April 7th 9:00 am A Palestinian friend of ORUCC members Tom Beilman and Diane Dulin, Usama Nicola, will offer a presentation on Palestinian justice. Usama is a tour guide extraordinaire and co-runs an organization — Wi’am: The Palestine Transformataion Center — that helps Palestinian children and youths cope with the trauma of occupation. He is a deeply committed Christian living in Bethlehem just a couple of blocks from the Church of the Nativity. Tom and Diane have met Usama several times, benefiting greatly from his insights as a tour guide and even staying at his home. 

Attendees at this presentation will hear firsthand from Usama about the many obstacles he and his family face in the West Bank as they try to live their daily lives. 

Usama will be joining us from Palestine over Zoom in the Alfred Swan Room, and we are setting a cap of 30 people. Therefore, the first 28 people to arrive will have a seat. You may want to arrive early!

On April 21st at 9:00 am we will welcome Shedd Farley from The Farley Center to talk about Green Burials. All are welcome to learn about this new and ancient way of returning our body to the regenerative cycles of the earth.

April 21st at 11:15 am Diane Dulin presents and shares on her time in Palestine.

On April 28th at 9:00 am before church we will welcome Johnna Georgia from the Wisconsin Council of Churches to give a presentation about the innovative program of Awaken Dane. We want to know as a church- would we like to participate in Awaken Dane? Watch this video to get an idea of what the program offers. We have been saying that “justice moves at the pace of relationships, and this would be a great way to form relationships with our neighbors of faith doing good work in Dane Country. Do you feel a call to participate? Come and see!

On April 28th at 11:00 am following worship, the pastors will host a conversation about what we as a congregation think we might need during this upcoming contentious election cycle. As we plan fall programming and spiritual opportunities, we would love to hear from you. What does your soul need?

Reading the Bible Seriously

But Not Literally

Tuesday mornings 10-11:30 am

in the Alfred Swan Room

(Zoom if there is interest)

April 2 – May 21 (8 sessions)

Led by David Anderman

Our text will be The Emancipation of God: Postmarks on Cultural

Prophesy by Walter Brueggemann, a world-renowned UCC Old

Testament/Hebrew Scriptures scholar. The book is a collection of recent short

essays which originated as blog posts; they are readable and largely non-

technical essays intended for the mythological ‘person-in-the-pew.’

The book is available on short notice from Amazon. Most local

bookstores could order it but I would be surprised if any have it in stock. List

price is $28.00. Good theology doesn’t come cheap. Neither does bad

theology, for that matter.

Our first session(s) will look at the passages traditionally quoted by

those opposing LGBTQ+ affirming theologies. Brueggemann sets them

alongside the much more numerous passages of welcoming neighbors and of

offering hospitality to strangers. This specific issue will open up broader

consideration of the nature of Biblical interpretations.

Other topics will include exploring what it means to be a Biblically-

informed and -directed church in a capitalist empire that co-opts religious

institutions and faith; and how a ‘declining’ church can offer hope to a

discouraged and down-hearted, sometimes cruel culture.

Through these examples, we will learn ways of taking the Bible

seriously but not literally.

Two secondary texts will also be referred to. I have just started

reading Reading Genesis by Marilyn Robinson, another well-known and

UCC author. Fascinating passages about her reading of the book of Genesis.

I will also refer to the essay “The Symbol Gives Rise to Thought” by Paul

Ricoeur, a French philosopher who self-identified as a Reformed Christian.

Please let me know if you are interested or have questions.

David Anderman [email protected]

All Church Retreat!

We would love to have you at the all-ages, rescheduled All Church Retreat April 12-14 at Daycholah Center! Please consider joining us- the deadline is April 4th for registering.

Pastor Kate & Pastor Julia are coordinating a wonderful time with games, fun, and wandering the grounds in between thoughtful programming, delicious meals and plenty of down time to read and relax.

Our Saturday morning retreat leader is The Rev. Kirsten Worzala-Dumke, Chaplain at UW Carbonne Cancer Center and former pastor of Parroquia Santa Maria (a Spanish-language congregation associated with Luther Memorial Church ELCA). Kirsten is also a trusted friend of Pastor Kate.

After some free time, Saturday afternoon will include Wild Church with Pastor Julia’s spouse Daniel Cooperrider around the fire.

Leslie Linser will offer an opportunity for all-abilities Yoga on Saturday evening.

Sunday morning will close with worship facilitated by Pastor Kate & Pastor Julia.

Here are the registration links again:

REGISTRATION FORM

PAYMENT SITE

We cannot wait to share time with you in the April!

Julia & Kate

Wayfinding & Lunch & Learn

Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, April 10th, 11:30 am

ORUCC Member Rev. Bev Davis will share about bullying

Wayfinding, the Soul Tasks of Aging, April 17 9:45-11:15 am in person and April 18 virtual 4pm. Join for this month’s theme of Wayfinding theme inspired by the resurrection of Jesus of suspending our disbelief and engaging in wondering and hope about the forces of life-renewing, eternal life and the afterlife.

Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, May 8th, 11:30 am, UW Professor Troy Reeves, “The Importance of Story Telling.”