Responding to the Election:

Opportunities for Reflection, Engagement and Support

This has been a challenging and grief-filled time for many in our congregation as the realities facing our nation come to light. If you are struggling, please know that your pastors are here for you. To continue processing these election results, you are invited to the following:



Momentum of the Now

Sunday, November 17th 11:10 am – 12pm (after worship)

All are invited to join the pastors for an opportunity to share your thoughts, feelings, and wonderings about what it means to ‘Be The Church’ together in these times. We have a sense that turning to each other and hearing the wisdom of the collective – from our fresh and raw experience of shock and strategy – is vitally important. We want to collect the momentum of the now as we think and envision how we want to deepen our spiritual reservoirs with God and deepen our relationships with one another. 

December 4th Hope Cafe

Sunday November 10^th 9:30am-11:30am

We had such a promising turnout to the first post-election Hope Cafe, that we scheduled another one. Come join for a time to just be, a time for us to come together as a community in a cafe-like atmosphere and turn to each other in these times of anxiety and unknown for our nation. No matter what happens, we do know that strengthening our local micro-communities is of great value. Know there will be space for you, a listening ear, yummy snacks and community care. This is an intergenerational space so little ones are welcome. Open to the wider community as well, so feel free to bring a friend or invite neighbors.

Meeting for caregivers of Christmas Eve service participants,

this Sunday at 9:15 am

Caregivers of children and youth who plan to participate in our Christmas Eve service are strongly encouraged to attend a meeting this Sunday (11/17) at 9:15 in the downstairs Bonhoeffer Room to review details and expectations. If you cannot attend that meeting, please talk with Julie Mazer directly. For more information about our Christmas Eve Program or to sign up, please click HERE

November Compassion Offering: Luke House

The mission of Luke House is simple: to feed the hungry no questions asked.

You may have heard of Luke House. If not, it is because they go about their mission work quietly, serving free meals nine times a week, year-round, rain or shine. At each meal Luke House serves between 60 and 120 guests. All guest and volunteers are treated with dignity and respect which is a major value of the Luke House.

Luke House, located on Madison’s near east side, has been feeding Madison’s hungry since 1986. Guests show up and are fed, no questions asked. The facility is set up like a restaurant with volunteers serving a healthy meal and beverages to guests. The atmosphere is very pleasant, and the guests have a chance to socialize. Among the guests are Madison’s poorest. Luke House does not solve all the problems encountered by the poor, but they do their best to bring food and comfort to those who need it most.

 One guest said, “This free meal site produces good home-cooked church-basement food and warm feelings. You feel like you’re at a potluck but no one expects you to bring anything. For just a moment I felt loved and accepted”

Luke House does this with the help of volunteers from the community and approximately 30 different local churches. It receives no money from the city, county, state or federal governments. All funding comes from donations. Here is the link to the You Tube video created by Sarah Bullard, the director of Luke House.

Thank you for your donation. Funds from this compassion offering will go directly to buying food for Luke House’s unsponsored meals. 

2025 Youth Service Trip Announcement

The 2025 Youth Service Trip will be heading to Kansas City, MO for a “Justice 101” experience with Be The Neighbor, a UCC-affiliated organization. Youth entering 8th grade through those having just graduated High School are eligible to participate. The first deposit is due December 1. Please talk to Pastor Kate if you have any questions! 

Do you have an idea for a Compassion Offering?

The Ministry of Christian Witness & Service is responsible for designating a 

recipient organization for the monthly compassion offerings. We welcome and encourage you to be part of this process by helping to identify organizations that are both meaningful to you and in keeping with the ORUCC mission of social justice and outreach.  Consider a non-profit that aligns with our church mission and that you are willing to help us promote. Then, follow the instructions on this form: Compassion Offering Request Form. The Ministry of Christian Witness & Service will review and consider your request at one of our monthly meetings. Thank you in advance!

