Words for the Beginning Advent 2024 series

Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings—large and small, personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new. Christ’s birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike—all the while, King Herod tried to bring Christ’s story to an end. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.

We have chosen an Advent series filled with blessings, with the scriptures and reminders we need to hear again and again as we begin a new season. These reminders root us in the fundamental truths of our faith. Many of them are life lessons we teach to children—lessons that adults continue to learn and relearn. They may resemble the blessings we impart to loved ones during special ceremonies like weddings, graduations, or baptisms. And so, we invite you to move through this Advent season as if you are entering a sacred new chapter, holding fast to the reminders that will bolster you for the journey ahead.

As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.

December 15 Hope is Worth The Risk, Julia Burkey preach, ORUCC Choir

Return Gifts: Holiday Gift Tree

ORUCC “Post Office”

Ethical Trade Company Christmas Gift Sale

December 22 Do The Good That is Yours To Do, Julia Burkey preach, Special Music

ORUCC “Post Office”

Kids’ Music Showcase Following Worship

December 24 Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, 3pm Youth & Families with TRU Function & Music Connections Children’s Music 5:30pm with Madison Mennonite Church with ORUCC Choir

December 29 Don’t Forget to Laugh, Ken Pennings preach

January 5 The Road Isn’t Straight, Kate Mackey preach Epiphany Sunday

Fair Trade goods at ORUCC on December 15th

Ethical Trade Co, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering vulnerable farmers and artisans worldwide, will be setting up a table at church on Sunday, December 15th. After the worship service, you’ll have the chance to shop their selection of fair trade goods. It’s a wonderful opportunity to find meaningful gifts for your loved ones while supporting empowerment efforts across the globe. Purchase using cash or credit!

December Compassion Offering: The UCC Christmas Fund

Shepherding the Light & Being the Light

Each of us individually can be a beacon of light in our homes, workplaces, and communities. This December, you are invited to be a beacon of light through your contribution to this annual campaign, The UCC Christmas Fund. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants for life’s unexpected events; assistance with health care costs such as insurance and other health care needs; as a pension supplement for low-income retirees; and, as a simple thank you gift during hard times.

United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. Thank you for your contribution to the UCC Christmas Fund as our December compassion offering. 

Supporting our Neighbors:

Return Holiday Gifts for Children

this Sunday!

This year we are supporting 55 neighborhood children with gifts to be distributed by local support workers through the Early Childhood Initiative. If you took a gift tag, please bring your wrapped gift along with the original tag by this Sunday, 12/15.

Wayfinding continues Wednesday, December 18th

”Wayfinding: The Soul Tasks of Aging: Toward a Theology of the Elder Years” will continue on Wednesday, December 18th, from 9:45 to 11:15 am in Friendship Hall, and then on ZOOM Thursday, December 19th from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Here is the Zoom call-in information, which stays the same for every meeting:

Topic: Wayfinding

Time: Nov 21, 2024 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84845886041?pwd=4PhfBp176E1pCJZ7U1NAanhC9P8F3h.1

Meeting ID: 848 4588 6041

Passcode: 115289

Two books to focus on:

We will begin with Parker Palmer’s book, “On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity & Getting Old” for the first 4 sessions and then the remaining 4 in the Spring will be themed around Connie Zweig’s book, “The Inner Work of Aging: Shifting from Role to Soul.”

ORUCC “Post Office”

Bring your unstamped holiday cards for regularly-attending fellow ORUCC friends and skip the line at the post office! There will be self-serve “post office” available during the four weeks of December. Sort your cards alphabetically by last name. There is a suggested donation of 50 cents, with all proceeds supporting next summer’s youth service trip.

Make sure to stop by each week and see what cards have been left for you!

Help send books to children: Sunday, December 15th

One of our beloved members, Jane Ilgen, left a memorial fund that she designated be used to get books into the hands of young children, especially children of color. After a few years of challenges in accomplishing this wish, the mission team is partnering with Madison Reading Project https://www.madisonreadingproject.com/ We are diving right in with them and have a project we can use your help with if you have a few minutes after church on Sunday, December 15. We will be putting together Winter Break Kits that will go home with 71 4K and K students at Orchard Ridge Elementary. Each student will be getting 5 books, flash cards, a winter activity booklet and some other activities. Look for Karen Jaehnig, Deanna Blanchard and LuAnn Greiner after service Sunday to lend a hand.

2024 MOSES Transformation Celebration December 14th

ORUCC members are invited to attend the 2024 MOSES Transformation Celebration Saturday December 14, 2024 @ 5:30 to 9:00 pm at the Goodman Center on 214 Waubesa Street. This annual fundraising event showcases formerly incarcerated people who are now making contributions to our community. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts created and served by youth in the Goodman Community Center’s TEENworks program. Tickets are $75 for an individual or $65 per ticket bought in a group. Proceeds support the community organizer and advocacy work of MOSES around addressing racial inequity, injustice in the criminal legal system, and racial justice for all children. You can also make a contribution to the event. Advanced registration is required using this form: https://secure.everyaction.com/25nkZFvsWEaRbpNca4ETYw2 

A Flyer with more information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N5h8Qqj9oI1myrjVi6gnYIUk4RzwPV0A/view?emci=82008f3e-349d-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=749798c8-379d-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=22210

“Longest Night” Interfaith Vigil for Gaza

4-6 pm, Saturday, December 21st

West Lawn Plaza near Trader Joe’s (1810 Monroe St, Madison)

A vigil cosponsored by the Palestine Justice Mission Team. 

We stand together in grief and call for an end to US support for the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank, an end to US offensive weapons shipments to Israel and restoration of humanitarian aid. Learn more. 

Bring signs, banners, flashlights or battery powered candles, and dress warmly.

Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings now through the end of

December 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, 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

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.

Come sing with us–join our Choir!

All singers are welcome to join our Choir! Rehearsals are Wednesday

evenings from 7:00 to 8:30pm. We sing in worship the first and third

Sundays of the month, gathering for rehearsal 9am those Sunday mornings.

Please share your voice with a group of music-loving friendly people! For more information, email Bruce Gladstone at [email protected].

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For December 12 – 18

Daily Reflections: December 12 – 18

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. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact the church office.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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