ORUCC Worship Resources for April 24

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 23, 2022

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Confirmation Sunday
Worship Resources 04.24.2022
You are invited!
Photo by Chang Duong, to represent our 6 youth getting confirmed this Sunday
You are invited!
April 24th
Confirmation Sunday
Worship 10:00 am
Sermon: Inducted into the Hall of Faith
Preaching: Tammy Martens
Worship Leaders: Julia Burkey & Ken Pennings
Josie Gasser, Jayden Gilbert, Josie Gilbert, John Olajos, Amalia Sherrill, Zane Yeazel
& TRU Function
Join our Worship virtually
on YouTube any time after 10 am:
You will need to refresh the page
after 10 am if you have opened it before
9:00 a.m. Sunday School for children through 5th Grade.
No middle school Sunday School this week.
During 10:00 hour children and youth are invited to remain in worship. There is no Music Connections or Craft/play time.
9:00 am Social Justice Programming
Care of Creation – “The Problem with Plastics and What We Can Do About It” Part II
Friendship Hall
9:00 am Prospective New Member Class
The Day Room
Java & Jesus
April 24th, at 11:45 am, by Zoom
Jim McNamara facilitating
All are welcome!
Please join us even if this is your first time!
 
For this Sunday’s discussion, please read ahead of time and come prepared to discuss the second chapter of the book After Jesus, Before Christianity: An Historical Exploration of the First Two Centuries of the Jesus Movement, by Erin Vearncomb,
Brandon Scott and Hal Taussing.
Meeting ID: 826 5367 7444
Passcode: 943784
Dial: +1 312 626 6799
April Compassion Offering
Common Wealth Development
Common Wealth Development, a 40 plus year old non-profit, uses a people’s first philosophy to work in solidarity with the people we serve in our communities. CWD, uses a housing and employment approach to help stabilize families, thus contributing to stable neighborhoods. Under our racial justice and health equity model, Common Wealth works with a diversity of people, many who may face significant challenges in housing, employment, literacy and transportation.
 
In the South West neighborhood, CWD owns and manages > 200 low income housing units. We are proud to have opened our newest residential building on Raymond Road in August 2021. The first floor accommodates offices for our staff in addition to offices for our partners in the neighborhood: Joining Forces for Families and RISE Wisconsin with the Early Childhood Initiative.  ORUCC has been a great partner who helped to establish the STEP program within the Work Force Development mission. Through ORUCC financial aid and volunteers, this program has assisted many neighbors in securing stable employment.
 
Common Wealth also provides incubation space at for first and second stage new businesses to help spur economic development. Our business incubators, Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St and Main Street Industries, 931 E. Mains St, provide affordable rents for tenants.
 
We at Common Wealth, are grateful for the support of ORUCC. For more information about Common Wealth Development, go to CWD.org and learn more about CWD’s Adult Workforce Development activities by watching the video. 
 
 
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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine
Office Manager Julie Wombacher available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available
Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
by appointment
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Pastor Julia will be away April 28 – May 3
for a leadership training called “Creativity & Design”
to fulfill her requirements for her ongoing participation
in the “Next Generation Leadership Initiative.”
This program is hosted and funded by the UCC Pension Boards.
You may reach her by phone in case of pastoral emergency.
Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available
Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm by appointment
608-957-3184 or EMAIL
Tammy will be away Sunday, April 24 (afternoon) through Wednesday, April 27 attending Advanced Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process.
Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available
Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm by appointment
608-556-2371 EMAIL
All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.
Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor. In case of pastoral emergency, any of the pastors can be reached by cell phone.
LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page
JOIN our Private FB Group:
Follow us on Instagram @orchardridgeucc
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for April 21

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 21, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 04/24/2022

Sunday April 24th Worship 10:00 am

Confirmation Sunday

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Tammy Martens

Lay Liturgists: Confirmands

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Care of Creation – “The Problem with Plastics and What We Can Do About It” Part II

Friendship Hall

9:00 am Adult Programming

Prospective New Member Class

in the Day Room

9:00 am Sunday School

For children through 5th Grade

No Middle School Sunday School this week.

10:00 am

No Music Connections or Craft/Play time.

Children and youth are invited to remain in worship with their caregivers.

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, April 24

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Jim McNamara

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, April 25

7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

John Lemke

Romero Room

Immigration Justice Mission Team

Tuesday, April 26

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Ruthanne Landsness

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, April 29

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Movie Group Returns Tomorrow, April 22nd 7 P.M.

The ORUCC Movie Group is back on Friday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. We have lively discussions and a light dessert. All are welcome. WE WILL BE MASKED UNLESS WE’RE EATING. On the 22nd Academy Award nominees and winners will be discussed. Please let Steve Sheets know that you plan to attend so that a list of the nominees and where to see them can be provided to you. Mark your calendars: April 22nd, 7 p.m.

9am Social Justice Programming

Care of Creation

Sunday April 24

 ”The Problem with Plastics and What We Can Do About It.”

Part II followed by letters to Congress led by

Chris Thomas from Care of Creation

We’ll talk about how the manufacturing of plastics contributes to global warming, and that a huge concern is how they affect the health of our planet and all that lives upon it as they proliferate and accumulate. Finally, we’ll talk about how we as individuals can do our part, both in the everyday choices we make, and in how we can influence government policy to hold corporations responsible for the entire lifecycle of the plastic products they manufacture.

Ilgen Literacy Fund: New Mission Team Forming

ORUCC is building a new mission team for the Ilgen Literacy Fund. If you feel called to work on a small, community-based project at the intersection of childhood literacy and racial justice, consider joining!

Check out our 2021 progress report to see how we’ve moved forward this year, and/or contact chairperson Jen Walker to learn more.

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of April 21 – April 27

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

ORUCC is one of the sponsors of this interfaith Iftar!

Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice invites people of any (or no) faith to attend the 

Ramadan 2022 Interfaith Iftar

Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 7:15 PM

Lakeview Park

6300 Mendota Avenue, Middleton, WI

Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Transcending generational, ethnic, and religious differences, this annual event allows guests to learn about Islam, Ramadan, and the Muslim obligation of zakat (charity). It is also an opportunity to break bread together at a time when we are all especially yearning for more connection with each other. 

 

In keeping with the importance of Zakat for celebrating Ramadan, we are excited to raise funds once again for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin. During the pandemic, Second Harvest saw a 40% increase in the number of food insecure people in SW. Donation jars from Second Harvest will be out on the tables during the iftar. Please come prepared to make a donation by cash or check.

 

For non-Muslims who may want to delve even more deeply into Ramadan, we encourage you to try fasting from the dawn of April 30 until the Iftar. Muslims believe that fasting redirects the heart away from worldly activities and cleanses the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. The fast also helps us to appreciate the blessings of food and to understand the plight of our food-insecure neighbors. 

 

Due to COVID, the Iftar will be a catered meal instead of the usual potluck, and we are limiting registration to 100 people. SPACE IS FILLING UP! Please RSVP early to guarantee a seat! 50 indoor and 50 outdoor seats are available, on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Click HERE to RSVP

Please consider making a gift to help support the Iftar. Suggested donation: $5 for children under 17; $10 for adults; $20 per family. You can donate HERE or pay at the door by cash or check.

COVID mitigation: If you are unvaccinated, please use the outdoor seating, wear a mask, and stay physically distanced. Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

 

However you approach the Interfaith Iftar, we look forward to your joining us in this shared celebration.

April Compassion Offering

Common Wealth Development



Common Wealth Development, a 40 plus year old non-profit, uses a people’s first philosophy to work in solidarity with the people we serve in our communities. CWD, uses a housing and employment approach to help stabilize families, thus contributing to stable neighborhoods. Under our racial justice and health equity model, Common Wealth works with a diversity of people, many who may face significant challenges in housing, employment, literacy and transportation.

In the South West neighborhood, CWD owns and manages > 200 low income housing units. We are proud to have opened our newest residential building on Raymond Road in August 2021. The first floor accommodates offices for our staff in addition to offices for our partners in the neighborhood: Joining Forces for Families and RISE Wisconsin with the Early Childhood Initiative.  ORUCC has been a great partner who helped to establish the STEP program within the Work Force Development mission. Through ORUCC financial aid and volunteers, this program has assisted many neighbors in securing stable employment.

Common Wealth also provides incubation space at for first and second stage new businesses to help spur economic development. Our business incubators, Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St and Main Street Industries, 931 E. Mains St, provide affordable rents for tenants.

We at Common Wealth, are grateful for the support of ORUCC. For more information about Common Wealth Development, go to CWD.org and learn more about CWD’s Adult Workforce Development activities by watching the video. 

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:45

April 24–Jim McNamara

May 1–Jim McNamara

May 8–Mother’s Day No J & J

May 15–Larry Goss

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Family Game Night is back!

We’ll meet next on Friday, May 6 in the church from 6-8 pm. Bring a game and some food to share. Questions?

Contact Rachael Lancor([email protected]). Also save the date for a special fun night on June 3 featuring improv! 

ORUCC member Dan Miller and his team at Mad City Dream Homes are hosting a wonderful event for the second time (with no real estate related activities!) and we are all invited. Lilada Gee and her artwork will be highlighted on Friday, May 6th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at at their 1619 Monroe Street office. Here’s the event on Facebook (you don’t need to register in order to come). We’ll be serving refreshments and free food from a food truck, too. 

Care of Creation Green Corner

 

Our sister UCC church, Middleton Community Church is sponsoring this event:

 

Earth Day Every Day: EV Car & Sustainability Show

 

Date & Time: Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 10 am – 2 pm

Location: Middleton Community Church (645 Schewe Rd, Middleton, WI off Old Sauk Rd.)

 

On the Saturday after Earth Day, April 23, Middleton Community Church will be hosting an EV Car and Sustainability Show. This family-friendly event will go 10 am – 2 pm, and it’s planned to be held outdoors on the church grounds, but in case of bad weather, exhibits will be indoors. Free admission and free popcorn! Lunch will be available for purchase from the popular Melted Craft Grilled Cheese food truck.

 

Besides electric and hybrid cars, there will be games for the kids, an interactive solar panel display, and lots of tables and displays hosted by representatives from clean energy and environmental organizations and businesses. Come find out about whatever aspects of sustainability most interest you! For further information see: Earth Day Every Day: EV Car and Sustainability Show FLYER

Wayfinding for Seniors Returns!

Wednesday, May 18, 9:30 am – 11:30 am

 

After a long hiatus, waiting out you-know-what, Wayfinding is ready to get back up and running.  So if you see yourself as a “senior,” please join us on Wednesday, May 18, for a chance to reconnect and envision our future.

 

Lucky for us, Pastor Julia is experienced with senior programming. So we’re very grateful she’ll be taking the lead on shaping the future of Wayfinding.  One decision that’s been made is that, going forward, we’ll be narrowing the focus of Wayfinding to address the spiritual aspects of aging and end of life — i.e., the very real challenges of getting older, the spiritual qualities that help meet these challenges, useful spiritual resources, and how we make sense of it all. 

 

For the fall we’re envisioning a series of “cafe-style” meetups on a regular basis.  They will provide a chance to connect around specific issues and gain strength for our journeys.

 

On May 18 we’ll begin with inquiry.  Julia would like to know: What are the spiritual tasks of aging as you experience them? Are you finding new wisdom (or humor!) as part of aging? What are the unique challenges elders face? (Of course being a 65-yr-old is quite different from being a 90-yr-old, so “senior /elder” encompasses a range of things.)  We’ll use this input to further plan our cafes for 2022-23.  

 

Date:  Wednesday, May 18.  Time 9:30-11:30.  Place: ORUCC Fellowship Hall.

No need to RSVP. For more information contact [email protected]. 

 

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially installed as our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday April 3rd and advises that:

 

The COVID Response Team met this past Sunday, April 3. After considering the current trends in the region, the team determined that the plans for Maundy Thursday and Easter should go forward as planned, with current mitigations in place: 



For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. We will purchase test kits in the office for those who wish to use them.   Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event, and food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

 

We are also starting to ask how we will “know” when it is time to increase or decrease our mitigations. While we haven’t made any decisions yet, in the meantime we are making some incremental changes. For one, the choir has been empowered to make their own determination regarding masking during their performance of special music during worship. You may have also noticed the resumption of using the Friendship Pads! We will continue to make these small resumptions as conditions allow.

 

While this represents a slight increase in risk, we also recognize that by wearing an N95 mask – freely available outside Worship Hall – the wearer essentially ensures that nobody can be considered a “close contact” during worship — it would take hours of continuous exposure to an unmasked individual for this to be the case! This frees us from the need to be concerned with “contact tracing,” etc. if any of our friends test positive for COVID — although we do appreciate being able to pray for them during Joys & Concerns. Please keep telling us when you test positive for COVID after being in worship or at a church function.

 

The team will next meet on May 1, when we will consider the effects of these changes and what the appropriate next steps might be.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist



Click here to sign up as a Coffee-Maker

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Joy & Terror April 17 Click Here

Pastor Julia The Compassion of Jesus April 10 Click Here

Pastor Julia In the Beginning was the Meal April 3 Click Here

Rev Ari Douglas You Will Have the Poor With You Always March 27 Click Here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Pastor Julia will be away April 28-May 3rd for a leadership retreat using some of her continuing education time. This opportunity is sponsored by national UCC through the Next Generation Leadership Initiative and is called “Creativity and Design.” Pastor Ken will preach May 1. Pastor Julia may be reached by cell phone in the case of an emergency.

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Movie Group Discussion, Apr. 22, 7 pm

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 19, 2022

The ORUCC Movie Group is back
this Friday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. at the church

We have lively discussions and a light dessert. All are welcome! WE WILL BE MASKED UNLESS WE’RE EATING. The Academy Award nominees and winners will be discussed. We have found that the website justwatch.com, which is free, provides good information on where to stream the films, and if a rental is required it will indicate the rental price. Please let Steve Sheets, [email protected], know that you plan to attend.
Academy Awards & Nominees
Best Picture
Belfast
CODA (winner)
Don’t Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
Best Actor
Javier Bardem Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield Tick Tick Boom!
Will Smith King Richard (winner)
Denzel Washington The Tragedy of Macbeth
Best Supporting Actor
Ciaran Hinds Belfast
Troy Kotsur CODA (winner)
Jesse Plemons The Power of the Dog
JK Simmons Being the Ricardos
Kodi Smit-McPhee The Power of the Dog
Best Director
Kenneth Branagh Belfast
Ryusuke Hamaguchi Drive My Car
Paul Thomas Anderson Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion The Power of the Dog (winner)
 Steven Spielberg West Side Story
Best Actress
Jessica Chastain The Eyes of Tammy Faye (winner)
Olivia Colman The Lost Daughter
Penelope Cruz Parallel Mothers
Nicole Kidman Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart Spencer
Best Supporting Actress
Jessie Buckley The Lost Daughter
Ariana DeBose West Side Story (winner)
Judi Dench Belfast
Kirsten Dunst The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis King Richard
Best International Feature
Drive My Car (Japan) (winner)
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan)
The Hand of God (Italy)
Flee (Denmark)
The Worst Person in the World (Norway)
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Good Friday Service Recorded

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 16, 2022

Photo by Alicia Quan

You are invited to join our Good Friday Service virtually, by clicking on the YouTube link and watching the recorded service from 6pm last night. Have with you a bowl of salt water and a candle to light.

Printable Bulletin

YouTube Link

Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for April 14

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 14, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 04/14/2022

Easter Sunday April 17th

6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service

followed by breakfast in Friendship Hall

10:00 am Easter Sunday Worship

live-streamed and in-person

11:15 am Easter Egg Hunt

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Liturgist: Phil Haslanger

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

No 9:00 am Sunday School

During 10:00 worship:

Craft/play time for

children through 5th grade

11:30 No Java & Jesus

Sunday, April 17

Leadership Team

Tuesday, April 19

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Barbara Stretchberry

Zoom

Christian Witness Group

Thursday, April 21

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Ken Psyck/Bruce Olsen

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, April 22

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Easter Sunday April 17

What a joy it will be to be together! Join for 6:00 am Sunrise Service on church lawn with a fire for warmth and burning palms, communion, a renewal of baptism and the feeling of freshness and a new beginning that only the dawn of a new day can bring. If it rains we will move inside. Breakfast following in Friendship Hall.

10:00 am Easter service will be in-person and live-streamed followed by an Easter Egg hunt on our church grounds at 11:15.

Holy Week Services

Maundy Thursday Agape Meals April 14 at home Liturgy

Click here for at home DIY Meal Liturgy

For those of you who were not able to sign up for a meal, you may use this liturgy by yourself or with your family over the meal you have on Thursday or Friday evening. On April 14th many of us will gather at table with one another, to have communion over a meal, to casually connect with each other to build and strengthen our relationships. This practice is also known as an Agape Meal or Love feast. Christians from all over the world will gather to remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples.

Good Friday April 15

At 6pm in our Worship Hall we will share in a contemplative Good Friday service with Madison Mennonite Church. We may have a Labyrinth walk from 5-7:30 for some introspective devotional time before or after the 6pm service.

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

Holy Week Devotionals for April 14 – April 20

Read this week’s reflections around the “Good Enough” theme as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

April Compassion Offering

Common Wealth Development



Common Wealth Development, a 40 plus year old non-profit, uses a people’s first philosophy to work in solidarity with the people we serve in our communities. CWD, uses a housing and employment approach to help stabilize families, thus contributing to stable neighborhoods. Under our racial justice and health equity model, Common Wealth works with a diversity of people, many who may face significant challenges in housing, employment, literacy and transportation.

In the South West neighborhood, CWD owns and manages > 200 low income housing units. We are proud to have opened our newest residential building on Raymond Road in August 2021. The first floor accommodates offices for our staff in addition to offices for our partners in the neighborhood: Joining Forces for Families and RISE Wisconsin with the Early Childhood Initiative.  ORUCC has been a great partner who helped to establish the STEP program within the Work Force Development mission. Through ORUCC financial aid and volunteers, this program has assisted many neighbors in securing stable employment.

Common Wealth also provides incubation space at for first and second stage new businesses to help spur economic development. Our business incubators, Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St and Main Street Industries, 931 E. Mains St, provide affordable rents for tenants.

We at Common Wealth, are grateful for the support of ORUCC. For more information about Common Wealth Development, go to CWD.org and learn more about CWD’s Adult Workforce Development activities by watching the video. 

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:45

April 17–No Java & Jesus

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Garden Tenders Needed this

 Saturday, April 16



We have a schedule of when the city will pick up yard waste – leaves and plant debris- (the week of April 17) so we should gather the Saturday prior to that to get it ready. Beneficial insects live in leaf litter in the winter and spring through May so we can leave the rain garden alone in April. More native plantings are planned for this spring to promote our support of the environment and to make maintenance easier. 

The city will collect brush left at the curb the weeks of:

May 8

June 12

July 24. 

You can help beautify the church landscape once a year, once a month or once a week. If you check in that you can help, it is more likely we can have treats. Dates to add to your calendar: 

Saturday, April 16 from 10-noon.

Saturday, May 7 from 10-noon (Also a planting opportunity!)

Sunday, May 15 is Worship and Work Sunday for the annual clean up, planting and mulching extravaganza! 

Saturday, June 11 from 10- noon. Special lilac pruning this year!!!

Saturday, July 23 from 10-noon. 

You are also invited to the church yard on Wednesday mornings in the summer to tidy flower beds from 9 -10. See ATTACHMENT for more details and feel free to comment on proposals. 

Joyce Pohl

 

Family Game Night is back!

Join us in Friendship Hall on the first Friday of the month 6-8 pm for games and socializing. Bring your favorite board game and a dish to share for a potluck supper. Mark your calendars for May 6. Also save the date for a special fun night on June 3 featuring improv! 

Movie Group Returns April 22nd 7 P.M.

