No Weekly Yoga

There is no longer weekly yoga

Look for future yoga events.

Upcoming Children’s Clothing and Shoe Drive!

The Ministry of Christian Witness & Service is in the process of organizing a children’s clothing and Shoe Drive.

It will include gently used infant through teen spring/summer clothing. New shoes for infant and toddlers and socks and underwear for infants and toddlers.

Watch for the flyer next week with information on items to donate and dates for the drive.

APRIL COMPASSION OFFERING-UCC CAMPS

This month our compassion offering is for our UCC camps in Wisconsin. We are so fortunate to have 3 amazing camps, each in a different setting and each offering unique programs: Moon Beach in the North Woods, Daycholah on Green Lake and Cedar Valley in Washington County. 

Camps provide sacred places which enhance our spiritual lives. The experience of living with others builds stronger connections. Camps can nourish us, provide respite so we can return to our daily lives refreshed and ready to serve others. By spending times in the out-of-doors we better appreciate the gifts of creation and therefore are eager to care for the earth. 

Our UCC camps also offer many volunteer opportunities, whether it be work projects or assisting at a camp session like Camp AweSum for families touched by autism.

Our camps need our volunteer and financial support. Please click on the link below to learn more about our sacred sites.

VIDEO



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/

Lenten Schedule of Sermons

April 7 Good Friday Service, 7 pm



Easter 2023 Schedule April 9

6:30 am Sunrise service on the ORUCC Lawn with the three rituals of Burning Ashes of Regret, Communion, and Renewal of Baptism, followed by homemade brunch.

10 am Easter Worship Service with Choirs

11 am Easter Egg Hunt for children of all ages

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Apr 6 – Apr 12

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.

GREEN CORNER

We all know our heating and cooling uses a lot of energy. Consider giving up two degrees. For every degree the thermostat is below 68 in the winter or above 78 in the summer, there’s a 3-5% savings in energy use and cost. Consider joining one of the book study groups as we read Rev. Daniel Cooperrider’s book, “Speak with the Earth and It Will Teach you”, beginning April 16.

GARDEN TENDERS

Interested in ORUCC gardens but not enough time for a weekly commitment? YOU CAN STILL HELP. And we still need you!” You can stop by for a half hour to clean up or to water once a week or once a year. On the other hand, there are several beds and you can adopt one for regular maintenance. Examples of chores (besides weeding) are: planting, trimming, pruning, dividing and moving perennials and watering in the heat of the summer. All of these tasks give you a chance to visit with other garden tenders and learn about the variety of plants we grow (more and more are natives!). Before Worship and Work Sunday on May 21, we are trimming last year’s flower stalks and tidying the beds. Contact Joyce Pohl (at [email protected]) if interested and getting suggestions for big or small tasks. 

Friday Breakfast Group – April 7

The next Friday Breakfast is set for April 7 at 8:30 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.

Over 55 Wednesday, April 12th

“The Grandparent Vocation, Wisdom, Legacies, and Spiritual Growth.”

Many grandparents experience a surge of joy with the birth or adoption of a grandchild.  For years afterward, time together is eagerly coveted, pictures are treasured and displayed, and multiple gifts along with various kinds of support are gladly provided.  Richard Olson a retired minister, professor of theology and grandparent many times over will talk with us about this “vocation.”

Join us at 11:30 am on April 12th. An $8 luncheon is provided.  Please RSVP to Steve Sheets at [email protected] so that the catering team may plan accordingly. 

Care of Creation will be sponsoring a group book study of Rev. Daniel Cooperrider’s wonderful book, “Speak with the Earth and It Will Teach You”.

When: April 16, Daniel will be preaching on this topic

Following the April 16 worship, three small groups will convene at the following times:

Sundays, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, and 5/14, 11:30-1:00. Location: Church

Mondays, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15 from 2-3:30.  Location: Church

Tuesdays – 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16 from 7-8:30 on Zoom. 

Wrap-up with Daniel: Sunday, May 21. Time TBD

Sign-up sheets for the individual study groups will be available in the Crossroads beginning on Sunday, April 9

So if you haven’t done it yet, get a copy of Daniel’s book and join us. 

One Walk Big Strides for Autism



Hi ORUCC! The Hahns are participating in “One Walk, Big Strides for Autism”, fundraising for the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin. The walk is on April 23 at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg at 11am. If anyone is interested in participating (or donating) to support Henry’s Hoard, follow this link and choose Join (or Donate). If you join by April 10th, you can get a t-shirt with our team name on it. 🙂

https://runsignup.com/Race/72745/Donate/J5iZkNfv5YT2RmK4

Thanks!

Jennifer, Ken, Henry, and Linus ❤️

We are looking for Brat Fest Volunteers for the weekend of May 26-May 28!



Would you be willing to donate a few hours at Brat Fest to benefit our Youth Service Trip? Brat Fest has a variety of volunteer positions from set up, grilling, trash pick up, serving, event take down. Our church has to fulfill 20 hours of set up to qualify for fundraising and we really need your help.  

To sign up go to:  https://app.initlive.com/JE/63v6refjssjaf2

You must create a sign on, choose a T-shirt size and check that you are volunteering to benefit a charity. Then, choose Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ as your benefiting organization. You get to choose the date, time and position you’d like to volunteer for. Ask your friends to join you – as our teens know – it’s more fun to volunteer as a group! Plus, you get the t-shirt and a free brat for every shift you work. Sign up today – these shifts go F-A-S-T..

It’s Time for Camp Registration!

Registration for all of our UCC camps (Moon Beach, Daycholah, and Cedar Valley) is now open. There is such a variety: kids, adult, family, glamping, the arts, sailing….Some of the sessions, like Camp Awesum and Family Camp fill up quickly, so check out the brochure today.

Click the LINK to sign up today!

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?

It has been fairly easy finding Lay Liturgists and Communion Assistants, but much more challenging finding

Coffee-Makers and Welcomers!

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