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/

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.

Summer Camp Registration Opens in January

Circle the dates on your calendar. Registration for Moon Beach opens on January 8th at 9:00 a.m. (Family Camp begins on June 30th and fills up quickly.) For Daycholah Center and Camp AweSum, the date is January 15th at 9:00 a.m. 

In preparation you can create or log your account by going to ucci.org and clicking on “registration”. We recommend updating all contact information and participant details ahead of time. When registration opens you can do it on-line or by phone

TODAY: Women’s Book Group

January 4, 1:30 – 3:00 pm

Zoom

ORUCC Women’s Book Group will meet on Zoom on January 4, 2024 from 1:30pm to 3pm. At this meeting we will discuss which books we would like to read over the 2024 year. I would like to compile a list for people to use prior to the meeting, so if possible please email me your suggestions by December 31. Also please consider facilitating the discussion the month your recommended book comes up. This is not mandatory, but is very much appreciated.

If you receive book group emails and would like to be removed from the list please email me. 

If you are interested in seeing the reading schedule and possibly joining some of the discussions also email me and I will add you to the list.

Happy reading in 2024!  

Deanna Blanchard

[email protected]

Friday Breakfast Group – January 5

The next Friday Breakfast is set for January 5 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.

Lunch and Learn

(formerly Over-55)

Wednesday, January 10^th

How important are your stories? What is Oral History? And Why Does it Matter?

The term oral history appears a lot online, so much so that its true meaning has become obscured. Professional oral historians, such as UW-Madison Oral History Program Head Troy Reeves, have tried to push back against this phenomenon through his writings and presentations, including showing examples of “real” oral history done by Wisconsin organizations. So, join us on the 10^th as he answers two questions: What is oral history? And why does it matter? Since 2007, as head of the campus oral history program, Troy Reeves has led oral history activities for the UW-Madison Archives. 

We gather on Wednesday the 10^th at 11:30, dine from a wonderful buffet at 11:45, ($10 per person) and adjourn for the program at 12:30.  Please RSVP to Steve Sheets: [email protected]. 

MOVIE GROUP MEETS THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 “”RUSTIN”

Hello movie fans,

This month we will be watching the 2023 film “Rustin” at 7:00 on the 11^th at the Oakwood Village Performance Center with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

This movie chronicles how the lesser known Civil Rights activist, Bayard Rustin, took an idea of A. Philip Randolph and turned it into, arguably, the most famous march and speech in Civil Rights history. That march, of course, is the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the speech is “I Have a Dream.”

Rustin, a gay Black Conscientious Objector (who did time during WWII for being a CO as well as hard time on a Georgia chain gang) was also (because of his Quaker roots) a peace activist. He had to deal with Jim Crow America as well as the homophobia of the Civil Rights movement of his time. In the film we meet every important figure in the movement, although only Rustin is the only fully developed figure. The film does not shy away from either his sexuality or the internal conflicts within the movement.

Baxter Richardson, who was one of the 250,000 plus marchers, will facilitate the discussion.

The film is also available for streaming on Netflix. 

Hope to see you on January 11^th, 7 PM.



Two other January films you may want to see are “Harriet” on the 13th and “Selma” on the 15^thin the Performance Center. Both at 7:00 PM. Both are important films.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS TODAY!

All Church Retreat January 12-14, 2024

Spiritually Alive:

Rooted and Grounded in Love

Hello friends, it is that time again:

our January All Church Retreat is booked for us at Daycholah Retreat Center on Green Lake for Friday January 12 – Sunday January 14. Registration is open from TODAY December 14- January 4. We encourage you to register as soon as possible. Register here and please pay registration fees on the website.

Pastor Kate & Pastor Julia are collaborating by organizing a special time of restoration and renewal for our whole church. Our worship theme in the New Year at ORUCC is “Faith in Action.” We believe living our faith out in the world requires deep spiritual nurture, so our All Church Retreat theme will be aimed at deepening our spiritual reserves through spiritual practice, titled “Spiritually Alive: Rooted and Grounded in Love.”

We know our families and children look forward to this time, and we love that those who value intergenerational fellowship and are able to make an effort to join, if only for the day on Saturday. Let us know if this is you!

If you’d like to join for the whole weekend the cost is $200 for adults and $140 for children (children under 5 are free). This includes lodging for two nights and meals Friday night (they do not allow potluck anymore for health code reasons), three meals Saturday and one meal Sunday. The church is able to supplement part of the weekend financially from our budget, which is already reflected in the cost.

We have partial and full scholarships available, so please reach out to us if financial help would make this more accessible for your family, or if you’d like to pay extra to sponsor someone anonymously.

Here are the registration links again:

Double Click here for REGISTRATION FORM

Double Click here for PAYMENT SITE

We cannot wait to share time with you in the New Year!

Julia & Kate

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.

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]

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

    Jan 18, 2024 04:00 PM

    Feb 15, 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



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Passcode: 573548

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Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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