The ORUCC Movie Group is back on Friday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. We have lively discussions and a light dessert. All are welcome. WE WILL BE MASKED UNLESS WE’RE EATING. On the 22nd Academy Award nominees and winners will be discussed. Please let Steve Sheets know that you plan to attend so that a list of the nominees and where to see them can be provided to you. Mark your calendars: April 22nd, 7 p.m.

Care of Creation Green Corner

Our sister UCC church, Middleton Community Church is sponsoring this event:

Earth Day Every Day: EV Car & Sustainability Show

Date & Time: Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 10 am – 2 pm

Location: Middleton Community Church (645 Schewe Rd, Middleton, WI off Old Sauk Rd.)

On the Saturday after Earth Day, April 23, Middleton Community Church will be hosting an EV Car and Sustainability Show. This family-friendly event will go 10 am – 2 pm, and it’s planned to be held outdoors on the church grounds, but in case of bad weather, exhibits will be indoors. Free admission and free popcorn! Lunch will be available for purchase from the popular Melted Craft Grilled Cheese food truck.

Besides electric and hybrid cars, there will be games for the kids, an interactive solar panel display, and lots of tables and displays hosted by representatives from clean energy and environmental organizations and businesses. Come find out about whatever aspects of sustainability most interest you! For further information see: Earth Day Every Day: EV Car and Sustainability Show FLYER

Wayfinding for Seniors Returns!

Wednesday, May 18, 9:30 am – 11:30 am

 

After a long hiatus, waiting out you-know-what, Wayfinding is ready to get back up and running.  So if you see yourself as a “senior,” please join us on Wednesday, May 18, for a chance to reconnect and envision our future.

 

Lucky for us, Pastor Julia is experienced with senior programming. So we’re very grateful she’ll be taking the lead on shaping the future of Wayfinding.  One decision that’s been made is that, going forward, we’ll be narrowing the focus of Wayfinding to address the spiritual aspects of aging and end of life — i.e., the very real challenges of getting older, the spiritual qualities that help meet these challenges, useful spiritual resources, and how we make sense of it all. 

 

For the fall we’re envisioning a series of “cafe-style” meetups on a regular basis.  They will provide a chance to connect around specific issues and gain strength for our journeys.

 

On May 18 we’ll begin with inquiry.  Julia would like to know: What are the spiritual tasks of aging as you experience them? Are you finding new wisdom (or humor!) as part of aging? What are the unique challenges elders face? (Of course being a 65-yr-old is quite different from being a 90-yr-old, so “senior /elder” encompasses a range of things.)  We’ll use this input to further plan our cafes for 2022-23.  

 

Date:  Wednesday, May 18.  Time 9:30-11:30.  Place: ORUCC Fellowship Hall.

No need to RSVP. For more information contact [email protected]. 

 

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially installed as our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday April 3rd and advises that:

 

The COVID Response Team met this past Sunday, April 3. After considering the current trends in the region, the team determined that the plans for Maundy Thursday and Easter should go forward as planned, with current mitigations in place: 

For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. We will purchase test kits in the office for those who wish to use them.   Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event, and food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

We are also starting to ask how we will “know” when it is time to increase or decrease our mitigations. While we haven’t made any decisions yet, in the meantime we are making some incremental changes. For one, the choir has been empowered to make their own determination regarding masking during their performance of special music during worship. You may have also noticed the resumption of using the Friendship Pads! We will continue to make these small resumptions as conditions allow.

While this represents a slight increase in risk, we also recognize that by wearing an N95 mask – freely available outside Worship Hall – the wearer essentially ensures that nobody can be considered a “close contact” during worship — it would take hours of continuous exposure to an unmasked individual for this to be the case! This frees us from the need to be concerned with “contact tracing,” etc. if any of our friends test positive for COVID — although we do appreciate being able to pray for them during Joys & Concerns. Please keep telling us when you test positive for COVID after being in worship or at a church function.

The team will next meet on May 1, when we will consider the effects of these changes and what the appropriate next steps might be.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist



Click here to sign up as a Coffee-Maker

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia The Compassion of Jesus April 10 Click Here

Pastor Julia In the Beginning was the Meal April 3 Click Here

Rev Ari Douglas You Will Have the Poor With You Always March 27 Click Here



Pastor Julia The Spiritual Practice of Tree Climbing March 20 Click Here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC-Garden Work Day -April 16

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 13, 2022

Outdoor Garden & Yard Clean-Up
Saturday, April 16
10:00 – 12:00 pm

Please come and help clean and spruce up the church grounds after a long hard winter, so that we can welcome the warm days of Spring and Easter services.
City of Madison is picking up yard waste on April 17th for the last time in the church neighborhood and this is our last opportunity to get it to the curb.
We need a few wheelbarrows and your favorite tools (marked with your names). Bring your own bottle of water and wear gloves.
If you have questions, please email me at [email protected].

Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, www.orucc.org, Madison, WI 53711

Transition Team & Search Team Update

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 8, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Update from Transition Team & Search Team

(submitted by Tammy Martens)

 

The Transition Team includes Karen Jaehnig, Paul Vash, Rachael Lancor, Marc Walker, Julia Burkey and Tammy Martens. One of the goals of this team is to set up contingency plans if there is not a person in place before Tammy leaves. And even if a person is in place, there most likely would be need for extra support as that person begins her/her ministry here. This is a summary of what we covered in our March meeting:

  • Julie Mazer is interested in serving as interim administrator to the 9:00 Sunday programming—getting communication out to parents, setting up SS rooms, supporting teachers, etc. Julia, Julie and Tammy will continue to explore this idea.

  • The point was raised that because Tammy is leaving in August, there may be people/families who will not be able to attend her going away celebration because they will be out of town. It was decided to have a fun celebratory weekend June 3-5. June 5th is the last Sunday of our 9:00 programming year for children and youth. Our church has contracted with Monkey Business Institute here in Madison—an improv group—and we are set for a night of improv on Friday, June 3. The transition team will decide on what we should do for a meal before improv.

  • We are going ahead with “Kids in the Garden” program this summer. Rachael Lancor has agreed to organize and oversee the program. She will recruit a few other volunteers. This program is offered for kids and youth during 10:00 worship every Sunday in the summer starting June 12.

  • The team also discussed the need for a point person(s) to be a on a mission trip team. Tammy is working on this.

  • Tammy and Julia will begin working on a covenant that will help to define Tammy’s relationship with the church after she departs as Associate Pastor.

It is also important to share that Rob Martens will continue as Tru Function director after Tammy’s departure.

The Search Team includes Nancy Wettersten (chair), Suzanne Olajos, Jerry Hagen, Susan Watson, Kristin Muckian, and two youth—Josie Gasser and Josie Gilbert.

 

The Search Team submitted the ORUCC profile to the Wisconsin Conference and that is now posted. Go to this link to read the Associate Pastor opening description. When you get to that page you can click on “Download More Information” to read our church’s profile.

The Search Team is reviewing profiles and will have their first Zoom interview this month. They hope to give a further update soon.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for April 7

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 7, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 04/10/2022

Sunday April 10th

Palm Sunday Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Deanna Blanchard

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Adult Programming

Prospective New Member Class

in the Day Room

9:00 am Sunday School

For Kindergarten through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Craft/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections

(for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, April 10

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Dick Rossmiller

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, April 11

7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

John Lemke

Romero Room

Care of Creation

Tuesday, April 12

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Sara Roberts

Zoom

Over 55

Wednesday, April 13

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Steve Sheets

Friendship Hall

Resource Meeting

Wednesday, April 13

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Jon Blanchard

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, April 15

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Maundy Thursday Agape Meals April 14

On April 14th Maundy Thursday some wonderful hosts at ORUCC are opening their homes and inviting you to share a meal with Middle Eastern cuisine, to have communion over the meal, to casually connect with each other to build and strengthen our relationships. This practice is also known as an Agape Meal or Love feast. Christians from all over the world will gather to remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples.

 

Sign up for a Meal!

(LINK)

We have 4 slots left! Two at the Anderman’s on the East Side and Two at the Drewsen’s on the West Side! When you sign up to attend a meal, please indicate whether you have any dietary restrictions. The host will contact you directly to give any further instructions. We ask that everyone be vaccinated and boosted who attends or have a negative COVID test within 24 hours before the gathering. We invite people to arrive masked, and remove masks for meals. Hopefully the weather is nice so that we can enjoy indoor-outdoor space.

 

Good Friday April 15

At 6pm in our Worship Hall we will share in a contemplative Good Friday service with Madison Mennonite Church. We may have a Labyrinth walk from 5-7:30 for some introspective devotional time before or after the 6pm service.

Easter April 17

6:00 am Sunrise Service & Breakfast–In person sunrise service on ORUCC lawn, followed by breakfast together in Friendship Hall.

10:00 am Easter service will be in-person and live-streamed followed by an Easter Egg hunt on our church grounds.

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

Over 55 Returns Wednesday, April 13 @ 11:30

Yes, Over 55 will return in-person on Wednesday, April 13th, gathering at 11:30, buffet luncheon at 12, program at 12:30.

All are welcome to Over 55, masks are required unless eating. The delicious buffet prepared by our faithful catering team is $8 per person.

Our program will feature retired County Court Commissioner Todd Meuer. In his role as a court commissioner Mr. Meuer handled traffic cases, bail arraignment and initial appearances. He will speak to those experiences and answer questions. If you have questions about how to handle your next traffic ticket this will be your opportunity!

Please RSVP

In order that our catering team has an anticipated attendance we ask that you notify me, Steve Sheets, by Email of your intent to attend, or by phone 608-225-4052.

We look forward to sharing time with you Wednesday, April 13 at 11:30.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of April 7 – April 13

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

April Compassion Offering

Common Wealth Development



Common Wealth Development, a 40 plus year old non-profit, uses a people’s first philosophy to work in solidarity with the people we serve in our communities. CWD, uses a housing and employment approach to help stabilize families, thus contributing to stable neighborhoods. Under our racial justice and health equity model, Common Wealth works with a diversity of people, many who may face significant challenges in housing, employment, literacy and transportation.

In the South West neighborhood, CWD owns and manages > 200 low income housing units. We are proud to have opened our newest residential building on Raymond Road in August 2021. The first floor accommodates offices for our staff in addition to offices for our partners in the neighborhood: Joining Forces for Families and RISE Wisconsin with the Early Childhood Initiative.  ORUCC has been a great partner who helped to establish the STEP program within the Work Force Development mission. Through ORUCC financial aid and volunteers, this program has assisted many neighbors in securing stable employment.

Common Wealth also provides incubation space at for first and second stage new businesses to help spur economic development. Our business incubators, Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St and Main Street Industries, 931 E. Mains St, provide affordable rents for tenants.

We at Common Wealth, are grateful for the support of ORUCC. For more information about Common Wealth Development, go to CWD.org and learn more about CWD’s Adult Workforce Development activities by watching the video. 

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:45

April 10–Dick Rossmiller

April 17–No Java & Jesus

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Garden Tenders Saturday, April 16



We have a schedule of when the city will pick up yard waste – leaves and plant debris- (the week of April 17) so we should gather the Saturday prior to that to get it ready. Beneficial insects live in leaf litter in the winter and spring through May so we can leave the rain garden alone in April. More native plantings are planned for this spring to promote our support of the environment and to make maintenance easier. 

The city will collect brush left at the curb the weeks of:

May 8

June 12

July 24. 

You can help beautify the church landscape once a year, once a month or once a week. If you check in that you can help, it is more likely we can have treats. Dates to add to your calendar: 

Saturday, April 16 from 10-noon.

Saturday, May 7 from 10-noon (Also a planting opportunity!)

Sunday, May 15 is Worship and Work Sunday for the annual clean up, planting and mulching extravaganza! 

Saturday, June 11 from 10- noon. Special lilac pruning this year!!!

Saturday, July 23 from 10-noon. 

You are also invited to the church yard on Wednesday mornings in the summer to tidy flower beds from 9 -10. See ATTACHMENT for more details and feel free to comment on proposals. 

Joyce Pohl

 

Immigration Justice News

GIFT CARD SUNDAY-MARCH 20, 2022 SUCCESS

Thanks to the generosity of our two congregations, the Orchard Ridge UCC and the Madison Mennonite Church, we raised over $2,000 in gift cards, bus passes and donations for Afghan resettlement in Dane County. The effort was coordinated by the Immigration Justice Mission Team, a joint committee composed of members from both congregations. Jewish Social Services, working with Open Doors For Refugees, will put the cards to good use by our newest neighbors immediately.

In particular, we want to recognize the following mission team members who worked to make this possible: Ruthanne Landsness, Baxter Richardson, Mark Bauman, Carol Troyer-Shank, and Jill Westberg McNamara.

Family Game Night is back!

Join us in Friendship Hall on the first Friday of the month 6-8 pm for games and socializing. Bring your favorite board game and a dish to share for a potluck supper. Mark your calendars for May 6. Also save the date for a special fun night on June 3 featuring improv! 

Movie Group Returns April 22nd 7 P.M.

The ORUCC Movie Group is back on Friday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. We have lively discussions and a light dessert. All are welcome. WE WILL BE MASKED UNLESS WE’RE EATING. On the 22nd Academy Award nominees and winners will be discussed. Please let Steve Sheets know that you plan to attend so that a list of the nominees and where to see them can be provided to you. Mark your calendars: April 22nd, 7 p.m.
Gala Ad Mid-month.png

The Crossing Annual Gala



LAST CHANCE to purchase tickets to The Crossing campus ministry Gala. Ticket sales end April 10th. This is a place where all students can belong in community, explore their beliefs, and become their authentic selves. Please join us to celebrate the important work The Crossing does with UW students of faith! Purchase your tickets, purchase a ticket for a student, or donate to The Crossing at https://thecrossinggala2022.eventbrite.com. Questions? Contact Sue Dixon at 608-712-9050.

 

Wayfinding for Seniors Returns!

Wednesday, May 18, 9:30 am – 11:30 am

 

After a long hiatus, waiting out you-know-what, Wayfinding is ready to get back up and running.  So if you see yourself as a “senior,” please join us on Wednesday, May 18, for a chance to reconnect and envision our future.

 

Lucky for us, Pastor Julia is experienced with senior programming. So we’re very grateful she’ll be taking the lead on shaping the future of Wayfinding.  One decision that’s been made is that, going forward, we’ll be narrowing the focus of Wayfinding to address the spiritual aspects of aging and end of life — i.e., the very real challenges of getting older, the spiritual qualities that help meet these challenges, useful spiritual resources, and how we make sense of it all. 

 

For the fall we’re envisioning a series of “cafe-style” meetups on a regular basis.  They will provide a chance to connect around specific issues and gain strength for our journeys.

 

On May 18 we’ll begin with inquiry.  Julia would like to know: What are the spiritual tasks of aging as you experience them? Are you finding new wisdom (or humor!) as part of aging? What are the unique challenges elders face? (Of course being a 65-yr-old is quite different from being a 90-yr-old, so “senior /elder” encompasses a range of things.)  We’ll use this input to further plan our cafes for 2022-23.  

 

Date:  Wednesday, May 18.  Time 9:30-11:30.  Place: ORUCC Fellowship Hall.

No need to RSVP. For more information contact [email protected]. 

 

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially installed as our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday April 3rd and advises that:

 

The COVID Response Team met this past Sunday, April 3. After considering the current trends in the region, the team determined that the plans for Maundy Thursday and Easter should go forward as planned, with current mitigations in place: 

For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. We will purchase test kits in the office for those who wish to use them.   Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event, and food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

We are also starting to ask how we will “know” when it is time to increase or decrease our mitigations. While we haven’t made any decisions yet, in the meantime we are making some incremental changes. For one, the choir has been empowered to make their own determination regarding masking during their performance of special music during worship. You may have also noticed the resumption of using the Friendship Pads! We will continue to make these small resumptions as conditions allow.

While this represents a slight increase in risk, we also recognize that by wearing an N95 mask – freely available outside Worship Hall – the wearer essentially ensures that nobody can be considered a “close contact” during worship — it would take hours of continuous exposure to an unmasked individual for this to be the case! This frees us from the need to be concerned with “contact tracing,” etc. if any of our friends test positive for COVID — although we do appreciate being able to pray for them during Joys & Concerns. Please keep telling us when you test positive for COVID after being in worship or at a church function.

The team will next meet on May 1, when we will consider the effects of these changes and what the appropriate next steps might be.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist



Click here to sign up as a Coffee-Maker

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia In the Beginning was the Meal April 3 Click Here



Pastor Julia The Spiritual Practice of Tree Climbing March 20 Click Here

Pastor Ken Weeping & Lamenting March 13 Click Here

Pastor Julia Our Journey of Lent March 6 Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Worship Resources for April 3

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 2, 2022

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Worship Resources 04.03.2022
Lent 5
Image: Last Supper, Polish artist Bohdan Piasecki 1998

You are invited!
April 3rd Worship & Programming
10:00 am Worship
Preaching: Julia Burkey
Sermon: In the Beginning was the Meal
Liturgists: Ken Pennings, Tammy Martens, Ginny Stiles
Join our Worship virtually
on YouTube any time after 10 am:
You will need to refresh the page
after 10 am if you have opened it before
9:00 am
Social Justice Programming
Friendship Hall
Led by members of ORUCC’s Care of Creation Team
 ”The Problem with Plastics and What We Can Do About It.”
We’ll talk about how the manufacturing of plastics contributes to global warming, and that a huge concern is how they affect the health of our planet and all that lives upon it as they proliferate and accumulate. Finally, we’ll talk about how we as individuals can do our part, both in the everyday choices we make, and in how we can influence government policy to hold corporations responsible for the entire lifecycle of the plastic products they manufacture.
9:00 am Sunday School
Crafts/music for children through 8th grade.
10:00 am Music Connections & Craft/Play time
Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections
(for 2nd graders and older)
or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).
Java & Jesus
April 3rd, at 11:45 am, by Zoom
Dan Rossmiller facilitating
All are welcome!
Please join us even if this is your first time!
 
 Please read ahead of time and come prepared to discuss a chapter from the book The Naked Now by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest and popular author, who uses anecdotes and personal experience in examining differences between Eastern and Western religions and posits lessons we might learn from the training certain Buddhist monks.
Meeting ID: 826 5367 7444
Passcode: 943784
Dial: +1 312 626 6799
April Compassion Offering
Common Wealth Development
Common Wealth Development, a 40 plus year old non-profit, uses a people’s first philosophy to work in solidarity with the people we serve in our communities. CWD, uses a housing and employment approach to help stabilize families, thus contributing to stable neighborhoods. Under our racial justice and health equity model, Common Wealth works with a diversity of people, many who may face significant challenges in housing, employment, literacy and transportation.
 
In the South West neighborhood, CWD owns and manages > 200 low income housing units. We are proud to have opened our newest residential building on Raymond Road in August 2021. The first floor accommodates offices for our staff in addition to offices for our partners in the neighborhood: Joining Forces for Families and RISE Wisconsin with the Early Childhood Initiative.  ORUCC has been a great partner who helped to establish the STEP program within the Work Force Development mission. Through ORUCC financial aid and volunteers, this program has assisted many neighbors in securing stable employment.
 
Common Wealth also provides incubation space at for first and second stage new businesses to help spur economic development. Our business incubators, Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St and Main Street Industries, 931 E. Mains St, provide affordable rents for tenants.
 
We at Common Wealth, are grateful for the support of ORUCC. For more information about Common Wealth Development, go to CWD.org and learn more about CWD’s Adult Workforce Development activities by watching the video. 
 
 
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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine
Office Manager Julie Wombacher available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available
Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
by appointment
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available
Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm by appointment
608-957-3184 or EMAIL
Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available
Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm by appointment
608-556-2371 EMAIL
All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.
Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.
LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page
JOIN our Private FB Group:
Follow us on Instagram @orchardridgeucc
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC – Help Decorate the Worship Hall for Easter

Orchard Ridge UCC on April 1, 2022

Happy Easter

We need four able-bodied volunteers to help decorate the Worship Hall for Easter and to set up for the Easter Sunrise Service

on Saturday, April 16th, 10 am till noon.

