Sharing Our Stories: Appreciative Inquiry Visioning

9:00am Sept. 18, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 & Dec. 4

We want to hear your voice!

Save the date for these fun and connective visioning sessions with the aim of “sharing our stories” with one another. The appreciative inquiry process is one that allows for the good, the true, the beautiful of our past to be carried forward into the future. The basis of the process is story telling and one-on-one interviews. We will focus on a different question each Sunday once a month. 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.

September 18th: Sharing a peak experience of your time at ORUCC where you felt most spiritually alive.

October 9th: What do you value about yourself, about ORUCC, about UCC?

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.

 A Service of Celebration for the Life of

Stanley Maurice Heffernan

 Sept. 29, 1923 – May 19, 2022

Service at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Madison, Wisconsin

Saturday October 8, 2022

1 p.m. 

Click here for obituary

Technology Fundraiser

The church is moving ahead with technology improvements, and we are welcoming contributions to help pay for them.  Hybrid meetings in the Alfred Swan Room are already happening; these permit people present in the room to share the event with those connected from home via Zoom.  Next up we will be adding technology to make it possible to hold larger hybrid meetings and enhanced educational events in Friendship Hall.  To learn more please read this post from the ORUCC Website Link .

You can make a donation by check, on the memo line, please write “AV” and mail to ORUCC, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711, or donate online at LINK tech fund.

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Sept 1 – Sept 7

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.

This Week in Children’s Programming: 

PreK-2nd grade students will enjoy music with Julie Mazer at 9:00 in the William Johnson Room and then hear a story with Jill Westberg and Josie Gilbert about how Jesus modeled compassion and care for each other when he was at the Sea of Galilee. Children under the age of 5 are invited to stay as long as they are able and then transfer to the Frances Nursery to play with Lily Martens and Joey Miller.

3rd-5th Grade will continue their Peacemaker exploration in the Ruby Bridges Room. Last week, they talked about how peace from God lives in their bodies. This week, they will talk about another important piece of becoming a peacemaker – listening carefully. Through a variety of active stations, they will consider, “How do we listen? How do our bodies hear?” with their Sunday School Guides, Sally Allen and Jadyn Gilbert.

Music Connections: This week, children in 2nd-5th+ grade (middle schoolers are welcome to attend as a participant or helper) are invited to drum with Julie Mazer after the children’s moment. We’ll also begin to explore the scripture, “Be Still and Know that God is Peace.” Save the date for Sunday, October 23. That day, we’ll share music that we’ve developed on that passage during worship. 

Safe Sanctuary Training for Youth Volunteers

Sunday, October 2, 9AM

At Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, we believe that our church should be a safe sanctuary for all those who come in good faith. Most importantly, it should be a safe sanctuary for the children and youth who are entrusted to us.

Toward this goal, our congregation has adopted a Safe Sanctuary policy: a set of policies, procedures, and educational programs to reduce the possibility of child sexual or physical abuse, or any type of sexual misconduct or harassment from occurring in our congregation. These policies express our keen interest in protecting our children and youth, while maintaining the trusting atmosphere of our congregation for the entire congregation, adults and children alike.

On Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9:00 AM, we will conduct our annual Safe Sanctuary training program. Every volunteer who works with kids and youth will need to receive the training (which involves reviewing and discussing the policy) before helping out in the kids’ programming. It should take approximately 30 minutes. Thank you to our volunteers for helping to make ORUCC a welcoming and safe space for our youth!

Save the Date! ORUCC Treinen Farm Corn Maze & Bonfire in Lodi, WI, Friday October 21st 6:30-9:30

We have reserved our own bonfire area with benches and picnic tables on October 21 from 6:30-9:30. Feel free to bring your own food if you wish and we will provide s’mores! This area will serve as our home base while you enjoy and explore the farm, pumpkin patch, animals and maze.

To join us, purchase your own ticket at this website and upon arrival ask for the Orchard Ridge UCC Bonfire area.

Interested in Books?

