Christmas

Come celebrate Advent and Christmas 2024 with Orchard Ridge UCC

Sunday worship at 10 am in person (or stream via our YouTube page). Christmas Eve services at 3pm and 5:30 pm. See below for details.

December 1 You Are A Blessing, Kate Mackey preaching, ORUCC Choir All-Ages Faith Formation 9:00 a.m. College Care Package Packing 11:15 a.m. Keeping Neighbors Connected Christmas Card Sale Holiday Gift Tree for ECI ORUCC “Post Office”  

December 8 We Can’t Go Alone, Julia Burkey preach, Bell Choir Youth Service Trip Cookie Sale Holiday Gift Tree for ECI ORUCC “Post Office” New Members Joining  

December 15 Hope is Worth The Risk, Julia Burkey preach, ORUCC Choir Return Gifts: Holiday Gift Tree ORUCC “Post Office” Ethical Trade Company Christmas Gift Sale  

December 22 Do The Good That is Yours To Do, Julia Burkey preach, Special Music ORUCC “Post Office” Kids’ Music Showcase 11:15  

December 24 Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

3pm Youth & Families with TRU Function & Music Connections Children’s Music

5:30pm with Madison Mennonite Church with ORUCC Choir  

December 29 Don’t Forget to Laugh, Ken Pennings preaching  

January 5 The Road Isn’t Straight, Kate Mackey preaching Epiphany Sunday

Words for the Beginning Advent 2024 series  
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings—large and small, personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new. Christ’s birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike—all the while, King Herod tried to bring Christ’s story to an end. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.   We have chosen an Advent series filled with blessings, with the scriptures and reminders we need to hear again and again as we begin a new season. These reminders root us in the fundamental truths of our faith. Many of them are life lessons we teach to children—lessons that adults continue to learn and relearn. They may resemble the blessings we impart to loved ones during special ceremonies like weddings, graduations, or baptisms. And so, we invite you to move through this Advent season as if you are entering a sacred new chapter, holding fast to the reminders that will bolster you for the journey ahead.   As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.