Meditation Group Forest Bathing invitation – open to all

September 8, from 9-10:30am at Holy Wisdom Monastery



Join the meditation group for “forest bathing”, a slow walking, often sitting, contemplative experience in the woods. In forest bathing attention is paid to the sights, smells, sounds, and energy in nature. A reciprocal relationship is invited with nature – what its presence has to say to us and what we can offer to it.

The event will be facilitated by Becky Baumbach and held at Holy Wisdom Monastery in the woodland trail area. Please RSVP to Becky, [email protected], for parking info, what to bring, and weather related contingencies. Questions are welcome.

Welcome Back BBQ

Sunday, September 10

Volunteers are needed for the Welcome Back BBQ. We need helpers to et up in the morning (before church), cook food on the grill (all morning), and clean up at the end. Please sign up using this LINK. Thanks!

SEPTEMBER COMPASSION OFFERING

THIOTTE HAITI VULNERABLE CHILDRENS RELIEF, INC (THVCR) 

THIOTTE HAITI VULNERABLE CHILDRENS RELIEF, INC (THVCR) is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that supports a group of women and children in the community of Thiotte,Haiti. These children are identified as being at risk of entering a child trafficking system because they don’t have parents, or the parents are not able to provide for them. THVCR provides direct support to a Haiti organization (known as KoFAT Compassion Project) which hires five women who serve as community workers, three teachers to tutor and prepare the children for school and 3 cooks who prepare one meal per week for the 120 children. Funding covers the staff, annual tuition for 109 children to be in school this fall and the food to prepare the meals.

The relationship between THVCR and KoFAT dates back to 2009. In subsequent years, the program and has experienced progressive, controlled growth with the first year having 16 children in school and meals for about 80 children.  THVCR is a 501c3 nonprofit made up of an all-volunteer group of leaders and supporters who’s sole focus in on sustaining the work of KoFAT in Haiti. With that, 100% of donated funds are transferred to KoFAT to apply to teacher/cook salaries, student tuition and food.  Routine communication between THVCR and KoFAT is maintained with various methods including WhatsApp, emails and an annual meeting between Haitian and WI leaders that, for safety reasons, is held on the Dominican side of the border with Haiti. The next trip is scheduled for November 2023.

ORUCC’s association with THVCR originates with members Paul Patenaude and Ann & Roger Avery who have previously traveled to this region of Haiti as part of the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin and who remain engaged in the work of THVCR. Thank you in advance for supporting THVCR as the September Compassion Offering. 

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

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/

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Aug 31 – Sept 6

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.

Thanksgiving Year-Round

For several years, ORUCC supported our Southwest neighbors with Thanksgiving food baskets or gift cards. Since 2020, ORUCC has transitioned this avenue of support to an online Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund to support neighbors needing supplemental funds for food and gasoline through Woodman’s gift cards. The gift card distribution process has been overwhelmingly positive. Our ongoing partnership with the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI); Joining Forces for Families (JFF); and Common Wealth Development (CWD) ensures that your contribution is providing direct support to our neighbors in need.

We kindly ask for your ongoing support to the Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund. Making a contribution is easy, just go to: https://orucc.org/contribute/support/ Click on the link-box “Contribute to the Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund”.

Friday Breakfast Group

 September 1

The next Friday Breakfast is set for September 1 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.

Women’s Book Group

Thursday, September 7

1:30 pm – 3 pm

As we turn the calendar to September make sure to note that Women’s Book Group will meet on Zoom Thursday, September 7 from 1:30 to 3 pm. Ann Rifenberg will lead our discussion of “The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn. A Zoom link will be sent.

Please let Deanna know if you would like to be added to the list [email protected].

As you look ahead, plan for October reading: “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus.

Family Game Night

Friday, September 8

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Family Game Night returns on Friday, Sept 8, 6-8 pm! We’ll meet in Friendship Hall. Please bring a game, your family, and/or a dish to share. We are informal, so feel free to drop in when you can after work/school. We’ll return to the first Friday of the month schedule starting in October. Questions? Please contact Rachael Lancor ([email protected]

SEPTEMBER MOVIE GROUP “Green Book”

Tuesday, September 12



Hello movie fans,

Movie Group meets on TUESDAY, September 12 at Oakwood Village Arts Center at 7:00 for 2018 film “Green Book” with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room. Please note that Tuesday is a change from our usual Thursday showing. 

“Green Book” won three Academy Awards” Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali. It was a huge critical and box office success.

The film is based on an actual 1962 eight-week concert tour in the Deep South by the Black classical pianist Don Shirley played by Mahershala Ali and his driver/bodyguard Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga played by Viggo Mortensen. Don and Tony are worlds apart. An aristocratic, haughty, international musician and an Italian- American unemployed bouncer at the Copacabana, forced to be on the road and seldom apart for two months.

The film title comes from a book “The Negro Motorist Green Book” published from 1936-1966 as a safe travel guide for Black travelers in the Jim Crow South. The Green Book serves Don and Tony as they navigate the complexities and dangers of their travels.

