NOVEMBER COMPASSION OFFERING

THANKSGIVING YEAR ROUND FUND

ORUCC has a long tradition of supporting our social services partners in their work with neighbors in need. Post pandemic and the end of CARES funds have left some of our neediest ORUCC neighbors struggling to keep up with inflationary food prices and skyrocketing rent increases.  

Established in 2020, the ORUCC Thanksgiving Year Round Fund helps support our neighbors with Woodman’s gift cards distributed by staff from Joining Forces for Families (JFF), Commonwealth Development (CWD), and Early Childhood Development (ECI). There is now a need to replenish this fund in order 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 other neighborhood case workers. Loretta reports how a $20-$50 gift card can help a family through the holiday season and beyond: 

• To cover the cost of extra food needed while children are home during holiday breaks
• To help pay for gas to allow a parent to travel for a job interview

These gift cards help in so many ways. 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. 

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

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/

Sermon Talk Backs

Sundays at 11:15 am in the Alfred Swan Room

Come share in an opportunity to discuss how the sermon of the day touched you spiritually. This is hosted and facilitated by members of the Ministry of Adult Faith Formation.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Nov 23 – Nov 29

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.

Many thanks to Joyce Pohl, Cindy Fillingame and Ann Avery for our winter planters!

Moderator-elect Message

“Serve the Lord with gladness!” Psalm 100

I was thinking about this verse as I reluctantly began the process of planning for Nominations for next year’s Ministries. It is my hope that the wonderful members who agree to serve on these Ministries do feel gladness as they contribute to the work of the congregation. However, I am not fond of asking people to do things, thus the reason for my reluctance. I feel that when people are interested and volunteer, they are more productive and engaged with the group. As we approach this Nominations “season” I hope that you will consider where you might best serve our congregation. I hope that you might actually volunteer for a Ministry or Mission Team. Please consider engaging with one of these groups. You can email me or call me if you’d like to talk about it some more: [email protected] or 609-712-0263.

There are brochures in a rack in the Crossroads near the TV screen that describe what each Ministry does if you aren’t sure. The brochures also mention some of the Mission Teams that are connected to each Ministry. Each Ministry needs a Chairperson who will set the agenda and plan the meetings. Each Ministry also has a Leadership Team Liaison who comes to Leadership meetings and conveys information. Briefly our five ministries are:

• Congregational Life-cares for members of the congregation individually or in groups with meals, game nights or other social activities

• Resources-cares for our physical building

• Christian Witness and Service-provides outreach & funding to local, regional and international service organizations and is responsible for our monthly Compassion offerings

• Adult Faith Formation-provides opportunities for adult education

• Youth Faith Formation-cares for our Sunday School and other youth education

We will also be looking for Financial Secretaries who gather and count money after the offering and put it in the safe. And we are starting a year-round Stewardship Mission Team that may need members. We will need one or two people to work on Nominations for 2025, and may need one or two new Leadership Team members.

I will be looking for a Moderator-Elect to service three years, the first year is spent learning the ropes with me, the second year as moderator and the third year as past moderator in an advisor role.

Don’t wait to see if we call you! Pick your area of interest, work with like-minded, committed people and enjoy getting to know other members. Serve the Lord with gladness!

Your moderator-elect,

Deanna Blanchard

Children/Youth Updates

Sunday after Thanksgiving, 11/26: No regular Sunday school–instead, we will have an intergenerational opportunity to make Advent wreathes and other seasonal crafts at the 9:00 hour in Friendship Hall. Please bring your wreath forms from last year if you still have them; we will also have new forms available as well. All are welcome!

Holiday Gift Tree to Support our Neighbors



We are happy to continue to the tradition of supporting the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) in our neighborhood by purchasing holiday gifts for families participating in the program.

Please look for the holiday tree coming soon in the Crossroads to purchase gifts by December 18th. Talk to Pastor Kate for details.

Friday Breakfast Group – December 1

The next Friday Breakfast is set for December 1 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.

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

    Dec 21, 2023 04:00 PM

    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



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

Meeting ID: 879 9802 5473

Passcode: 573548

Dial in

1 312 626 6799 US 

Falls Prevention Exercise Class

Tuesday & Thursday at 10:00 AM

Several people expressed interest in the balance and strength exercise classes and most wanted a morning class. There is no formal charge but donations can be made to benefit the Heart Room fund that provides support for families in transition from homelessness. Everyone is welcome to come to learn some principles of falls prevention through exercise — even if you prefer to work out elsewhere.  Contact Joyce Pohl at [email protected] if you have questions. 

Purchase Cards on the table

in the Crossroads each Sunday Morning!

ORUCC Member Manuel Ramminger, Co-Founder of Ethical Trading Company invites you to volunteer…

We would like to extend the opportunity for people at ORUCC to volunteer with Ethical Trading Company specifically in running our store at the Eastmorland Community Center at Madison’s east side. Ethical Trade Co empowers through trade artisans and farmers that are vulnerable to exploitation and modern slavery. This trade relationship provides a livable wage in artisans’ respective communities and empower them to break out of extreme poverty –

the root cause of exploitation and modern slavery. 

Currently the store is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11am-5pm at 3565 Tulane Ave. Volunteers would sign up for a whole day or half day shift and tasks would range from welcoming customers, answering basic questions about our nonprofit and product, and checking customers out. Occasionally help with pricing or restocking may be needed. 

As the holidays pick up our store gets much more busy but at times it can be slow especially before thanksgiving so volunteers are advised to bring a book or something else to work on. 

Questions? Email Manuel at [email protected]

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.

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

1501 Gilbert Road

Madison, WI 53711

608-271-7212

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