Click here to sign up
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for March 31

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 31, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 04/03/2022

Sunday April 3rd Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Ginny Stiles

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Care of Creation – “The Problem with Plastics and What We Can Do About It”

Friendship Hall

9:00 am Sunday School

Crafts/music for children through 8th grade

10:00 am Music Connections & Craft/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections

(for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, April 3

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

Knitting Group

Monday, April 4

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Sandra Dyar

Foyer

Adult Faith Formation

Tuesday, April 5

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Nathan Bubenzer

Zoom

Good Enough Devotional

Wednesday, April 6

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Julia Burkey

Zoom

See Below

Women’s Book Group

Thursday, April 7

1:30 pm – 3:00

Jan Christian

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, April 8

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Maundy Thursday Agape Meals April 14

On April 14th Maundy Thursday some wonderful hosts at ORUCC are opening their homes and inviting you to share a meal with Middle Eastern cuisine, to have communion over the meal, to casually connect with each other to build and strengthen our relationships. This practice is also known as an Agape Meal or Love feast. Christians from all over the world will gather to remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples.

 

Sign up for a Meal!

(LINK)

So far we have 56 slots, and if these meals get good traffic and fill up quickly, we will reach out to more hosts. Please consider as you read this if you might feel a call to host one of these meals, then reach out to me to explore the idea.

 

When you sign up to attend a meal, please indicate whether you have any dietary restrictions. The host will contact you directly to give any further instructions. We ask that everyone be vaccinated and boosted who attends or have a negative COVID test within 24 hours before the gathering. We invite people to arrive masked, and remove masks for meals. Hopefully the weather is nice so that we can enjoy indoor-outdoor space.

 

Good Friday April 15

At 6pm in our Worship Hall we will share in a contemplative Good Friday service with Madison Mennonite Church. We may have a Labyrinth walk from 5-7:30 for some introspective devotional time before or after the 6pm service.

Easter April 17

6:00 am Sunrise Service & Breakfast–In person sunrise service on ORUCC lawn, followed by breakfast together in Friendship Hall.

10:00 am Easter service will be in-person and live-streamed followed by an Easter Egg hunt on our church grounds.

9am Social Justice Programming

Care of Creation

Sunday April 3

 “The Problem with Plastics and What We Can Do About It.”

We’ll talk about how the manufacturing of plastics contributes to global warming, and that a huge concern is how they affect the health of our planet and all that lives upon it as they proliferate and accumulate. Finally, we’ll talk about how we as individuals can do our part, both in the everyday choices we make, and in how we can influence government policy to hold corporations responsible for the entire lifecycle of the plastic products they manufacture.

Join for mid-week devotionals with Pastor Julia, Wednesday 5:30pm-6pm March 16 – April 6

ZOOM link: Good Enough

Join Zoom Meeting

us02web.zoom.us/j/83418572981pwd=bzNhVFRWbGFsZVhRZmg1cFRRdjlxdz09

Meeting ID: 834 1857 2981

Passcode: 150575

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

    

Meeting ID: 834 1857 2981

Find your local number: us02web.zoom.us/u/kcOzUk20T9

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

Over 55 Returns Wednesday, April 13 @ 11:30

Yes, Over 55 will return in-person on Wednesday, April 13th, gathering at 11:30, buffet luncheon at 12, program at 12:30.

All are welcome to Over 55, masks are required unless eating. The delicious buffet prepared by our faithful catering team is $8 per person.

Our program will feature retired County Court Commissioner Todd Meuer. In his role as a court commissioner Mr. Meuer handled traffic cases, bail arraignment and initial appearances. He will speak to those experiences and answer questions. If you have questions about how to handle your next traffic ticket this will be your opportunity!

Please RSVP

In order that our catering team has an anticipated attendance we ask that you notify me, Steve Sheets, by Email of your intent to attend, or by phone 608-225-4052.

We look forward to sharing time with you Wednesday, April 13 at 11:30.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of March 31 – April 6

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

April Compassion Offering

Common Wealth Development



Common Wealth Development, a 40 plus year old non-profit, uses a people’s first philosophy to work in solidarity with the people we serve in our communities. CWD, uses a housing and employment approach to help stabilize families, thus contributing to stable neighborhoods. Under our racial justice and health equity model, Common Wealth works with a diversity of people, many who may face significant challenges in housing, employment, literacy and transportation.

In the South West neighborhood, CWD owns and manages > 200 low income housing units. We are proud to have opened our newest residential building on Raymond Road in August 2021. The first floor accommodates offices for our staff in addition to offices for our partners in the neighborhood: Joining Forces for Families and RISE Wisconsin with the Early Childhood Initiative.  ORUCC has been a great partner who helped to establish the STEP program within the Work Force Development mission. Through ORUCC financial aid and volunteers, this program has assisted many neighbors in securing stable employment.

Common Wealth also provides incubation space at for first and second stage new businesses to help spur economic development. Our business incubators, Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St and Main Street Industries, 931 E. Mains St, provide affordable rents for tenants.

We at Common Wealth, are grateful for the support of ORUCC. For more information about Common Wealth Development, go to CWD.org and learn more about CWD’s Adult Workforce Development activities by watching the video. 

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:45

April 3–Dan Rossmiller

April 10–Dick Rossmiller

April 17–No Java & Jesus

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Garden Tenders Saturday, April 16

(Due to inclement weather we have rescheduled the work day to April 16) 



We have a schedule of when the city will pick up yard waste – leaves and plant debris- (the weeks of April 3 and April 17) so we should gather the Saturday prior to that to get it ready. Beneficial insects live in leaf litter in the winter and spring through May so we can leave the rain garden alone in April. More native plantings are planned for this spring to promote our support of the environment and to make maintenance easier. 

The city will collect brush left at the curb the weeks of:

April 3

May 8

June 12

July 24. 

You can help beautify the church landscape once a year, once a month or once a week. If you check in that you can help, it is more likely we can have treats. Dates to add to your calendar: 

Saturday, April 16 from 10-noon.

Saturday, May 7 from 10-noon (Also a planting opportunity!)

Sunday, May 15 is Worship and Work Sunday for the annual clean up, planting and mulching extravaganza! 

Saturday, June 11 from 10- noon. Special lilac pruning this year!!!

Saturday, July 23 from 10-noon. 

You are also invited to the church yard on Wednesday mornings in the summer to tidy flower beds from 9 -10. See ATTACHMENT for more details and feel free to comment on proposals. 

Joyce Pohl

 

Immigration Justice News

GIFT CARD SUNDAY-MARCH 20, 2022 SUCCESS

Thanks to the generosity of our two congregations, the Orchard Ridge UCC and the Madison Mennonite Church, we raised over $2,000 in gift cards, bus passes and donations for Afghan resettlement in Dane County. The effort was coordinated by the Immigration Justice Mission Team, a joint committee composed of members from both congregations. Jewish Social Services, working with Open Doors For Refugees, will put the cards to good use by our newest neighbors immediately.

In particular, we want to recognize the following mission team members who worked to make this possible: Ruthanne Landsness, Baxter Richardson, Mark Bauman, Carol Troyer-Shank, and Jill Westberg McNamara.

Friday Breakfast Group April 1

Join us for Friday Breakfast Group April 1 at 8:30 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. The group meets on the first Friday of the month and is open to all, both men and women. It is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Contact Louise Jeanne, LINK for more information.

Women’s Book Group

 

Women’s Book Group meets next on April 7, Thursday, on Zoom from 1:30-3:00. We will discuss the novel The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in Texas in 1934, the story is seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman who will discover the best in herself in the worst of times.

 

On May 5, we focus on another novel: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. A man with a condition unknown to medical science–in which some people age at a much slower rate than is typical–learns what is truly important in life.

 

A couple of days before each meeting, we will automatically send to women on our list the link to our Zoom meeting. If you are not on our list but would like to join us, even if just for one time, please let Jan Christian know at [email protected] or 827-0500, and we will make sure you receive the link.

Family Game Night is back!

Join us in Friendship Hall on the first Friday of the month 6-8 pm for games and socializing. Bring your favorite board game and a dish to share for a potluck supper. Mark your calendars for April 1 & May 6. Also save the date for a special fun night on June 3 featuring improv! 

Movie Group Returns April 22nd 7 P.M.

The ORUCC Movie Group is back on Friday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. We have lively discussions and a light dessert. All are welcome. WE WILL BE MASKED UNLESS WE’RE EATING. On the 22nd Academy Award nominees and winners will be discussed. Please let Steve Sheets know that you plan to attend so that a list of the nominees and where to see them can be provided to you. Mark your calendars: April 22nd, 7 p.m.

The Crossing Annual Gala



You are invited to The Crossing campus ministry Gala in April! Many of you have donated your time, talents & gifts to The Crossing year after year and we thank you! The gala is an opportunity for you to meet some of the students and staff, listen to inspiring stories and celebrate this exciting ministry. This is a place where all students can belong in community, explore their beliefs, and become their authentic selves. We hope you can join us! Purchase your tickets (or purchase a ticket for a student)https://thecrossinggala2022.eventbrite.com. Questions? Contact Sue Dixon at 608-712-9050.

 

Wayfinding for Seniors Returns!

Wednesday, May 18, 9:30 am – 11:30 am

 

After a long hiatus, waiting out you-know-what, Wayfinding is ready to get back up and running.  So if you see yourself as a “senior,” please join us on Wednesday, May 18, for a chance to reconnect and envision our future.

 

Lucky for us, Pastor Julia is experienced with senior programming. So we’re very grateful she’ll be taking the lead on shaping the future of Wayfinding.  One decision that’s been made is that, going forward, we’ll be narrowing the focus of Wayfinding to address the spiritual aspects of aging and end of life — i.e., the very real challenges of getting older, the spiritual qualities that help meet these challenges, useful spiritual resources, and how we make sense of it all. 

 

For the fall we’re envisioning a series of “cafe-style” meetups on a regular basis.  They will provide a chance to connect around specific issues and gain strength for our journeys.

 

On May 18 we’ll begin with inquiry.  Julia would like to know: What are the spiritual tasks of aging as you experience them? Are you finding new wisdom (or humor!) as part of aging? What are the unique challenges elders face? (Of course being a 65-yr-old is quite different from being a 90-yr-old, so “senior /elder” encompasses a range of things.)  We’ll use this input to further plan our cafes for 2022-23.  

 

Date:  Wednesday, May 18.  Time 9:30-11:30.  Place: ORUCC Fellowship Hall.

No need to RSVP. For more information contact [email protected]. 

 

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially installed as our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday March 6th and advises that:

 

In worship:

• We will continue to wear high-quality masks (surgical / N95).

o This allows us to care for the vulnerable among us, while enabling other activities.

• We eliminate the “checkerboard” seating pattern: families and friends are encouraged to sit together in groups, with spacing between groups as their comfort level dictates.

• For those who prefer to sit in a low-density area, we will be adding spaced seating to the Crossroads.

 

For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, such as family game nights and potlucks, Over 55, and others: we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. 

ORUCC will purchase rapid test kits for greater access if needed.

• Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event;

• Food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

 

For memorial services and receptions, participants should remain masked except while actively eating or drinking.

We came together in light of the evolving guidance from the CDC, Dane County Public Health, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches. We continue to try to discern a path forward that balances a changing public health landscape, a community that longs to be together, and a call to be welcoming to all. Our group will meet again on April 3.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist



Click here to sign up as a Coffee-Maker

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia The Spiritual Practice of Tree Climbing March 20 Click Here

Pastor Ken Weeping & Lamenting March 13 Click Here

Pastor Julia Our Journey of Lent March 6 Click here

Pastor Julia Trans*figuration Feb 27 Click here

Pastor Julia Imagination & Play Feb. 20th Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Worship Resources for March 27

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 26, 2022

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Worship Resources 03.27.2022
Lent 4
You are invited!
March 27th Worship & Programming
10:00 am Worship
Preaching: Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey & Rev. Ari Douglas, pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Janesville and tri-chair of the Wisconsin Poor People’s Campaign
Sermon: “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Liturgists: Rev. Ken Pennings, Rev. Tammy Martens, Bruce Gladstone
Join our Worship virtually
on YouTube any time after 10 am:
You will need to refresh the page
after 10 am if you have opened it before
Join us in warmly welcoming members of the First Christian Church in Janesville and their pastor Rev. Ari Douglas for worship on March 27th
Rev. Ari Douglas often says that their first protest was in a stroller when their father risked arrest protesting missiles in Germany. They began their journey as an organizer during the summer following their 8th grade in establishing their high school’s Amnesty International chapter. In college they pursued a double major in history and political science, and shortly afterward attended Phillips Theological Seminary (in Tulsa, Oklahoma) for their Masters in Divinity. They have ministered to and with poor folx in Montana, Washington state, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Accepting the clergy all call to Standing Rock, they stood with Water Protectors there and in D.C. In 2018, they were involved in the first 40 days of nonviolent direct action with the Poor People’s Campaign and joined the Coordinating Committee for the Missouri Poor People’s Campaign. They moved to Wisconsin at the end of November 2019, as solo-pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Janesville. Soon after moving to Janesville, they joined the Coordinating Committee of the Wisconsin Poor People’s Campaign and in 2021 became one of the tri-chairs for the Wisconsin Poor People’s Campaign. Additionally, they are a doctoral student at Phillips Theological Seminary, where their primary focus is teaching clergy and laity to be activists.
9:00 am
Social Justice Programming
Friendship Hall
Heart Room – Stable Housing for Children and Families
Heart Room is a partnership ORUCC initiated to help families with young children find and keep stable housing. Join us to learn what’s new, and discuss what’s next.
Friendship Hall
9:00 am Sunday School
Crafts/music for children through 8th grade.
10:00 am Music Connections & Craft/Play time
Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections
(for 2nd graders and older)
or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).
Java & Jesus
March 27th, at 11:45 am, by Zoom
Dan Rossmiller facilitating
All are welcome!
Please join us even if this is your first time!
 
At its core Buddhism is a path of peace, compassion, and loving kindness. It is not so much a philosophy of the head but rather of the heart. Founded on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born into a noble family in northeast India near Nepal nearly 2,600 years ago, and who became known as the Buddha or “the awakened one.” Siddhartha lived a sheltered palace life until at age 29 he experienced a series of events that catapulted him onto an intense path of spiritual awakening that lasted for six years. At its peak he achieved enlightenment, or Nirvana. Knowing one day he would die, the Buddha exhaustively explained every minute detail of achieving enlightenment, breaking down every concept into categories and subcategories.
 
Buddhism is a philosophy of living consciously in this life in order to live forever in another life. Meditation goes hand in hand with mindfulness and is an important part of the Buddhist’s path. Buddhists see mindfulness meditation—a type of meditation that follows the breath through the body while at the same time developing an awareness of the body in general—as a means of reaching enlightenment.
 
Thich Nhat Hahn, who died in January of this year at the age of 95, was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who became a global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist, renowned for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings. He was also considered a
Zen Master.
 
This week’s reading explores The Last Supper through the eyes of Thich Nhat Hahn. It is Chapter 3 from Thich Nhat Hahn’s book Living Buddha, Living Christ, entitled “The First Supper.” It offers a Buddhist perspective on the Eucharist or Holy Communion.
Dan Rossmiller chose this reading because of the season of Lent and in recognition of the church youth learning about other religions and Buddhism in particular.
Meeting ID: 826 5367 7444
Passcode: 943784
Dial: +1 312 626 6799
March Compassion Offering
One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing®, an ecumenical offering sponsored in Lent by the United Church of Christ, provides humanitarian and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and the work for long- term recovery. Because the UCC works in partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response and recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.  
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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine
Office Manager Julie Wombacher available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available
Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
by appointment
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available
Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm by appointment
608-957-3184 or EMAIL
Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available
Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm by appointment
608-556-2371 EMAIL
All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.
Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.
LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page
JOIN our Private FB Group:
Follow us on Instagram @orchardridgeucc
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for March 24

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 24, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 03/24/2022

Sunday March 27th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Bruce Gladstone

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Heart Room – Stable Housing for Children and Families

Heart Room is a partnership ORUCC initiated to help families with young children find and keep stable housing. Join us to learn what’s new, and discuss what’s next.

Friendship Hall

9:00 am Sunday School

Crafts/music for children through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Craft/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections

(for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Mar 27

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, Mar 28

7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

John Lemke

Romero Room

Good Enough Devotional

Wednesday, Mar 30

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Julia Burkey

Zoom

See Below

Meditation Group

Friday, April 1

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

9am Social Justice Programming

Heart Room

Sunday March 27

 WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S NEXT? 

 

Heart Room is a pilot program we started and funded with partners to help families with young children find and keep stable housing long-term. Stable housing is a platform for children to grow up safe, healthy, happy and successful. We and our Heart Room partners provide generous financial support and services to families to meet their own goals to thrive. The Heart Room partners have begun exploring ideas to help more families and support them better. Please join us to learn what’s new and discuss what’s next! 

Join for mid-week devotionals with Pastor Julia, Wednesday 5:30pm-6pm March 16 – April 6

ZOOM link: Good Enough

Join Zoom Meeting

us02web.zoom.us/j/83418572981pwd=bzNhVFRWbGFsZVhRZmg1cFRRdjlxdz09

Meeting ID: 834 1857 2981

Passcode: 150575

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

    

Meeting ID: 834 1857 2981

Find your local number: us02web.zoom.us/u/kcOzUk20T9

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

www.ORUCC.org

Our new website has launched this week! Thank you for all the hard work from web designer Tapan Shah of Megh Designs and ORUCC’s website mission team including Ken Psyck, John Lemke, Chris Thomas, Pam Oliver, Gabe Martens and Julia Burkey. While we are still updating some of the content and fixing bugs, we think you will find it a big improvement. There is a link on the site if you see anything that needs fixing or want to offer suggestions for changes or additions to the content. Going forward we will add photographs and relevant content edits where appropriate.

Join Pastor Julia this Monday on capitol square as she joins a friend Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis who is a national organizer for The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival invites you to join poor and low-income, directly impacted people, faith leaders, and moral advocates from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota for the The Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls Mobilization Tour in person and online Monday March 28th. The March will begin at 5pm CT and the Mass Assembly at 6pm. The priorities and demands of poor and low-wealth Wisconsans and neighbors will be front and center as we continue to demonstrate the voting and moral power of those most impacted by the policy violence of the US Congress and state houses.

Somebody’s hurting our people, and it’s gone on far too long, and we WON’T BE SILENT ANYMORE!

The Mobilization Tour will make at least ten stops nationwide to do M.O.R.E.: Mobilize, Organize, Register and Educate people for a movement that votes as we move towards the Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls on June 18, 2022.

They will be joined by faith leaders and artists to demand this nation do MORE to live up to its possibilities: MORE to fully address the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation and the denial of health care, militarism and the war economy, and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism. MORE to change the narrative and build the power of those most impacted by these injustices. MORE to realize a 3rd Reconstruction agenda that can build this country from the bottom up and realize the nation we have yet to be. — The Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly & Moral March on Washington and to the Polls on June 18, 2022 will be a generationally-transformative declaration of the power of poor and low-wealth people and our moral allies to say that this system is killing ALL of us and we can’t…we won’t…we refuse to be silent anymore!

“It is NOT just a day of action. It is a declaration of an ongoing, committed moral movement to 1) Shift the moral narrative; 2) Build power; and 3) Make real policies to fully address poverty and low wealth from the bottom up.” —Bishop William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of March 24 – 30

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

March Compassion Offering

One Great Hour of Sharing



One Great Hour of Sharing®, an ecumenical offering sponsored in Lent by the United Church of Christ, provides humanitarian and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and the work for long- term recovery. Because the UCC works in partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response and recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.  

