Youth Faith Formation Meeting

Sunday, November 6

After Worship Service

Contact Karen Jaehnig for more information

Nursery Care will not be offered Sunday, October 30. Children under the age of five are are invited to enjoy the nursery alongside their parent.  Please tidy up all materials before leaving. 

YOGA IS BACK AT ORUCC 

Thursdays 5:30 Friendship Hall

NO CLASS NOV 3 & NOV 24

Instructor Leslie Linser    

A slow flow class with a spiritual intention. Bring a yoga mat.

For questions email Leslie at [email protected]  

Sharing Our Stories: Appreciative Inquiry Visioning

9:00am Nov. 13 & Dec. 4

We want to hear your voice!

Are you interested in the future of ORUCC? Come join these visioning sessions! It’s okay if you missed the first one in September, there is still a chance to have input and share. Everyone’s voice matters, so please make a point to join for these 9am sessions on Sunday morning. Here is a look at the themes and questions and the dates to mark in you calendar.

November 13th: What do you think are our core values? When have you felt our core values expressed best?

December 4th: If you woke up from a deep slumber and came to ORUCC in 5 years and everything you dreamed and imagined and visioned came true, what would it be like? What would you see, feel, hear, smell? How would people be meeting? Who would be there?

If you can’t be there for one of the Sundays, we still want to hear from you. We are still working on a virtual option for this process and ways of including voices who cannot make it on Sunday morning for any of these.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Oct 27-Nov 2

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.

2023 Youth Mission Trip Fund Raisers

This Sunday

October 30–We will also be hosting a fundraising pancake breakfast on 10/30 after services. $5.00/plate. Our youth will be sharing their 2022 mission trip experiences during this time. 

Many thanks for all of your support 

Moms on a Mission



Moms on a Mission is a grassroots group of mothers and others who show up outside East High School every day to foster a nonviolent environment by being present, creating relationships, and de-escalating conflict. You can help this mission by contributing money to pay for snacks for the youth that MOMs distributes during the lunch period. You can also sign up as a volunteer to be present at East High during the lunch period. To read more about this mission and donate for snacks or volunteer see https://justdane.org/moms/. JustDane is acting as the fiscal agent for these contributions.  

Women’s Book Group

Thursday, November 3, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm 

This has been a beautiful fall to sit under a tree or on your porch and read a good book like The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. This is the November selection that Ruth Ann Berkholtz will lead us in discussing. ORUCC Women’s Book Group will meet on Thursday, November 3 on Zoom from 1:30pm to 3pm. The Zoom link will be sent to the book club list by email later this week. Please email Deanna Blanchard at [email protected] if you’d like to be added to that list.

THE ROAD HOME’S ANNUAL HOMES FOR FAMILIES VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST, THURSDAY NOV. 3, 8AM. JOIN US!

This event raises critical funds that support The Road Home’s (TRH) mission of ending family homelessness in Dane County. During the online event you’ll hear from TRH’s leadership and staff, community partners, donors, and an amazing individual enrolled in a housing program, Courtney, who will share her journey to stable housing and entrepreneurship – an LLC license and her own business!

ORUCC would like to host a virtual table for the event on Thursday Nov. 3 at 8am. That will allow us to have a Zoom forum afterward to discuss the information presented and learn more about ORUCC’s long-term involvement with TRH. If that doesn’t work for you, you can join individually. Contact Susan Dovell.



Please respond to Susan Dovell, [email protected], or 703.989.7190 if you are interested. Please leave your email address and cell phone number. 

Friday Breakfast Group November 4

The next Friday Breakfast is set for November 4 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.

OVER-55 NOVEMBER 9th, 11:30 am

Be one with the bees! Our program on November 9^th features Tom Borchardt speaking on “Urban Bees”. Tom started his urban hives as a hobby, and now has expanded to the professional level. This promises to be an entertaining and informative program. You may become so interested in bee keeping you’ll want to start your own hives. 

 Join us at 11:30 on the 9^th. We will dine on a wonderful buffet luncheon. The cost is a mere $8. Program at 12:30. All are welcome.

YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE!

The 2022 General Election is NOVEMBER 8—so, don’t wait!

