This week’s announcements

Weekly announcements are usually updated on Thursday. Archive of old announcements.

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  • ORUCC Weekly Announcements for March 6th

    Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice

    Weekly Announcements

    for Thursday, March 6


    Friday Breakfast Group

    Friday, March 7

    9:00 am

    Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road

    Louise Jeanne


    Meditation Group–Zoom only

    Friday, March 7

    9:30 – 10:30 am

    Zoom

    Sue Dixon


    Family Game Night

    Friday, March 7

    6:00 – 8:00 pm

    Friendship Hall/Kitchen


    Sunday, March 9

    First Sunday in Lent

    9:00 am Lenten All-Ages Faith Formation


    10:00 am Worship

    Sermon: Julia Burkey

    Lay Liturgist: Meg Stevens

    Musical Offerings: ORUCC Bell Choir


    11:15 am Ministry of Youth Faith Formation meeting

    Romero Room

    Kate Mackey


    Men’s Group – In Person

    Monday, March 10

    7:15 – 8:30 pm

    Day Room/Romero Room

    Jim McNamara


    Lunch and Learn

    Wednesday, March 12

    11:30 am, Friendship Hall

    12:30 pm, Worship Hall

    Steve Sheets

    (See below)


    Choir Practice

    Wednesday, March 12

    7:00 – 8:30 pm

    Music Room or Worship Hall

    Bruce Gladstone


    Meditation Group

    Thursday, March 13

    8:30 – 9:30 am

    Romero Room

    Becky Baumbach

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


    Save The Date!

    March 12th – March Lunch and Learn

    March 14th -16th – All Church Retreat

    March Compassion Offering:

    The Community Immigration Law Center (CILC)


    The Community Immigration Law Center (CILC) provides pro bono representation for immigrants facing deportation. CILC is frequently the last line of defense for people who are in need of information and representation in our legal system. The five lawyers and paralegal of CILC are housed at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison.


    With representation such as that of a CILC attorney, a person’s chance of success in immigration court increases dramatically. CILC provides both formal representation of clients plus a weekly asylum clinic. The latter provides information that helps many more people to navigate the judicial process. CILC also hosts an immigration consultation clinic twice a month for anyone in the community with immigration-related questions. CILC coordinates with agencies at the local, state, and national level to support immigrant families in our community and beyond.  


    Thank you in advance for your contribution.

    Volunteer Driver Program

    Sign up on Sunday, March 9, 2025


    The Volunteer Driver Program needs more drivers!


    Consider signing up to be a driver. Here are quotes from current drivers: 

    • “Driving immigrants and refugees is my way of expressing my welcome to people who have been so demonized and mistreated by some politicians.”

    • “We can’t do everything, but we can do that one thing, and maybe do it again. It is easy, as we have many choices on the schedules.

    • The satisfaction comes from meeting the people in person, seeing how grateful they are for this one small action, knowing that I have helped with one of the many steps they need to take to better lives, to be safe.”


    Click here for more info:  

    Upcoming Sunday Morning Opportunities…

    Mark your calendars: there many special events offered both before and after worship!

    • March 9, 9:00 a.m. Lenten All-Ages Faith Formation 
    • March 14-16, All-Church Retreat
    • March 23, 9:00 a.m. Newcomer’s Meet & Greet ; 11:15 a.m. Presentation on the January 2025 ORUCC Trip to the Border
    • March 30, 9:00 a.m. New Members Class 1st Session
    • April 6, 9:00 a.m. Children and Youth Ministry Update with Kate & Julie; 9:00 a.m. New Members Class 2nd Session
    • April 13, 9:00 a.m. Palm Sunday Intergenerational Faith Formation; 9:00 a.m. New Members Class 3rd Session
    • Easter Sunday, April 20, 6:00 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service followed by brunch; 10:00 Worship; 11:15 a.m. Children and Youth Easter Egg Hunt
    • April 27, 9:00 a.m. Care of Creation Mission Team Presents: Gardening with Native Plants, with Andrew Epping; 9:00 a.m. New Members Class 4th Session

    Java & Jesus will also return for adults’ faith formation in the Alfred Swan room at the 9:00 hour on the following dates: March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, May 4, 11, 18 and 25.