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:45

Mar 27–Dan Rossmiller

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

WANTED: CAR FOR FRIEND IN NEED

On March 29, a friend will be released from Oregon Correctional Services. He has spent many of his 60 years in and out of prison, but many things, at present, are very promising, including having a job in Windsor. Baxter has been with him almost 6 years and both are aware that having reliable transportation is a key part of the path forward.

The Car Donation Mission Team (Jon Blanchard, John Rasmussen, Baxter Richardson) is asking that you consider donating that older car. Thanks to a $1000.00 donation to the fund, we are able to help with any needed repairs with what, we hope, will be the 13th car donated. Contact the Car Donation Team with questions or suggestions.

Garden Tenders 

We have a schedule of when the city will pick up yard waste – leaves and plant debris- (the weeks of April 3 and April 17) so we should gather the Saturday prior to that to get it ready. Beneficial insects live in leaf litter in the winter and spring through May so we can leave the rain garden alone in April. More native plantings are planned for this spring to promote our support of the environment and to make maintenance easier. 

The city will collect brush left at the curb the weeks of:

April 3

May 8

June 12

July 24. 

You can help beautify the church landscape once a year, once a month or once a week. If you check in that you can help, it is more likely we can have treats. Dates to add to your calendar: 

Saturday, April 2 from 10-noon.

Saturday, May 7 from 10-noon (Also a planting opportunity!)

Sunday, May 15 is Worship and Work Sunday for the annual clean up, planting and mulching extravaganza! 

Saturday, June 11 from 10- noon. Special lilac pruning this year!!!

Saturday, July 23 from 10-noon. 

You are also invited to the church yard on Wednesday mornings in the summer to tidy flower beds from 9 -10. See ATTACHMENT for more details and feel free to comment on proposals. 

Joyce Pohl

 

Women’s Book Group

 

Women’s Book Group meets next on April 7, Thursday, on Zoom from 1:30-3:00. We will discuss the novel The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in Texas in 1934, the story is seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman who will discover the best in herself in the worst of times.

 

On May 5, we focus on another novel: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. A man with a condition unknown to medical science–in which some people age at a much slower rate than is typical–learns what is truly important in life.

 

A couple of days before each meeting, we will automatically send to women on our list the link to our Zoom meeting. If you are not on our list but would like to join us, even if just for one time, please let Jan Christian know at [email protected] or 827-0500, and we will make sure you receive the link.

Family Game Night is back!

Join us in Friendship Hall on the first Friday of the month 6-8 pm for games and socializing. Bring your favorite board game and a dish to share for a potluck supper. Mark your calendars for April 1 & May 6. Also save the date for a special fun night on June 3 featuring improv! 

Friday Breakfast Group April 1

Join us for Friday Breakfast Group April 1 at 8:30 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. The group meets on the first Friday of the month and is open to all, both men and women. It is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Contact Louise Jeanne, LINK for more information.

The Crossing Annual Gala



You are invited to The Crossing campus ministry Gala in April! Many of you have donated your time, talents & gifts to The Crossing year after year and we thank you! The gala is an opportunity for you to meet some of the students and staff, listen to inspiring stories and celebrate this exciting ministry. This is a place where all students can belong in community, explore their beliefs, and become their authentic selves. We hope you can join us! Purchase your tickets (or purchase a ticket for a student)https://thecrossinggala2022.eventbrite.com. Questions? Contact Sue Dixon at 608-712-9050.

 

Holy Week Events

Maundy Thursday Agape Meals April 14

On April 14th Maundy Thursday some wonderful hosts at ORUCC are opening their homes and inviting you to share a meal with Middle Eastern cuisine, to have communion over the meal, to casually connect with each other to build and strengthen our relationships. This practice is also known as an Agape Meal or Love feast. Christians from all over the world will gather to remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples.

 

Sign up for a Meal!

(LINK)

So far we have 56 slots, and if these meals get good traffic and fill up quickly, we will reach out to more hosts. Please consider as you read this if you might feel a call to host one of these meals, then reach out to me to explore the idea.

 

When you sign up to attend a meal, please indicate whether you have any dietary restrictions. The host will contact you directly to give any further instructions. We ask that everyone be vaccinated and boosted who attends or have a negative COVID test within 24 hours before the gathering. We invite people to arrive masked, and remove masks for meals. Hopefully the weather is nice so that we can enjoy indoor-outdoor space.

 

Good Friday April 15

At 6pm in our Worship Hall we will share in a contemplative Good Friday service with Madison Mennonite Church. We may have a Labyrinth walk from 5-7:30 for some introspective devotional time before or after the 6pm service.

Easter April 17

6:00 am Sunrise Service & Easter Egg Hunt–In person sunrise service on ORUCC lawn, followed by breakfast together in Friendship Hall. Sunday School and adult programming are on pause for Easter, so that we can have this time of food and fun instead. 10 am Easter service will be live and live-streamed and following service we will have an Easter Egg hunt on our church grounds.

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially installed as our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday March 6th and advises that:

 

In worship:

• We will continue to wear high-quality masks (surgical / N95).

o This allows us to care for the vulnerable among us, while enabling other activities.

• We eliminate the “checkerboard” seating pattern: families and friends are encouraged to sit together in groups, with spacing between groups as their comfort level dictates.

• For those who prefer to sit in a low-density area, we will be adding spaced seating to the Crossroads.

 

For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, such as family game nights and potlucks, Over 55, and others: we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. 

ORUCC will purchase rapid test kits for greater access if needed.

• Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event;

• Food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

 

For memorial services and receptions, participants should remain masked except while actively eating or drinking.

We came together in light of the evolving guidance from the CDC, Dane County Public Health, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches. We continue to try to discern a path forward that balances a changing public health landscape, a community that longs to be together, and a call to be welcoming to all. Our group will meet again on April 3.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist



Click here to sign up as a Coffee-Maker

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia The Spiritual Practice of Tree Climbing March 20 Click Here

Pastor Ken Weeping & Lamenting March 13 Click Here

Pastor Julia Our Journey of Lent March 6 Click here

Pastor Julia Trans*figuration Feb 27 Click here

Pastor Julia Imagination & Play Feb. 20th Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Lent Devotional Tonight ZOOM 5:30-6pm

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 23, 2022

Join Pastor Julia for a Lent Devotional tonight!

I would love for you to join me for these short Mid-Week Devotionals over ZOOM continuing TODAY March 23rd, March 30th & April 6th from 5:30-6pm

Join for any or all of these. I will lead a devotional for about 10 minutes and then we will have about 20 minutes to connect and chat.

“Written gently and with humor, Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals For a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie is permission for all those who need to hear that there are some things you can fix—and some things you can’t. And it’s okay that life isn’t always better. In these gorgeously written reflections, Bowler and Richie offer fresh imagination for how truth, beauty, and meaning can be discovered amid the chaos of life.

Their words celebrate kindness, honesty, and interdependence in a culture that rewards ruthless individualism and blind optimism.

Ultimately, in these pages we can rest in the encouragement to strive for what is possible today—while recognizing that though we are finite, the life in front of us can be beautiful.”

Join for mid-week devotionals with Pastor Julia, Wednesday 5:30pm-6pm March 16 – April 6

ZOOM link: Good Enough

us02web.zoom.us/j/83418572981?pwd=bzNhVFRWbGFsZVhRZmg1cFRRdjlxdz09

Meeting ID: 834 1857 2981

Passcode: 150575

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

    

Meeting ID: 834 1857 2981

Find your local number: us02web.zoom.us/u/kcOzUk20T9

I hope that these devotionals are accessible for the busy parent or teacher, the hopeful recent retiree, the weary caregiver, the devoted choir member, those who are grieving, those who are looking for delight and humor amidst the mess of life. I hope you can join for a little time of connection and prayer.

Warmly and with love,

Pastor Julia

Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC — Remembering Edith Arny

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 23, 2022

In Loving Memory
of Edith Arny
(1919-2022)
 
ORUCC charter member Edith Arny, age 102, died in her sleep on March 21, 2022. Edith died just four days before her 103rd birthday. There are no plans yet for a Memorial Service, but eventually Edith’s ashes will be interred in our Garth on the church property.
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, www.orucc.org, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for March 17

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 17, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 03/17/2022

Sunday March 20th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Jill Westberg

Bring gift-cards for Afghan refugees!

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Palestinian Justice

The curriculum title “How Are the Children?” comes from an African Masai greeting which acknowledges no society can be considered healthy and thriving if its children are under attack

Friendship Hall

9:00 am Sunday School

For children through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Crafts/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections

(for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Mar 20

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

Immigration Justice Mission Team

Tuesday, Mar 22

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Ruthanne Landsness

Zoom

Good Enough Devotional

Wednesday, Mar 23

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Julia Burkey

Zoom

See Below

Meditation Group

Friday, March 25

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday March 6th and advises that:

 

In worship:

• We will continue to wear high-quality masks (surgical / N95).

o This allows us to care for the vulnerable among us, while enabling other activities.

• We eliminate the “checkerboard” seating pattern: families and friends are encouraged to sit together in groups, with spacing between groups as their comfort level dictates.

• For those who prefer to sit in a low-density area, we will be adding spaced seating to the Crossroads.

 

For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, such as family game nights and potlucks, Over 55, and others: we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. 

ORUCC will purchase rapid test kits for greater access if needed.

• Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event;

• Food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

 

For memorial services and receptions, participants should remain masked except while actively eating or drinking.

We came together in light of the evolving guidance from the CDC, Dane County Public Health, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches. We continue to try to discern a path forward that balances a changing public health landscape, a community that longs to be together, and a call to be welcoming to all. Our group will meet again on April 3.

Upcoming 9am Social Justice Programming

Palestinian Justice

Sunday March 20

Rev. Diane Dulin and Thomas Beilman facilitating

How Are the Children? 

Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Detention

A video curriculum for UCC audiences

The curriculum title “How Are the Children?” comes from an African Masai greeting which acknowledges no society can be considered healthy and thriving if its children are under attack. In this video curriculum, we hear Palestinian children describe their experiences under Israeli military detention, and we hear UCC national executive leaders bear witness to the injustices they have witnessed personally. The curriculum concludes with recommendations for further education and action on behalf of Palestinian children. For more information: [email protected]  

Join for mid-week devotionals with Pastor Julia, Wednesday 5:30pm-6pm March 16 – April 6

ZOOM link: Good Enough

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

www.ORUCC.org

Our new website has launched this week! Thank you for all the hard work from web designer Tapan Shah of Megh Designs and ORUCC’s website mission team including Ken Psyck, John Lemke, Chris Thomas, Pam Oliver, Gabe Martens and Julia Burkey. While we are still updating some of the content and fixing bugs, we think you will find it a big improvement. There is a link on the site if you see anything that needs fixing or want to offer suggestions for changes or additions to the content. Going forward we will add photographs and relevant content edits where appropriate.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of March 17- 23

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

March Compassion Offering

One Great Hour of Sharing



One Great Hour of Sharing®, an ecumenical offering sponsored in Lent by the United Church of Christ, provides humanitarian and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and the work for long- term recovery. Because the UCC works in partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response and recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.  

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:45

Mar 20–Dan Rossmiller

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

WANTED: CAR FOR FRIEND IN NEED

On March 29, a friend will be released from Oregon Correctional Services. He has spent many of his 60 years in and out of prison, but many things, at present, are very promising, including having a job in Windsor. Baxter has been with him almost 6 years and both are aware that having reliable transportation is a key part of the path forward.

The Car Donation Mission Team (Jon Blanchard, John Rasmussen, Baxter Richardson) is asking that you consider donating that older car. Thanks to a $1000.00 donation to the fund, we are able to help with any needed repairs with what, we hope, will be the 13th car donated. Contact the Car Donation Team with questions or suggestions.

Immigration Justice News

Today–Gift Card Sunday

Announcing Gift Card Sunday, March 20, 2022!  The Immigration Justice Team invites you to purchase a gift card or bus pass for newly settled Afghans in Dane County. Purchase gift cards from Woodman’s, Pick n Save, Target, Walmart, or Burlington Coat Factory. Bus passes can be purchased from HyVee and Pick n Save (30-day, unlimited ride is great!). Gift cards and bus passes will be collected during worship on Sunday, March 20. All will be delivered to Jewish Social Services (JSJS) and Open Doors for Refugees (ODFR) for assistance to Afghan refugees. Thank you in advance for your purchase!

Easter is Coming!



We will be decorating our sanctuary with many different kinds of flowers again this year for the Easter Season. We invite you to donate to this in honor or in memory of a loved one. Plants are $16. Forms will be in your bulletins on Sunday and must be returned to the church office by Today. If you are watching at home and would like to participate please send your check with flowers in the memo line and who you would like this to be in honor of or in memory of.

Women’s Book Group

 

Women’s Book Group Meets next on April 7, Thursday, on Zoom from 1:30-3:00. We will discuss the novel The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in Texas in 1934, the story is seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman who will discover the best in herself in the worst of times.

 

On May 5, we focus on another novel: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. A man with a condition unknown to medical science–in which some people age at a much slower rate than is typical–learns what is truly important in life.

 

A couple of days before each meeting, we will automatically send to women on our list the link to our Zoom meeting. If you are not on our list but would like to join us, even if just for one time, please let Jan Christian know at [email protected] or 827-0500, and we will make sure you receive the link.

Family Game Night is back!

Join us in Friendship Hall on the first Friday of the month 6-8 pm for games and socializing. Bring your favorite board game and a dish to share for a potluck supper. Mark your calendars for April 8 & May 6. Also save the date for a special game night on June 3 featuring improv! 

The Crossing Annual Gala



You are invited to The Crossing campus ministry Gala in April! Many of you have donated your time, talents & gifts to The Crossing year after year and we thank you! The gala is an opportunity for you to meet some of the students and staff, listen to inspiring stories and celebrate this exciting ministry. This is a place where all students can belong in community, explore their beliefs, and become their authentic selves. We hope you can join us! Purchase your tickets (or purchase a ticket for a student)https://thecrossinggala2022.eventbrite.com. Questions? Contact Sue Dixon at 608-712-9050.

 

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially installed as our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist



Click here to sign up as a Coffee-Maker

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Our Journey of Lent March 6 Click here

Pastor Julia Trans*figuration Feb 27 Click here

Pastor Julia Imagination & Play Feb. 20th Click here

Pastor Julia Leaven of Love Feb. 13th Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Weekly Announcements for March 10

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 10, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 03/10/2022

(Daylight Savings Time weekend)

Sunday March 13th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Ken Pennings

Liturgists: Alice & David Anderman

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Palestinian Justice

Friendship Hall

9:00 am Sunday School

For children through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Crafts/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections

(for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Mar 13

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Baxter Richardson

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, Mar 14

7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Romero Room

Leadership Team

Tuesday, Mar 15

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Barbara Stretchberry, Moderator

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, March 18

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

The COVID Response Team met on Sunday March 6th and advises that:

 

In worship:

• We will continue to wear high-quality masks (surgical / N95).

o This allows us to care for the vulnerable among us, while enabling other activities.

• We eliminate the “checkerboard” seating pattern: families and friends are encouraged to sit together in groups, with spacing between groups as their comfort level dictates.

• For those who prefer to sit in a low-density area, we will be adding spaced seating to the Crossroads.

 

For group activities, especially those that traditionally include food, such as family game nights and potlucks, Over 55, and others: we ask that all participants are either vaccinated & boosted or have had a negative rapid antigen test within the previous day. 

ORUCC will purchase rapid test kits for greater access if needed.

• Masks will be required for the programming portion of the event;

• Food and beverage are welcomed; groups should maintain spacing while eating.

 

For memorial services and receptions, participants should remain masked except while actively eating or drinking.

We came together in light of the evolving guidance from the CDC, Dane County Public Health, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches. We continue to try to discern a path forward that balances a changing public health landscape, a community that longs to be together, and a call to be welcoming to all. Our group will meet again on April 3.

Upcoming 9am Social Justice Programming

Palestinian Justice

Sunday March 20

Rev. Diane Dulin and Thomas Beilman facilitating

How Are the Children? 

Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Detention

A video curriculum for UCC audiences

The curriculum title “How Are the Children?” comes from an African Masai greeting which acknowledges no society can be considered healthy and thriving if its children are under attack. In this video curriculum, we hear Palestinian children describe their experiences under Israeli military detention, and we hear UCC national executive leaders bear witness to the injustices they have witnessed personally. The curriculum concludes with recommendations for further education and action on behalf of Palestinian children. For more information: [email protected]  

The United Church of Christ Makes an Appeal for Ukraine

Click here to learn how you may contribute

Or visit https://www.ucc.org/global-h-o-p-e/ukraine-emergency-appeal/

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

www.ORUCC.org

Our new website has launched this week! Thank you for all the hard work from web designer Tapan Shah of Megh Designs and ORUCC’s website mission team including Ken Psyck, John Lemke, Chris Thomas, Pam Oliver, Gabe Martens and Julia Burkey. While we are still updating some of the content and fixing bugs, we think you will find it a big improvement. There is a link on the site if you see anything that needs fixing or want to offer suggestions for changes or additions to the content. Going forward we will add photographs and relevant content edits where appropriate.

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Mar. 10 – 17

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.

Click here for reflections

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 Julie Wombacher in the church office.

March Compassion Offering

One Great Hour of Sharing



One Great Hour of Sharing®, an ecumenical offering sponsored in Lent by the United Church of Christ, provides humanitarian and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and the work for long- term recovery. Because the UCC works in partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response and recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.  

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:30

Mar 13–Baxter Richardson

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Immigration Justice News

“Living Undocumented”

Up for a great movie? Plus discussion? In person? Where and When: Tuesday, March 15, 6:30-8:00pm, in ORUCC Friendship Hall. The Madison Mennonite Church invites you to a viewing of Episode 3 of the film “Living Undocumented, ” followed by a 45 minute dicussion. “Living Undocumented” is a 6-episode Netflix documentary being sponsored by the Dane Sanctuary Coalition as its “Big View” this year. The documentary puts individual faces and personal stories onto the abstract issue of immigration and broadens our understanding of who is undocumented in our country and why. The gathering will also be available via zoom. Use this link to register and participate via zoom: [email protected]. And watch a trailer of the documentary here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSGBP-Z4UXI . Members of the ORUCC Immigrant Justice Team will be there. Join us!

Gift Card Sunday

Announcing Gift Card Sunday, March 20, 2022!  The Immigration Justice Team invites you to purchase a gift card or bus pass for newly settled Afghans in Dane County. Purchase gift cards from Woodman’s, Pick n Save, Target, Walmart, or Burlington Coat Factory. Bus passes can be purchased from HyVee and Pick n Save (30-day, unlimited ride is great!). Donations can also be made by writing ”Afghan Gift Card” on your check and dropping it off at the church. Gift cards and bus passes will be collected during worship on Sunday, March 20. All will be delivered to Jewish Social Services (JSJS) and Open Doors for Refugees (ODFR) for assistance to Afghan refugees. Thank you in advance for your purchase!

Dane Sanctuary Coalition

The Dane Sanctuary Coalition invites you to a coalition-wide meeting on Sunday night, March 13, 6:30-8:00. Agenda includes a panel from our immigration partners, including updates on Afghan resettlement in Wisconsin and the opening of the Center for Dreamers (DACA).  Click on the link to RSVP - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrGoemnmglB0lt0XfvqWEiloxXkdR7YCADgmu3XlOhLAgGOg/viewform The Zoom link will be sent a few days before the event. Thank you.

Holding Israel Accountable

Remembering Rachel Corrie

The struggle is strengthened in community.

March 16, 2022, 7:00 p.m. CT

Register Here

Easter is Coming!



