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The Sacrament of Communion in an Uncertain Time
"We were created as relational beings. This means that during this period of time we will need to find different ways to connect than what we may be used to. This may mean calling people more often, writing more letters, or learning to use the internet in a new way.
"Our need to connect to others has caused me to think more about the sacrament of Communion...
"One of my (seminary) professors said (first quoting Jesus)..., 'Remember me when you eat this.' and drew out the word remember to sound like re-member--as in re-joining, re-integrating, or reconciling or healing.
"Her point was that the sacrament of Communion gives us an opportunity to heal, to come together as a whole, and to remember that we are a part of something much larger than ourselves... When Jesus served the disciples the last supper and created our Communion sacrament, his disciples were living in a period of danger and uncertainty...
"While we are all wrangling this coronavirus situation, let's remember that we are not in this alone. We are a part of Christ's church...and bound together by the power of the Spirit and bonded by the love God has brought into our lives..."
By Rev. Karsten Snitker, of the UCC Ministry Co-op of Southwest Wisconsin
(including
1st Congregational UCC, Platteville)
(here is the complete text)
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Congregations Find Ways
to Be the Church During
the COVID-19 Quarantine
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1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, is continuing the resurrection theme during the Easter season by having members share seasonal photos, such as blooming flowers, following the sharing of Alleluia Butterfly photos on Easter.
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1st UCC, Belleville, had members create "resurrection eggs" to aid their reflection on Easter.
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Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, recently bought a large Easter poster that has been split into 36 mosaic tiles. They are encouraging members to color a tile. Then the pieces will be put together to form an Easter poster when they are able to gather again.
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Members of
Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, are sharing drawings, songs, compositions and dance parties as a part of a Members and Friends of Orchard Ridge UCC page.on their website.
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Among the congregations that are encouraging their members to make regular phone calls to other members, especially to the elderly and shut-ins, are
Swiss UCC, New Glarus,
McFarland UCC, and
1st UCC, Belleville.
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1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is providing a twice-a-week online opportunity for members to talk about what is hard in these days and how they are handling the isolation, Shared Presence--Not My Best Day, In a similar vein, they are offering a Wednesday session to provide a space for parents to share their unique challenges.
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1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, and
1st UCC, Belleville, are providing regular Pastor's Story Times.
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1st UCC, Belleville, is sending out a weekly email of resources for families to share sacred time together and to nurture the presence of faith in their families.
Their pastor, Laura Kolden, is having a weekly "Good Morning Chat" with her every Thursday.
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1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is offering to their members yard signs with a timely message, as well as having one in their own church yard.
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A member of
Salem UCC, Verona, discussed with their Women's Fellowship members how the creative arts can help us navigate difficult times and how we become creative in response to such times.
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Middleton Community UCC has been a part of their community's "Good Neighbor Spirit" campaign, in which residents were encouraged to write positive chalk messages on their sidewalk; paint windows or hang banners; paint "kindness rocks"; and decorate their houses with brightly colored holiday lights.
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Among the congregations that are using their FaceBook pages to offer such items as daily devotional readings are
Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, and MCC/
Community of Hope UCC.
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Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, has erected a large banner, created by a member, outside their church.
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1st UCC, Belleville, is partnering with area churches and the Belleville School District to support families who are in need of extra support at this time.
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Pointing out the special need of homeless persons, the
McFarland UCC is encouraging donations of the particular items such as cleaning supplies and masks, that are needed at the shelters.
our copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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In their newsletter and website,
Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is providing links to agencies that relate to the current COVID-19 crisis, including non-profits that are helping persons in need, e.g. Centers for Disease Control (CDC); United Church of Christ; Wisconsin Council of Churches; United Way; Boys & Girls Club; Unemployment; and the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund..
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The long-standing Prison Ministry Project of
1st Congregational UCC , Madison, is working with the residents and staff of the prison at Fox Lake to sew face face masks. who have made more than 1000 so far.
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And Our Congregations'
Life Goes on in Other Ways
Happy faces were in order as the
Congregational UCC, Evansville, picked up on a tradition going back to the Middle Ages, by celebrating a Holy Humor Sunday on April 19. (The joke was on the devil, because Jesus was raised from the dead.)