As we all roll into our fall activities and church programming the ORUCC Women’s Book Group would like to extend a cordial invitation to anyone who has an interest in books to join us this fall! We meet the first Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Zoom. You can come every month or drop in once in a while. There is no requirement to read or finish reading the book, although we may discuss spoilers if you haven’t finished! Members suggest the books and we vote on the year’s choices in February. Although you are not required to lead a discussion, most people enjoy leading if their book suggestion is chosen. Deanna Blanchard coordinates this group and will be happy to add your name to the email list if you send a message to [email protected]. The books we will be reading and discussing this fall are:

• October 6  The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin, led by Judy Winkel
• November 3 The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray  led by Ruth Ann Berkholtz
• December 1  The Sentence by Louise Erdrich,  led by Ginny Kruse

Wayfinding: The Soul-tasks of Aging,

toward a Theology of the Elder Years

Every third Wednesday from 9:30-11:15am,

beginning September 21, save the date!

Pastor Julia will guide those of us who feel called to the soul-tasks of aging through a series of 10 workshops and conversations during the 2022-2023 program year. In a retreat like-format, we will come together once a month in-person in Friendship Hall on the third Wednesdays of the month from 9:30-11:15am. Our first 15 minutes will begin with coffee and refreshments moving next to a presentation to frame our time and large group circle conversation followed by breaking into small groups for deeper conversation or activity.

RSVP: To sign up, please respond to Julie W. LINK in the office indicating that you are interested in this program.

Please let us know: would you be interested in a Virtual Wayfinding program with the same content on the 3^rd Thursdays? If you are interested in this program, but not sure you are able to commit to coming in-person, Pastor Julia may open up a third Thursday at 4pm ZOOM Wayfinding gathering to occur the day after our Wayfinding events. If you are interested in this Thursday afternoon virtual option as well as or instead, please indicate that in your response to Julie, so Pastor Julia knows whether or not to hold these gatherings.

Over 55 is coming on Wednesday, September 28th

Grab your Badger gear and come to Over 55 in Bucky Red.  Show your “Badger spirit!”  Josette Jaucian, the UW Spirit Squad Director, will be our featured speaker.  Buckle up for a very informative program.  The 56-member University of Wisconsin Spirit Squad is a highly visible, enthusiastic, and talented group of student-athletes with a primary purpose to support Intercollegiate Athletics and serve as ambassadors for the University of Wisconsin.  The Spirit Squad is comprised of the Cheerleading Squad, the Dance Team, and the Bucky Badger Mascots.  We are sure to learn how Josette manages the auditions and directs the training and conditioning.

We will gather at 11:30, dine at 11:45 and begin our program about 12:15.  All are welcome regardless of age!  Mark your calendar:  Wednesday, September 28th, 11:30 a.m. Cost is $8.

Voter Canvassing-September 2022

ORUCC and MMC participated in WIVEC’s non-partisan Summer Interfaith

Canvassing Campaign in July. Over 30 people from eight Dane County

congregations gathered to canvass low-propensity voter neighborhoods. We

knocked on over 350 doors and spoke with over 180 households! The

League of Women Voters provided training and reported that this was one of

their most successful door knocking campaigns! Faith-based congregations

in Madison, like ORUCC and our Mennonite partners, showed their dedication

to the voting process!

Looking ahead to the November elections– there are few more important than

the one right here in our state. So let’s get to work! Consider volunteering in

the non-partisan WIVEC Fall Interfaith Canvassing Campaign. Here are the

details:

League of Women Voters Training Dates: September 21 and 22 from 7-

9pm (online and recorded). This is the same training, offered twice.

Madison Canvass Events Location(s): TBD (all volunteers meet at central

location before and after canvassing)

Canvassing Date 1: Thursday September 29 from 4-7pm (includes pre and

post gathering times)

Canvassing Date 2: Sunday, October 9 from 1:30-4:30pm (includes pre and

post gathering times)

To see/hear July canvassers from ORUCC & other congregations–watch this video link here . You’ll recognize a few people!–experience their reflections

and feel the excitement of the day. If you’re at all interested, contact me for

further info!

CONTACT: Ruth Ann Berkholtz (rab) at Link or VM at 608-334-8761.

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 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 Welcomer

Click here to sign up as a Lay Liturgist

Click here to sign up to assist with Holy Communion

After selecting a date, 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