This week’s announcements
Weekly announcements are usually updated on Thursday. Archive of old announcements.
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- ORUCC Weekly Announcements for January 1st
Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice
Weekly Announcements
for Thursday, January 1
Happy New Year!
The Church Office is closed today and tomorrow, January 2nd, reopening Monday morning, January 5th.
Friday Breakfast Group
Friday, January 2
9:00 am
Denny’s, 433 S. Gammon Road
Louise Jeanne
(see below)
Family Game Night
Friday, January 2
6:00 – 8:00 pm.
Friendship Hall
Sara Hagen
(see below)
Meditation Group – Zoom only
Friday, January 2
9:30 – 10:30 am
Zoom
Sue Dixon
Sunday, January 4
9:00 am: Decolonizing Palestine Study Group, Swan Room (see below)
9:00 am: Intergenerational Faith Formation
*Parents Together Group rescheduled for 1/11
10:00 am – Worship
Point Pastor and Sermon: Ken Pennings
Lay Liturgist: Diane Jungblut
Musical Offerings: Bruce Gladstone and Vicki Nonn
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Choir Practice
Wednesday, January 7
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Bruce Gladstone
Meditation Group
Thursday, January 8
8:30 – 9:30 am
Romero Room
Becky Baumbach
January Compassion Offering:
The Sewing Machine Project
The Sewing Machine Project (SMP) is a grassroots nonprofit based in Madison, Wisconsin. Since its founding in 2005, SMP has collected and distributed nearly 5,000 sewing machines to individuals and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. In Madison, SMP partners with community centers to provide sewing machines and instruction and collaborates with local libraries to offer free mending services. Beyond Wisconsin, SMP supports nonprofits that use sewing as a practical path toward stability and self-reliance. By sharing tools, skills, and time, The Sewing Machine Project helps build connection, dignity, and community—one stitch at a time.
For more information on SMP, please view this video.
Book Study:
Decolonizing Palestine –
The Land, The People, The Bible
by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb
Sunday, January 4, 9:00 am, Alfred Swan Room and via Zoom (final session)
Join Rev. Diane Dulin for a discussion of Mitri Raheb’s latest book. The book is inspiring, and is sure to generate fascinating discussion. Discussion will focus on: Biblical concepts and implications of being ‘chosen’ by God; theologies of Christian Zionism; and ongoing colonialism in Palestine. The book is available as a paperback and audiobook. Madison Public Library has three copies. For more information: Mitri Raheb book study.
Traveling art exhibit: “Children of Palestine”
The Palestine Justice Mission Team is pleased to announce that ORUCC has been offered the opportunity to display a traveling art exhibit “Children of Bethlehem”. It includes photographs of life in Bethlehem and artwork by Palestinian youth. It will be installed in Friendship Hall for the month of January.
Family Game Night – January 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Bring a game, a friend, and/or a dish to share with your fellow church families. Kids from elementary age through high school are invited to attend with their adults. We’ll play games and socialize over a very informal potluck in Friendship Hall.
Friday Breakfast Group – January 2, 9:00 a.m.
The next Friday Breakfast is set for January 2, 2026 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.
Early Bird Registration by January 3rd:
Women and Water Indigenous International Clean Water Summit September 24-27, 2026
Pastor Julia’s Holy Water themed sabbatical over the late spring/summer of 2026, will include programming around water, and YOU are invited into this journey. One of the programming opportunities occurs when Pastor Julia returns, and includes learning from Indigenous Women who say “water is life.” Pastor Julia wants to open this opportunity up for anyone who feels called to join in community with Native American Women on the La Corte Oreille Reservation in Hayward, WI. Early registration for this summit goes until January 3rd. After this you may still register but the cost of the summit doubles. All are invited to register, and reach out to Pastor Julia once you have! Learn more and register here: https://www.spiritofthewater.org/
Parents Together Support Group – Rescheduled for 1/11, 9:00 am
Raising kids is hard work, full of joy and challenge. Need some community support? Parents are invited to come together for a peer-led parents’ support group in the Oscar Romero room, facilitated by Claire Purkis and Joanna Beilman-Dulin. This group is normally held on the first Sunday of the month, but will meet on the second Sunday in January to allow families to attend Intergenerational Faith Formation together on 1/4.
“Building Blocks for Faithful Living” Class begins Sunday, January 11th
A seven-week class at 9 am on Sunday mornings in the Swan Room from January 11 through February 22, 2026, led by David Anderman.
We will take an introductory look at a variety of spiritual experiences, both individual and in community, at theological reflections that grow out of them, and at how these experiences and ideas can guide us in faithful living in community and in our world (i.e. the justice implications). And since spiritual experiences, theological reflections, and faithful living are mutually interactive and feed on each other, we will look at how faith is dynamic and changing over time and place.
Since this class is introductory, preparation will be minimal. Bring yourself, your experiences, and your insights and questions. David will write a one or two page non-technical document to help focus each session. At the end of the class, you will have explored some basic building blocks for faithful living, and will have a beginning sense of how they may fit together.
Session 1 – Jan. 11
Where and how do we become aware of a sacred or greater dimension in our world?
A handout with more details for each session is available at church in the Crossroads. Please email David at [email protected] if you are interested or wish further information.
Save the Date: UCCI Summer Camps Online Registration January 12th and 19th
A sparkling lake, loving community, tie-dye, loons, spirituality and towering trees: Many of us look forward to camp at Moon Beach and Daycholah Center during the summertime!
Mark your calendars: online registration for summer 2026 is in January. Registration opens for Family Camp at Moon Beach and weeklong camps for children/youth at Daycholah on a first-come basis on January 12th. Camp AweSum (at Moon Beach) registration opens on a first-come basis on January 19th.
Historically, Family Camp fills up very quickly. From now until January 11, there is an option this year to pre-fill your family’s forms in order to expedite the process. If you are a new camper, you will need to create a profile to begin the process (use your family’s previous profile if you have attended in the past).
Many from ORUCC will choose to attend Family Camp together the week of June 29th. New this year, our very own Pastor Kate will be coordinating this week of Family Camp! The Boyds have passed the baton after many years of incredible leadership. We are grateful for their faithful ministry, and we look forward to continuing the beloved community of camp for years to come.
College scholarships available
Members of Orchard Ridge UCC are invited to apply for 2026-2027 college scholarships of $500 to $2,000 from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants should be planning to begin or continue education at any accredited 2- or 4-year college or university and should have a record of academic achievement, service to church and community, and demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is February 15, 2026. Please contact [email protected] for an electronic application.
Questions? Contact Ann Evensen at [email protected]
Stay up to date on ORUCC Children and Youth happenings
Want to stay up to date on the latest with children and youth at ORUCC? Check out our weekly updates here:
Please Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings!
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 Host, 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 Host
Please note that the previous Welcomer and Usher signups have been combined into a signup named “Host.”
Please sign up to be trained into this new position.
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 George Decker at office@orucc.org or 608-271-7212.
Spiritual
Nourishment
for you!
Daily Reflections for December
Daily Reflections for January will appear in next Thursday’s Weekly Announcements. 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 month 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.
Office Manager George Decker
available Mon.-Thurs. 7:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor Julia Burkey: available
Tues.-Thurs. 9:30 am – 6:30 pm
by appointment
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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Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
1501 Gilbert Road
Madison, WI 53711
608-271-7212
Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30
Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice 1501 Gilbert Road | Madison, WI 53711 US
