Each week during Advent, the BitMoji Advent Room of Middleton Community UCC shared videos on a variety of topics.

Throughout December, members and friends of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, were invited to send in photos of their home nativity sets to be shared on the church website. Members of Olivet UCC, Columbus, were invited to share videos of their families lighting candles.

Windsor UCC had an Advent video/discussion series by Adam Hamilton, entitled, "Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas."

Before the weather prevented it, members of Swiss UCC, New Glarus, were invited to create sidewalk art with chalk and share that with the congregation.

For their annual Christmas program, Salem UCC, Verona, shared shared sacred family celebrations of their members in a video,

in addition to the children sharing their interpretation of the Christmas story.

Using the skill of their video editor, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, shared their children's program with their members.

A youth member of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, created a modern version of the Christmas story, using scientific guests debating the significance of the star and the shepherds pushing their latest book.

Windsor UCC had a drive-through live nativity as a benefit for Orion Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund. Orion serves children with emotional and behavioral challenges, abused and neglected children and delinquent youth.

Since worship services have only been held online, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, put up its large tree outside its building. After installing the lights, members were invited to decorate it with biodegradable ornaments (such as bird seed).

Members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC have been invited to have walking meditations on Christmas and New Year's on the grounds of the church. Their Prayer Path will be lighted with luminaries.

For the Christmas Eve worship of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, members were invited to join in the storytelling of Jesus' birth by assembling their nativity sets at home.. Salem UCC, Verona, invited its members to video themselves lighting candles at home for their service. The children of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, were invited to dress in costumes for their online service.

Edgerton Congregational UCC and MCC/Community of Hope UCC. congregations held their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, respectively, in their parking lots.

Following the Advent sermon theme of "Unexpected," Jeff Rabe, the Christian Education staff of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, shared his surprise ornament gift for the children of "What's in the Box? It was a platypus--which has fur and a tail like a beaver, a bill like a duck, lays eggs like a chicken, and like a shark, uses electroreceptors in its nose to find food!

In addition to the congregations observing Longest Night or Blue Christmas services that were mentioned in the November Shalom were these: 1st UCC, Belleville; Edgerton Congregational UCC, Congregational UCC, Mineral Point; Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison and Memorial UCC, Fitchburg. They both recognized that the absence of loved ones can be especially keen at Christmas time and found ways to share positive stories of the holidays.

1st Congregational UCC, Milton, continued its Courageous Conversations towards Racial Justice with "Sharing of our Seasonal Traditions: Seeing the Light and the Shadows."

MCC/Community of Hope UCC will be studying Who Will Be a Witness: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love and Deliverance, by Drew Hart, which delves into the relationship of racism and the church..

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is continuing its Racial Justice Movie Group discussions. Currently they are discussing The Hate U Give and Mudbound..

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day for 1st to 8th grade children will be on Monday, January 18 at 1st Congregational UCC, Madison. Children from across many faith traditions are invited to participate in a virtual event celebrating the life and work of Dr. King, including action projects, justice research. and a scavenger hunt. Take-home boxes are providing all the necessary supplies.

Mt. Zion UCC, Cornelia is having in-person worship on Sundays at 3:00.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, will begin a Tuesday morning grief support led by a chaplain in January..

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, is offering a refresher course--:adult confirmation"-- on the Bible and the basics of our Christian faith beginning in January

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, has changed its Mid-Week Prayer Meeting to a sharing of Joys & Concerns..

Claiming Your Life as it is: A Soul of Aging Retreat will be January 29-31 based on the work of Dr. Parker Palmer and The Center for Courage and Renewal. It is for anyone yearning to explore the joys, challenges and gifts of the aging process, to surrender to, and be transformed by the aging process. Here is a link to the information.

Pastor Brad Bergin has retired from serving 1st Evangelical & Reformed UCC Lowell/St. Stephens UCC Juneau, effective December 27.

Rev. Jen Bloesch has been called to serve Middleton Community UCC as Intentional Interim, effective January 4.

Rev. Brad Brookins has been called to serve as Intentional Interim for Immanuel UCC,

Darlington, effective November 23.

Rev. Rich Pleva has retired from Zwingli UCC Paoli, effective December 2.

Rev. Lois Rosko has retired from serving 1st UCC Reeseville, effective December 27.

The Creation Care Team of the Wisconsin Conference will kick off the new year with a series of webinars to help congregations begin to implement the 10-year Kairos Call to Action plan adopted at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

The first is Forming a Green Team on Thursday, January 14, 7:00 p.m. Participants will hear from members of St. Stephens UCC, Merrill, and 1st Congregational UCC, River Falls. Register here.

You can access the Conference's Kairos Call to Action Newsletter here.

Also note that our national United Church of Christ's Environmental Justice Ministry is offering a webinar, What's Possible? Faith and Climate Policy in 2021, on Wednesday, January 13, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

The Creation Care Team of the Wisconsin Conference has provided grants to several of our Southwest Association congregations.

Plymouth The Creational UCC, Madison, received a $1000 "Solar for Good" award to install 48 solar panels, which will provide abpit 85% of their electrical needs.

McFarland UCC was awarded a $500 grant to help with the costs of equipment, supplies and signs for the restoration of native plants on their grounds.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, was awarded a $1000 grant to help with their solar installation project, which will provide an estimated 61% of the electrical needs.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, was awarded a $1000 grant to help them decrease their use of plastic and nonrenewable resources, such as reusable food wraps, and to provide appropriate personal hygiene products to the Good Neighbors Personal Essentials Pantry..

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, was also awarded a grant by the Conference to help them expand their tech capabilities.

Rev. Christie Mandas, Associate Pastor of St. John's UCC, Monroe, has received a $1600 Conference Catalyst Grant for racial equity for his plan to have book studies, speakers and an art project.

Resources to help your congregation observe Health and Human Service Sunday on January 31 can be found on their webpage They include a Litany of Gratitude for Essential Workers and a Prayer of Remembrance for those lost in the coronavirus pandemic.

The Contemporary Theology Book Group will next meet online by Zoom on Tuesday, January 19, 2:00 p.m., to continue its discussion of How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi, from page 165 to the end of the book. Contact Ken Pennings at ken@orucc.orgif you wanted to be added to the list serve.

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Secretary:

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Shalom Editor:

swacommunications@gmail.com