January Compassion Offering:

The Wisconsin Intertribal Repatriation Committee 

(via The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council)

Vision and Mission: The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) shall be a diligent advocate for the advancement and promotion of tribal nations and communities by honoring the seventh-generation perspective. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for all Native people.

Values: Culture, Respect, Diversity, Collaboration, Teamwork, Stewardship

History and Background:

The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) is a consortium of federally recognized Indian tribes in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Since 1963, GLITC has united tribes against the threat of termination and helped tribes face challenges of governance and services for their communities.

Today, GLITC supports member tribes in expanding self-determination efforts and advocating for improvement and unity of tribal governments, communities and individuals. This unity has enabled tribes to deal effectively with state and local governments, academic institutions and other agencies. The GLITC staff currently manage approximately 45 programs in education, epidemiology, family health, nutrition education, aging, disability services, elder services, vocational rehabilitation, and economic development.

The Wisconsin Intertribal Repatriation Committee (WITRC) represents these federally recognized tribes, working under the umbrella of GLITC since 1995. Members, usually tribal historians or elders, meet quarterly with representatives of state and local government and museums to streamline the sensitive work of repatriating Native American ancestors and cultural objects to their modern-day descendants. These objects are found in museums, private or academic collections, construction sites, hiking trails, or parks disturbed by human activity or natural conditions. Objects and ancestors may be located far beyond Wisconsin. WITRC works collectively to share funds, equipment and knowledge, ensuring these efforts are accomplished with due spiritual care. Other efforts of WITRC representatives include consultation, education, and heritage preservation.

Over the past two years, church leaders (with process guidance from the Wisconsin Council of Churches), have attended some of these meetings as observer-learners and to present gifts toward relationship repair. This has been a source of education and spiritual growth and has spurred Wisconsin Christians toward indigenous justice efforts. Increased awareness of the activities of Indigenous peoples and their governments in Wisconsin can help us be better neighbors and allies.

GLITC member tribes represent communities of five Indian Nations on 12 reservations, a combined American Indian population of 40,026 (US Census 2010), and a land base of about 500,000 acres spanning 31 counties. https://www.glitc.org/

Your donation to the January Compassion Offering will support the work of the Wisconsin Intertribal Repatriation Committee. Thank you in advance for any amount that you may choose to give. 

2025 Constitution updates – informational meeting #1, Hal Evensen, Past Moderator

As announced last week, at our upcoming congregational meeting (February 2nd, after worship), we will be asked to approve an update to our church’s constitution. This Sunday (January 19th) I will be hosting our first of two information sessions. This one will be via Zoom, at noon (link below). (Next week’s January 26th session will be in the Swan Room at 9:00 am.)

The purpose of these meetings will be to discuss the proposed changes, and also to answer general questions on the constitution. Take a look at the constitution in advance and bring your questions & comments! I sincerely believe that a good constitution empowers us all to better work together to do God’s work! I hope you will be able to join us for one of the sessions, or alternatively to email questions & comments to the Moderators at [email protected].

Some hard copies of the constitution (and QR codes for downloads) are available in the church; additionally, you can download them at these links for the original and proposed versions. They are conveniently highlighted to show (and explain) the proposed modifications. [The links, again: https://bit.ly/ORUCC-Original and https://bit.ly/ORUCC-2024 .]

Here is the Zoom link for the information session: bit.ly/ORUCC-Zoom 

Name Tags

If you don’t have a name tag—and you want one—we will be taking orders in the Crossroads this Sunday, the 19th. If you have questions, contact Jill Westberg at [email protected].

Save the Date! Annual Chili Cook-Off, Sunday, January 26th

Join us for the Annual Chili Cook Off on Sunday, Jan 26th! You are invited to contribute your favorite chili or cornbread to the contest. Prizes will be awarded in the categories of vegetarian, meat, and speciality chilies, and also for the best cornbread. Everyone is invited to taste and vote after the service! Please sign up here or on the sign up sheet in the crossroads if you plan to contribute a chili or can help with the event.

New Adult Study Group

Feeling spiritually discombobulated since the election? Disappointed? Confused? Tempted to throw up your hands or throw in the towel? Tired? Wondering how the church can or should be involved in politics, in social justice and service, in other affairs of the world? Should we just lick our wounds and go to church?

We will dig a little deeper on these kinds of questions through exploring a root question for people of faith: How are the heavenly kingdom and the earthly kingdom related? Or, stated a little differently, less old-fashioned and stuffy: How are church and politics related? Should they be? What are the options and possibilities?

David Anderman will lead a study group on these topics Thursday mornings in the Swan Room 10:00 – 11:30 am February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, with the discussion picking up again after Easter, May 1st, 8th, and 15th. More information will be provided in a hand-out this Sunday morning.

College Scholarships Available

Members of ORUCC are invited to apply for 2025-2026 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, 2025; contact [email protected] for an electronic application. Questions? Contact Ann Evensen at [email protected]

Summer Camp Registration

Come for camp this year in the Northwoods, at Green Lake, or at Cedar Valley! Sessions often fill up on the first day (Family Camp with the Boyds already has a waitlist), so pay close attention to the opening days and times.  Coming up: All Camp AweSum Family Camps hosted at Moon Beach open Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM. For further information, google ucci.org.

Save the Date!

Lenten All-Church Retreat

Daycholah Center, March 14-16

More details coming soon…

for now, mark your calendars!

Sign Up to Volunteer on Sunday Mornings now through March of 2025!

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!

Daily Reflections: January 16 – 22

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.

Daily Reflections: January 16 – 22

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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