We will be decorating our sanctuary with many different kinds of flowers again this year for the Easter Season. We invite you to donate to this in honor or in memory of a loved one. Plants are $16. Forms will be in your bulletins on Sunday and must be returned to the church office by March 20. If you are watching at home and would like to participate please send your check with flowers in the memo line and who you would like this to be in honor of or in memory of.

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Save the date!

ORUCC Installation

Celebration of Julia Burkey

officially becoming our Senior Pastor

Sunday May 22nd 2pm

An installation is a special service in the United Church of Christ that marks the beginning of a pastor’s leadership in the local church and is our way of saying to Pastor Julia “you belong here with us!” It grants a sense of permanence and belonging and celebration of the Holy Spirit for bringing us together. We believe God has brought us together for a reason in this time and place and along with our local Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ, we will celebrate.

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Our Journey of Lent March 6 Click here

Pastor Julia Trans*figuration Feb 27 Click here

Pastor Julia Imagination & Play Feb. 20th Click here

Pastor Julia Leaven of Love Feb. 13th Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

This week of March 7-14 Office Manager Julie Wombacher and Senior Pastor Julia Burkey will be taking the week off for a Lenten pause.

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Car Donation

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 3, 2022

WANTED: CAR FOR FRIEND IN NEED
On March 29, a friend will be released from Oregon Correctional Services. He has spent many of his 60 years in and out of prison, but many things, at present, are very promising, including having a job in Windsor. Baxter has been with him for almost 6 years and both are aware that having reliable transportation is a key part of the path forward.

So the Car Donation Mission Team (Jon Blanchard, John Rasmussen, Baxter Richardson) is asking that you consider donating that older car. Thanks to a $1,000.00 donation to the fund, we are able to help with any needed repairs with what, we hope, will be the 13th car so donated. Contact the Car Donation Team with questions or suggestions.
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, www.orucc.org, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements

Orchard Ridge UCC on March 3, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 03/03/2022

Sunday March 6th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Jim McNamara

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Racial Justice Mission Team hosts MOSES, the Madison chapter of the faith-based statewide advocacy group WISDOM, who will discuss their work in reducing incarceration and addressing racial justice issues.

9:00 am Sunday School

For children through 5th grade.

Sixth-8th graders will be visiting

AHA Shiva Vishnu Temple in Fitchburg.

10:00 am Music Connections & Crafts/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections

(for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Mar 6

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

Knitting Group

Monday, Mar 7

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Crossroads

Care of Creation

Tuesday, Mar 8

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Sara Roberts

Zoom

Resource Meeting

Wednesday, Mar 9

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Jon Blanchard

Zoom

Racial Justice Mission Team

Thursday, Mar 10

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Zoom

Pam Oliver

Christian Witness & Service

Thursday, Mar 10

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Zoom

Ken Psych

Meditation Group

Friday, March 11

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Upcoming 9am Social Justice Programming

Palestinian Justice

Sunday March 13 & 20

Rev. Diane Dulin and Thomas Beilman facilitating

How Are the Children? 

Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Detention

A video curriculum for UCC audiences

In 2017, delegates to the United Church of Christ General Synod passed a Resolution of Witness calling for an end to the ill-treatment of Palestinian children incarcerated in Israeli military prisons. Discover why the UCC and other faith communities are calling urgently for an end to this systematic abuse of children. This curriculum features video testimony from UCC national executive leaders John Dorhauer and Traci Blackmon.

Join us in viewing the video curriculum, “How Are the Children?”, produced by the United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Network in cooperation with national executive leaders and mission personnel of the UCC. The curriculum includes Detaining Dreams – an intimate documentary featuring the stories of four Palestinian youth and their families undergoing the ordeal of Israeli military incarceration. Discover how the UCC and other faith communities are working to help end the ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. For more information: [email protected]  

Care of Creation

Connecting Faiths for Climate Action

 

Earth Day is coming up. To get your green team inspired, join us on March 5th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Members of creation care committees from around Dane County will gather to learn what others in the faith community have been doing for sustainability. What has been successful? What are the challenges? Further your work by learning about others’ efforts and get new ideas for your team. If you don’t yet have a creation care team, come and be inspired. 

 

We’ll start with a short, uplifting video talk by Katharine Hayhoe, author of Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. And then we’ll share our experiences to encourage us to “keep on keeping on.” Members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Wisconsin Creation Care Ambassadors are teaming up to host this free, virtual event. Register by March 3rd. To register, click here or email Trudi Jenny, [email protected].

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

www.ORUCC.org

Our new website has launched this week! Thank you for all the hard work from web designer Tapan Shah of Megh Designs and ORUCC’s website mission team including Ken Psyck, John Lemke, Chris Thomas, Pam Oliver, and Julia Burkey. While we are still updating some of the content and fixing bugs, we think you will find it a big improvement. There is a link on the site if you see anything that needs fixing or want to offer suggestions for changes or additions to the content. Going forward we will add photographs and relevant content edits where appropriate.

Spiritual Nourishment for you!

for the week of Mar 3 – Mar 9

Read this weeks devotional as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration for your day.

DEVOTIONAL

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 Julie Wombacher in the office.

March Compassion Offering

One Great Hour of Sharing



One Great Hour of Sharing®, an ecumenical offering sponsored in Lent by the United Church of Christ, provides humanitarian and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and the work for long- term recovery. Because the UCC works in partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response and recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.  

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Gathering Safely with COVID

Our COVID Response Team will meet again March 6th at 1pm to evaluation our COVID mitigations again. 

We still ask that when you join in us for any ORUCC activity, you wear a surgical mask or KN95 or stronger. We provide these at the door for your convenience. We ask that adults sit spaced every other chair in the Worship Hall. Your kids may sit on your laps and in pods with families when in worship, and Friendship Hall and Crossroads will be open for more spacious seating for family units. We welcome you to sing softly behind your masks if you are fully vaccinated and boosted if eligible. Thank you for your cooperation as we aim to keep each other healthy and safe. 

If you are experiencing any symptoms of being under the weather we kindly ask you to join us virtually. If you do test positive for COVID after being with us, please share with us as soon as you can.

 

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:30

Mar 6–Dan Rossmiller

Mar 13–Baxter Richardson

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Immigration Justice News

“Living Undocumented”

Up for a great movie? Plus discussion? In person? Where and When: Tuesday, March 15, 6:30-8:00pm, in ORUCC Friendship Hall. The Madison Mennonite Church invites you to a viewing of Episode 3 of the film “Living Undocumented, ” followed by a 45 minute dicussion. “Living Undocumented” is a 6-episode Netflix documentary being sponsored by the Dane Sanctuary Coalition as its “Big View” this year. The documentary puts individual faces and personal stories onto the abstract issue of immigration and broadens our understanding of who is undocumented in our country and why. The gathering will also be available via zoom. Use this link to register and participate via zoom: [email protected]. And watch a trailer of the documentary here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSGBP-Z4UXI . Members of the ORUCC Immigrant Justice Team will be there. Join us!

Gift Card Sunday

Announcing Gift Card Sunday, March 20, 2022!  The Immigration Justice Team welcomes you to purchase a gift card or bus pass for newly settled Afghans in Dane County. Purchase gift cards from Woodman’s, Pick n Save, Target, Walmart, or Burlington Coat Factory. Bus passes can be purchased from HyVee and Pick n Save (30-day, unlimited ride is great!). Donations can also be made online by writing ”Afghan Gift Card” on your donation check. Gift cards and bus passes will be collected during worship on Sunday, March 20. All will be delivered to Jewish Social Services (JSJS) and Open Doors for Refugees (ODFR) for assistance to Afghan refugees. Thank you in advance for your purchase!

Dane Sanctuary Coalition

The Dane Sanctuary Coalition invites you to a coalition-wide meeting on Sunday night, March 13, 6:30-8:00. Agenda includes a panel from our immigration partners, including updates on Afghan resettlement in Wisconsin and the opening of the Center for Dreamers (DACA).  Click on the link to RSVP - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrGoemnmglB0lt0XfvqWEiloxXkdR7YCADgmu3XlOhLAgGOg/viewform The Zoom link will be sent a few days before the event. Thank you.

Friday Breakfast Group March 4

Friday Breakfast Group will return to monthly gatherings on March 4 at 8:30 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us! Contact Louise Jeanne, Link for more information.

Easter is Coming!



We will be decorating our sanctuary with many different kinds of flowers again this year for the Easter Season. We invite you to donate to this in honor or in memory of a loved one. Plants are $16. Forms will be in your bulletins on Sunday and must be returned to the church office by March 20. If you are watching at home and would like to participate please send your check with flowers in the memo line and who you would like this to be in honor of or in memory of.

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Trans*figuration Feb. 27th Click here

Pastor Julia Imagination & Play Feb. 20th Click here

Pastor Julia Leaven of Love Feb. 13th Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey Seeds of Abundance Feb. 6th Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

For the week of March 7th-14th Office Manager Julie Wombacher and Senior Pastor Julia Burkey will be taking the week off for a Lenten pause.

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-957-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Faithful Action for Justice

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 25, 2022

Logo_recolored_green.png

Faithful Action for Justice

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

February 2022

Welcome to Faithful Action for Justice Announcements, messages from ORUCC’s Justice missions (Care of Creation, Immigration Justice, Heart Room, Racial Justice, Christian Witness and Service).

Nobody can do everything. Saying yes to some things requires saying no to others. Our health and obligations limit us. As you read, briefly celebrate and pray for people doing something you will not join. As you feel called, reach out to a project’s contact person to learn more, and consider joining or click on links to read more.

Consistent with UCC tradition and governance, our mission teams provide information on issues that may be controversial, speaking to the congregation but not for the congregation. A vote by the entire congregation is required for any official statement by ORUCC.

News from Our Mission Teams and Groups
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Heart Room

We celebrate very encouraging updates on progress of the six current Heart Room families! Families are moving forward to achieve their own goals, while addressing ongoing challenges, with support from Heart Room partners. They are finding and staying in better, affordable housing, moving forward with education, and balancing parental and work responsibilities. We look forward to sharing more stories of families’ progress in March.

We are also excited about conversations to support more families in Heart Room through wider partnerships. Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 27 at 8:45 a.m. if you’d like to participate in a fuller discussion. Contact Helene Nelson ([email protected]) or Bruce Olsen ([email protected]) if you have questions or suggestions.
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Jane Ilgen Memorial Fund

In the Ilgen Fund’s inaugural year, we partnered with RISE Wisconsin’s Early Childhood Initiative to purchase nearly 200 brand-new books for young children in Southwest Madison! The selected books feature black, brown and indigenous stories, characters, authors and/or illustrators. This will provide RISE home visit staff a regular opportunity to read and provide books in which children in the program more often see themselves represented. One other bright spot: we were able to purchase books from the Itty Bitty Bookstore, a black woman owned small business in Stoughton.

If you would like to learn more about the Ilgen Fund, please contact chairperson Jen Walker.

NEW! 9 am Social Justice Programming

Our justice mission teams are collaborating on a new series, Sunday mornings at 9 am. Together let’s learn more and deepen our commitments to justice surrounding the season of Lent.

The schedule and topics include:

February 27: Immigration Justice

March 6: Racial Justice

March 13: Palestinian Justice Part I

March 20: Palestinian Justice Part II

March 27: Heart Room / Housing Justice

April 3 and 24: Care of Creation

May 1, 8 and 15: Housing Justice

Find more details about each topic in ORUCC’s February 23rd communication. Also note: this programming is not Java & Jesus programming, which will continue to take place virtually on Sundays at 11:30.

Opportunities for Action or Service

Monitoring Schools for Equity

Wisconsin Council of Churches, WISDOM, and Faith Voices for Justice have a campaign called Faithful Stance for Justice that is seeking to defend schools from campaigns trying to force schools to lie to students about US history under the guise of opposing “critical race theory” and other attacks. Volunteers can ‘adopt’ a school board outside Madison and stay informed about their agendas and local news around this issue. Those interested could likely do this from home in 1 to 2 hours per month. Also helpful, if you know people who live in other school districts who might help with this information. There are statewide meetings on Zoom on first Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and local meetings on Zoom on second Tuesdays at 1:30 pm. If interested, contact [email protected].

Learn About Justice Issues
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From Care of Creation

The UCC’s Environmental Justice arm has a number of wonderful resources, including monthly Webinars and a blog. Here are a few recent topics that may be of interest. 

  • Webinar: 

Getting Congress to Act: Strategies Tactics and Vision for 2022

  • Blog

The Pollinator: UCC Environmental Justice Blog

The Chisholm Legacy Project

Inspired by the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, first African American woman elected to Congress, the Chisholm Legacy Project centers the leadership of black women to create a network that connects Black communities on the frontlines of climate justice with resources and tools to advance equitable and just systems change. Learn more on their website and blog.

From Immigration Justice

Immigration Words Matter

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services changed its mission statement to include words like “welcome” and “respect.” The agency’s approach under the Biden administration diverges sharply from the Trump administration, which removed the phrase “nation of immigrants” from the mission statement four years ago. The Biden administration also moved to stop using the term “illegal alien” in public documents and speeches. The terms “illegal alien” and other slurs have been decried for decades as demeaning and disrespectful in immigration circles. As early as the 1980’s, immigrant rights activists responded with the slogan “No Human Being Is Illegal” and supported the use of the term “undocumented.”

Immigration 101

This article can serve as a great Immigration 101 for those interested in frequently asked questions about immigration and immigrants in general. Why don’t migrants crossing the US-Mexico border unlawfully get in line like everyone else? Did you know that low-skilled immigrants generally do not steal the jobs of native-born Americans? Read on!  https://www.borderangels.org/immigration-myths.html

From Palestinian Justice

Amnesty International joins a growing list of justice organizations labeling Israel and apartheid state. You may have heard about the momentous report published on February 1st by Amnesty International, which labels Israel an apartheid state. But did you know that the United Church of Christ has also declared Israel an apartheid state? This article by UCC members Thomas Beilman and Rev. Diane Dulin reveals how delegates to UCC General Synod in July 2021 voted overwhelmingly to condemn Israel’s military occupation of Palestine, to label Israel an apartheid state, and to call UCC members to action. Read More

Learn About Local Justice Groups

ORUCC is a member of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice which sponsors the Dane Sanctuary Coalition and other community projects. Read a list of their recent activities. 
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Madison Faith Justice Collaborative is primarily an information-sharing group of “justice” advocates in several Madison-area congregations. The group creates more inter-congregational connections (e.g., inviting each other to our events). Contact Pam Oliver if you would like to become involved: [email protected].

MOSES is a local, mixed-race group that brings a faith-based approach and emphasis on racial justice to community issues, including incarceration, policing, education, and children’s needs. MOSES is the Madison affiliate of WISDOM, a statewide organization. Representatives from MOSES will be speaking to ORUCC on March 6 at 9 am. If you are interested in learning more about this, contact Pam Oliver [email protected]
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The racial justice mission team has compiled a list of local organizations that are led by Black people or other people of color and a list of other local anti-racist organizations. We plan to write short descriptions of them in coming newsletters.

About our Missions

Interested? Reach out to learn more about our justice teams and projects. Our mission teams welcome your time, talent and energy!

In addition, our Christian Witness and Service ministry connects members to a variety of opportunities to support justice activities (contact Ken Psyck).

Let us love and care for ourselves and each other as we work together for justice and mercy.

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justice now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not required to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

-Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s poetic translation of a Talmudic commentary on Micah
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 24, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 2/24/22:

Sunday Feb 27th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey, Transfiguration

Lay Liturgist: Karen Falkner

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Social Justice Programming

Immigration Justice, Casa Alitas

Ruthanne Landsness

Friendship Hall

9:00 am Sunday School

For children & youth through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Crafts/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections (for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Feb 27

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, Feb 28

7:15 pm -8:30 pm

Adult Faith Formation

Tuesday, March 1

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Nathan Bubenzer

Zoom

Women’s Book Group

Thursday, March 3

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Jan Christian

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, March 4

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Social Justice Programming Begins!

9:00 am, this Sunday February 27th

Immigration Justice, Casa Alitas

The Immigration Justice Team invites you this Sunday to a photo narrative that will take you to the US-Mexico border. Join us at 9:00am on Sunday in Friendship Hall for the first in a new series of educational forums brought to you by the ORUCC Justice Mission Teams. This Sunday, Ruthanne Landsness will provide a visual trip to Casa Alitas, the immigrant welcome center in Tucson, Arizona. As background for the presentation, find time to read the attached message from UCC Pastor Randy Mayer, “Strangers, Angels, and the Immigration Handbook” (LINK) The presentation will start promptly at 9:00am.

Ash Wednesday March 2nd

Drive-through Ashes 4-5pm

& Labyrinth Walk 4-6pm

Join us as we welcome the season of Lent with a reminder of our mortality and our connection to the earth and the universe, “From (star)dust you came, and to (star)dust you will return.”

Pastors will be out front with “ashes to go” or “drive-through ashes” from 4-5pm. You may truly drive-through if that works best for you, or you may park and linger with us, roast a marshmallow, share in some Ash Wednesday ritual, and then walk the labyrinth inside, which will be open from 4-6pm. Ashes will also be available inside 5-6pm.

Being an intergenerational community is one of our most precious gifts, therefore we are trying something new this year, with hope to engage busy families and children in the rituals of the church. All are welcome!

From the Labyrinth team: “We are grateful to reopen our labyrinth and invite you to take a short meditative walk any time on Ash Wednesday from 4-6pm. The theme will be our connection with the Universe: Remember you are (star)dust and to (star)dust you will return.”

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

Spiritual Nourishment for you!

for the week of Feb 24 – Mar 2

Read this weeks devotional as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration for your day.

DEVOTIONAL

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, which we encourage anyone to join. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the office.

February Compassion Offering

UW Odyssey Project



“Odyssey has changed my life, the way I see the world, the way I think, and the future of my family,” wrote a Latina mother.

“Odyssey has given me hope. I look forward to a never-ending journey of education to better myself as a man and father,”  wrote an incarcerated father.

“Odyssey was that catalyst that said, ‘Hey, you can go out into this world and be successful,” said a Black alumna. “My mind is opened, and there’s no stopping me now. Turns out I AM college material.”

“Odyssey is the major reason I succeeded,” said a Black single mother who went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “It was my foundation, my steppingstone, to overcoming so many obstacles.”

 

Those and other student comments testify to the transformative power of the UW Odyssey Project, which takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing free access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. Now in its 19th year, Odyssey offers a jumpstart to college for students facing adversity and barriers to higher education through a free yearlong humanities course in South Madison. Odyssey has empowered over 550 low-income adults to find their voice, develop a new sense of hope, and transform their lives. Graduates have gone from homelessness to UW master’s degrees, from incarceration to meaningful careers as counselors, teachers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and nurses. They report life-changing effects not only for themselves but for their children: “My four-year-old daughter will follow after me and go to college someday.”

VIDEO

All donations you make to Odyssey through the compassion offering will be used for grocery and gas cards, WIFI access, childcare help, and other basic needs for our Odyssey families struggling to keep going in school despite the higher cost of living, lost wages, and closed schools and daycare facilities due to COVID. Thank you for supporting the UW Odyssey Project this month!

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Gathering Safely with COVID

Our COVID Response Team has given us the confidence to gather again for in-person worship and children’s programming. We understand and affirm that many will want to worship remotely so we will continue to strive for an inclusive virtual experience. We are over the peak of omicron in Dane County, yet the numbers are still high. We trust the numbers will continue to trend downward.

When you join in us for any ORUCC activity, we ask that you wear a surgical mask or KN95 or stronger. We provide these at the door for your convenience. We ask that adults sit spaced every other chair in the Worship Hall. Your kids may sit on your laps and in pods with families when in worship, and Friendship Hall and Crossroads will be open for more spacious seating for family units. We welcome you to sing softly behind your masks if you are fully vaccinated and boosted if eligible. Thank you for your cooperation as we aim to keep each other healthy and safe.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of being under the weather we kindly ask you to join us virtually. If you do test positive for COVID after being with us, please share with us as soon as you can.

