Orchard Ridge

United Church of Christ

Sunday Worship Resources

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Stewardship Sunday

9:00 am – Children and Youth Faith Formation

9:00 – 9:50 am Observations from the Occupied West Bank of Palestine

Friendship Hall

Rev. Shelby Jeidy

(see below)

9:15 am – Meeting of Caregivers of Christmas Eve Service Children and Youth Participants

Bonhoeffer Room

(see below)

10:00 am Worship

Sermon: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Diane Jungblut

Musical Offerings: ORUCC Choir

11:10 am – 12:00 pm – Momentum of the Now

(see below)

Click Here for Printable Bulletin

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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

This 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.

Observations from the Occupied West Bank of Palestine

This 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.

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. 

Senior Pastor Julia Burkey has returned from maternity leave!

Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey EMAIL

Associate Pastor: Rev. Kate Mackey EMAIL

Associate Pastor: Rev. Ken Pennings EMAIL

Children’s Education Coordinator & Music Director: Julie Mazer EMAIL

Office Manager George Decker

608-271-7212 or EMAIL



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