    Mark your calendars: The March in-person Wayfinding gathering has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 20th

    The in-person Wayfinding gathering for March has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 20th, 9:30 – 11:15 am in Friendship Hall (instead of Wednesday, March 19th at those times).

    pile_of_old_books.jpg

    Women’s Book Group to meet today, Thursday, March 6th


    The Women’s Book Group will meet Thursday, March 6 at 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Alfred Swan room and also on Zoom at this link:

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81457606762?pwd=N1IrcG82TXJGS0JaWk9iM1RzMEQydz09


    Carol Prugh will lead us in a discussion of Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. April’s book will be Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy and Joyce Pohl will bring her gardening expertise to this discussion. Please join us! Contact Deanna Blanchard to be added to the email list.

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    Friday Breakfast Group – March 7th, 9:00 a.m. 

     

    The next Friday Breakfast is set for March 7th at 9:00 am at Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road. All are welcome! The group meets on the first Friday of the month and includes both men and women. Join us for this informal chance to connect and converse on many topics. Contact Louise Jeanne, Link for more information.

    Lunch and Learn, Wednesday March 12th 

    The History of Pi Day    


    Our presenter, with a history in mathematics, is our very own Gene Dyer who will share his knowledge on pi, and other tidbits. The Greek letter p (pi) is a geometric constant approximately equal to 3.1416. Its value is equal to the length of any circle’s circumference divided by its diameter. This will be fun!

    

    If you have a favorite pie you would like to share, please feel welcome to do so. Please let Steve Sheets know of your intention [email protected].

     

    We gather at 11:30 for our luncheon with the program beginning at 12:30. Please join us on the 12th for a delicious luncheon ($10 per person).  RSVPs are important for our catering team.  Please email Steve Sheets: [email protected].

    crusty-paint-tubes.jpg

    Transformation! A community art project. 

     For I am about to do a new thing! Isaiah 43:19


    First Congregational UCC, Madison (1609 University Avenue) is hosting an Intergenerational Community Art Project. 

     

    Nearly 30 yards of canvas are waiting for inspiration! This special Lenten Project is open to all ages and skill levels. Artists are invited to leave their mark through free-form and abstract painting. The TRANSFORMATION is open to the public, so artists need not be members of First Cong to participate. 

     

    Public painting hours are Sunday’s from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm and Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 6-8 pm. Wednesday evenings are reserved for quiet, contemplative, painting, while Tuesday evening sessions are open for more joyous expression.

     

    The project kicks off this Sunday, March 9th and runs through Wednesday, April 2nd. No sign up, just come and paint! 

     

    Painting supplies are provided, all you have to bring is inspiration! 

    Heart-Opening Opportunity


    Are you feeling sad, scattered, isolated? Are you wondering where God is right now? The Thursday morning Meditation Group would love to have you join us, breathe in God’s presence, and ground yourself in love.

    Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 am in the Romero Room. Questions? Contact Susi Petta at 608-712-9539 or Becky Baumbach at 608-239-0221.

    Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings now through March!


    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

     

    • Page #1: Choose the date you are available to volunteer and select the box that says “SIGN UP“.  Then, at the bottom of the page select the box “SAVE & CONTINUE“.
    • Page #2: Enter your first/last name and your email address. Then select the box at the bottom of the page “SIGN UP NOW

     

    Questions or problems signing up?

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

    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!


    Daily Reflections: March 6 – 12


    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. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office.

    Daily Reflections: March 6 – 12

    Office Manager George Decker

    available Mon.-Fri. 8:30am -12:30 pm

    608-271-7212 or EMAIL


    Senior Pastor Julia Burkey: available

    Office hours: Tuesday – Thursday 9:30 am – 12:00 pm 

    & by appointment Tuesday – Thursday 9:30 am – 5 pm

    518-542-6915 EMAIL


    Associate Pastor Ken Pennings: available

    Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am -5:00 pm 

    by appointment

    608-556-2371 EMAIL


    Associate Pastor Kate Mackey: available

    Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

    by appointment

    608-358-6143 EMAIL


    Julia and Ken (try to) take Monday & Saturday as Sabbath days,

    Kate Friday and Saturday

    Friday is observed as a writing day for the preaching pastor.


    In case of a pastoral emergency, please call any of the pastors, as all pastors are available by phone, text and we will always have a pastor on call who we can turn to.


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    Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC

    Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

    1501 Gilbert Road

    Madison, WI 53711

    608-271-7212

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

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