflections: May 15 – 31

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 month for our devotional practice at Orchard Ridge UCC. Starting in June, we will be posting a full month (instead of week by week) of Daily Reflections. Today’s Daily Reflections are for the rest of May. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office.

Daily Reflections: May 15 – 31

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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