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Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison,
McFarland UCC and
MCC/
Community of Hope, Madison, celebrated Earth Day in their worship services on Sundays in April 19. At
1st Congregational UCC, Madison, several members shared ways to incorporate environmental practices into our lives and homes during their virtual after worship refreshment time.
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As their way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the youth of
1st Congregational, Madison, announced the purchase of reusable ceramic cups for after worship refreshment, using funds raised through football parking and Newlywed Games.
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Zwingli UCC, Monticello is occasionally having a worship service in their parking lot.
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McFarland UCC had a screening of the film,
American Heretics, on April 25. The documentary examines what conservative Christians profess to believe and the politics they support.
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Meeting by video online on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, the Coffee and Conversation off
Middleton Community UCC is discussing
Tightrope, by Nicholas C. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
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The adult study of
Middleton Community UCC spent five sessions discussing
Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times, by Adam Hamilton.
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The
Congregational UCC, Whitewater, is having a virtual Bible study each week on the book,
Passion Promise and Praise.
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Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, had a virtual conversation of all things Tolkien with Dr. Crag A. Boyd, Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, "How to Safely Isolate without Turning into Gollum: Nerdy Conversations about Lord of the Rings."
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Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, will again this year be participating in cape-making for Schenk School's next annual Ally Syperhero Night, an event designed to create a school environfment where all students feel safe, valued and respected.
celebration
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Three Monticello area congregations--
Washington Reformation UCC; Zwingli UCC, Paoli; and Zwingli UCC, Monticello, recently collaborated on service of worship based on Psalm 13.
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A community blood drive promoted by
Lake Edge UCC, Madison, reported the unusual success of 49 units donated, representing 163% of their goal.
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Message from
Our Conference Minister
"We are grounded--homebound for the foreseeable future. This will prompt loneliness for some, family strains for others, and most certainly for all of us a feeling of cabin fever just as the weather turns and the earth greens...
"I've been pondering the word 'grounded' lately... (It) conveys, in part, a removal of privileges... (To) be grounded is to be limited and restrained.
"our spiritual ancestors faced their own grounding times--first enslaved in Egypt and then meandering through a wilderness that contained them for 40 years... Throughout history, humans of every faith have faced war, pestilence, depressions, and various other threats--all crises that forced them to be homebound...
"Yet the word grounded is also about rootedness... There is no place like home. This is the place where we are grounded in love...
"Today God beckons us to a deeper grounding in the Christian faith.
God calls us to remain rooted in our core spiritual values--compassion, hope, justice, generosity, grace
"What I find encouraging is that through every historical time of human isolation, the prophets of the day always reminded the people of God to return to their foundation of faith...
"Together, we pray for healing, wholeness, comfort, calm and a spirit of solidarity here in the United States and around the world. God is with us and will not forsake us."
Rev. Franz Rigert
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Thanks from Our Bethlehem Partner
Rev. Mitri Rahbi, Executive Director of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, has sent the following thank you for the gift of $1750 from the budgeted item in the Southwest Association treasury:
Dear Bonnie:
It was good seeing you via zoom on Tuesday. Thank you for this gift of love and for your continuous support and friendship. Please give our appreciation to all the churches in southwest Wisconsin.. We appreciate their support at this crucial time.
Warm regards,
Mitri
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Office Hours of
Lorraine Ceniceros
Our Association Minister will have virtual Office Hours by Zoom on these Wednesdays:
1:00 - 3:00:
Apr 29
May 13
May 27
Join the Zoom Meeting here:
Meeting ID: 373 871 169
Password: 992212
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Clergy Check-in and
Colleague Support Hours with Lorraine
Our Association Conference Minister, Rev. Lorraine Cineceros, is also offering these Thursday Zoom hours for
clergy check-in and colleague support, 10:00-11:00 a.m.:
April 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28
Join the Zoom meetings here:
Meeting ID: 831 165 697
She is also offering support for
clergy serving in alternate ministries on these Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon:
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
J
oin the Zoom meetings here:
Meeting ID: 344 515 600
Password: 843936
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Conference Annual Meeting
In-Person Gatherings Cancelled
A Conference-wide online Zoom meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, from 9;00 to noon, for the purpose of abbreviated worship; programming on the theme, "Healing Our Earthly Home"; and conducting Conference business. We will need to register online, but there will be no cost. (Registration will be available soon.)
