January Compassion Offering:

The Sewing Machine Project

The Sewing Machine Project (SMP) is a grassroots nonprofit based in Madison, Wisconsin. Since its founding in 2005, SMP has collected and distributed nearly 5,000 sewing machines to individuals and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. In Madison, SMP partners with community centers to provide sewing machines and instruction and collaborates with local libraries to offer free mending services. Beyond Wisconsin, SMP supports nonprofits that use sewing as a practical path toward stability and self-reliance. By sharing tools, skills, and time, The Sewing Machine Project helps build connection, dignity, and community—one stitch at a time.

For more information on SMP, please view this video.

Please Pick up Your Cards!

There are still a number of holiday cards awaiting their pickup in the ORUCC “post office,” which raised funds for the youth service trip. Please double check under your name to see if there are any cards waiting for you so we do not have to mail them out!

First “Building Blocks for Faithful Living” class this Sunday, January 18th

 A seven-week class at 9 am on Sunday mornings in the Swan Room from January 18th through March 1st, 2026, led by David Anderman.

We will take an introductory look at a variety of spiritual experiences, both individual and in community, at theological reflections that grow out of them, and at how these experiences and ideas can guide us in faithful living in community and in our world (i.e. the justice implications). And since spiritual experiences, theological reflections, and faithful living are mutually interactive and feed on each other, we will look at how faith is dynamic and changing over time and place.

Since this class is introductory, preparation will be minimal. Bring yourself, your experiences, and your insights and questions. David will write a one or two page non-technical document to help focus each session. At the end of the class, you will have explored some basic building blocks for faithful living, and will have a beginning sense of how they may fit together.

Session 1 – Jan. 18

           Where and how do we become aware of a sacred or greater dimension in our world?

A handout with more details for each session is available at church in the Crossroads. Please email David at [email protected] if you are interested or wish further information.

Heart Room Update and Plan presentation: this Sunday, January 18th at 11:15 am

The Heart Room Mission Team invites Heart Room donors and interested others to a Heart Room presentation on January 18th after service. The Heart Room Mission team will provide an update on Heart Room experience and a plan to help 3 more families with young children achieve their goals for thriving in stable housing. We are delighted to report that we can serve added children and families in this difficult time, using already-available ORUCC funds from past donations for Heart Room purposes.

Begun in 2018 as a pilot project, Heart Room is a collaborative approach to helping families with young children find and keep stable housing and work on family-chosen goals to help them thrive. ORUCC donors contributed more than $250,000 for rent-support, while professional partners have provided housing case management and social services in response to individual family goals. Heart Room’s early demonstrated success attracted individual, congregational, and institutional donations. This has allowed Heart Room to grow, as we will report.

Two three-year pilot periods have been completed and evaluated. The Heart Room Mission Team will provide an update on Heart Room experience and a proposal from Heart Room partner Joining Forces for Families to use ORUCC’s Heart Room fund balance consistent with Heart Room’s guiding principles: generous and flexible rent support and collaborative agency support to help families achieve their unique goals for thriving.

The Heart Room Mission Team hopes to see you there!



Jen Walker and Bruce Olsen, co-chairs

Helene Nelson and Megan Piper, members

Solidarity Peace Cranes for Minneapolis Project

Some of our youth expressed a desire to do something in response to the violence being perpetrated by ICE in Minneapolis. Together, we will create an origami peace project to show our support and solidarity.

This Sunday, children, youth and others in the congregation will be invited to write prayers and words of hope and encouragement on origami paper and fold these intentions of peace into paper cranes and hearts.

These strings of hearts and cranes will be sent to Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where a violent ICE raid took place last week, as a show of our solidarity with their community. This school has ties to our congregation, as ORUCC member Sara Hagen’s brother-in-law serves as their principal. We want to send our hopes for peace and justice while we show the community at Roosevelt High in Minneapolis that they are not alone!

Other means of support: Pastor Kate’s friend, who is a high school teacher in Minneapolis, recommends this fundraiser for the group Minneapolis Families Mutual Aid, which is providing food, school supplies, and other financial support to impacted families in their community.

Photo by Yuu Khoang on Unsplash

January Wayfinding

Wednesday, January 21st in-person in Friendship Hall

9:30am-11:15am

Thursday, January 22nd over ZOOM

4:00-5:00pm

We will continue to gather the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30am, program beginning at 9:45am and concluding at 11:15am. The next in-person gatherings are: January 21st, February 18th, March 18th, April 15th, May 20th.

For those who prefer to join virtually, we will meet by Zoom the very next day, each Thursday following our in-person Wayfinding program at 4:00pm concluding at 5:00pm. Join the meeting via the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81390270827?pwd=fCJxLaaJay4Rf1Uk7c9bfF6sLCYVrF.1

Our Generosity at Work: Compassion Offering for December

We are happy to report that December’s Compassion Offering for the UCC Christmas Fund amounted to $3,588.00. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for more than 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums each December. Thank you for your generous donations!

UCCI Summer Camps Online Registration began January 12th, Camp AweSum opens 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 opened 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.

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

Click here to sign up as a Host

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

Please sign up to be trained into this new position.

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!

Inspirational Thoughts for January

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.



Inspirational Thoughts for January 2026

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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