Many at Orchard Ridge have experienced community and spiritual renewal at Moon Beach over the years. So many of us have warm memories from across the seasons: 

• From the summertime: With multigenerational family camps, autism family camps, memory family camps, and rainbow family camps. 
• From the fall: With retreats offering educational enrichment and an opportunity to create art in community with others. 
• And from the winter: With a getaway to the peace and beauty of a north woods epiphany retreat. 

Along with Moon Beach, Daycholah Center on the shores of Green Lake, and Cedar Valley located on over 100 beautiful acres near West Bend, comprise our United Church of Christ outdoor ministry here in Wisconsin. And here at Orchard Ridge, we have a strong tradition of supporting outdoor ministry, as both participants and as volunteers in programming offered by UCC Camps. 

Now, we are asking those of us who know and love our outdoor ministry to give financially, too. With our support, we can ensure a sustainable future for Moon Beach, Daycholah Center, and Cedar Valley. And preserve these special places as sources of renewal for generations to come. 

Thank you for giving generously and giving what you can to benefit United Church of Christ Outdoor Ministry as our August Compassion Offering recipient. This video shares more info.

Last year our congregation was able to donate $4,500 to our 3 neighborhood schools: Anana Elementary, Orchard Ridge Elementary, and Toki Middle School.

The schools were able to use these funds to purchase winter clothing and basic school supplies for students in need. The need for these basic necessities becomes clear when we consider the number of students who come from economically disadvantaged households.

According to the latest statistics from the Department of Public Instruction, over 40% of the students at Anana Elementary live in economically disadvantaged households. At Toki Middle School, the number is 43%. And at Orchard Ridge Elementary, the number is 57%.

Another basic need within our neighborhood schools is the need for staff. As is the case in many school districts across the country, our neighborhood schools must deal with the daily predicament of not having enough teachers.

Given the challenges that each school faces, we aren’t asking the principals of our 3 neighborhood schools to submit a video for this year’s compassion offering. They have other pressing issues to attend to.

Instead, we are asking you to give what you can, and give generously, so that each school can use our donations to address the urgent and important needs of the students they serve.

Thank you for supporting our neighborhood schools, which have served many of our congregation families past and present. And thank you to all of the ORUCC members who have served and who continue to serve our community as teachers and school volunteers.

At ORUCC we have a long history of supporting our neighborhood families and investing in education. With this month’s compassion offering, we have another important opportunity to contribute and carry on that tradition.

The Christmas Fund is an annual special offering of the United Church of Christ. Each year at Christmas, UCC members are invited to give to this fund, created for the benefit of clergy and lay workers in our denomination. Orchard Ridge UCC has participated in generous ways for many years.

Funds are disbursed in a timely and sensitive manner to benefit retired clergy with inadequate pensions, surviving clergy spouses whose needs may be great following the death of their spouse, retired church workers who often lack adequate pension plans, and currently serving pastors confronted with emergency financial needs.

This year’s theme comes from John 1:16: “From Christ’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” The presence of God in our lives equips us to respond generously.

Throughout December we will hear specific accounts of ways The Christmas Fund has proved essential for those who lead us in worship and mission across the United Church of Christ. Funds are collected by The Pension Boards of the UCC and are distributed carefully and thoughtfully for maximum benefit.

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 from our website. The link is https://orucc.org/contribute/support/

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 from our website. The link is https://orucc.org/contribute/support/ For more information see ucc.orghttps://www.ucc.org/giving/ways-to-give/our-churchs-wider-mission/one-great-hour-of-sharing/

In June, the ORUCC Christian Witness and Service Ministry is focusing on refugee relief in and around Ukraine. We are partnering with the UCC-Wisconsin Conference, and its partner, Church World Service and their Ukraine Crisis Response Fund.

The Ukraine Crisis Response Fund is addressing the unique needs of Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s invasion. In meeting the basic needs of these refugees, the Fund is providing shelter and distributing food, hygiene items and school supplies.

The situation in Ukraine and neighboring countries is unstable and continues to change. Through the Crisis Response Fund, Ukrainians who have been forced to flee from their homes receive warm welcomes to help stabilize their situations.

Uniting in prayer, action, and giving, we stand as people of faith in love and compassion with the people of Ukraine.

Link to 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

Odyssey Project

The Crossing.