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

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• ORUCC Weekly Announcements for June 26th
  by Orchard Ridge UCC
  June 26, 2025
  

  Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice Weekly Announcements for Thursday, June 26 Meditation Group – Zoom only Friday, June 27 9:30 – 10:30 am Zoom Sue Dixon Memorial Service for John Lillethun Saturday, June 28 10:00 am Visitation 11:00 am Service in Worship Hall 12:00 noon Garth service 12:30 pm Luncheon in Friendship Hall All are welcome! Sunday, June 29 The Third Sunday after Pentecost Open & Affirming Sunday Wear your Pride clothing & regalia! 9:00 am – UCC Mission Partners’ Holy Land presentation Friendship Hall (see below) 10:00 am – Worship Sermon: Ken Pennings Lay Liturgists: Cody & June Theis Musical Offerings: David Allen Meditation Group Thursday, July 3 8:00 – 9:00 am Romero Room Becky Baumbach —————————- Pastors’ On-Call Schedule Your pastors are here for you this summer! While Pastors Julia and Kate are away today until July 11th, Pastor Ken will be on call. Please do not hesitate to reach out to him with your pastoral care needs, questions or concerns: [email protected] June Compassion Offering: Refugee Resettlement in Dane County The June Compassion Offering is Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Services at Jewish Social Services of Madison (JSS). JSS works to empower individuals and families across cultures and generations through compassionate, community-based support. Rooted in Jewish values and open to all, JSS provides critical services across Dane County—from senior and family support, immigrant assistance, spiritual care, programs addressing housing insecurity, and a weekly meal site. At the heart of this work is a deep commitment to caring for the vulnerable and welcoming the stranger. The Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Services Program, the largest at JSS, has been a cornerstone of the JSS mission since the aftermath of World War II. Since then, JSS has successfully settled newcomers from around the world. Recently, the federal government cut off funding for recently arrived refugees, promised them to build new lives here and to thrive as our neighbors. JSS remains steadfast in its commitment to these individuals and families—offering housing support, case management, and a compassionate welcome. Your support through the Compassion Offering helps bridge a critical funding gap and will honor our promise to those seeking safety and a new beginning in Madison. How UCC Mission Partners bring hope to the Holy Land Sunday, June 29th, at 9:00 am,  in Friendship Hall During the past 16 years, ORUCC members Diane Dulin and Tom Beilman have traveled multiple times to the Holy Land. They’ve seen firsthand how UCC Mission Partners (partner organizations) bring hope and friendship to oppressed peoples, amidst the constant stress of military occupation. Come and hear inspiring, informative stories about the vital work of these Mission Partners. Friday Breakfast Group – July 4th, 9:00 a.m.   Start celebrating your 4th at the next Friday Breakfast, July 4 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. Join our disability advocacy conversation on Sunday, July 13th On July 13th after church from 11:15 am-12:30 pm, disabilities activist Laurine Lusk and Pastor Julia invite you to join us for an open conversation along these lines:   ·       Hearing from one another about our concern for this political moment. ·       Supporting and encouraging one another in our advocacy work. ·       Wondering together about creating an advocacy mission team or disability advocacy mission team within the church ·       Deciding our goals or focus: emotional & spiritual, more action-oriented, or both. ·       Identifying our skills, resources, and the connections that may support our goals.   Naturally, you may be considering your already busy schedule and wondering if you have space for a gathering like this.  On the other hand, you may wonder if our country is moving so quickly in a dangerous direction that it’s important to prioritize this advocacy discussion.  Of course, there is no one right way to face these political times.  We know that we can do more when we organize together and support one another. If you decide to join in this initial discussion, it would be valuable to hear your perspective and likely also helpful to hear from others. The Dane Sanctuary Coalition is sponsoring an evening with Dr. Sergio Gonzales: Sanctuary and Sacred Resistance, July 17th at 6pm over ZOOM Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/t3yofBiDT-WZhJrKxvE5tQ#/registration Help needed with our flower gardens! We need some help with taking care of the flower gardens at ORUCC. Not all of the jobs involve hours of weeding in the hot sun. Some jobs take only 15 -20 minutes. Other jobs are just for one time.  Small Landscaping jobs at ORUCC Water the flower pots at the main doors on Fridays and/or Sundays Water new plantings at the edge of the meditation garden and in front of the sign on Gilbert Road Deadhead flowers (peonies and irises need deadheading now) Plant tulips from pots to ground in the bed at the end of education wing Bigger jobs Transplant some big hostas from entrance garden to northwest corner garden (where a stump was recently removed). Water when needed. Dig up a few weedy trees from flower bed in parking lot and on west side of church Work on plantings of coral bells in front of the sign Paint allliums in rainbow colors for pride month Install edging at bed at end of education wing Big jobs Weed rain gardens Weed and prune in the meditation garden A small group of garden tenders meet on Wednesday mornings (on Friday this week) to work together in the gardens. Join us for some work and lots of conversation or work on the projects independently. Thanks for helping out! Joyce, Alice, Susan and Deanna  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: https://orucc.org/keeping-current/children-and-youth-news// MOSES’ Racial Justice for All Children Task Force is seeking volunteers MOSES’ Racial Justice for All Children Task Force is looking for people who are passionate about addressing disparities in literacy among our students, promoting wellness and restorative practices in our schools rather than exclusionary discipline, and ensuring that our young people are in safe, stable and affordable housing. For more information, please visit our page on the MOSES website: https://www.mosesmadison.org/rjac/ Or contact Shel Gross, [email protected] 608-250-4368. ORUCC members Barbie Jackson [email protected] and John Lemke  [email protected] participate in this task force and can give you more information as well.  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 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 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. Spiritual Nourishment for you! Daily Reflections for June 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. Starting this month, we will be posting a full month (instead of week by week) of Daily Reflections. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office. Daily Reflections for June 2025 Office Manager George Decker available Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm 608-271-7212 or EMAIL Senior Pastor Julia Burkey: available Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 am – 7:00 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. LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge FaceBook Page JOIN our Private FB Group: “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

  Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice 1501 Gilbert Road | Madison, WI 53711 US