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom) 11:30

Feb 27–Dan Rossmiller

Mar 6–Dan Rossmiller

Mar 13–Baxter Richardson

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Women’s Book Group

Women’s Book Group Meets next on March 3, Thursday, on Zoom from 1:30-3:00. We will discuss the non-fiction book Susan, Linda, Nina, and Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by Lisa Napoli.

 

Our April 7 discussion will feature the novel The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in Texas in 1934, the story is seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman who will discover the best in herself in the worst of times.

 

A couple of days before each meeting, we will automatically send to women on our list the link to our Zoom meeting. If you are not on our list but would like to join us, please let Jan Christian know at [email protected] or 827-0500, and we will make sure you receive the link.

Friday Breakfast Group to Resume March 4

Friday Breakfast Group will return to monthly gatherings on March 4 at 8:30 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally wor fomen, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us! Contact Louise Jeanne, Link for more information.

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Imagination & Play February 20th Click Here

Pastor Julia Leaven of Love Feb. 13th Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey Seeds of Abundance Feb. 6th Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey When The Prophets Were Children Jan. 30 Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey Murmuration for Justice Jan 23rd Click Here

Pam Oliver’s manuscript from her sermon on Jan. 16th. Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey’s Advent and Christmas Sermon Series. Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

The ORUCC office will be closed the week of March 7-14th. Julie Wombacher and Pastor Julia Burkey will be taking a week of rest as Lent begins.

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 17, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Our Week at a Glance 2/17/22:

Sunday Feb 20th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Diane Jungblut

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Sunday School

For children & youth through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Crafts/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections (for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Feb 20

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dan Rossmiller & Baxter Richardson

Zoom

Immigration Justice

Tuesday, Feb 22

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Ruthanne Landsness

Meditation Group

Friday, Feb 25

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

COVID Response Team Update

Our COVID Response Team has given us the confidence to gather again for in-person worship and children’s programming. We understand and affirm that many will want to worship remotely so we will continue to strive for an inclusive virtual experience. We are over the peak of omicron in Dane County, yet the numbers are still high. We trust the numbers will continue to trend downward.

When you join in us for any ORUCC activity, we ask that you wear a surgical mask or KN95 or stronger. We provide these at the door for your convenience. We ask that adults sit spaced every other chair in the Worship Hall. Your kids may sit on your laps and in pods with families when in worship, and Friendship Hall and Crossroads will be open for more spacious seating for family units. We welcome you to sing softly behind your masks if you are fully vaccinated and boosted if eligible. Thank you for your cooperation as we aim to keep each other healthy and safe.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of being under the weather we kindly ask you to join us virtually. If you do test positive for COVID after being with us, please share with us as soon as you can.

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church.

Might you be interested in a New Members / Seekers Series with the Pastors and Leadership Team of ORUCC? Or perhaps you joined the church in the last couple of years, but were not afforded the opportunity to participate in New Member Classes. Here’s your chance!

Please attend at least three of the four informational classes at the church:

Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, April 24th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00-9:50 a.m.

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

At the Informational Classes, you’ll learn more about Orchard Ridge and the United Church of Christ (UCC). We’ll discuss our history as a local church, the leadership structure of the church, ministries within the congregation and the wider community, and some of the church’s views on important issues of faith.

You may participate in the New Member Classes even if you decide not to join the church at this time.

Associate Pastoral Search



The ORUCC Associate Pastor Search Committee has met for the first time, accomplishing organizational tasks and hearing from the State Conference Associate Minister. The committee, consisting of Nancy Wettersten (chair), Susan Watson, Suzanne Olajos, Kristin Muckian, Jerry Hagen, Josie Gasser and Josie Gilbert, have begun the task of updating the Church Profile. Once the profile is completed and approved by the State Conference, the position will be posted and we will begin to receive candidate profiles for review.

The Search Committee will keep you posted as we progress in our search. If you have questions about the process or our progress, please feel free to reach out to any member of the committee. As you will recall from the process which led us to Julia, the committee has to keep information about potential candidates confidential. However, we want to keep the process as transparent as possible. We are honored and humbled by the awesome responsibility the Leadership Team has given us, and pledge to do our best to find the best possible successor (not replacement!) to our beloved Tammy.

Spiritual Nourishment for you!

for the week of Feb 17-Feb 23

Read this weeks devotional as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration for your day.

DEVOTIONAL

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 Julie Wombacher in the office.

February Compassion Offering

UW Odyssey Project



“Odyssey has changed my life, the way I see the world, the way I think, and the future of my family,” wrote a Latina mother.

“Odyssey has given me hope. I look forward to a never-ending journey of education to better myself as a man and father,”  wrote an incarcerated father.

“Odyssey was that catalyst that said, ‘Hey, you can go out into this world and be successful,” said a Black alumna. “My mind is opened, and there’s no stopping me now. Turns out I AM college material.”

“Odyssey is the major reason I succeeded,” said a Black single mother who went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “It was my foundation, my steppingstone, to overcoming so many obstacles.”

 

Those and other student comments testify to the transformative power of the UW Odyssey Project, which takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing free access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. Now in its 19th year, Odyssey offers a jumpstart to college for students facing adversity and barriers to higher education through a free yearlong humanities course in South Madison. Odyssey has empowered over 550 low-income adults to find their voice, develop a new sense of hope, and transform their lives. Graduates have gone from homelessness to UW master’s degrees, from incarceration to meaningful careers as counselors, teachers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and nurses. They report life-changing effects not only for themselves but for their children: “My four-year-old daughter will follow after me and go to college someday.”

VIDEO

All donations you make to Odyssey through the compassion offering will be used for grocery and gas cards, WIFI access, childcare help, and other basic needs for our Odyssey families struggling to keep going in school despite the higher cost of living, lost wages, and closed schools and daycare facilities due to COVID. Thank you for supporting the UW Odyssey Project this month!

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom)

11:30 Baxter Richardson & Dan Rossmiller

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

We need people as soon as THIS SUNDAY, February 20th.

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Friday Breakfast Group-Date Change

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings March 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Leaven of Love Feb. 13th Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey Seeds of Abundance Feb. 6th Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey When The Prophets Were Children Jan. 30 Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey Murmuration for Justice Jan 23rd Click Here

Pam Oliver’s manuscript from her sermon on Jan. 16th. Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey’s Advent and Christmas Sermon Series. Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 10, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Welcome to our announcements for 2/10/2022:

Our week at a Glance:

Sunday Feb 13th Worship 10:00 am

In-person & Live-streamed

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Mary Connor

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 am Sunday School

For children & youth through 8th grade.

10:00 am Music Connections & Crafts/Play time

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship & after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections (for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

11:30 Java & Jesus

Sunday, Feb 13

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dan Rossmiller & Baxter Richardson

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, Feb14

7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

John Lemke

Leadership Team

Tuesday, Feb 15

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Barbara Stretchberry

Meditation Group

Friday, Feb 18

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

COVID Response Team Update

Our COVID Response Team has given us the confidence to gather again for in-person worship and children’s programming. We understand and affirm that many will want to worship remotely so we will continue to strive for an inclusive virtual experience. We are over the peak of omicron in Dane County, yet the numbers are still high. We trust the numbers will continue to trend downward.

When you join in us for any ORUCC activity, we ask that you wear a surgical mask or KN95 or stronger. We provide these at the door for your convenience. We ask that adults sit spaced every other chair in the Worship Hall. Your kids may sit on your laps and in pods with families when in worship, and Friendship Hall and Crossroads will be open for more spacious seating for family units. We welcome you to sing softly behind your masks if you are fully vaccinated and boosted if eligible. Thank you for your cooperation as we aim to keep each other healthy and safe.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of being under the weather we kindly ask you to join us virtually. If you do test positive for COVID after being with us, please share with us as soon as you can.

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church.

Associate Pastoral Search



The ORUCC Associate Pastor Search Committee has met for the first time, accomplishing organizational tasks and hearing from the State Conference Associate Minister. The committee, consisting of Nancy Wettersten (chair), Susan Watson, Suzanne Olajos, Kristin Muckian, Jerry Hagen, Josie Gasser and Josie Gilbert, have begun the task of updating the Church Profile. Once the profile is completed and approved by the State Conference, the position will be posted and we will begin to receive candidate profiles for review.

The Search Committee will keep you posted as we progress in our search. If you have questions about the process or our progress, please feel free to reach out to any member of the committee. As you will recall from the process which led us to Julia, the committee has to keep information about potential candidates confidential. However, we want to keep the process as transparent as possible. We are honored and humbled by the awesome responsibility the Leadership Team has given us, and pledge to do our best to find the best possible successor (not replacement!) to our beloved Tammy.

Spiritual Nourishment for you!

for the week of Feb 10-Feb 16

Read this weeks devotional as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration for your day.

DEVOTIONAL

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 Julie Wombacher in the office.

February Compassion Offering

UW Odyssey Project



“Odyssey has changed my life, the way I see the world, the way I think, and the future of my family,” wrote a Latina mother.

“Odyssey has given me hope. I look forward to a never-ending journey of education to better myself as a man and father,”  wrote an incarcerated father.

“Odyssey was that catalyst that said, ‘Hey, you can go out into this world and be successful,” said a Black alumna. “My mind is opened, and there’s no stopping me now. Turns out I AM college material.”

“Odyssey is the major reason I succeeded,” said a Black single mother who went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “It was my foundation, my steppingstone, to overcoming so many obstacles.”

 

Those and other student comments testify to the transformative power of the UW Odyssey Project, which takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing free access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. Now in its 19th year, Odyssey offers a jumpstart to college for students facing adversity and barriers to higher education through a free yearlong humanities course in South Madison. Odyssey has empowered over 550 low-income adults to find their voice, develop a new sense of hope, and transform their lives. Graduates have gone from homelessness to UW master’s degrees, from incarceration to meaningful careers as counselors, teachers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and nurses. They report life-changing effects not only for themselves but for their children: “My four-year-old daughter will follow after me and go to college someday.”

VIDEO

All donations you make to Odyssey through the compassion offering will be used for grocery and gas cards, WIFI access, childcare help, and other basic needs for our Odyssey families struggling to keep going in school despite the higher cost of living, lost wages, and closed schools and daycare facilities due to COVID. Thank you for supporting the UW Odyssey Project this month!

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Java & Jesus (by Zoom)

11:30 Dan Rossmiller and Baxter Richardson

Click here to join Java & Jesus



Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list.

Photographers needed

The website team continues to make progress on a new ORUCC website.

Toward that goal, we are seeking ORUCC members who would be willing to take photographs in and around ORUCC services, events and community initiatives.  This would be pro bono, and the photos would be used primarily on the ORUCC website.  If you’re good with a camera or phone and would like to help out, please contact Ken Psyck – [email protected]   

We’re hoping that there will be two or three photographers to lessen the load.  Digital management of the photos would be a welcomed skill also.

The website team is working with a local design and development firm in the creation of the new site.  The website design and outline are done, so the focus now is on writing and editing the texts and images.

We will provide an update as we get closer to the new site’s launch.  The URL will remain www.orucc.org

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Volunteer Needed to Help

Prepare for Worship

We’re thrilled to be returning to in-person worship AND to continue virtual worship. To do both, however, is stretching us thin in certain areas. If you feel comfortable working with Word documents and creating PowerPoints, we could really use a rotation of volunteers (each preparing for only 1 Sunday a month) to get ready for both in-person and virtual worship. We now have 2 volunteers, and are looking for one more. Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected], or 608-556-2371 if this may interest you.

Governor Dodge Camping

In August we will return to Governor Dodge State Park for hiking, swimming, kayaking, campfires….but mostly for a chance to be together. I’m hoping you can join us for the weekend or just for the day. Any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. If you think you might go, please let me know so I can keep you in the loop.

August 12-14 at Governor Dodge State Park, Cox Hollow Campground. (I’m at site 65, so reserve close to there), reserve on-line via LINK or call at 1-888-947-2757.

Reserve a spot soon, because they book up quickly.

Friday Breakfast Group-Date Change

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings March 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pastor Julia Burkey Seeds of Abundance Feb 6th Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey When The Prophets Were Children Jan 30 Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey Murmuration for Justice Jan 23rd. Click Here

Pam Oliver’s manuscript from her sermon on Jan. 16. Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey’s Advent and Christmas Sermon Series. Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC ZOOM Annual Meeting TODAY AT NOON

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 6, 2022

Logo_recolored_green.png

You are invited to our ZOOM Annual Meeting

12 noon

this Sunday February 6th.

We are delighted to share that our COVID Response Team has given us the confidence to regather for in-person worship and children’s programming this Sunday Feb. 6th. While the numbers are still high, the trends are downward and we are over the peak. We give thanks!

We want our Annual Meeting to be as accessible as possible for everyone, so we are holding our annual meeting over ZOOM at 12 noon this Sunday February 6th, so everyone will have enough time to travel home.

We will vote on the budget for 2022 and as well as a new slate of volunteers and officers.

HERE IS THE LINK TO OUR

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

ZOOM LINK FOR ANNUAL MEETING

us02web.zoom.us/j/85229602563?pwd=Tk8ycGdYU1lmS2lRTHd4dDU4V2pBdz09

Meeting ID: 852 2960 2563

Passcode: 813217

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)   

Lots of love and gratitude to our volunteers and leaders of 2021

and incoming leaders

of 2022!
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 3, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Here are our weekly announcements for 2/3/2022:

Hello friends! Welcome to our weekly announcements.

Our COVID Response Team met on January 30th and gave us the confidence to gather again for in-person worship and children’s programming beginning this Sunday February 6th. We understand and affirm that many will want to worship remotely so we will continue to strive for an inclusive virtual experience. We are over the peak of omicron in Dane County, yet the numbers are still high. We trust the numbers will continue to trend downward.

When you join in us for any ORUCC activity, we thank you for wearing a surgical mask or KN95 or stronger. We provide these at the door for your convenience. We ask that adults sit spaced every other chair in the Worship Hall. Your kids may sit on your laps and in pods with families, as Friendship Hall and Crossroads will be open for more spacious seating for family units. We welcome you to sing softly behind your masks if you are fully vaccinated and boosted if eligible. We appreciate your cooperation as we aim to keep each other healthy and safe.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of being under the weather at all we kindly ask you to join us virtually. If you do test positive for COVID after being with us, we ask you to share with us as soon as you can.

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church.

This is our week at a Glance:

In Person & Live-streamed Sunday Worship

Communion

Sunday, Feb 6

10:00 – 11:00 am

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Children’s Message: Tammy Martens

Lay Liturgist: Sue Dixon

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

9:00 Sunday School for children

and youth through 8th grade.

Children and youth are invited to 10:00 worship and after the Children’s moment will be invited to Music Connections (for 2nd graders and older)

or Craft/Play time (preschool–first grade).

No Java & Jesus 2/6

Returning Feb 13

Annual Meeting

Sunday, Feb 6

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Zoom Link and info below

Knitting Group

Monday, Feb 7

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Sandra Dyar

Care of Creation

Tuesday, Feb 8

7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Sara Roberts

Zoom

Adult Faith Formation

Wednesday, Feb 8

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Nathan Bubenzer

Zoom

Resource Meeting

Wednesday, Feb 9

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Jon Blanchard

Zoom

Christian Witness & Service

Thursday, Feb 10

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Ken Psyck

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, Feb 11

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Daily Devotional from

the Ministry of Adult

Faith Formation

Readings will be posted daily to the “Members & Friends” Facebook group and will be available each week in the link below. If you are checking on on someone who doesn’t have email and would like the readings mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the office.

Feb 3 – Feb 9

February Compassion Offering

UW Odyssey Project



“Odyssey has changed my life, the way I see the world, the way I think, and the future of my family,” wrote a Latina mother.

“Odyssey has given me hope. I look forward to a never-ending journey of education to better myself as a man and father,”  wrote an incarcerated father.

“Odyssey was that catalyst that said, ‘Hey, you can go out into this world and be successful,” said a Black alumna. “My mind is opened, and there’s no stopping me now. Turns out I AM college material.”

“Odyssey is the major reason I succeeded,” said a Black single mother who went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “It was my foundation, my steppingstone, to overcoming so many obstacles.”

 

Those and other student comments testify to the transformative power of the UW Odyssey Project, which takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing free access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. Now in its 19th year, Odyssey offers a jumpstart to college for students facing adversity and barriers to higher education through a free yearlong humanities course in South Madison. Odyssey has empowered over 550 low-income adults to find their voice, develop a new sense of hope, and transform their lives. Graduates have gone from homelessness to UW master’s degrees, from incarceration to meaningful careers as counselors, teachers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and nurses. They report life-changing effects not only for themselves but for their children: “My four-year-old daughter will follow after me and go to college someday.”

VIDEO

All donations you make to Odyssey through the compassion offering will be used for grocery and gas cards, WIFI access, childcare help, and other basic needs for our Odyssey families struggling to keep going in school despite the higher cost of living, lost wages, and closed schools and daycare facilities due to COVID. Thank you for supporting the UW Odyssey Project this month!

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Annual Meeting

February 6, 12:00 pm

ZOOM LINK FOR ANNUAL MEETING

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85229602563?pwd=Tk8ycGdYU1lmS2lRTHd4dDU4V2pBdz09

 

Meeting ID: 852 2960 2563

Passcode: 813217

 

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)  

Click here for a printed version Annual Report, or on our website LINK

Photographers needed

The website team continues to make progress on a new ORUCC website.

Toward that goal, we are seeking ORUCC members who would be willing to take photographs in and around ORUCC services, events and community initiatives.  This would be pro bono, and the photos would be used primarily on the ORUCC website.  If you’re good with a camera or phone and would like to help out, please contact Ken Psyck – [email protected]   

We’re hoping that there will be two or three photographers to lessen the load.  Digital management of the photos would be a welcomed skill also.

The website team is working with a local design and development firm in the creation of the new site.  The website design and outline are done, so the focus now is on writing and editing the texts and images.

We will provide an update as we get closer to the new site’s launch.  The URL will remain www.orucc.org

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Racial Justice Mission Team

The racial justice mission team is wondering what type of programming ORUCC members would like us to plan. Please click on this link to take a short survey about your interests, or copy/paste this link into your browser: https://forms.gle/RZ4bfdYFoF5MBv1i7

Volunteer Needed to Help

Prepare for Worship

We’re thrilled to be returning to in-person worship AND to continue virtual worship. To do both, however, is stretching us thin in certain areas. If you feel comfortable working with Word documents and creating PowerPoints, we could really use a rotation of volunteers (each preparing for only 1 Sunday a month) to get ready for both in-person and virtual worship. We now have 2 volunteers, and are looking for one more. Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected], or 608-556-2371 if this may interest you.

Governor Dodge Camping

In August we will return to Governor Dodge State Park for hiking, swimming, kayaking, campfires….but mostly for a chance to be together. I’m hoping you can join us for the weekend or just for the day. Any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. If you think you might go, please let me know so I can keep you in the loop.

August 12-14 at Governor Dodge State Park, Cox Hollow Campground. (I’m at site 65, so reserve close to there), reserve on-line via LINK or call at 1-888-947-2757.

Reserve a spot soon, because they book up quickly.

Friday Breakfast Group-Date Change

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings March 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pam Oliver’s manuscript from her sermon on Jan. 16. Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey’s Advent and Christmas Sermon Series. Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Transition Team Update

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 2, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Update on Transition Team

(submitted by Tammy Martens)

 

In October of 2021, at a Leadership Team meeting, I announced my retirement as your Associate Pastor. In that meeting, I also proposed a plan for my transition. After explaining my proposal and some discussion, the Leadership Team, along with Julia and Ken, gave me full permission to move forward with the goals of the proposal.

