December Compassion Offering: The UCC Christmas Fund

For more than 100 years, The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ (PBUCC) has been able to provide financial assistance to UCC pastors, church workers and their families thanks to congregations and individuals contributing to the 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, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

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 more information on the UCC Christmas Fund, please view this video.

Reminder: Remaining 2025 pledge balances and 2026 pledge cards

We are grateful to all of you who have supported ORUCC in 2025 and have already returned your completed pledge cards for 2026.

Please note that, according to the IRS, charitable contributions must actually be paid before the close of your tax year to be deductible. Accordingly, we encourage those of you with remaining balances on your 2025 pledges to pay them by the end of this year.

If you have not already returned your 2026 pledge card, please either bring it to church this Sunday or mail it to the church office as soon as possible. Knowing the total amount pledged for the coming year is essential for our planning the 2026 ORUCC budget.

Thank you!

Jane Ilgen Literacy Fund helps Huegel Elementary

The Madison Reading Project is working with Huegel Elementary School as part of an Adopt-A-School program. Huegel is located in southwest Madison. The Jane Ilgen Literacy Fund provided two books, popcorn, hot chocolate, a packet of activities, a hat and gloves to 110 4K and kindergarten students. Deanna Blanchard and Karen Jaehnig assembled the kits, and they were distributed to the students on December 18, right before Winter Break.

The goal is to promote and encourage literacy and a joy of learning. Jane Ilgen was a longtime member of ORUCC and she established this fund aimed at putting books into the hands of young children. We are honored to continue her legacy.

“Not in Jesus’ Name”

Lamenting Violence against Trans Souls

Sunday, Dec 28th 2:00-4:00 PM

State Capitol Building

Meet at the corner of Carroll St & W Washington Ave

***

Soon after his birth, the infant Jesus was targeted for murderous erasure by a politician hellbent on securing his throne at any cost. Untold numbers of innocent children were sacrificed. On December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Christians will gather to march, sing, pray, and say, “Not in Jesus’ name” to the erasure of trans children and adults. ALL are welcome

[email protected]

Traveling art exhibit: “Children of Palestine”

The Palestine Justice Mission Team is pleased to announce that ORUCC has been offered the opportunity to display a traveling art exhibit “Children of Bethlehem”. It includes photographs of life in Bethlehem and artwork by Palestinian youth. It will be installed in Friendship Hall for the month of January.

Friday Breakfast Group – January 2, 9:00 a.m. 

The next Friday Breakfast is set for January 2, 2026 at 9:00 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.

Early Bird Registration by January 3rd:

Women and Water Indigenous International Clean Water Summit September 24-27, 2026

Pastor Julia’s Holy Water themed sabbatical over the late spring/summer of 2026, will include programming around water, and YOU are invited into this journey. One of the programming opportunities occurs when Pastor Julia returns, and includes learning from Indigenous Women who say “water is life.” Pastor Julia wants to open this opportunity up for anyone who feels called to join in community with Native American Women on the La Corte Oreille Reservation in Hayward, WI. Early registration for this summit goes until January 3rd. After this you may still register but the cost of the summit doubles. All are invited to register, and reach out to Pastor Julia once you have! Learn more and register here: https://www.spiritofthewater.org/

Save the Date: UCCI Summer Camps Online Registration January 12th and 19th

A sparkling lake, loving community, tie-dye, loons, spirituality and towering trees: Many of us look forward to camp at Moon Beach and Daycholah Center during the summertime!

Mark your calendars: online registration for summer 2026 is in January. Registration opens for Family Camp at Moon Beach and weeklong camps for children/youth at Daycholah on a first-come basis on January 12th. Camp AweSum (at Moon Beach) registration opens on a first-come basis on January 19th.

Historically, Family Camp fills up very quickly. From now until January 11, there is an option this year to pre-fill your family’s forms in order to expedite the process. If you are a new camper, you will need to create a profile to begin the process (use your family’s previous profile if you have attended in the past).

Many from ORUCC will choose to attend Family Camp together the week of June 29th. New this year, our very own Pastor Kate will be coordinating this week of Family Camp! The Boyds have passed the baton after many years of incredible leadership. We are grateful for their faithful ministry, and we look forward to continuing the beloved community of camp for years to come.

Gift Tree Thank You!

On December 16th, neighborhood social workers came by and collected gifts for 55 children! They were blown away by the generosity of this congregation. Despite having one less week to participate due to our “snow day,” you all came through and every child received a gift. Thank you!

Photo by Anthony Cantin on Unsplash

College scholarships available

Members of Orchard Ridge UCC are invited to apply for 2026-2027 college scholarships of $500 to $2,000 from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants should be planning to begin or continue education at any accredited 2- or 4-year college or university and should have a record of academic achievement, service to church and community, and demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is February 15, 2026. Please contact [email protected] for an electronic application. 

Questions? Contact Ann Evensen at [email protected] 

Stay up to date on ORUCC Children and Youth happenings

Want to stay up to date on the latest with children and youth at ORUCC? Check out our weekly updates here:

https://orucc.org/keeping-current/children-and-youth-news//

Please Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings!

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 Host, 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

Please note that the previous Welcomer and Usher signups have recently been combined into a new signup named “Host.”

Please sign up to be trained into this new position:

Click here to sign up as a Host

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to assist with Holy Communion

• Page #1: Choose the date you are available to volunteer and select the box that says “SIGN UP“.  Then, at the bottom of the page select the box “SAVE & CONTINUE“.
• Page #2: Enter your first/last name and your email address. Then select the box at the bottom of the page “SIGN UP NOW“

Questions or problems signing up?

Contact George Decker at office@orucc.org or 608-271-7212.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

Daily Reflections for December

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 month 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.

Daily Reflections for December 2025

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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