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.

Women’s Book Group to meet this afternoon at 1:30

The Women’s Book Group will meet this afternoon, Thursday, December 4th from 1:30 to 3pm either in person at church or on Zoom. Cheryl Donkle will lead our discussion of West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. In January we will choose books for 2026. Please email your suggestions to Deanna Blanchard by December 31st. Also email if you wish to be added or removed from the email book group list at [email protected].

Friday Breakfast Group – December 5, 9:00 a.m.  

The next Friday Breakfast is set for December 5 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.

Reminder: This Sunday, December 7th, will be the last Sunday for the Christmas Card Sale. Help those less fortunate pay their rent!

Sunday, December 7, 2025

9am Advent Adult Education Session on Our Lady of Guadalupe: We are honored to welcome UW Professor of Vilas Distinguished Achievement & English & Chicana/Latina Studies, Dr. Theresa Delgadillo to join us and share about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Write notes of support for people in detention

Join us on Sunday, December 7th after worship to write Christmas notes and words of encouragement for immigrants in the Dodgeville Detention Center. Remind them that they are not forgotten during this challenging time.



We will provide sample letters and Spanish translations of your messages and will mail the letters to those detained. Please join us in Friendship Hall after worship on Sunday! 

For more information, contact Ruthanne Landsness ([email protected]) or Nicole Cummings ([email protected]), Immigration Justice Team.

Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, December 10th 

“Christmas Memories” 

Join us for Lunch and Learn with retired pastors from our congregation, namely Doug Loving, Sharon Goss, and David and Alice Anderman.

• Date: Wednesday, December 10

• Time: 11:30 AM (Lunch), followed by the talk

• Location: Friendship Hall and Worship Hall

• Meal Donation: $10 (No RSVP required). We have received word that ham, scalloped potatoes, veggies and cranberry sauce (plus dessert) are on the menu.

All are welcome!

Youth Service Trip 2026

Our youth service trip next summer will be to Detroit, MI, July 12-18, 2026 with an organization called Motown Mission! Youth entering 8th grade through high school graduation are eligible for this trip. Please see this document for more information, and contact Pastor Kate if your youth would like to participate. A deposit of $100 is due by December 7th to secure your spot. 

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