JANUARY COMPASSION OFFERING

Neighborhood Schools

Last year our congregation was able to donate $4,500 to our 3 neighborhood schools: Anana Elementary, Orchard Ridge Elementary, and Toki Middle School. 

The schools were able to use these funds to purchase winter clothing and basic school supplies for students in need. The need for these basic necessities becomes clear when we consider the number of students who come from economically disadvantaged households. 

According to the latest statistics from the Department of Public Instruction, over 40% of the students at Anana Elementary live in economically disadvantaged households. At Toki Middle School, the number is 43%. And at Orchard Ridge Elementary, the number is 57%. 

Another basic need within our neighborhood schools is the need for staff. As is the case in many school districts across the country, our neighborhood schools must deal with the daily predicament of not having enough teachers. 

Given the challenges that each school faces, we aren’t asking the principals of our 3 neighborhood schools to submit a video for this year’s compassion offering. They have other pressing issues to attend to. 

Instead, we are asking you to give what you can, and give generously, so that each school can use our donations to address the urgent and important needs of the students they serve. 

Thank you for supporting our neighborhood schools, which have served many of our congregation families past and present. And thank you to all of the ORUCC members who have served and who continue to serve our community as teachers and school volunteers. 

At ORUCC we have a long history of supporting our neighborhood families and investing in education. With this month’s compassion offering, we have another important opportunity to contribute and carry on that tradition.

 Thank you for giving generously

You can make a donation by check, on the memo line, please write “compassion” and mail to ORUCC, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711,

or donate online from our website. The link is https://orucc.org/contribute/support/

We could use a boost!

Do you have a gently-used booster seat or high chair that you would be willing to donate to the church? We are looking to have a few on hand so that we can continue to be more inclusive of younger families during church fellowship events. Please contact Pastor Kate, [email protected] if you have something to share.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Jan 25 – Jan 31

Read this week’s reflections as a way to dive deeper into your spiritual practice or to get some nourishment and inspiration

for your day.



Click Here for Reflections

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. You will see these posted daily if you are part of the “Members & Friends” Facebook group. If you know someone who needs encouragement and would like the devotional mailed to them, please contact Julie Wombacher in the church office.

Moderator’s January 2024 Update from Hal Evensen, ORUCC Moderator

Happy New Year! This will be my final “update” as Moderator. Deanna Blanchard is up next, taking her turn part-way through the annual congregational meeting next month, on Feb. 4 following worship. Here’s an update:

• First, a reminder of the aforementioned annual meeting! All members and friends are welcome to attend. Our church’s annual report is complete, and copies (electronic and paper) will go out the week of Jan. 25; some copies will also be available at the church and at the meeting. I encourage you to look it through: it is a very nice summary of the wide range of work done by our congregation in 2023. It also gives a good idea of what our various ministries do – and of opportunities for participation by “regular folks:” Adult Faith Formation; Christian Witness & Service; Congregational Life; Resources; Youth Faith Formation. THANK YOU to all!

• The Human Resources Mission Team has been working its way through a new annual reflection process with our staff, starting with the Senior Pastor and Music staff. This has already improved communication and helped facilitate some changes such as coordination between pastors and music leaders, and organist Vicki Nonn’s desire to scale back on her Sunday commitments starting in 2024 (she will continue to work with Bruce and the choir!). We will continue our work into 2024 with the rest of our valuable staff. I am proud of this team – David Anderman, Barbara Stretchberry, Susan Watson, and Pastor Julia – we have worked together well, and this is helping us to support all whom we employ as a church!

• And, to close, some good news! At the annual meeting – and in the report – John Day will share his summary of the 2023 budget and the 2024 budget. The highlights: (1) our 2023 deficit was much smaller than projected; (2) our 2024 pledges came in with a 5% increase, which is a historically large jump! These allowed the Leadership Team to apply a small (2%) cost of living increase in 2024 for our staff – whereas initial projections had led us to hold this at zero. While this increase still does not keep up with inflation, we are glad to be able to express appreciation in this way. Thank you!

It has been a pleasure serving as your Moderator and getting to better know – and appreciate – our congregation, pastors, and staff! I will continue to serve in 2024, as Past Moderator. Please feel free to reach out to any of the moderators ([email protected]) or leadership team member (see the color poster on the bulletin board) with any questions, comments, suggestions, or offerings of support!

Indigenous Justice: What’s Next? A Conversation

Saturday January 27, 2024

9:00 am – 12:00 pm Friendship Hall

Save the date! Pastor Julia Burkey will be hosting a half-day retreat January 27th from 9am-12pm for any of our justice minded folks to wonder “what’s next” or “so what?” after dwelling in our Indigenous Justice theme for the last few months. All are welcome! Please RSVP to [email protected] if you plan to join. Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.

In case of snow, we will meet virtually.

My hope is that we can create a land acknowledgement task force to work on crafting that statement, with the “so what” commitment (not just stating we are all on stolen land). On our agenda will be thinking together about how we use our building, grounds and financial resources in light of the radical call of the Land Back movement and our commitment to our neighborhood. We will be listening for any ideas that have emerged as potential action items that ORUCC could engage in that would be faithful to our commitment to justice.

Annual Chili Cook Off

Sunday, January 28

Join us for the Annual Chili Cook Off on Sunday, Jan 28! You are invited to contribute your favorite chili or cornbread to the contest. Prizes will be awarded in the categories of vegetarian, meat, and specialty 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.

