Stewardship Sunday is this Sunday, November 16th!

We are grateful to all of you who have already returned your completed pledge cards for 2026. We appreciate and celebrate your continued generous financial support. If you have not yet returned your pledge card, you may bring it to church this Sunday, Stewardship Sunday, or mail it to the church office by November 16th. Please note that, beginning in 2026, individuals who do not itemize on their federal tax returns will be eligible for a charitable deduction on cash donations to charities of up to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint filers. See https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/newsletters/pfp-digest/how-obbba-alters-charitable-deduction-strategies-for-2025-and-2026/ for details. Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This is for informational purposes only.



Again, thank you for your ongoing financial commitment to Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ.

November Compassion Offering:

The ORUCC Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund

ORUCC has a long tradition of supporting our social services partners in their work with neighbors in need. Families in southwest Madison are being hit hard by high food costs, inflation due to tariffs, federal budget cuts, and skyrocketing rent. For the neediest ORUCC neighbors, any extra or unpredictable expenses can be a huge challenge. Illness, job loss, a car expense, or other costs can leave families with an urgent need. 

For many years, ORUCC assisted families with gift cards and worked with Joining Forces for Families to get the cards to needy neighbors. In 2020, the ORUCC Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund was established to help support our neighbors with Woodman’s gift cards. Since that time, cards have been available throughout the year for emergencies and extra expenses, and have been distributed by staff from Joining Forces for Families (JFF), Children’s Wisconsin – Early Childhood Development, and other neighborhood partners. There is a need to replenish this fund to continue this vital support. 

ORUCC member Loretta Swanson and Community Social Worker, Eric Alvin are our lead social services team who distribute the gift cards to individuals and families in the neighborhood. A $25 gift card can cover the cost of extra food needed while children are home during holiday breaks, partially fill a gas tank to allow travel for a job or for an interview, or provide supplies like emergency infant formula or over-the-counter medication. Holidays can present significant challenges for families who seek special items specific to a family’s culture or country of origin. These items will likely be more expensive this year due to tariffs. The cards also are extremely helpful to JFF and community partners in helping to engage and connect families with other services.

Given the state of the economy and the political environment in 2025, the need is expected to increase substantially. Please consider a donation to the Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund to provide direct support to families and individuals in our neighborhood. Your donation is truly appreciated, this holiday season and beyond.

Help with Good Shepherd’s Food Pantry

Help stock shelves or host guests as they visit the Food Pantry on Thursdays 9:30 am – noon, except on the 1st Thursday of the month when it is also open 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Due to the recent federal government shutdown, food pantries are in great demand. Contact Rick Thomas at [email protected] for more information and to sign up.

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. 

All are Invited to the 2^nd Meeting of the

ORUCC Disability-Advocacy Mission Group

 this Sunday, November 16^th, from 11:15am -12:15 pm, in Friendship Hall

Two of our members will begin by sharing their experiences while advocating for their adult children, who have multiple disabilities. That advocacy journey began with help from the Headstart Program, then 17 years of moving through the public school system, and now 25 years receiving adult supports while living in the community.

Information will be shared about how people with disabilities have long struggled to maintain their ability to live and work within their communities. Now, the risks to their health and safety will be greatly increased by the planned government cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), SNAP (WI Foodshare), Special Education Programming, and Medicare. 

Those who attend will be invited to discuss how we, as a church body, can work to build a world that values and supports all people. That discussion will focus on those who are currently being marginalized and put at risk, due to current political and social pressures, including those who have Disabilities, Palestinians, Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, LGBTQ+ and more. Attendees will be asked to identify actions we can take, both big or small, and both individually or in groups, to advocate for those who are at risk. We hope you will join us after the service, because together we are stronger!

Book Study: 

Decolonizing Palestine –

The Land, The People, The Bible 

by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb

Sundays November 16, 23, 30, 9:00 am, Alfred Swan Room and via Zoom

Join Rev. Diane Dulin for a discussion of Mitri Raheb’s latest book. The book is inspiring, and is sure to generate fascinating discussion. Discussion will focus on: Biblical concepts and implications of being ‘chosen’ by God; theologies of Christian Zionism; and ongoing colonialism in Palestine. The book is available as a paperback and audiobook. Madison Public Library has three copies. For more information: Mitri Raheb book study.

To register: contact Rev. Diane Dulin at [email protected]. Diane will notify you of selected discussion passages and provide a Zoom link (for those who wish to attend on-line).  

Wayfinding: The Soul Tasks of Aging, Toward a Theology of the Elder Years

Wednesday November 19th in-person in Friendship Hall 9:30am

November 20th over ZOOM 4:00-5:00pm

Thank you all for the 40 people who joined for our opening Wayfinding Retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery! It was a wonderful time together.

We will continue to gather the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9:30am, program beginning at 9:45am and concluding at 11:15am. The next in-person gatherings are: November 19, December 17, January 21, February 18, March 18, April 15, May 20.

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

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] 

MOSES Annual Fundraising Gala November 22nd!

The annual fundraising gala for MOSES (Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity) is November 22, 5-9 pm, at Brassworks at the Goodman Center 214 Waubesa Street. Tickets are $100 each (or $750 for a table of eight) to support MOSES. The event includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts from the Goodman Community Center’s TEENworks program and the celebration of the successful reintegration of a formerly incarcerated person. You can see more information at https://www.mosesmadison.org/2025-transformation-celebration-gala/ and can buy tickets via that site or directly through https://secure.everyaction.com/U-zcazrCHUiSDDmh6g6QNg2 Ticket orders must be received by November 16. MOSES advocates for policies that promote the welfare of children and a just and nondiscriminatory criminal legal system. ORUCC is a congregational member of MOSES. 

ORUCC is excited to be a part of the fourth annual Madison-area Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, held on Monday, November 24th, from 6:30-7:30 pm (prelude at 6:15) at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. We’re excited to see the broader Christian community come together to celebrate Thanksgiving by praising God for our many blessings, celebrating what we share in common in Christ and supporting those among us in need.

Please plan to arrive between 6:00-6:10 pm to allow time for parking and getting situated. If you’re able, please bring shelf-stable food and/or monetary donations to be distributed among local food pantries. 

If you would like to serve in any capacity (usher, fellowship host, etc.) please check out volunteer opportunities here. There is also an opportunity to join a combined Thanksgiving choir (practice Sunday evening, 11/23). Email Pastor Kate, [email protected], if interested. 

College Care Packages

While Pastor Ken’s on sabbatical, our family will be helping gather the care packages to send to college students connected to ORUCC. Please email me at [email protected] if you’d like your child to receive a care package. (We’re sorry but we aren’t able to include grandchildren in this effort due to quantity!). 

There are 3 ways you can support our college students:

1) On Sunday, November 30, you can drop off in the church kitchen individual homemade bars or cookies wrapped in plastic wrap. We have about 25 packages to send, so you can bring 25 packs of two cookies if you’d like. Please also provide a list of ingredients — some of the kids might have dietary restrictions. 

2) Drop off a donation check to the church office, with “College Care Packages” in the memo line of the check. 

3) Email me any ideas for items you think college kids would enjoy!

We’ll mail the packages on Monday, December 1. 

Thank you for supporting our students.

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!

Reflections for November

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.

Reflections for November 2025

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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