Sign Up to Join a Fall

Book Discussion Group!

Part of our fall sermon & discussion series on “Indigenous Justice” is our BIG READ of Kaitlyn B. Curtice’s book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God. If you’d like to participate in the BIG READ, pick up a copy of the book right away and begin reading.

One great way to get the most out of the BIG READ is to participate in a small group of 8-12 people who are reading and discussing the book together in four 1.5 hr. sessions in a pattern of every other week (with an exception or two).

We are offering 6 discussion groups — 4 groups in homes, 1 group by Zoom, 1 group at Oakwood Village West. Click on the link below for dates/times/locations of groups.

Plan to read ahead of time the following sections of the book and come prepared to discuss: Week One: Introduction and Part 1; Week Two: Part 2 & Part 3 (chapter 9); Week Three: Part 3 (chapters 10, 11, 12) & Part 4 (chapters 13, 14, 15); Week Four: Part 4 (chapter 16) through the end of the book.

Click here to sign up for a discussion group

Questions?

Contact Ken Pennings at [email protected] or (608) 556-2371

An Evening with Kaitlin Curtice

Friday, October 20, 6:15 pm

Holy Wisdom Monastery

Our “BIg Read” this October is Kaitlin Curtice’s book, Native. We are excited to share that the author will be in town to speak and lead a writing workshop at Holy Wisdom Monastery October 21-22! These events are open to the public, and we highly recommend that anyone interested sign up soon. You can sign up for each event individually, or choose to attend both. Your book discussion small group might even consider going together! Please register at https://holywisdommonastery.org/kaitlin-curtice/

SEPTEMBER COMPASSION OFFERING

THIOTTE HAITI VULNERABLE CHILDRENS RELIEF, INC (THVCR) 

THIOTTE HAITI VULNERABLE CHILDRENS RELIEF, INC (THVCR) is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that supports a group of women and children in the community of Thiotte,Haiti. These children are identified as being at risk of entering a child trafficking system because they don’t have parents, or the parents are not able to provide for them. THVCR provides direct support to a Haiti organization (known as KoFAT Compassion Project) which hires five women who serve as community workers, three teachers to tutor and prepare the children for school and 3 cooks who prepare one meal per week for the 120 children. Funding covers the staff, annual tuition for 109 children to be in school this fall and the food to prepare the meals.

The relationship between THVCR and KoFAT dates back to 2009. In subsequent years, the program and has experienced progressive, controlled growth with the first year having 16 children in school and meals for about 80 children.  THVCR is a 501c3 nonprofit made up of an all-volunteer group of leaders and supporters who’s sole focus in on sustaining the work of KoFAT in Haiti. With that, 100% of donated funds are transferred to KoFAT to apply to teacher/cook salaries, student tuition and food.  Routine communication between THVCR and KoFAT is maintained with various methods including WhatsApp, emails and an annual meeting between Haitian and WI leaders that, for safety reasons, is held on the Dominican side of the border with Haiti. The next trip is scheduled for November 2023.

ORUCC’s association with THVCR originates with members Paul Patenaude and Ann & Roger Avery who have previously traveled to this region of Haiti as part of the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin and who remain engaged in the work of THVCR. Thank you in advance for supporting THVCR as the September Compassion Offering. 

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

VIDEO

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/

Spiritual

Nourishment

for you!

For the week of Sept 28 – Oct 4

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.

Friday Breakfast Group – October 6

The next Friday Breakfast is set for October 6 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.

COVID Updates

The COVID response team is closely monitoring a recent increase in COVID cases that might warrant a change in masking policy. Thus far, neither the CDC, Dane County Public Health, UW Hospital and Clinics, nor other UCC churches have recommended any change in masking policy. For the present, therefore, we continue to endorse the CDC recommendations be up to date on vaccines, stay home if you are sick, wear a mask in enclosed areas if you are at higher risk or if you are concerned, and wash hands frequently. We will continue to keep the congregation informed about any new developments.

Wayfinding: The Soul Tasks of Aging, Toward a Theology of the Elder Years is coming BACK!!!



Every 3rd Wednesday morning 9:30am October 18, 2023- May 15, 2021. We begin our gathering for refreshments, 9:45am- 11:15am programming.

Please RSVP to Office manager Julie W if you plan to participate by replying to this email LINK. Please also reach out out if you’d like to see a virtual Wayfinding gathering as well.

MOVIE GROUP MEETS OCTOBER 10th for

“The Imitation Game”

Hello movie fans,

We are meeting on October 10th at Oakwood Village for a 6:30 showing of the 2014 film “The Imitation Game” with discussion to follow in the Nakoma Room.

The film is based on a real event- the breaking of the German encrypting device (Enigma) universally believed to be unbreakable- by a team of British mathematicians and cryptologists. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence and the lead scientist at Bletchley Park, where the team operated in total secret. One of his colleagues is Joan Clarke, played by a terrific Keira Knightley. All of the significant characters in the film were real people.

Although the film is largely set in the early WWll years (1939-42), the film opens in 1951 with Turing’s arrest for being gay. The film then skillfully moves between his arrest, his early private school education and his pivotal role in breaking the code.

The film is thus two genres: the biopic (Turing) and a WWll spy thriller (Will the team break the code in time to prevent an apparently unstoppable Nazi onslaught?) Comparisons with the recent film “Oppenheimer” would be interesting.

Although the film got eight Academy Award Nominations (winning one) be forewarned: this film is very dramatic, riveting really, but only in some aspects accurate in its portrayal of what actually transpired at Bletchley Park. And how truthful is the picture we get of Alan Turing?

You will love this movie.

Hope to see you on the 10th. 

Want to end prison lockdowns, reduce the prison population, and reinvest taxpayer funds in community-based alternatives?

Orchard Ridge is an organizational member of MOSES, a community group focused on racial justice in the criminal legal system that is part of a statewide network called WISDOM. You may have seen articles in the New York Times and elsewhere about the months-down lockdown at Waupun and Green Bay prisons. This is happening  because of staff shortages, not anything bad the incarcerated people have done. People are being kept in their cells 23 hours a day and not given access to medical care, substance abuse treatment, or psychological services. This lockdown is similar to extended solitary confinement, which is considered a human rights violation. Many of the people who are in prison could be released with no risk to public safety. The solution to too few prison staff is to reduce the number of prisoners, not to mistreat incarcerated people.

WISDOM is asking people to gather on the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday October 10th from 12-1 pm to urge the governor, state legislature, and Department of Corrections to end the lockdowns, reduce the prison population, and reinvest taxpayer funds in community-based alternatives. I hope some of you will join us. If you are unable to attend in person, I hope you will write to the governor to express your concern about this issue.

Please talk to Barbie Jackson in Fellowship Hall after services on Oct. 1st if you would like more information.

ORUCC Choir

The choir will rehearse every Wednesday night and sing in worship on the first and third Sundays of the month, with some exceptions.

ORUCC Handbell Choir Seeks New Members!



Come have fun and make music with us! We would love to add members to our ensemble. It is only necessary to know how to read music. Past experience with handbells is not required! If you played an instrument in high school or college and want to experience making music again, or you ARE in high school or college and think bells might be cool (they are) please join us! Contact handbell choir director, Bethany Schultz to learn that you could love handbells! [email protected]

Purchase Cards on the table

in the Crossroads each Sunday Morning!

In Case you Missed It!

Link to Sermons…..

From Vision Quests to Theft Protection-9/24/2023

Rev. Ken Pennings

Click here

The Treasure in Earthen Vessels-8/27/2023

Rev. Ken Pennings

Click here

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?

It has been fairly easy finding Lay Liturgists and Communion Assistants, 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

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