January Compassion Offering:

The Sewing Machine Project

The Sewing Machine Project (SMP) is a grassroots nonprofit based in Madison, Wisconsin. Since its founding in 2005, SMP has collected and distributed nearly 5,000 sewing machines to individuals and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. In Madison, SMP partners with community centers to provide sewing machines and instruction and collaborates with local libraries to offer free mending services. Beyond Wisconsin, SMP supports nonprofits that use sewing as a practical path toward stability and self-reliance. By sharing tools, skills, and time, The Sewing Machine Project helps build connection, dignity, and community—one stitch at a time.

For more information on SMP, please view this video.

Second “Building Blocks for Faithful Living” class this Sunday, January 25th

 A seven-week class at 9 am on Sunday mornings in the Swan Room from January 18th through March 1st, 2026, led by David Anderman.

We will take an introductory look at a variety of spiritual experiences, both individual and in community, at theological reflections that grow out of them, and at how these experiences and ideas can guide us in faithful living in community and in our world (i.e. the justice implications). And since spiritual experiences, theological reflections, and faithful living are mutually interactive and feed on each other, we will look at how faith is dynamic and changing over time and place.

Since this class is introductory, preparation will be minimal. Bring yourself, your experiences, and your insights and questions. David will write a one or two page non-technical document to help focus each session. At the end of the class, you will have explored some basic building blocks for faithful living, and will have a beginning sense of how they may fit together.

Session 2 – Jan. 25

           In what kinds of communities can we share and reflect on the implications of these experiences?

A handout with more details for each session is available at church in the Crossroads. Please email David at [email protected] if you are interested or wish further information.

Heart Room Update and Plan presentation: postponed to this Sunday, January 25th at 11:15 am

The Heart Room Mission Team invites Heart Room donors and interested others to a Heart Room presentation on January 25th after the service. The Heart Room Mission team will provide an update on Heart Room experience and a plan to help three more families with young children achieve their goals for thriving in stable housing. We are delighted to report that we can serve added children and families in this difficult time, using already-available ORUCC funds from past donations for Heart Room purposes.

Begun in 2018 as a pilot project, Heart Room is a collaborative approach to helping families with young children find and keep stable housing and work on family-chosen goals to help them thrive. ORUCC donors contributed more than $250,000 for rent-support, while professional partners have provided housing case management and social services in response to individual family goals. Heart Room’s early demonstrated success attracted individual, congregational, and institutional donations. This has allowed Heart Room to grow, as we will report.

Two three-year pilot periods have been completed and evaluated. The Heart Room Mission Team will provide an update on Heart Room experience and a proposal from Heart Room partner Joining Forces for Families to use ORUCC’s Heart Room fund balance consistent with Heart Room’s guiding principles: generous and flexible rent support and collaborative agency support to help families achieve their unique goals for thriving.

The Heart Room Mission Team hopes to see you there!



Jen Walker and Bruce Olsen, co-chairs

Helene Nelson and Megan Piper, members

January Wayfinding (Zoom)

Today, Thursday, January 22nd over ZOOM

4:00-5:00pm

Join virtually today for our January Wayfinding! We will continue to gather the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9:30am, program beginning at 9:45am and concluding at 11:15am. The next in-person gatherings are: February 18th, March 18th, April 15th, May 20th.

For those who prefer to join virtually, we will meet by Zoom the very next day, each Thursday following our in-person Wayfinding program at 4:00 pm concluding at 5:00pm. Join the meeting this afternoon at 4:00 pm via the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81390270827?pwd=fCJxLaaJay4Rf1Uk7c9bfF6sLCYVrF.1

Youth Lock-In “Lite” with MMC,

Friday 1/23, 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

This is a joint event with our friends at Madison Mennonite Church for youth from both of our congregations! Youth in 7th grade – high school are eligible to join in the fun. There will be games, food and time just to hang out, have fun and get to know one another. Please indicate your interest with this form.

In response to some feedback, and in light of the cold weather, we are changing the end time of our event to 10:30 p.m. We will still plan to hold the event even if MMSD cancels school on Friday. Please use your best judgement if for any reason you feel unsafe traveling out in the cold!

Seeking ORUCC website volunteers!

No technical expertise needed. Can be done from home. The church’s website https://orucc.org/ has gotten out of date. We need some volunteers to check all the pages on the site and identify out of date information. Then in some cases we will need volunteers to contact church members or leaders to get updated information. You DO need an Internet connection and an ability to read a website, but you do NOT need to be able to do any editing of the site. That will be done by others. We want to do the site update in an organized way and collecting all the needed updates at once will help with this. Please contact Pam Oliver [email protected] if you are willing and able to help.  

Books Available

Adult Faith Formation will be sponsoring a display of books on spirituality for the next month. These books will be available on the information table in Friendship Hall. A few representative titles are Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh, Prayers Without Borders, Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor and The Inner Work of Age by Connie Zweig. These books are free to anyone on a first come basis for the next month. Remaining titles will be donated. Check out the selection to add to your bookshelf.

Save the Date! Annual Chili Cook-Off, Sunday, February 1st

Join us for the Annual Chili Cook Off on Sunday, Feb 1st! You are invited to contribute your favorite chili or cornbread to the contest. Prizes will be awarded in the categories of vegetarian, meat, and specialty chilies, and also for the best cornbread. Will there be a Kids category again? Maybe! Everyone is invited to taste and vote after the service! Please sign up here or on the sign up sheet in the crossroads if you plan to contribute a chili or can help with the event.

Women’s Book Group meeting set for February 5th

Readers please join us for Women’s Book Group on Thursday, February 5, 2026 for our first book discussion of the year. Susan Watson will lead the discussion of The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. If you would like to read ahead for March, the book will be Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford. For questions email Deanna Blanchard at [email protected]

UCCI Summer Camps Online Registration began January 12th, Camp AweSum opens 19th

A sparkling lake, loving community, tie-dye, loons, spirituality and towering trees: Many of us look forward to camp at Moon Beach and Daycholah Center during the summertime!

Mark your calendars: online registration for summer 2026 is in January. Registration opened for Family Camp at Moon Beach and weeklong camps for children/youth at Daycholah on a first-come basis on January 12th. Camp AweSum (at Moon Beach) registration opens on a first-come basis on January 19th.

Historically, Family Camp fills up very quickly. From now until January 11, there is an option this year to pre-fill your family’s forms in order to expedite the process. If you are a new camper, you will need to create a profile to begin the process (use your family’s previous profile if you have attended in the past).

Many from ORUCC will choose to attend Family Camp together the week of June 29th. New this year, our very own Pastor Kate will be coordinating this week of Family Camp! The Boyds have passed the baton after many years of incredible leadership. We are grateful for their faithful ministry, and we look forward to continuing the beloved community of camp for years to come.

College scholarships available

Members of Orchard Ridge UCC are invited to apply for 2026-2027 college scholarships of $500 to $2,000 from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants should be planning to begin or continue education at any accredited 2- or 4-year college or university and should have a record of academic achievement, service to church and community, and demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is February 15, 2026. Please contact [email protected] for an electronic application. 

Questions? Contact Ann Evensen at [email protected] 

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//

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 Host, 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 Host

Please note that the previous Welcomer and Usher signups have been combined into a signup named “Host.”

Please sign up to be trained into this new position.

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 George Decker at office@orucc.org or 608-271-7212.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

Inspirational Thoughts for January

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. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office.



Inspirational Thoughts for January 2026

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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