Java & Jesus

Java and Jesus meets most weeks at 9 a.m. and is currently meeting in person (in the Swan seminar room off Friendship Hall) with the option to attend via Zoom. (Equipment in the Swan Room allows in-person participants to see and hear those on Zoom and Zoom participants to see and hear the people in the room.) Each week’s reading is typically posted on Wednesday or Thursday for the following Sunday. J&J is sometimes canceled when there is large-group programming at 9 and may be canceled for part of the summer. Weekly announcements and worship resources will say if J&J has been canceled. The most recent J&J email is automatically posted below. New people are always welcome and it is OK to attend even if you have not had time to do the reading. You will find an open discussion of wide-ranging topics and many different points of view expressed. You can ask to be added to the Java & Jesus email list by sending email to [email protected]. Click here to see an archive of past readings & topics.

This week’s Java and Jesus

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  • ORUCC Java & Jesus, June 4th, 9 am (In-person or by Zoom)
    by Orchard Ridge UCC
    Java & Jesus
    Sunday, June 4th, at 9 am

    Attend in-person at the church in the
    Alfred Swan Room, or attend remotely
    by Zoom

    Pam Oliver facilitating

    All are welcome!
    Please join us even if this is your first time!

    Our summer J&J programming will focus on the Phoenix Affirmations, which the pastors will be preaching about this summer. The reading(s) will be kept light most weeks. The first affirmation is “Christian love of God includes walking fully in the path of Jesus, without denying the legitimacy of other paths God may provide humanity.”

    Please read ahead of time and come prepared to discuss the following:
    • a one-page discussion guide for the first affirmation;
    • chapter one of Eric Elnes’ The Phoenix Affirmations, available as an inexpensive ebook or paperback.


    We are hoping J&J can be somewhat self-organizing during the summer. We will provide a schedule for discussing the affirmations and can take care of sending out the links to the discussion starters.
    We hope to discuss this at our June 4 meeting.

    List of Phoenix Affirmations by content:
    1. Walk fully with Jesus, don’t deny other faiths
    2. Prayer, meditation, scripture
    3. Celebrate creation
    4. Worship includes art
    5. Engage people authentically across diversity
    6. Stand with poor and oppressed
    7. Separate church and state
    8. Walk humbly with God, seek to understand enemies
    9. We and all people are loved
    10. Sacredness of minds and hearts, doubt and belief
    11. Care for bodies, time for rest, reflection, recreation
    12. Meaning and purpose, discernment of calling
     _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


    Or paste the following into your browser:  

    To join Zoom discussion by phone: 1 312 626 6799
    Meeting ID: 836 4943 6657
    Passcode: 315584

    If you have difficulty accessing the Zoom discussion,
    phone Ken Pennings at 608-556-2371
    Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, www.orucc.org, Madison, WI 53711