– The Ministry of Christian Witness & Service

Our Generosity at Work: Compassion Offering for October

We are glad to report that October’s Compassion Offering for ORUCC’s Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund amounted to $4,759.57. Established in 2020, the Fund helps support our neighbors with Woodman’s gift cards distributed by staff, from Joining Forces for Families (JFF), Commonwealth Development (CWD), and Early Childhood Development (ECD). 

David Allen solo piano performance set for November 19th

On Tuesday, November 19 at 7pm, David Allen is pleased to return to Oakwood for a solo piano performance. Original improvisations of classical, pop, and jazz tunes will feature composers Frank Ocean, Wayne Shorter, Bill Evans, Elton John, Bix Beiderbecke, Jerome Kern, and JS Bach. Donations will once again benefit the ORUCC Youth program.  

Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance Service

Wednesday, November 20^th, 2024, 6:00PM

Madison Christian Community Church

7118 Old Sauk Road

Madison, WI 53717

Each year on November 20th, the world recognizes Transgender Day of Remembrance – a day to commemorate the transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming persons who are targeted and killed for living authentically and courageously. Trans individuals are a part of every country, every culture, and every faith tradition.

In a powerful show of solidarity and remembrance, faith communities in Madison and the surrounding area are coming together to host an Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance service on November 20, 2024, at 6 PM at Madison Christian Community Church. 

This year’s service will bring together people of diverse faiths and backgrounds, including atheist and agnostic, to remember those lost, raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by the transgender community, and promote acceptance and understanding. This event is a vital opportunity to reflect on the lives of those we’ve lost and to stand together against hate and violence. 

As faith leaders, we believe in the power of community and the importance of standing together in support of marginalized voices. Together, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate world.

All are welcome to attend this meaningful service.

Thank you!

Exploring Options for the Future of the ORUCC Food Pantry Garden

As many of you know, the Food Pantry Garden in the ORUCC Veggie Village has been the source of thousands of pounds of fresh produce for our local food pantries since 2009. We started with a small group of us who envisioned this garden on the ORUCC property and over the years many of you have lent a hand in growing and harvesting healthy produce to stock the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Food Pantry. In this effort, we also recognize the ongoing support and commitment that the entire congregation has given toward this ministry. 

As co-managers of the food pantry garden, we (LuAnn Greiner & Leslie Linser) have had the great fortune of “growing” in so many ways over the past 15 seasons. Working side by side with ORUCC members and friends (adults and youth) has been life-giving, energizing and extremely fulfilling for us. Nevertheless, we have reached the proverbial “pitchfork” in the road and recognize that its time for us to step away from our responsibilities in the food pantry garden and open up time in our lives to “dig into” other endeavors. 

With that, we and Pastor Julia invite you – members and friends of ORUCC who have an interest in vegetable gardening and/or are moved, motivated or seriously curious – to join us in a conversation on SUNDAY, November 24th at 11:15am in Friendship Hall to explore options for maintaining this ministry. A light meal will be served. An RSVP in advance will help us with planning. Please email LuAnn Greiner at g[email protected] with RSVP or questions.

2024 MOSES Transformation Celebration December 14th

ORUCC members are invited to attend the 2024 MOSES Transformation Celebration Saturday December 14, 2024 @ 5:30 to 9:00 pm at the Goodman Center on 214 Waubesa Street. This annual fundraising event showcases formerly incarcerated people who are now making contributions to our community. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts created and served by youth in the Goodman Community Center’s TEENworks program. Tickets are $75 for an individual or $65 per ticket bought in a group. Proceeds support the community organizer and advocacy work of MOSES around addressing racial inequity, injustice in the criminal legal system, and racial justice for all children. You can also make a contribution to the event. Advanced registration is required using this form: https://secure.everyaction.com/25nkZFvsWEaRbpNca4ETYw2 

A Flyer with more information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N5h8Qqj9oI1myrjVi6gnYIUk4RzwPV0A/view?emci=82008f3e-349d-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=749798c8-379d-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=22210

Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings now through the end of

November 2024!

  AT ORUCC, the Members are the Ministers!

We are seeking volunteers to serve on Sunday mornings for in-person worship. You need not be a member, simply a person who loves ORUCC and is eager to find a place to serve! Young people are welcome to sign up, too!