Make a plan now for when/where you will vote! Go with family or friends & celebrate!

One plan option is—EARLY VOTING= IPAV (In Person Absentee Voting) in MADISON starting Tues Oct 25 – Nov 6. 

You will need to be registered at your current address and bring your photo ID!

You can also register at that time, just bring proof of address, if your ID has a different address.

For an easy-to-read schedule of IPAV locations, go to www.myvote.wi.gov and click on IPAV in the upper right. Follow the prompt to add your address, then enter the exact date you wish to vote–on the little calendar. A list of all locations & schedules will appear for that date. Sites include: all city libraries, some municipal buildings, some community centers, even Olbrich Gardens, Boys & Girls Club, Global Market/Food Hall. Trained City Clerk staff will provide you with the same Absentee Ballot form that is used for mail-in ballots. Your completed ballot will be delivered, unopened, to your own ward on Nov 8 to be counted with all other ballots.

Municipalities outside of Madison have their own protocols and schedules, so contact your local Clerk about early voting options. 

For information on offices, candidates and referenda on your ballot, visit VOTE411.org For assistance in registering or getting a valid photo ID, anywhere in the State of WI, call the Voter Helpline 608-285-2141

Ruth Ann Berkholtz [email protected]

Labyrinth Walk

You are invited to walk the labyrinth on Wednesday, November 9 – the day following the election. Quiet meditation, candlelight and soft music will be here for you anytime from 4-7pm. 

Mark your Calendars for FreeCycle

(formerly the Really, Really, Free Market)

November 20th, Sunday morning

Bring gently used items to trade or give away

Leave them in Friendship Hall before worship and return afterwards to “shop”

(Please, no clothing, no furniture or other large items)

Wayfinding: Conversations Toward a Theology and Spirituality of the Elder Years

Next Month November 16, 9:30 am

Zoom November 17, 4:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

us02web.zoom.us/j/86747507302?pwd=Q01qSnNjWnV4aFg1ek80Qi9ZMkg2Zz09

Meeting ID: 867 4750 7302

Passcode: 823000

Dial in: 1 312 626 6799  

Thanksgiving Year-Round

Did you know that the ORUCC Thanksgiving Fund is now a “Year-Round” donation fund? This means that donations are accepted 365 days a year.

The donations are used to purchase Woodman’s gift cards, which are distributed in varying amounts ($10-$20 is common) to Southwest Madison neighbors in need. Our local social and case workers ask if ORUCC will continue to support food and gas needs via gift cards through 2023.   

November and December are targeted months for this Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund.  We will especially appreciate donations by early November, so our neighbors may receive this food/gas assistance in time for Thanksgiving. Donations are also welcome through the holiday season and beyond – into 2023. Thank you for considering this call out.   

To donate, go to https://orucc.org/contribute/support/ and click on the link at the bottom: “Link to online contribution site”

UCC launches emergency appeal

after devastating hurricanes

The United Church of Christ has announced an emergency appeal for funds to support relief and recovery efforts after two hurricanes battered Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Cuba, Florida, the Carolinas and Atlantic Canada. Proceeds from the Hurricanes 2022 appeal will aid victims of hurricanes Fiona and Ian, both of which struck during the last two weeks of September, and additional storms that develop during the 2022 season.

“The hurricane season is just ramping up and we are seeing damages in the Caribbean from Fiona and now here in the United States from Ian,” the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, UCC associate general minister for Wider Church Ministries, said in an article published at ucc.org. “We will continue to respond with partners in supporting the emerging needs of those whose lives have been disrupted and to embark on the journey to rebuild which is a long-term effort.” Read the full article here.

Click to donate online to the Hurricanes 2022 appeal. If you prefer, you may mail a check payable to the United Church of Christ to P.O. Box 71957, Cleveland, OH 44194. Write “Hurricanes 2022 Fund” in the memo section.

Save the date! Our All Church January retreat is back in action! January 13-15th- but we need HELP organizing and planning this trip to make it happen.

If you are interested in helping her plan and sharing what you have loved about the retreat in the past, please reach out to [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 or a Welcomer

It has been easy finding Lay Liturgists, but much more challenging finding Coffee-Makers and Welcomers!

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

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