This week’s announcements
Weekly announcements are usually updated on Thursday. Archive of old announcements.
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- ORUCC Weekly Announcements for May 22nd
Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice
Weekly Announcements
for Thursday, May 22
Wayfinding Zoom
Thursday, May 22
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Join ZoomMeeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84845886041?pwd=4PhfBp176E1pCJZ7U1NAanhC9P8F3h.1
Meeting ID:848 4588 6041
Passcode:115289
Meditation Group–Zoom only
Friday, May 23
9:30 – 10:30 am
Zoom
Sue Dixon
Sunday, May 25
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
10:00 am – Worship
Sermon: Julia Burkey
Lay Liturgist: Ginny Moore Kruse
Musical Offerings: Vicki Nonn
Men’s Group – In Person
Monday, May 26
7:15 – 8:45 pm
Swan Room
Jim McNamara
Meditation Group
Thursday, May 29
8:30 – 9:30 am
Romero Room
Becky Baumbach
Please note that the church office will be closed Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. It will reopen Tuesday, May 27th at 8:30 am.
May Compassion Offering:
Madison Arcatao Sister City Project (MASCP)
The May Compassion Offering is for the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project (MASCP). Arcatao, El Salvador, is one of Madison’s ten sister cities. Since 1986, Madison and Arcatao have worked together to learn from each other in solidarity across international boundaries. As part of the U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities (USESSC) network, MASCP works for social change by building and defending sustainable communities and economies. They communicate regularly with the community in Arcatao and lead delegations to learn what’s happening there and to share what’s happening here. The delegations then share what they’ve learned with the wider Madison community.
Your donations will support college scholarships for students from Arcatao and projects in the Arcatao community and surrounding rural areas. Specific priorities are set locally by the community board, with community members or local businesspeople providing the labor. Recent efforts have included building a wall to protect against flooding and repairing two wells to filter out dangerous heavy metals. The wells will provide safe drinking water for over 500 families for the next 25 years. See the well project.
May 23-25 Brat Fest Fundraiser for Youth Service Trip
One of the biggest fundraisers for the Youth Service Trip is coming up! All youth attending the Service Trip are expected to sign up to participate in the Brat Fest fundraiser. But did you know that anyone who would like to volunteer under our group’s name (Orchard Ridge UCC) will also have their hours counted toward our fundraiser? It’s true!
Please sign up here if you would like to participate.
Jane Ilgen Literacy Fund Update
The Jane Ilgen Literacy Fund provided books to 4K students at Orchard Ridge Elementary School. On May 5th “Books & Breakfast” was held for 40 students, their parents and their younger siblings. Madison Reading Project provided the books and Jane Ilgen Literacy provided the funding.
Each student received two books in a red bag, and a table was set up for them to choose a third book. The students could peruse a wide variety of books and this made for a lively discussion among them and their parents.
The Madison Reading Project has a mission to connect the community with free books and literacy resources to ignite a love for reading. Jane Ilgen, a long-time and beloved member of ORUCC, established the “Jane Ilgen Literacy Fund” in the fall of 2020. It reflects her passion for early childhood education and racial equity, especially among African-American children. The team at ORUCC welcomes additional ideas on ways to fulfill Jane’s legacy. Members are: Deanna Blanchard, Diane Dulin, LuAnn Greiner, Karen Jaehnig, Donna Lillethun, Jennifer Walker.
An appeal from John Leonard to help support Worker Justice Wisconsin
Please help me support Worker Justice Wisconsin (WJW) by making a donation through my page. You can reach my page at www.classy.org/fundraiser/6355486 or by using the QR code to the right.
WJW is a non-profit organization where non-union, mostly immigrant workers can go when they experience wage theft and other workplace problems. With a small but mighty team, they have recovered nearly $348,000 in stolen wages, incubated two worker cooperatives, helped organize four workplaces, and offered Workers’ Rights Training to nearly 1,900 people since 2022. WJW is the only worker center in the state of Wisconsin (by way of comparison, the city of Chicago has nine)!
For years, Worker Justice Wisconsin has made a tremendous impact in Dane County with a very tight budget, but their federal funding (22% of their annual budget) is in jeopardy. I am fundraising for their “Don’t Despair! Organize!” campaign to ensure that WJW can empower vulnerable workers to know and defend their rights well past the present crisis.
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:
Summer Intergenerational Pen Pals
The summer pen pals initiative presents a wonderful opportunity for our congregation to connect across generations. Older and younger pen pals will be paired up to share in a fun and meaningful exchange of experiences, stories, and encouragement. Participants will commit to sending three heartfelt snail-mail letters throughout the summer.
At this time, we are gathering interest in the program. Please fill out THIS form or contact Julie or Kate if you would like to be considered for our Pen Pal program. The deadline to express interest is May 30th.
Witness from Palestine: Rev. El-Yateem Shares Firsthand Insights
Rev. Khader El-Yateem, ELCA Executive Director for Service and Justice, will speak on Gaza and the West Bank: A Struggle for Survival Amid Genocide on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00pm at Midvale Community Lutheran Church in Madison. Recently returned from a solidarity visit to Palestine, he will share firsthand accounts of the current situation and the global response. All are welcome. Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Interfaith Peace Working Group. Register here. Read more about the speaker and this event.
See the Oscar-Winning Documentary No Other Land at Christ Presbyterian
Our Palestine Justice Mission Team invites you to sign up for a free screening of the 2025 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature on Sunday, June 8 at 5 PM, Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E Gorham. No Other Land tells the story of Palestinian resistance in the Masafer Yatta community. RSVP required. Donations will support impacted communities. This event is sponsored by local peace and justice groups.
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 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.
Spiritual
Nourishment
for you!
Daily Reflections: May 15 – 31
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 in June, we will be posting a full month (instead of week by week) of Daily Reflections. Today’s Daily Reflections are for the rest of May. 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 -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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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