 

The first goal was to form a transition team that I would lead with the following goals to guide us:

 

*To develop a thorough understanding of the Children and Youth programming which includes the roadmap of Christian Education/Spiritual Formation that we follow for children 0-18 years of age.

*To determine what the vital pieces of this roadmap are and carry them forward under new leadership.

*To identify the current job description of the Associate Pastor and consider what the Associate Pastor job description should be that would best meet the needs in the 21st century. Should this job strictly focus on Children/Youth/Family ministry and not include other aspects such as preaching, worship leading, etc.? Should this position be a 2/3rds appointment? Less? More? Should this person be ordained?

*To seek wisdom from Senior Pastor Search Team members—what they learned in that process.

*To understand transition models and decide on a model of transition that would work best for ORUCC.

*To assist in defining my role in my months remaining.

* To understand the financial costs of the departure and what salary range is possible to offer.

* To develop a covenant with departing pastor that specifically addresses attendance at future memorial services, funerals, weddings, and worship services.

 

I assembled a transition team last November. The team consists of: Susan Watson, Kristin Muckian, Rachael Lancor, and Julia Burkey. We met a number of times in November and December. We reviewed the Christian Education/Spiritual Formation roadmap for children 0-18 years and have identified the pieces, which include philosophical/theological underpinnings, programs, curricula, and activities, that are important for the church to sustain and for the next person to build upon. The team also encouraged me to make a timeline of the flow of the year and what activities and plans need to be worked on each month.

 

The Transition Team then met on their own (without Julia or I) to put together a list of names they would recommend for the Associate Pastor Search Team. The Leadership Team met in January to approve the list of names and then seven people were asked to join the Search Team. They are: Nancy Wettersten (chair), Suzanne Olajos, Jerry Hagen, Susan Watson, Kristin Muckian, and two youth—Josie Gasser and Josie Gilbert.

 

In December, the team worked on the job description and finalized the description and then we handed that off to the Search Team.

 

We decided that we would want to use a succession model for this transition. It is hoped that someone would be hired before my departure so that I could overlap with that person for a short period of time. It is too difficult to predict at this point if this can be achieved. As the Search Team moves into the process, they will be able to inform the Leadership Team and the Transition Team if this is possible.

 

I will provide monthly updates as to our progress with the Transition Team. Updates from the Search Team will come directly from Nancy Wettersten, the chair of that team.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC ZOOM Annual Meeting this Sunday!

Orchard Ridge UCC on February 1, 2022

Logo_recolored_green.png

You are invited to our ZOOM Annual Meeting

12 noon

this Sunday February 6th.

We are delighted to share that our COVID Response Team has given us the confidence to regather for in-person worship and children’s programming this Sunday Feb. 6th. While the numbers are still high, the trends are downward and we are over the peak. We give thanks!

We want our Annual Meeting to be as accessible as possible for everyone, so we are holding our annual meeting over ZOOM at 12 noon this Sunday February 6th, so everyone will have enough time to travel home.

We will vote on the budget for 2022 and as well as a new slate of volunteers and officers.

HERE IS THE LINK TO OUR

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

ZOOM LINK FOR ANNUAL MEETING

us02web.zoom.us/j/85229602563?pwd=Tk8ycGdYU1lmS2lRTHd4dDU4V2pBdz09

Meeting ID: 852 2960 2563

Passcode: 813217

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)   

Lots of love and gratitude to our volunteers and leaders of 2021

and incoming leaders

of 2022!
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements

Orchard Ridge UCC on January 27, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Here are our weekly announcements for 1/27/2022:

Hello friends! Welcome to our weekly announcements.

Our COVID Response Team met on January 9th and recommended we pause our in-person worship gatherings for the month of January due to the high community transmission of the Omicron COVID variant.

We will still gather in spirit and will utilize a combination of ZOOM worship and live-streaming in the sanctuary, based on COVID exposure and best judgement of worship leaders that week. We will share this information in weekly worship resources email on Saturdays.

We trust our mitigation systems and know we will be back in the sanctuary and with children’s programming soon, especially when the hospitals in Madison are less full.

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church when we do return to in-person, which we hope to do on February 6th.

This is our week at a Glance:

Live-streamed Sunday Worship

Sunday, Jan 30

10:00 – 11:00 am

Preaching: Julia Burkey

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

There is no 9:00 Sunday School for children

and youth and no Children’s Music

Connections this Sunday, January 30.

We hope to regather on February 6.

No Java & Jesus 1/30 or 2/6

Returning Feb 13

Racial Justice Mission Team

Thursday, Feb 3

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Pam Oliver

Zoom

Women’s Book Group

Thursday, Feb 3

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Jan Christian

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, Feb 4

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Daily Devotional from

the Ministry of Adult

Faith Formation

Readings will be posted daily to the “Members & Friends” Facebook group and will be available each week in the link below. If you are checking on on someone who doesn’t have email and would like the readings mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the office.

Jan 27 – Feb 2

January Compassion Offering

LGBT Books to Prisoners



LGBT Books to Prisoners, based in Madison, WI, sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to incarcerated LGBTQ people across the United States. We have been doing this for over 10 years and have sent books to over 10,000 people in that time.

We do this because:

  • We want to acknowledge, and work against, the oppressive functions of the prison system. Our project shifts some control back into incarcerated people’s hands.
  • Incarcerated people have little access to reading material, and LGBTQ people behind bars have a particularly hard time finding resources that meet their needs and wants. We are in a position to gather and distribute these resources.
  • We believe that our work affirms the dignity of all individuals by providing access to knowledge of their choosing, so that they can learn and grow as they desire. We respond to individuals’ requests as directly as possible.
  • LGBTQ people behind bars face many hardships, including — but not limited to — isolation and physical violence. We want them to know that they have a supportive community on the outside that cares about their wellbeing.

We are completely volunteer run. We host volunteer sessions every week where we respond to letters from incarcerated people requesting books. We respond with a personal note, along with books that best match their request. When asked for, we also help connect people to other resources, such as pen pals, legal services, etc. Our volunteer sessions are a welcoming space for the LGBTQ community and allies to work together to work towards abolition, racial justice, and to affirm the LGBTQ community.

We would use the offering to pay for postage. On average it costs about $5 to send about three books to someone in prison. We typically send 3,000 book packages a year.

Learn more at lgbtbookstoprisoners.org

Thank you for your generosity and for helping those who have helped us in our times of need.

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Women’s Book Group



On Thursday, February 3 from 1:30-3:00 p.m., book group will meet via Zoom to choose 10 books to read in 2022. Propose a book or two that you think would be good for discussion. If you would like to join us but are not on our previous list, please contact Jan Christian for more information ([email protected] or 827-0500).

Annual Meeting

February 6 following worship

More info to follow

Click here for a printed version Annual Report, or on our website LINK

Save the date!

Celebration of Tammy Martens’ Ministry

August 6, 2022

Stay tuned for more details and times.

If you have questions or suggestions please contact

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

Racial Justice Mission Team

The racial justice mission team is wondering what type of programming ORUCC members would like us to plan. Please click on this link to take a short survey about your interests, or copy/paste this link into your browser: https://forms.gle/RZ4bfdYFoF5MBv1i7

Volunteer Needed to Help

Prepare for Worship

We’re thrilled to be returning to in-person worship AND to continue virtual worship. To do both, however, is stretching us thin in certain areas. If you feel comfortable working with Word documents and creating PowerPoints, we could really use a rotation of volunteers (each preparing for only 1 Sunday a month) to get ready for both in-person and virtual worship. We now have 2 volunteers, and are looking for one more. Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected], or 608-556-2371 if this may interest you.

Governor Dodge Camping

In August we will return to Governor Dodge State Park for hiking, swimming, kayaking, campfires….but mostly for a chance to be together. I’m hoping you can join us for the weekend or just for the day. Any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. If you think you might go, please let me know so I can keep you in the loop.

August 12-14 at Governor Dodge State Park, Cox Hollow Campground. (I’m at site 65, so reserve close to there), reserve on-line via LINK or call at 1-888-947-2757.

Reserve a spot soon, because they book up quickly.

Soul of Aging – 3 part online retreat series 

Beginning January 28-30, 2022

“The act of living and dying is a mystery to me. I’ve heard others refer to the “art” of living and dying. I wish to live with grace and gratitude through the mystery of each day…creating a canvas of colors, bold and bright; mellow and muted. Perhaps I’ll look back and be able to say I did not just live a life, I created a life, an imperfect work, rich and beautiful. How do I stay present to what is, rather than what might have been or what might be? How do I become like this weathered beauty resting magnificently along the shore?”

Kirstin Anglea and Winton Boyd will lead others in exploring these questions and more during our upcoming Soul of Aging retreat series online again in 2022. 

Follow this link for more information and registration: https://couragerenewal.org/…/the-soul-of-aging-a…/

Friday Breakfast Group-Date Change

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings March 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Pam Oliver’s manuscript from her sermon on Jan. 16. Click here

Pastor Julia Burkey’s Advent and Christmas Sermon Series. Click here

Listen to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

SERMONS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements January 13, 2022

Orchard Ridge UCC on January 13, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Here are our weekly announcements for 1/13/2022:

Hello friends! Welcome to our weekly announcements.

Our COVID Response Team met on January 9th and recommended we pause our in-person worship gatherings for the month of January due to the high community transmission of the Omicron COVID variant.

We will still gather in spirit and will utilize a combination of ZOOM worship and live-streaming in the sanctuary, based on COVID exposure and best judgement of worship leaders that week. We will share this information in weekly worship resources email on Saturdays.

We trust our mitigation systems and know we will be back in the sanctuary soon, especially when the hospitals in Madison are less full.

Here is the LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church when we do return to in-person, which we hope to do on February 6th.

This is our week at a Glance:

ZOOM Sunday Worship

Sunday, Jan 16

10:00 – 11:00 am

Pam Oliver Preaching

Lay Liturgist: Ginny Stiles

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

There is no 9:00 Sunday School for children

and youth and no Children’s Music

Connections January 16

NO Java & Jesus

Sunday, Jan 16 & Jan 23

Office Closed MLK Jr. Day

Monday, Jan 17

Meditation Group

Friday, Jan 21

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

Daily Devotional from

the Ministry of Adult

Faith Formation

Readings will be posted daily to the “Members & Friends” Facebook group and will be available each week in the link below. If you are checking on on someone who doesn’t have email and would like the readings mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the office.

Jan 13 – Jan 19

January Compassion Offering

LGBT Books to Prisoners



LGBT Books to Prisoners, based in Madison, WI, sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to incarcerated LGBTQ people across the United States. We have been doing this for over 10 years and have sent books to over 10,000 people in that time.

We do this because:

  • We want to acknowledge, and work against, the oppressive functions of the prison system. Our project shifts some control back into incarcerated people’s hands.
  • Incarcerated people have little access to reading material, and LGBTQ people behind bars have a particularly hard time finding resources that meet their needs and wants. We are in a position to gather and distribute these resources.
  • We believe that our work affirms the dignity of all individuals by providing access to knowledge of their choosing, so that they can learn and grow as they desire. We respond to individuals’ requests as directly as possible.
  • LGBTQ people behind bars face many hardships, including — but not limited to — isolation and physical violence. We want them to know that they have a supportive community on the outside that cares about their wellbeing.

We are completely volunteer run. We host volunteer sessions every week where we respond to letters from incarcerated people requesting books. We respond with a personal note, along with books that best match their request. When asked for, we also help connect people to other resources, such as pen pals, legal services, etc. Our volunteer sessions are a welcoming space for the LGBTQ community and allies to work together to work towards abolition, racial justice, and to affirm the LGBTQ community.

We would use the offering to pay for postage. On average it costs about $5 to send about three books to someone in prison. We typically send 3,000 book packages a year.

Learn more at lgbtbookstoprisoners.org

Thank you for your generosity and for helping those who have helped us in our times of need.

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

The Crossing’s Choral Ensemble…..

Vocal performance student Kyle Sackett was nominated as an ensemble member with The Crossing for a Grammy in Best Choral Performance. Sackett says it’s exciting to see choral music gaining more global recognition. The awards show, originally scheduled for Jan. 31, has been postponed for health and safety reasons.

The Crossing is one of our past compassion offering recipient.

Annual Meeting

February 6 following worship

More info to follow

Click here for a printed version Annual Report, or on our website LINK

Racial Justice Mission Team

The racial justice mission team is wondering what type of programming ORUCC members would like us to plan. Please click on this link to take a short survey about your interests, or copy/paste this link into your browser: https://forms.gle/RZ4bfdYFoF5MBv1i7

Celebrating, Offering Thanks and Uplifting Tammy Martens and Her Ministry at ORUCC

Ann Evensen, Barbara Stretchberry and Kellie Miller have been charged with planning a summer 2022 celebration of Tammy’s ministry. We would like to hear your ideas for ways to lift up and remember her great work, thank her whole-heartedly, and say loving farewells. Please share any ideas, thoughts or questions with us by January 15, 2022. Thank you!

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

3 Volunteers Needed to Help

Prepare for Worship

We’re thrilled to be returning to in-person worship AND to continue virtual worship. To do both, however, is stretching us thin in certain areas. If you feel comfortable working with Word documents and creating PowerPoints, we could really use a rotation of volunteers (each preparing for only 1 Sunday a month) to get ready for both in-person and virtual worship. Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected], or 608-556-2371 if this may interest you.

Soul of Aging – 3 part online retreat series 

Beginning January 28-30, 2022

“The act of living and dying is a mystery to me. I’ve heard others refer to the “art” of living and dying. I wish to live with grace and gratitude through the mystery of each day…creating a canvas of colors, bold and bright; mellow and muted. Perhaps I’ll look back and be able to say I did not just live a life, I created a life, an imperfect work, rich and beautiful. How do I stay present to what is, rather than what might have been or what might be? How do I become like this weathered beauty resting magnificently along the shore?”

Kirstin Anglea and Winton Boyd will lead others in exploring these questions and more during our upcoming Soul of Aging retreat series online again in 2022. 

Follow this link for more information and registration: https://couragerenewal.org/…/the-soul-of-aging-a…/

Friday Breakfast Group-Date Change

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings March 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Links to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Worship Resources for January 9th

Orchard Ridge UCC on January 8, 2022

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Epiphany Worship Resources 1.9.2022
Painting titled: Epiphany copyright 2003
by Janet McKenzie www.janetmckenzie.com
Collection of Barbara Marian, Harvard, IL
You are invited
to join us virtually
over ZOOM this Sunday 
January 9th 10:00 a.m.
Sermon: Wise Women, Too
Pastor Julia Burkey & Chris Davies
Lay Liturgists: Beverly Taylor & Tony Hold
The Rev. Dr. Chris Davies serves as the Team Leader for Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation at the National Setting of the United Church of Christ. Affectionately called Faith INFO, the team’s purpose is to equip congregations with the proclamation of the liberating love of the Gospel.  Chris works with The Rev. Traci Blackmon, who is the Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries of The United Church. For Epiphany, Chris asked Pastor Julia to co-preach and share a message about Epiphany from a woman’s perspective with the idea of Mary being postpartum when the Magi arrive and the messy reality and beauty of the incarnation.
Or copy and paste into your browser:
Meeting ID: 854 5723 3073
Passcode: 172921
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,85457233073# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,85457233073# US (New York)
Dial by your location
    +1 312 626 6799
Due to the high community transmission of the COVID omicron variant, we are seeking to care for our community. While we do trust our mitigation systems for worship, we have shifted to virtual ZOOM worship for this Sunday Jan. 9th at 10am, due to potential COVID exposures for many of the worship leaders. Our COVID response team will meet over ZOOM Sunday Jan. 9th at 1pm to discuss any further measures.
Sunday Programming for Children & Youth
is Currently Paused
Java & Jesus
Jan. 9th, at 11:30 am, by ZOOM
Dan Rossmiller facilitating
All are welcome!
Please join us even if this is your first time!
Today, the truth often seems to be in short supply or is deeply disputed. In the face of “Big Lies” driven and reinforced by social media, many people do not know where to turn to find the truth.
To prepare for this Sunday’s discussion, please read the following:
…and please watch the acceptance speech of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, a courageous Philippines journalist:
   Or copy and paste the following url into your browser:
Meeting ID: 885 0420 1196
Passcode: 457330
Dial: +1 312 626 6799
January Compassion Offering
LGBT Books to Prisoners

LGBT Books to Prisoners, based in Madison, WI, sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to incarcerated LGBTQ people across the United States. We have been doing this for over 10 years and have sent books to over 10,000 people in that time.
We do this because:
  • We want to acknowledge, and work against, the oppressive functions of the prison system. Our project shifts some control back into incarcerated people’s hands.
  • Incarcerated people have little access to reading material, and LGBTQ people behind bars have a particularly hard time finding resources that meet their needs and wants. We are in a position to gather and distribute these resources.
  • We believe that our work affirms the dignity of all individuals by providing access to knowledge of their choosing, so that they can learn and grow as they desire. We respond to individuals’ requests as directly as possible.
  • LGBTQ people behind bars face many hardships, including — but not limited to — isolation and physical violence. We want them to know that they have a supportive community on the outside that cares about their wellbeing.
We are completely volunteer run. We host volunteer sessions every week where we respond to letters from incarcerated people requesting books. We respond with a personal note, along with books that best match their request. When asked for, we also help connect people to other resources, such as pen pals, legal services, etc. Our volunteer sessions are a welcoming space for the LGBTQ community and allies to work together to work towards abolition, racial justice, and to affirm the LGBTQ community.
We would use the offering to pay for postage. On average it costs about $5 to send about three books to someone in prison. We typically send 3,000 book packages a year.
Thank you for your generosity and for helping those who have helped us in our times of need.
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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.
Office Manager Julie Wombacher available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available
Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
by appointment
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available
Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm by appointment
608-975-3184 or EMAIL
Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available
Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm by appointment
608-556-2371 EMAIL
All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.
Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.
LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page
JOIN our Private FB Group:
Follow us on Instagram @orchardridgeucc
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements for January 6, 2022

Orchard Ridge UCC on January 6, 2022

Logo_Christmas_White.png

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

Here are our weekly announcements for 1/06/2022:

Hello friends! Welcome to our weekly announcements. Stay current by reading all the way to the bottom. There is so much going on in the life of our church. We hope you take a moment to read and connect with us throughout the week. See you soon!

Please click LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church

This is our week at a Glance:

ZOOM Sunday Worship

Sunday, Jan 9

10:00 – 11:00 am

ZOOM due to worship leaders exposure to COVID

and our desire to love and care for our community

Details in Saturday’s Worship Resources

There is no 9:00 Sunday School for children

and youth and no Children’s Music

Connections during 10:00 worship

this Sunday, January 9 and January 16.

Java & Jesus

Sunday, Jan 9

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

Men’s Group

Monday, Jan 10

7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

John Lemke

Care of Creation

Tuesday, Jan 11

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Sara Roberts

Zoom

Resource Meeting

Wednesday, Jan 12

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Jon Blanchard

Zoom

Adult Faith Formation

Wednesday, Jan 12

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Nathan Bubenzer

Zoom

Meditation Group

Friday, Jan 14

9:00 – 10:00 am

Sue Dixon

Zoom

All Church Retreat scheduled for

January 14-16 has been canceled.

A Whole New Team of Volunteers Needed!

AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers! We are seeking a whole new team of volunteers to serve in 2022 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!

Would you consider serving one or more times as a

Lay Liturgist, a Welcomer, or for Holy Communion?

We need people as soon as THIS SUNDAY, January 2nd.

Feel free to sign up as an individual, a couple, or a family!