The movie skillfully weaves together three classic Hollywood genres: the road-trip, biography, and comedy/drama. Comparisons with our previous film “Driving Miss Daisy” are in order since they both- although 29 years apart- deal with enduring questions: Are true friendships possible between whites and Blacks? If so, what is required for this to happen? What role does class play in friendship? And for you film critics you might identify the turning points for Don and Tony in the film. Are they similar to those in “Driving Miss Daisy?” What does the film say about the Jim Crow South in 1962?

Hope to see you September 12 at 7pm.

Over 55

Wednesday, September 13th

11:30 am

YES, Over 55 returns for the September thru May Programing.  Our lead-off program will feature Phil Hands. Mr. Hands is the editorial cartoonist for the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison. He is the only cartoonist on the staff of a newspaper in Wisconsin. Phil is a fierce political moderate whose cartoons attack the extremists on both the left and the right.

We will gather, in Friendship Hall, Wednesday, September 13th at 11:30, dine at 11:45. And adjourn to Worship Hall for Mr. Hands’ presentation at 12:30.

Our bountiful buffet lunch is a suggested $10.  All are welcome.

MMC-Peace, Justice and Relief

Saturday

September 16, 2023

Madison Mennonite will host a celebration for Peace, Justice and Relief on Saturday September 16, 2023. The celebration will raise funds for Mennonite Central Committee.MCC follows Christ’s example of love and compassion by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice.

The celebration will open with a lunch by donation served from Noon-1:00 PM. An Auction will be held beginning at 1:30 PM. MCC sharing and the blessing of My Coins Count will take place following the auction. Coins will be collected for MCC’s efforts in Ukraine. The afternoon will conclude with a hymn sing beginning at 3:15 PM. All donations and auction purchases shall be either by cash or check made payable to MCC.  If unable to attend and you wish to support MCC donations may be sent to:

V. Richard Wildermuth, P.O. Box 654 DeForest, Wisconsin 53532.

Moderator’s August Update from

Hal Evensen, ORUCC Moderator

Hello! Here’s an update on what the Leadership Team (lay leadership) has been up to the past couple of months. Some highlights:

•  On Saturday, August 19, the Leadership Team, the lay leaders of our five Ministries, and our pastors met for a morning “visioning” retreat at the Blanchards’ home. Like Pastor Julia’s recent sermon, we asked what “guiding lights” might help guide our decision-making: rather than a long-term plan, what core ideas can help us take the “next best step?” Many themes emerged, with “building community” and “helping people find God’s vision” coming to the fore. Notably, other themes emerged from the congregation during Sunday’s sermon! These are all good for lay leadership to keep in mind as we discern our way forward. I welcome you to share your own input! Please feel free to email the Moderators (below) or the pastors, or to grab one of us on Sunday.

• Since January, several people including Julie Mazer, the Ministry of Youth Faith Formation, and I updated our Safe Sanctuary Policy, with further input from Pastor Kate this summer. This policy seeks to ensure that our congregation is a haven, free of sexual misconduct or harassment, and includes guidelines for the nursery, Sunday school, and any activities involving our youth. It had been 10 years since the last update, and several clarifications, updates, and gender-inclusive terminology were incorporated. While the policy will need to be formally approved by the congregation at our annual meeting in February, Leadership Team has reviewed and approved this overdue update for use this fall, for the new programming year. Want to see it? A copy is being posted on the bulletin board outside of the kitchen, and at this link: http://bit.ly/ORUCC-SS . We will also have an informational session this fall for volunteers and any with interest!

• ORUCC Clerk Jim McNamara has been leading a team to guide a renewed Stewardship program. What is Stewardship? It’s definitely a “church word,” although you may also have used it in the context of “environmental stewardship.” In essence, we are all working to do God’s work in the world. To do this, we individually make use of the many resources God has made available to us: our talents; our time; our relationships; our wisdom; and, yes, our financial resources. Members and friends of our congregation are already doing many amazing things that impact our community. A large part of Stewardship is “raising up the good” we do in the world, expressing gratitude both for our blessings and for others, and envisioning what may lie ahead. I thank Jim and his team for their efforts to modernize our Stewardship program!



We are working to help ORUCC live into its vision statement to be Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, and Committed to Justice and invite everyone to please feel free to reach out to any of the moderators ([email protected]) or leadership team member (see the color poster on the bulletin board) with any questions, comments, suggestions, or offerings of support! 

Purchase Cards on the table

in the Crossroads each Sunday Morning!

Updated Masking Policy

In response to recent declines in COVID infection numbers and a steady low level of local community spread, the ORUCC COVID Response Team has updated the masking policy:

• Masking is optional throughout the building
• Those with symptoms of illness should refrain from entering the building
• Individual decisions to mask or not mask are to be respected
• This policy may be revised with changes in infection number or levels of community spread 

In Case you Missed It!

Link to Sermons…..

The Treasure in Earthen Vessels-8/27/2023

Rev. Ken Pennings

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

Click here to set-up and/or tear-down for Outdoor Worship

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