Women’s Book Group

February 1 we will meet on Zoom to discuss Foster by Claire Keegan. Leslie Rebhorn will lead our discussion. We meet on the first Thursday of each month from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. A Zoom link will be sent to the mailing list. If you are interested in joining us, or would just like to see our reading list for 2024, please email Deanna Blanchard at [email protected].

Friday Breakfast Group – February 2

The next Friday Breakfast is set for February 2 at 8:30 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.

The Ministry of Christian Witness & Service invites 

you to an intergenerational, all-church 

Faith in Action Brunch

Sunday, February 11, 2023

11:15am – 12:45pm

Friendship Hall

What is this about, you ask? It’s a wonderful opportunity to:

  - Gather as a community & enjoy a meal together

  - Inspire new connections

  - Learn about and raise up our individual and collective outreach and justice work within and beyond ORUCC

  - Support our youth! Proceeds will go toward the 2024 Youth Service Trip

  - Have fun!

Individuals, families, little children – all are invited to partake in this gathering. There will be a dedicated seating area for families with young children and one of our nursery staff will be available to assist you. 

Your presence at this brunch is the most important contribution that you can make. If you can also make a donation toward the 2024 Youth Service Trip, in any amount, we will be grateful.

Suggested guidelines are:

Ages 13 and above: $10

Ages 6-12: $5

Ages 5 and under: $0

Save the Date for Party Gras! 

Tuesday, Feb 13

5:30-7:30 pm in Friendship Hall

Join us to celebrate the beginning of Lent and the Easter Season! There will be games, music, dancing and a pizza dinner, followed by a brief ceremony to burn the palms from last year’s Ash Wednesday service. 

FEBRUARY MOVIE GROUP “DEFENDING YOUR LIFE” February 1st, Thursday

Hello movie goers,

Have you ever wondered what happens after one dies? Explore one possibility with us on Thursday, February 1st at Oakwood Village Performance Center with “Defending Your Life” at 7:00 and discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

This 1991 romantic comedy written, directed and starring Albert Brooks with the incomparable Meryl Streep will both entertain and provoke.

The story line: After Dan Miller (not our Dan Miller) dies in a car accident on his 39th birthday, he arrives in Judgement City where he is required, in a trial setting, to defend his life. If he is successful he moves on to an undisclosed better life. If he is not successful, well…….. come and find out. And, of course, things are complicated by his falling in love with Julia (Meryl Streep) who has successfully defended her life. 

While the film is rated PG-13, there is one racially insensitive scene.



Hope to see you in February.



Steve Sheets

[email protected]

   QUILTS FOR GAZA — Quilters Invited

The war in Gaza has left thousands of people homeless, injured and critically ill. Many of these people are newborn infants, young children, teenagers.

Although at present very few shipments of humanitarian aid for Gaza are allowed entrance, in time it will become possible to send quilts to Gaza. An ad hoc group of quilters from Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ is preparing for this opportunity by quilting small (40 x 40 inches for babies and young children, slightly larger for teens) quilts for distribution to Gaza when feasible via our United Church of Christ Global Mission Partner, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

Your help is invited! Join the effort by making quilts; sharing extra fabric/thread/lightweight batting you have on hand; donating funds to help with materials and shipping costs; praying for the people of Gaza; spreading the word to others who may wish to help.



Contact Diane Dulin for more information. We welcome your questions, ideas, and involvement.  [email protected]  503-779-9173

Snow Removal News

The ORUCC Resource Ministry Team has decided to switch vendors for our snow removal services. Dayflower Dave’s Snow Removal Services has taken over our snow removal as of 12/15/2023.

This is exciting news for multiple reasons:

·        They will be in contact with us prior to a snow event to ensure we receive the services we need.

·        They will use far less salt by working closely with us to determine when salt is needed. This will be much better for our grounds and the environment!

·        They use tractors equipped with snow blowers to prevent piles at the end of the parking lot.

·        Snow events with accumulation of one inch or greater will be cleared on Sunday morning by 8:00 AM.

·        We will be reducing our budgeted cost by over $3000 per season.

Important Note–Can you help

The contract with Dayflower Dave’s will have them remove snow when the accumulation is one inch or greater. What this means for us is that we are asking for able bodied volunteers to clear small amounts of snow away from the two entrances. If you are at church on a light snow day (less than 1”), please consider finding a shovel or broom to help with the snow removal. Shovels are located near the entrances or in the janitor room. A large push broom is also located in that room. Please contact a pastor if you can’t find the shovels or broom.

Virtual Wayfinding will gather on the 3rd Wednesday in person and virtually over ZOOM the 3rd Thursday from 4pm-5:15pm.

By Zoom on Thursdays: 04:00 PM Central Time

    Feb 22, 2024 04:00 PM

    Mar 21, 2024 04:00 PM

    Apr 18, 2024 04:00 PM

    May 16, 2024 04:00 PM

Click here to join Zoom meeting



us02web.zoom.us/j/87998025473?pwd=dEEzcFkvSnBNdzNUaE5BK2RxUDZqZz09

Meeting ID: 879 9802 5473

Passcode: 573548

Dial in

1 312 626 6799 US 

Name Tags

The second batch of name tags is here! Please check to see if yours has arrived. The name tag board will be on the Gilbert Street side of the Crossroads. Magnetic name tags will be on the white board. Lanyard and pins will be in the tray below. If you need a “lanyard for your name tag” we have a few hanging on the side of the board. (We will order more name tags in January.)

Sign Up Now Through the End of June 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, 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 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.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Members of ORUCC are invited to apply for 2024-2025 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, 2024.

Contact [email protected] for an electronic application. Questions? Contact Ann Evensen at [email protected]

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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