April COMPASSION OFFERING

One Great Hour of Sharing

Share the Light!

For 75 years One Great Hour of Sharing has provided an ecumenical response to disaster relief, refugee resettlement and community development around the world. The United Church of Christ joins multiple other denominations [including Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Presbyterian Church (USA), American Baptist, African American Episcopal, Church of the Brethren, and more] to express God’s love through water programs, agricultural assistance, infrastructure improvement and emergency shelter.  

Our One Great Hour of Sharing Compassion Offering for April provides rebuilding and grass roots assistance in today’s challenging world.  Please give as you are able to address the effects of war, climate-imposed migration, natural disasters, chronic poverty and oppressive political structures.  Working with local partners and ecumenical networks, One Great Hour of Sharing can be trusted to bring timely, just and effective programs where they are needed most. 

 VIDEO

 Thank you for giving generously

You can make a donation by check, on the memo line, please write “compassion” and mail to ORUCC, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711,

or donate online from our website. 

The link is https://orucc.org/contribute/support/

Confirmation 2024

Confirmation will be offered this spring for all youth in 7th-9th grade who have not yet been confirmed. This is a special time in the life of our young people where they will be invited to explore their own faith, and learn and grow together! Classes are held on Sundays April 7-May 12, from 3:30-5:30 p.m., with Confirmation Sunday on Pentecost, May 19th.

Each Sunday we will have an opportunity for the whole congregation to share their thoughts about the Confirmation topic of the day. Check it out in Friendship Hall to participate!

Reading the Bible

Seriously But Not Literally

Tuesday mornings 10-11:30 am

in the Alfred Swan Room

(Zoom if there is interest)

April 16 – May 21

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 email me if you are planning on coming, or have questions.

David Anderman, [email protected]

Presentation by Diane Dulin

on Sunday, April 21

Diane Dulin’s report from the Stones Cry Out solidarity delegation 

Sunday, April 21, 11:15am-12:30pm, ORUCC Friendship Hall. Please join us in person, as this event will not be live-streamed.

For ten days in February-March, ORUCC member Diane Dulin participated in the Stones Cry Out solidarity delegation to the occupied West Bank of Palestine and Washington, D.C. Organized by the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace and sponsored by eight nationally recognized advocacy groups, this delegation of 23 American Christian leaders met with Palestinian religious and civil society leaders, community leaders and everyday residents — Christians, Muslims and Jews. Diane will share with us the urgent messages the Stones Cry Out delegates received while in the West Bank and then shared with congressional representatives, religious groups and media outlets throughout the U.S. 

Please Join us in Honoring the Upcoming Birth of Julia and Daniel’s Second Child

For more information click the LINK

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of April 18 – April 24

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration for your day.



Click Here for Reflections

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 week for our devotional practice at Orchard Ridge UCC. You will see these posted daily if you are part of the “Members & Friends” Facebook group. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the church office.

Moderator Moments

April 15, 2024

There are some exciting times ahead in the life of ORUCC! Here is a snapshot of things the Leadership Team been working on with the Ministries and Mission Teams. This list is only a “teaser”! You will hear more details about these things in the weeks to come:

• Congrats to our congregation for fully funding a new drum set for TRU Function!
• We are opening our building to a Latin American Maternal-Child Health group called Roots for Change who will have conference workshops here during two weeks in May. They are focusing on Latina/immigrant women and baby’s health. We will be looking for volunteers to act as building hosts.
• Awaken Dane presentation planned for April 28 during the education hour
• Julia’s plans for maternity leave have been made
• A Land Acknowledgement Task Force was birthed from the Indigenous Justice retreat held in January and they are working on plans to present a Land Acknowledgement Statement to the congregation for approval
• A small team is working on updating our Constitution to better reflect our current church operations
• New educational offerings for adults are being planned
• Confirmation has started for middle schoolers
• Flicker Wild Church is gaining a following
• Unused, leaky sinks have been removed from the Sunday School classrooms and new counters will be placed soon
• Ushers will be returning to Sunday morning services in addition to Welcomers. Watch for sign-ups coming soon.

Many other great things are happening in the life of our church. Opportunities to do good are abundant. I encourage everyone to find the place(s) they can best serve each other and our world.

Blessings on our work together,

Deanna

MOVIE GROUP: “ AMERICAN FICTION”

Thursday, May 2

7:00 pm Oakwood

Hello movie fans

Our last Oakwood Village Performance Center movie before our June, July, August break will be the 2023 satirical drama, “American Fiction.” This film got five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor (Jeffery Wright), Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, (which won the Oscar) and considerable critical acclaim.

The story centers around a talented African American writer and professor “Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Wright) who discovers, much to his chagrin, that the way to popular success as a Black writer is for him to embrace a kind of Blackness that he abhors, namely, pandering to white cultural stereotypes. How does he deal with this Faustian bargain? All the while, “Monk” has to care for his mother who has Alzheimer’s, a problematic brother, the death of a sister, a maybe romance and guess what- a white literary and movie power structure intent on questionable agendas. The film, however, is laced with humor and characters that draw you in.

The movie has much to say about about success, power, stereotypes and personal integrity. So we hope you will join us Thursday, May 2nd at 7 pm with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

And for you literary types, the film is based on the 2003 novel, “Erasure” by Percival Everett. Everett is the Black writer now getting considerable praise for his novel “James”, his retelling of the Huckleberry Finn adventure, but with Jim as the central figure.

WORK & WORSHIP SPRING EVENT

SUNDAY, MAY 5

     After worship there will be work opportunities inside and out. This is a church-wide effort to keep our building and surroundings looking looking beautiful.

          FREE LUNCH WILL BE SERVED BY

THE MINISTRY OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

Lunch and Learn 

Wednesday, May 8^th

We will welcome UW Madison Oral History Program head Troy Reeves to our 11:30 luncheon.  Professor Reeves will speak on the subject “What is Oral History? And Why Does It Matter?”  We convene at 11:30, dine on a wonderful buffet luncheon at 11:45 with the Reeves program at 12:30. The luncheon is $10 per person.

Please RSVP to Steve Sheets [email protected]. 

By Zoom on Thursdays: 04:00 PM Central Time

    Apr 18, 2024 04:00 PM

    May 16, 2024 04:00 PM

Click here to join Zoom meeting



us02web.zoom.us/j/87998025473?pwd=dEEzcFkvSnBNdzNUaE5BK2RxUDZqZz09

Meeting ID: 879 9802 5473

Passcode: 573548

Dial in

1 312 626 6799 US 

There is a new campaign to raise $200,000 to rebuild and strengthen the 17 lakeside cabins at Moon Beach, a place that has been a source of renewal for so many of us over the years.  Here’s a little more background from the folks at Moon Beach:

“The foundations, crafted decades ago with cinder blocks, stumps, and pine posts now require restoration to ensure their longevity and stability against the elements. By repairing and restoring the foundations with a firm footing for the footprint and base of the cabins, we can ensure their stability and compliance with regulatory standards, allowing us to maintain them for generations to come.”

With a matching grant already announced, the goal is to raise $100,000 that would then net the campaign $200,000. For those of us at ORUCC who love Moon Beach and who have the ability to give, thank you for your consideration.  Click here to donate.

Sign Up Now Through the End of June 2024!

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, 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 a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

After selecting one or more dates, you will need to click “Submit and Sign Up” at the bottom of the page, then enter your name & email address, then click “Sign Up Now.”

Questions or problems signing up?

Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected] or 608-556-2371.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30-12:30