This week’s announcements
Weekly announcements are usually updated on Thursday. Archive of old announcements.
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- ORUCC Weekly Announcements for February 19th
Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice
Weekly Announcements
for Thursday, February 19
Wayfinding – Zoom
Thursday, February 19
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Zoom
(see below)
Meditation Group – Zoom only
Friday, February 20
9:30 – 10:30 am
Zoom
Sue Dixon
Sunday, February 22
9:00 am: Building Blocks for Faithful Living class (see below)
9:00 am: Intergenerational Faith Formation
10:00 am – Worship
Point Pastor and Sermon: Julia Burkey
Lay Liturgist: Laura Conners
Musical Offerings: TRU Function
Men’s Group – in person
Monday, February 23
7:15 – 8:45 pm
Romero Room
Jim McNamara
Choir Practice
Wednesday, February 25
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Bruce Gladstone
Meditation Group
Thursday, February 26
8:30 – 9:30 am
Romero Room
Becky Baumbach
February Compassion Offering:
La Casa de la Misericordia
La Casa de la Misericordia is a welcome center in Nogales, Mexico. Prior to changes in immigration policy on January 21, 2026, “La Casa” provided a safe home for single women and women with children who were waiting, with papers, to come legally to the United States. Now it also offers a home for women and children who have been deported from the United States to Mexico.
A visit to “La Casa” is like finding joy in the midst of tragedy. A number of us had that experience as part of the ORUCC immigration immersion trip last January. The grounds of La Casa include a playground, an accredited school, legal services, a dormitory, and eating facilities. Our funds will help sustain and expand this life-giving setting to young women and children across the border.
For more information, please view this greeting to you. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bp5gkikSPcywj1WL7
‘Tell Me Something Good’ daily devotional cards for Lent
We have fresh off the presses, available at church, daily devotional cards for enhanced spiritual practice during Lent. You may pick up your cards in worship this Sunday February 22nd or at the church office, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. We ask that you take one pack of devotional cards per household and, if you are so moved, you are welcome to make a $10 donation for printing cost, but not required.
Lent is an opportunity to practice enhanced spiritual practice, and devotional cards are a great way into a new practice. As Pastor Julia said in her sermon this Sunday, “Spiritual practice allows us to withstand the contrast of life- to find peace when there is no peace, to find warmth where there is only cold, to hold on to hope when the situation seems hopeless, to hear the words of Jesus when he says, “do not be afraid,” when there seems to be so much fear surrounding us.”
We are so glad to be in this journey with you.
Love,
Pastor Julia Burkey, Pastor Kate Mackey & Pastor Ken Pennings
Sixth “Building Blocks for Faithful Living” class this Sunday, February 22nd
A seven-week class at 9 am on Sunday mornings in the Swan Room from January 18th through March 1st, 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 6 – February 22nd
What can we learn from churches, especially those in minority communities, whose worship is always joyful in the face of terrible injustice and which grounds actions for justice?
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.
February Wayfinding
Today,Thursday, February 19th over ZOOM
4:00-5:00pm
We will continue to gather the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30am, program beginning at 9:45am and concluding at 11:15am. The next in-person gatherings are: March 18th, April 15th, May 20th.
For those who prefer to join virtually, we will meet by Zoom the very next day, each Thursday following our in-person Wayfinding program at 4:00pm concluding at 5:00pm. Join the meeting via the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81390270827?pwd=fCJxLaaJay4Rf1Uk7c9bfF6sLCYVrF.1
An important message from Building Unity for Nonviolent Action
We, the human family, are at a critical moment. The U.S. is in severe danger of moving farther into authoritarian rule, and right now a united approach is our best hope to moving us toward real and lasting change.
The following information is part of an emerging strategy to help the Madison area meet this moment with united, efficient, and extremely powerful nonviolent action.
Building Unity for Nonviolent Action is a coalition of over 25 groups who are working to get our communities united, organized, trained, and ready to protect our neighbors and all that we love.
We are forming a United Nonviolent Action Network of Nonviolent Action Teams within neighborhoods, congregations, unions, work places, friends groups, interest groups, and other communities. These teams, at a minimum, simply agree to receive action alerts via texts and to respond as they are able. Click the link above to learn more about joining or forming a Nonviolent Action Team.
We are launching a “Call to Action Weekend” – Feb. 20, 21, & 22 – three days – four big events – one united mission:
To powerfully call our communities to action: we must get ready for nonviolent resistance, now.
Please review the posters below and sign up here to let us know when and how you will share this historic weekend with us!
And, help spread this information about the “Call to Action Weekend” by sending the posters and or these links in emails, texts, or social media:
· Whole Weekend Poster: tinyurl.com/Feb-20-21-22-BU4NVA-Poster-1
· Freedom Caravans Poster: tinyurl.com/Freedom-Caravan-1-Poster
· Facebook Events:
o Friday: www.facebook.com/share/17uvaVskmL/
o Saturday: www.facebook.com/share/19Yyf8VdSG/
o Sunday: www.facebook.com/share/1DRfYQLKoU/
o Freedom Caravan to Assembly: www.facebook.com/share/14WX7NWoCcp/
o Whole weekend Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CGsCTuXg8/
Together we can help this information “go viral” and together we can issue this collective call for united, sustained, and nonviolent action. Thank you for helping to spread the word!
This is our time. We are the ones. If you are ready to join our volunteer team, call Building Unity at 608-630-3633.
*** Save the Dates and sign-up to be one of the next 100 people to be trained in nonviolent practices with an intensive 2-day training over the March 14 – 15 weekend.
More info here:
Welcome Baby Gwendolen!
The Horton Family welcomed Gwendolen Susan on February 3rd. We are so thrilled and celebrate the gift of new life with them! Their homeschooling group has set up a meal train for them. Please see this link if you would like to bring them a meal, or talk to Pastor Kate.
Seeking ORUCC website volunteers!
No technical expertise needed. Can be done from home. The church’s website https://orucc.org/ has gotten out of date. We need some volunteers to check all the pages on the site and identify out of date information. Then in some cases we will need volunteers to contact church members or leaders to get updated information. You DO need an Internet connection and an ability to read a website, but you do NOT need to be able to do any editing of the site. That will be done by others. We want to do the site update in an organized way and collecting all the needed updates at once will help with this. Please contact Pam Oliver [email protected] if you are willing and able to help.
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!
Reflections for February
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. 8:30am -1:30 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
