Sunday School 11/6

This week….

Daylight Savings Time Ends. Reminder to set your clocks an hour behind. Enjoy an extra hour of sleep!

Nursery Care is back on this week! Antonia and Amalia are ready to play with your little one.

PreK-2nd grade students will enjoy a story with Jill Westberg and Karen Jaehning. Children under the age of 5 are invited to stay as long as they are able with a parent.

3rd-5th Grade will continue their focus on Prayer. This week's focus is: “Examen.” The children will be invited to reflect upon their week and consider what made them happy, mad, sorry, etc. Then, they will make an “Examen Rope” by selecting beads to symbolize those emotions. Sally Allen and Paul Vash will guide them through the discussion and active stations.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Julie Mazer (she/her)

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Children's Education Coordinator
Children's Music Director

Music Connections 10/30 – Handbell Demo!

This week, I will not be at church. BUT, I have a very special opportunity planned during Music Connections with your child. Deanna and Al Blanchard will lead the children through a Hand Bell Demonstration in the Johnson room following the children's moment! Rather than using the hand chimes that we regularly use in Music Connections, the children will have the opportunity to touch, feel, and play the REAL Hand Bells! It's sure to be a treat. 

Parents, did you know that late middle schoolers and high schoolers are eligible to join the handbell choir (pending a note and rhythm reading music assessment) ? Perhaps this would be a great opportunity for your teen to try out Hand Bells and see if they would like to make this a regular part of their lives. (Hand Bells rehearse on Monday evenings). 

Julie Mazer (she/her)

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Children's Education Coordinator
Children's Music Director

Sunday School 10/30

This week….

No Nursery Care this week. Children under age five are invited to enjoy the nursery alongside their parents. Please tidy-up the room before leaving.

PreK-2nd grade students will enjoy a story with Jill Westberg and Karen Jaehning. Children under the age of 5 are invited to stay as long as they are able with a parent.

3rd-5th Grade will continue their focus on Prayer. This week, they will learn how to write a “Breath Prayer” and have an opportunity to paint a cross on a small stone. The children will be invited to carry this stone with them throughout the week as a reminder to pause and say their breath prayer in times of worry or stress. This will be a very easy, light, quick, painting experience. Regardless, please do not send your children in their Sunday best. Sally Allen and Paul Vash will guide them through the discussion and active stations.

I will be away this Sunday. But, your children will be in good hands with Paul, Sally, Karen, and Jill!

Julie Mazer (she/her)

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Children's Education Coordinator
Children's Music Director

10/23 Music Connections – Please Read, Special Music Share During Service This Week

This Sunday, the children will share music that we have developed on the passage, “Be Still and Know that God is Peace,” with the congregation. Any participating child will rehearse with me at 9:50 in the Johnson Room. Children must have attended music connections for at least two Sundays in October to participate (or be one of my veteran middle schoolers). Below is the list of children who are familiar with the material and are eligible to share for the congregation:
  • Neil G
  • Clara G
  • Charlotte H
  • August H 
  • Annabel H
  • Anneliese E
  • Linus H
  • Fiona S
  • Julianna O
  • Daria B
  • Timmy H
  • Ben L
If your child is not on the list, they are invited to experience the interactive music from their seats in the congregation. After we share music, they will be invited to the platform for the Children's Moment. 
Then, after the children's moment, children in grades 2nd-5th + (middle schoolers and high schoolers are welcome to attend as a participant or helper) are invited to play ukulele with me. I will have 12 ukuleles on hand. If your child has their own ukulele, they are welcome to bring it to church. Becky Erickson will be our Music Connections volunteer.
Last, I am still in need of a volunteer for Music Connections this week. Can you assist?
See you on Sunday!

Julie Mazer (she/her)

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Children's Education Coordinator
Children's Music Director

Sunday School 10/23

This week….


PreK-2nd grade students will enjoy music at 9:00 and then listen to s story with Jill Westberg and Josie Gilbert. Children under the age of 5 are invited to stay as long as they are able and then transfer to the nursery to play with Antonia Wuschner and Amalia Sherrill.



3rd-5th Grade will begin a new module focusing on “Prayer.” This module will help children to develop specific skills and tools for a life of prayer. This week, they will practice silence and listening to God. Sally Allen and Paul Vash will guide them through the discussion and active stations. Be sure to stop in and see the PEACE mobile the children made during the Peacemaker module. (See attached photo).

IMG_5063.jpeg


Looking ahead: Do you have any magazines with positive words and phrases and/or pictures of food? O Magazine, Runner's World, National Geographic, Food Network, etc? In November, 3-5 will create a Thanksgiving collage. I'm looking for magazines that might work for this project. If you have some to share, please bring them to the Bridges Room or leave in the office with my name on them. Thanks!


We look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Julie Mazer (she/her)

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Children's Education Coordinator
Children's Music Director

ORUCC Mission Trip: Fundraising & Fun

Youth Ministry at ORUCC: Mission Trip to Duluth, MN.

Dear Ones of ORUCC,

We are so happy to announce that this year the youth from 7th -12th grade will participate in a Justice Mission Trip to Duluth, MN from Sunday July 9th to Saturday July 15th. We can ALL support this important ministry that enhances the WHOLE church and the world. 

Register for the Mission Trip:

Parents and guardians can register and pay for the 2023 Mission trip with $250 by 11/15/2022 and a final balance of $250 on 4/1/2023. Register and Pay with the big red button on the bottom of this email or by clicking HERE!

We all want to support our youth and chaperones as they raise money for this trip. Here are some ways the WHOLE church can support and participate in this essential ministry at Orchard Ridge:

Come to Culver’s on Mineral Point Road for dinner on Monday October 24th from 4pm-8pm. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to our youth mission trip. For youth and parents/chaperones who want to serve, there are still a few spots left! Sign up: here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B49ABAD2EA5FA7-culvers

Join for a Halloween Breakfast at ORUCC on October 30th after worship at 11am $5 a plate suggested donation. Our youth will be sharing about their 2022 Mission Trip at this time! For youth and parents/chaperones who want to serve, there are still a few spots left! Sign up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B49ABAD2EA5FA7-volunteering1

Just for FUN, come to Treinen Farm Corn Maze & Bonfire in Lodi, WI, Friday October 21st 6:30-9:30

We have reserved our own bonfire area with benches and picnic tables. Feel free to bring your own food if you wish and we will provide s’mores! This area will serve as our home base while you enjoy and explore the farm, pumpkin patch, animals and maze.

To join us, purchase your own ticket at this website and upon arrival ask for the Orchard Ridge UCC Bonfire area.

On a personal note, I am so grateful to be part of this church that values our youth and doing justice in the world. It inspires to me to learn from the youth and seasoned chaperones about the life-long impact of this amazing tradition. I will be at each of these events as a pastoral presence and I so look forward to deepening in relationships with the youth and families in this time.

Blessings to you,

Pastor Julia

You can make a difference.

Register for Mission Trip