Worship Resources for January 18, 2026

Orchard Ridge

United Church of Christ

Sunday Worship Resources

Sunday, January 18

Baptism of the Lord

9:00 am: Building Blocks for Faithful Living class (see below)

9:00 am: Faith Formation for Children & Youth



10:00 am – Worship

Point Pastor and Sermon: Julia Burkey

Lay Liturgist: Meg Stevens

Musical Offerings: ORUCC Choir

Heart Room Update and Plan presentation

(postponed from Jan. 18 until Jan. 25, 11:15 am)

See below.

Click Here for Printable Bulletin

Join our Worship virtually

on YouTube any time after 10 am:

YouTube Link

You will need to refresh the page

after 10 am if you have opened it before

———————————————————

Please note that the church office will be closed Monday, January 19th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will reopen Tuesday morning, January 20th.

January Compassion Offering:

The Sewing Machine Project

The Sewing Machine Project (SMP) is a grassroots nonprofit based in Madison, Wisconsin. Since its founding in 2005, SMP has collected and distributed nearly 5,000 sewing machines to individuals and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. In Madison, SMP partners with community centers to provide sewing machines and instruction and collaborates with local libraries to offer free mending services. Beyond Wisconsin, SMP supports nonprofits that use sewing as a practical path toward stability and self-reliance. By sharing tools, skills, and time, The Sewing Machine Project helps build connection, dignity, and community—one stitch at a time.

For more information on SMP, please view  this video.

“Building Blocks for Faithful Living” classes begin this Sunday, January 18th

 A seven-week class at 9 am on Sunday mornings in the Swan Room from January 18th through March 1st, 2026, led by David Anderman.

We will take an introductory look at a variety of spiritual experiences, both individual and in community, at theological reflections that grow out of them, and at how these experiences and ideas can guide us in faithful living in community and in our world (i.e. the justice implications). And since spiritual experiences, theological reflections, and faithful living are mutually interactive and feed on each other, we will look at how faith is dynamic and changing over time and place.

Since this class is introductory, preparation will be minimal. Bring yourself, your experiences, and your insights and questions. David will write a one or two page non-technical document to help focus each session. At the end of the class, you will have explored some basic building blocks for faithful living, and will have a beginning sense of how they may fit together.

 

Session 1 – Jan. 18

           Where and how do we become aware of a sacred or greater dimension in our world?

 

A handout with more details for each session is available at church in the Crossroads. Please email David at [email protected] if you are interested or wish further information.

graphic-heart.gif

Heart Room Update and Plan presentation: next Sunday, January 25h at 11:15 am

The Heart Room Mission Team invites Heart Room donors and interested others to a Heart Room presentation on January 25th after service. The Heart Room Mission team will provide an update on Heart Room experience and a plan to help 3 more families with young children achieve their goals for thriving in stable housing. We are delighted to report that we can serve added children and families in this difficult time, using already-available ORUCC funds from past donations for Heart Room purposes.

Begun in 2018 as a pilot project, Heart Room is a collaborative approach to helping families with young children find and keep stable housing and work on family-chosen goals to help them thrive. ORUCC donors contributed more than $250,000 for rent-support, while professional partners have provided housing case management and social services in response to individual family goals. Heart Room’s early demonstrated success attracted individual, congregational, and institutional donations. This has allowed Heart Room to grow, as we will report.

Two three-year pilot periods have been completed and evaluated. The Heart Room Mission Team will provide an update on Heart Room experience and a proposal from Heart Room partner Joining Forces for Families to use ORUCC’s Heart Room fund balance consistent with Heart Room’s guiding principles: generous and flexible rent support and collaborative agency support to help families achieve their unique goals for thriving.

 

The Heart Room Mission Team hopes to see you there!



Jen Walker and Bruce Olsen, co-chairs

Helene Nelson and Megan Piper, members

Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey EMAIL

Associate Pastor: Rev. Kate Mackey EMAIL

Associate Pastor: Rev. Ken Pennings EMAIL

Director of Children’s Arts and Education: Julie Mazer EMAIL

Office Manager George Decker

608-271-7212 or EMAIL



LIKE or FOLLOW the Orchard Ridge Facebook Page

JOIN our Private FB Group:

Members & Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC

Follow us on Instagram @orchardridgeucc