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

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

Java & Jesus

11:30 am

Jan 9–Dan Rossmiller



Click here to join Zoom gathering

Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list. The Zoom link will be included in the Saturday Worship Email.

Daily Devotional from

the Ministry of Adult

Faith Formation

Readings will be posted daily to the “Members & Friends” Facebook group and will be available each week in the link below. If you are checking on on someone who doesn’t have email and would like the readings mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the office.

Jan 6 – Jan 12

January Compassion Offering

LGBT Books to Prisoners



LGBT Books to Prisoners, based in Madison, WI, sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to incarcerated LGBTQ people across the United States. We have been doing this for over 10 years and have sent books to over 10,000 people in that time.

We do this because:

  • We want to acknowledge, and work against, the oppressive functions of the prison system. Our project shifts some control back into incarcerated people’s hands.
  • Incarcerated people have little access to reading material, and LGBTQ people behind bars have a particularly hard time finding resources that meet their needs and wants. We are in a position to gather and distribute these resources.
  • We believe that our work affirms the dignity of all individuals by providing access to knowledge of their choosing, so that they can learn and grow as they desire. We respond to individuals’ requests as directly as possible.
  • LGBTQ people behind bars face many hardships, including — but not limited to — isolation and physical violence. We want them to know that they have a supportive community on the outside that cares about their wellbeing.

We are completely volunteer run. We host volunteer sessions every week where we respond to letters from incarcerated people requesting books. We respond with a personal note, along with books that best match their request. When asked for, we also help connect people to other resources, such as pen pals, legal services, etc. Our volunteer sessions are a welcoming space for the LGBTQ community and allies to work together to work towards abolition, racial justice, and to affirm the LGBTQ community.

We would use the offering to pay for postage. On average it costs about $5 to send about three books to someone in prison. We typically send 3,000 book packages a year.

Learn more at lgbtbookstoprisoners.org

Thank you for your generosity and for helping those who have helped us in our times of need.

VIDEO

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

Racial Justice Mission Team

The racial justice mission team is wondering what type of programming ORUCC members would like us to plan. Please click on this link to take a short survey about your interests, or copy/paste this link into your browser: https://forms.gle/RZ4bfdYFoF5MBv1i7

Report from the Nominations Committee:

A New Moderator for 2022

Greetings of Advent hope and peace to you! We join with you in preparing for new life to be born in us and the world.

Among the many ways that we do that as a church, one of the practical ways we prepare for future life is the work of the Nominations Committee. The Committee assembles a slate of church-wide officers and ministry members for each new year, for approval by the congregation at the next annual meeting, likely in February.

Here is an important preview: We will nominate a new Moderator, Barbara Stretchberry, for your approval. Barbara has graciously agreed to undertake this leadership role, after learning that the current Moderator-Elect, Helene Nelson, will leave her position due to increasing family care responsibilities. Helene and Barbara are both committed to serving the church in partnership with our pastors and other lay leaders, and will support each other to do that.

Barbara is a long-time member and leader, well-known and respected in the congregation. She has served as a constitutional church officer (Clerk) and been on the Leadership Team. She has been a leader in church programming for children and youth for many years. She is gifted in many ways, and is an excellent fit for us now as we live into our next generation of being church together.

We celebrate and give thanks for Barbara and Helene!

Celebrating, Offering Thanks and Uplifting Tammy Martens and Her Ministry at ORUCC

Ann Evensen, Barbara Stretchberry and Kellie Miller have been charged with planning a summer 2022 celebration of Tammy’s ministry. We would like to hear your ideas for ways to lift up and remember her great work, thank her whole-heartedly, and say loving farewells. Please share any ideas, thoughts or questions with us by January 15, 2022. Thank you!

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

3 Volunteers Needed to Help

Prepare for Worship

We’re thrilled to be returning to in-person worship AND to continue virtual worship. To do both, however, is stretching us thin in certain areas. If you feel comfortable working with Word documents and creating PowerPoints, we could really use a rotation of volunteers (each preparing for only 1 Sunday a month) to get ready for both in-person and virtual worship. Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected], or 608-556-2371 if this may interest you.

Soul of Aging – 3 part online retreat series 

Beginning January 28-30, 2022

“The act of living and dying is a mystery to me. I’ve heard others refer to the “art” of living and dying. I wish to live with grace and gratitude through the mystery of each day…creating a canvas of colors, bold and bright; mellow and muted. Perhaps I’ll look back and be able to say I did not just live a life, I created a life, an imperfect work, rich and beautiful. How do I stay present to what is, rather than what might have been or what might be? How do I become like this weathered beauty resting magnificently along the shore?”

Kirstin Anglea and Winton Boyd will lead others in exploring these questions and more during our upcoming Soul of Aging retreat series online again in 2022. 

Follow this link for more information and registration: https://couragerenewal.org/…/the-soul-of-aging-a…/

Friday Breakfast Group-Date Change

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings March 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

In Case You Missed It!

Links to Worship Recordings…

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

Over the holidays the office is closed between Christmas and the New Year. In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to. 

Pastor Julia will be away Sunday January 2nd and away from email the December 28th-January 7th.

Pastor Ken be away Sunday December 26th and January 9th.

During the next three weeks, the best days to contact Ken Pennings or to schedule an appointment with him are Tuesday, Dec. 28; Wednesday, Jan. 5; and Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Pastor Tammy will be away December 26th & January 2nd. and will not be checking email December 25- January 2nd.

Regular office hours:

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

ORUCC Java & Jesus, Jan. 9th, 11:30 am

Orchard Ridge UCC on January 5, 2022

Java & Jesus
Jan. 9th, at 11:30 am, by Zoom
Dan Rossmiller facilitating
All are welcome!
Please join us even if this is your first time!
Today, the truth often seems to be in short supply or is deeply disputed. In the face of “Big Lies” driven and reinforced by social media, many people do not know where to turn to find the truth.
To prepare for this Sunday’s discussion, please read the following:
…and please watch the acceptance speech of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, a courageous Philippines journalist:
   Or copy and paste the following url into your browser:
Meeting ID: 885 0420 1196
Passcode: 457330
Dial: +1 312 626 6799

 

Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, www.orucc.org, Madison, WI 53711

 

ORUCC Worship Resources for December 19

Orchard Ridge UCC on December 18, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

 

Advent Worship Resources 12.19.2021

You are invited

to join us

in-person & virtually

Sunday, 

December 19th 10:00 a.m.

 

Sermon: Revolutionary Love

Pastor Julia Burkey

Lighting the Candle of Love: The Weiss Family: Monica, Sophie & Samantha(Sam)

 

 

Click here for printable worship bulletin

 

 

Join our Worship virtually

on YouTube any time after 10 am:

(you will need to refresh the page

after 10 am if you have opened it before)

 

 

YouTube Link

 

For in-person worship, we kindly invite you to wear a KN95 or a surgical mask that we will provide for worship and to sit spaces every other chair. We ask those who plan to sing to be fully vaccinated if you are able (children of course can sing if unable to be vaccinated yet).

For those who wish to stay together in pods, you are welcome to worship in the Crossroads or Friendship Hall where there is more space.

 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

 

Sunday Programming for Children & Youth

(Kindergarten–8th Grade)

9:00 am: Sunday School for Kindergarten–5th Graders

9:30: 3rd–8th Graders Christmas eve service practice

10:00 am: Kindergarten-8th Graders

Christmas eve practice

Downstairs in Bonhoeffer Room

11:00 am: Children and Youth sharing

Holiday Music for Postlude

 

 

Holiday Post Office 9:30–11:30 am

Sundays, December 12 and 19

Bring your Christmas cards to Friendship Hall. Also pick up your Christmas cards that have been mailed to you!

 

Java & Jesus

Dec. 12th, at 11:45 am, by Zoom

Please note that we will start 15 minutes later

than our usual time.

 

Dan Rossmiller facilitating

 

All are welcome!

Please join us even if this is your first time!

 

 

This session will focus on the power of Mary, Mother of Jesus,

to inspire people of many faiths.

 

As a Protestant congregation, we tend to overlook the role that Mary plays in the faith of many people, including many Roman Catholics, but others as well. In this Sunday’s readings & discussion, we explore the power Mary holds over many by looking at the reverence many Mexicans and people throughout parts of Latin America have for the figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We’ll also explore how Mary’s Song of Praise (the Magnificat) has been seen as both inspirational and subversive through three short readings, including a Daily Meditation from Richard Rohr, the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel, and a short chapter from Kathleen Norris’ book Amazing Grace.

 

Click here for 1st reading

 

Click here for 2nd reading

 

Click here for 3rd reading

 

Click here to join Zoom gathering

 

   Or copy and paste the following url into your browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88504201196?pwd=dUt0cUJoZjBxRmY2eGVNeUxScG1aUT09

 

Meeting ID: 885 0420 1196

Passcode: 457330

Dial: +1 312 626 6799

 

 

Photo Directory

We are excited to share our new directory which includes photos of our members! This directory is best experienced digitally, but can also be downloaded and printed via your home printer.

Click here printable directory

 

 

Compassion Offering

for December

is The Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

 

United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need.

 

Thank you for your generosity and for helping those who have helped us in our times of need.

VIDEO

 

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page

 

 

 

Office Manager Julie Wombacher available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

 

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

 

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

 

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

 

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

 

The church office will be closed during the week between Christmas and the New Year. In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of us, as all pastors are available by phone and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

 

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

Follow us on Instagram @orchardridgeucc

 

 

 

 

 

Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements December 16, 2021

Orchard Ridge UCC on December 16, 2021

 

 

 

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

 

Here are our weekly announcements for 12/16/2021:

 

Hello friends! Welcome to our weekly announcements. Stay current by reading all the way to the bottom. There is so much going on in the life of our church. We hope you take a moment to read and connect with us throughout the week. See you soon!

 

Please click LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church

 

 

CHURCH OFFICE IS CLOSED THE WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS!

This is our week at a Glance:

 

Sunday Worship

Sunday, Dec19

10:00 – 11:00 am

In Person & Live Stream

Julia Burkey preaching on Love,

Lay Liturgists & Advent Candle-lighters:

The Weiss Family: Monica, Sophie, Samantha(Sam)

 

 

Sunday Programming for Children & Youth

(Kindergarten–8th Grade)

9:00 am: Sunday School for Kindergarten–5th Graders

9:30: 3rd–8th Graders Christmas eve service practice

10:00 am: Kindergarten-8th Graders

Christmas eve practice

Downstairs in Bonhoeffer Room

11:00 am: Children and Youth sharing

Holiday Music for Postlude

 

Holiday Post Office 9:30–11:30 am

Sundays, December 19

Bring your Christmas cards to Friendship Hall. Also pick up your Christmas cards that have been mailed to you!

 

Java & Jesus

Sunday, Dec 19

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Hosted by Dan Rossmiller

Zoom

 

Christmas Eve Children’s Program

Friday, Dec 24

4:00 pm – 5 pm

Sanctuary, also Live Stream

 

Christmas Eve ORUCC & MMC

Friday, Dec 24

7:00 pm – 8 pm

Zoom

 

 

 

 

Java & Jesus

11:30 am

 

Dec 19–Dick Rossmiller (beginning at 11:45)

Dec 26–No J & J

Jan 2–No J & J

Click here to join Zoom gathering

 

Don’t miss out! Contact Ken Pennings to be added to the Java & Jesus email list. The Zoom link will be included in the Saturday Worship Email.

 

 

December Compassion Offering

The Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

 

United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need.

 

Thank you for your generosity and for helping those who have helped us in our times of need.

 

VIDEO

 

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 at orucc.org. Click the brown button “Contribute” in the upper right of the home page.

 

 

Daily Devotional from

the Ministry of Adult

Faith Formation

 

Readings will be posted daily to the “Members & Friends” Facebook group and will be available each week in the link below. If you are checking on on someone who doesn’t have email and would like the readings mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the office.

Dec 16 – Dec 22

 

 

Christmas Eve Celebrations

A note from the Covid Response Team

 

We have several opportunities to access Christmas cheer and community this year and they are as follows:

 

December 24th

·      4pm in-person & live-streamed Children’s Concert 

·      7pm Zoom service with Madison Mennonite Church 

 

December 26th Sunday Service 

·     10am in-person and live-streamed 

 

Our children and youth have been working hard in preparation for our 4pm Christmas Eve Children’s Concert. We look forward to an evening of music and congregational singing! This is special event in the life of the church, and it will be held both in-person and via live streaming.

 

This is always a well-attended service, and we want to welcome the families of the children and all generations of church attendees, so expect that we would quickly surpass the capacity of Worship Hall (COVID-limited to 75) – with children and families alone! Given the special nature of this one-night service, the COVID Response Team, Return to Church Group, and the pastors have made some modifications to our mitigation protocols for the Family Christmas Eve Service, in order to have a meaningful and safe experience:

 

·     We will continue to recommend wearing surgical masks in the church building, and these will be made available at the entrances, but all will be welcomed regardless of mask type;

·     Families are welcome to sit together; The “checkerboard” pattern in Worship Hall will be removed; instead, every other row will be blocked to encourage spacing. The sanctuary can hold just over 100 in this format.

·      Seating (spaced) will extend into the Crossroads and into Fellowship Hall. We will live-stream the service into Fellowship Hall.

 

The layout will thus be different from our recent Sunday morning worship services: the COVID mitigations have been scaled back in an effort to meet the significant pastoral need for this special service. If you are not vaccinated, or if you have concerns for the safety of yourself or others, we invite you to join us via the live stream.

 

We are excited to share a collaborative 7pm Christmas Eve service with Madison Mennonite Church. They are abiding by Wisconsin Council of Churches gathering protocols by not yet meeting in-person. So, to honor our ecumenical relationship and to create a meaningful service for those more comfortable at home, we are holding our 7pm service over Zoom.

 

Worship service on December 26th will be a wonderful opportunity for those who are in town to gather together and light the Christ Candle again and sing some Christmas hymns. With 12 days of the liturgical season of Christmas, don’t forget about Jan 2nd worship service too!

 

We hope that with these diverse offerings we can hold space for many different ways of accessing the gift of Christmastime. 

 

 

Thank You

 

Thanks to all those who have pledged to Orchard Ridge UCC for 2022.

and

Don’t forget to pay your 2021 pledge before the end of the year, remembering that the post office is closed a couple of days in there and there is a longer time for it to get to the church office to be posted at the end of the month. Also remember that if you want to contribute to the compassion offering for the month the posting dates for that are the first of the month to the last day of the month. Thanks again for all of your generous support!

 

 

Report from the Nominations Committee:

A New Moderator for 2022

 

Greetings of Advent hope and peace to you! We join with you in preparing for new life to be born in us and the world.

 

Among the many ways that we do that as a church, one of the practical ways we prepare for future life is the work of the Nominations Committee. The Committee assembles a slate of church-wide officers and ministry members for each new year, for approval by the congregation at the next annual meeting, likely in February.

 

Here is an important preview: We will nominate a new Moderator, Barbara Stretchberry, for your approval. Barbara has graciously agreed to undertake this leadership role, after learning that the current Moderator-Elect, Helene Nelson, will leave her position due to increasing family care responsibilities. Helene and Barbara are both committed to serving the church in partnership with our pastors and other lay leaders, and will support each other to do that.

 

Barbara is a long-time member and leader, well-known and respected in the congregation. She has served as a constitutional church officer (Clerk) and been on the Leadership Team. She has been a leader in church programming for children and youth for many years. She is gifted in many ways, and is an excellent fit for us now as we live into our next generation of being church together.

 

We celebrate and give thanks for Barbara and Helene!

 

 

Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund

 

Our Thanksgiving Year-Round fund will remain open in December. Our social and case worker partners (JFF, Commonwealth,ECI) in the Southwest Madison neighborhood will distribute Woodman’s $50 gift cards.

 

The online fund will continue to be open for donations through the end of December.

 

The CWS Ministry team thanks each of you who donated to this fund in past months. Your ongoing support of neighborhood families in need of food is appreciated.

 

If you wish to donate for Christmas, please send your check to ORUCC, or go online on/or and contribute to the Year Round Thanksgiving fund.  

 

Thank you in advance for your donations to help neighborhood families enjoy their holiday celebration.

 

 

Celebrating, Offering Thanks and Uplifting Tammy Martens and Her Ministry at ORUCC

 

Ann Evensen, Barbara Stretchberry and Kellie Miller have been charged with planning a summer 2022 celebration of Tammy’s ministry. We would like to hear your ideas for ways to lift up and remember her great work, thank her whole-heartedly, and say loving farewells. Please share any ideas, thoughts or questions with us by January 15, 2022. Thank you!

Ann Evensen [email protected]  cell 608 628 4280 

Barbara Stretchberry [email protected]  cell 608-239-6669

Kellie Miller [email protected]   cell 608 852-7578

 

 

3 Volunteers Urgently Needed to Help Prepare for Worship

 

We’re thrilled to be returning to in-person worship AND to continue virtual worship. To do both, however, is stretching us thin in certain areas. If you feel comfortable working with Word documents and creating PowerPoints, we could really use a rotation of volunteers (each preparing for only 1 Sunday a month) to get ready for both in-person and virtual worship. Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected], or 608-556-2371 if this may interest you.

 

 

Annual All Church Retreat!

January 14-16, 2021

Daycholah Center (formerly known as Pilgrim Center)

Registration is now open for our all church retreat. Enjoy the coziness of Daycholah Center on Green Lake and the joy of being with church friends. There will be good food, lots of fun activities, time for rest and renewal. We will also spend time going through a visioning process–discovering and dreaming about children, youth, and family programming. This process is meant for everyone! All voices matter! Housing assignments will be made in the order payments are received. Housing is also available at Heidel House Hotel, minutes away from Daycholah Center. Go to https://heidelhouse.com/

and make your own reservation.

 

If you would like to come up just for the day on Saturday

please let Tammy know.

 

Costs for retreat, meals and lodging at Daycholah Center:

Adults (12 and older)–$135.00

Children (4-11 years old)–$120.00

Children under 4 years old–no charge

Meals only (for those staying at Heidel House)–$75.00

See Tammy to register.

 

 

Friday Breakfast Group

 

Friday Breakfast Group hopes to return to monthly gatherings January 7, 2022, 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. Although originally for women, the group has for many years included a popular men’s table as well. Open to all, it is informal and a chance to connect and converse on many topics. Please join us. Contact Louise Jeanne, [email protected], for more information.

 

 

Pictorial Directory

Thanks to all those who helped with the pictorial directory. Here is a print version. Photo Directory Print Version

 

 

In Case You Missed It!

 

Links to Worship Recordings…

 

WORSHIP RECORDINGS

 

 

Office Manager Julie Wombacher

available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm

608-271-7212 or EMAIL

 

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey available

Tues.- Fri. & Sun. 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

by appointment

518-542-6915 EMAIL

 

Associate Pastor Tammy Martens: available

Tues.- Fri. 10:00 am -4:00 pm

by appointment

608-975-3184 or EMAIL

 

Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

by appointment

608-556-2371 EMAIL

 

All pastors (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days.

Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.

 

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.

 

LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

“Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC“

 

 

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

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

 

 

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Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711

Weekly Announcements December 9, 2021

Orchard Ridge UCC on December 9, 2021

 

 

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

 

Here are our weekly announcements for 12/9/2021:

 

Hello friends! Welcome to our weekly announcements. Stay current by reading all the way to the bottom. There is so much going on in the life of our church. We hope you take a moment to read and connect with us throughout the week. See you soon!

 

Please click LINK for details and protocols for Back-to-Church

 

This is our week at a Glance:

 

Sunday Worship

Sunday, Dec12

10:00 – 11:00 am

In Person & Live Stream

Julia Burkey preaching on Joy,

Lay Liturgists & Advent Candle-lighters:

The Horst-Schoer Family (Julie, Darren, Jackson & Natalie)

 

Sunday Programming for Children & Youth

(Kindergarten