Would you consider serving one or more times as

a Coffee Maker, a Welcomer, an Usher, a Lay Liturgist or

to assist with Holy Communion?

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

Click here to sign up as a Coffee Maker

Click here to sign up as a Welcomer

Click here to sign up as an Usher

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

After selecting one or more dates, you will need to click “Submit and Sign Up” at the bottom of the page, then enter your name & email address, then click “Sign Up Now.”

Questions or problems signing up?

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

Plastic Recycling Challenge!

Join Care of Creation in a Plastic Recycling Challenge! Our goal is to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic bags (and other plastic films like bubble wrap) to exchange for a plastic bench that we can use to enjoy the church gardens. Click on the Trex recycling challenge website for more details about what can be collected. Or watch this short video to learn about how grocery bags can be turned into plastic wood. We’ll collect bags at church and then take them to HyVee for recycling.

Two opportunities to learn about Palestine 

Observations from the Occupied West Bank of Palestine

Sunday, November 17th

9:00am-9:50am Friendship Hall

In 2022, Rev. Shelby Jeidy (currently serving as Trauma Chaplain for University Hospital) had the opportunity to serve as a UCC Mission Intern in the West Bank of Palestine. Jeidy spent time in Ramallah and Occupied East Jerusalem, working with a UCC Mission Partner on a project of interreligious engagement for peacemaking, as well as advocating for a Palestinian youth who had been wrongly imprisoned. Join us as Rev. Jeidy shares words and images from this exceptional experience. Baklava provided.

Photo credit: Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images

Building Peace and Justice in Palestine/Israel

Tuesday, November 19th

7:00pm-9:00pm Christ Presbyterian Church (944 E. Gorham Street - map) 

ORUCC’s Palestine Justice Mission Team invites you to a presentation by two peace activists – one Palestinian and one Israeli. Palestinian Osama Iliwat, whose family was displaced from Jerusalem to Jericho, and Rotem Levin, who served in the Israeli military, will share their personal stories and the reality on the ground, as well as their vision of a shared future of security, equality and justice for all people. Co-sponsored by ORUCC, Christ Presbyterian Church, Jewish Voice for Peace, Mennonite Action-Madison, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, and others. Learn more.

Wayfinding continues Wednesday, November 20th

”Wayfinding: The Soul Tasks of Aging: Toward a Theology of the Elder Years” will continue on Wednesday, November 20th, from 9:45 to 11:15 am in Friendship Hall, and then on ZOOM Thursday, November 21st from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Here is the Zoom call-in information, which stays the same for every meeting:

Topic: Wayfinding

Time: Nov 21, 2024 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84845886041?pwd=4PhfBp176E1pCJZ7U1NAanhC9P8F3h.1

Meeting ID: 848 4588 6041

Passcode: 115289

Two books to focus on:

We will begin with Parker Palmer’s book, “On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity & Getting Old” for the first 4 sessions and then the remaining 4 in the Spring will be themed around Connie Zweig’s book, “The Inner Work of Aging: Shifting from Role to Soul.”

Ushers needed through Christmas 2024

Please consider signing up to be an usher during our Sunday morning service. Ushers hand out bulletins, help people be seated, take the morning offering and count the money received.

We would like to see the days all filled up. On-the-job training will be provided, but it is very easy to complete the ushering duties.

Please visit the signup genius via the link below. If you have any questions, please contact the church office and they will put you in touch with the appropriate members.

Usher Signup Genius Link

Come sing with us–join our Choir!

All singers are welcome to join our Choir! Rehearsals are Wednesday

evenings from 7:00 to 8:30pm. We sing in worship the first and third

Sundays of the month, gathering for rehearsal 9am those Sunday mornings.

Please share your voice with a group of music-loving friendly people! For more information, email Bruce Gladstone at [email protected].

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For November 14 – 20

Daily Reflections: November 14 – 20

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. Jeanne will not be doing the Daily Reflections next week but will resume the week of Thanksgiving. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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