For those who have already registered, the Conference will gladly reimburse your registration fee. Or you may prefer to consider offering it either as a gift to the Conference Coronavirus Emergency Fund or the annual Strengthen the Church Offering.
If you have made a deposit on lodging/meals at the Green Lake Conference Center, you may email guestservices@glcc.org to let them know that you prefer to cancel the reservation (and receive a refund) or transfer it to next year's annual Meeting. Reservations will automatically be transferred to next year unless you contact them.
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If you have registered for the Thursday Education Day, know that they are renegotiating a new format for this event and will be in touch with you soon.
The Conference Annual Report will be sent digitally to all of their email contacts, and the detailed Report Books will be emailed to all pastors and delegates to the meeting.
Delegates will also receive information on a resolution, Kairos Call to Action, about climate saving actions, brought forth by the Board of Directors.
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Our Association Meeting
Will Have a Different Format
The Southwest Wisconsin Association Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 2, will be held electronically. The only necessary business is voting on positions to be filled. It is hoped that a fall meeting can be held to deal with the budget.
Congregations should still register clergy and delegates by the original deadline of Friday, April 24. (Please be sure to include their email addresses, or make arrangements for them to have an account.) Each will receive an electronic copy of the annual White Book with all of the usual information. Here is the
registration link.
No registration payment needs to be made at this time. See your pastor if you have any questions.
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Pastoral Transitions
The
Mineral Point Congregational UCC has entered into a Pulpit Supply and Pastoral Care agreement with Rev. Bev Davis starting April 1. Bev has been a hospice chaplain, artist and author of children's books.
Windsor UCC has extended a call to Rev. Craig Jan-McMahon to be its Senior Pastor, effective July 6
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Conference Invites Contributions
to Emergency Fund
The Wisconsin Conference has created the Emergency Response Fund to help congregations deal with critical needs caused by the coronavirus pandemic. All funds will be awarded to organizations experiencing financial hardship and those meeting crucial needs in their community.
Give online at
wcucc.org by clicking on the "Donate" at the top of he page.
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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Stimulus Checks
an Opportunity to Give
Some of us are fortunate enough to be in a financial situation in which we do not need the stimulus checks the federal government has begun sending out.
As a long-time financial officer, Farrel Smith, of the
McFarland UCC put it, "I asked myself, 'How could I use this money to make a real difference?' I will be giving my windfall to one or a couple of the following..." He then names organizations serving persons who are not as well off in this coronavirus emergency.
For example, we could consider giving to food pantries, homeless organizations, the Conference Emergency Fund (see above), or our church, if it has such an emergency fund.
MCC/
Community of Hope UCC and
Plymouth UCC, Madison, also lifted up this opportunity.
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Conference Creation Care Team
Invites Us to Take a Survey
The Creation Care Team of our Wisconsin Conference wants to identify progress on environmental stewardship and actions to reduce climate change impacts. Our information is important in helping them plan for the future.
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Advocacy in the
Age of Coronavirus
Dr. Peter Bakken, Justice & Witness Coordinator for the Wisconsin Council of Churches, points out that issues which the Council laid out for 2020 have taken on renewed relevance for public policy.
For instance, there are sharp increases in child poverty. Refugees and migrants in detention centers are being held in crowded and unsanitary conditions. Immigrants are among the low-paid workers in the service, agriculture, food processing, and health care sectors who have lost their jobs. And surging gun sales have further underscored the problematic role of firearms in American culture.
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A National Call
for Moral Revival
On June 20, the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates and people of conscience in this nation's history will join Rev. Dr. William J. Barber in the Mass Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
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Women Authors Reading Group
The group has no plans to meet at this time.
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Contemporary Theology Book Group
The Contemporary Theology Book Group will meet online by Zoom on Tuesday, May 19, 2:00 p.m., to discuss
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, through to the end of the book. Contact Ken Pennings for the Zoom link.
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SW Constitution and Bylaws
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Contacts
Associate Conference Minister
:
608-630-2992 (cell)
608-846-7880 (conference office)
(calendar scheduling)
Moderator
:
Vice-Moderator
:
Secretary
:
Treasurer
:
Division on Church & Ministry
:
Social Concerns Committee
:
Shalom Editor
:
Roger Brooks
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Southwest Association |
swacommunications@gmail.com
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532 | 608-846-7880
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