Shalom
AUGUST 2021
"IT'S ABOUT THE 'WE'"

Our Conference Minister, Rev. Franz Rigert, first shared some highlights of a General Synod address by the Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister for Justice and Local Church Ministries for the national United Church of Christ, in which she emphasized, "(straight from the core of the Gospel)"...Christ’s beloved community. 'It’s not about the me,' she declared, 'but about the we!'”

Franz then reflected, "As we emerge from this anguishing pandemic, we are only beginning to recognize its toll. Beyond the deaths and economic devastation, COVID brought long-haul symptoms to many, and levels of depression and anxiety to nearly all of us. We are reckoning with the fact that this prolonged time of isolation was punctuated by a bitter partisan divide, a surge in senseless violence, climate crisis-induced natural disasters, and an urgent push for racial justice. 

"To be sure, we have witnessed beautiful acts of neighborly care, giving us a glimpse of what life might look like if we lived by the motto 'We’re all in this together.' But such grace has not translated to wider systemic issues. Intolerance and polarization are entrenched in tragic ways. No doubt our current statewide vaccination rate of 51% would be way higher if more people operated on the premise that it’s more about the we than the me.

"Nothing is more central to our nation’s healing than the notion that we’re all in this together. In my view, our spiritual values (as of late prioritizing covenant more than autonomy) will be key to the reinvigoration and regeneration of every local congregation in the United Church of Christ. It is all about the WE!

"Just as the early apostles were anxious and confused about a way forward for the Jesus movement, so do we in the Church of today find ourselves at a critical crossroads... The way forward will be daunting for many of our congregations, especially when individual desires become elevated over collective needs. But if we choose to unite ourselves spiritually as the body of Christ, opportunities to flourish will abound!

"If Jesus teaches us anything, it’s the power of community... One reason the Church has regathered more cautiously than other institutions is that we are Rooted in Love (the General Synod 33 theme). Jesus taught us (very counter-culturally) to resist the temptation to make it all about our individual rights and our personal desires. Instead, we in the United Church of Christ preoccupy ourselves with compassion for the whole family of God. Thus, even as we widen our worship capacity and ease COVID restrictions, we do so ever mindful of the vulnerable among us...

:We would love to hear from you about the ways your congregation is regathering and adapting to the new realities before us. We invite you to complete this brief survey, and look forward to sharing the responses as a way of helping all of us gain insight and ideas for the next chapter in our journey of faith.

"Blessings! Franz"

DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES
OF VIRTUAL WORSHIP

Many of our congregations have been dealing with challenges of providing virtual worship to their members (sometimes in conjunction with in-person worship), and have found resources to do that in their membership and in other places. 1st UCC, Belleville, reports that they found a technology consultant in a member of Bethel Bethany UCC in Milwaukee to help them acquire some additional equipment and software needed to make their worship run more smoothly and with less intense labor.
CONGREGATIONS MOVING
TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP

In addition to those mentioned in previous issues of Shalom, these congregations have gone to, or are going to, in-person worship by early or late August: 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo; Emerald Grove UCC; Mazomanie UCC; Middleton Community UCC; 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison and Davies Memorial UCC, Potosi.

McFarland UCC has decided to pause its return to in-person worship because of the increase in COVID and breakthrough cases.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, will have an outdoor worship and picnic in late August.

Prior to their in-person worship, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, had in-person social hours on their grounds during July.
Mount Zion UCC, Cornelia, hosted 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, and Davies Memorial UCC, Potosi, in an outdoor worship on August 1.
SUMMER IS A TIME FOR BOTH SERVICE AND FUN FOR OUR CONGREGATIONS
In mid-August the youth of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will be taking a service trip to Deep Roots, a ministry to homeless families, in Earlville, Maryland.
In August McFarland UCC is resuming its 30-year-old tradition of serving sundaes on Thursdays in a local park. Lawn games will replace the usual practice of musicians playing.
Plymouth Congregational UCC., Madison, invited its youth to learn about and help in the church's veggie garden, including doing some pollinator-themed crafts..
McFarland UCC will use the Enneagram, a comprehensive tool for self-awareness and spiritual growth, in August. Pastor Rev. Brian Sirchio and a lay member will introduce this ancient tool for the members of the church.
Several high school members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC went on a Boundary Waters trip in June
Rev. Kris Gorton, pastor of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, has renewed her invitation for members to join in a year-long group, Nurturing Your Creative Soul, based on a book by Christine Valters Painter.
Middleton Community UCC will have a MOM School Supply Drive to help pupils have enough of the necessary items for successful school this fall.

Edgerton Congregational UCC, Congregational UCC, Evansville and 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, are also having school supply drives for their community. Swiss UCC, New Glarus, donates school supplies to the local chapter of Big Brothers, Big Sisters. of Green and Dane Counties.
Members of McFarland UCC visited the Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, WI, on July 30.
Families of children in grades 1-6 of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will have a Family Treasure Hunt on the church's building and grounds.
Middleton Community UCC will have a Family Vacation Bible School on the church's grounds in August. Using the theme of "Who Is My Neighbor?", they will explore the Jewish, Hindu and Islamic faith communities..

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will explore the Christian faith and science in their Vacation Bible School.
1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, is having summer Sunday School on the fruits of the Spirit.

The Vacation Bible School of Salem UCC, Verona, will feature an evening dinner for both children and adults, with the children then engaging in a Bible story for the evening.
The youth of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, volunteered with food distribution at Second Harvest recently.
Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, hosted of one the monthly Sacred Site Visits of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice.
The Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, served a free community meal in July.
1st Congregational UCC, Madison, hosted a free, walk-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in July, and will host another on Saturday, August 14 (10:00--2:00).

The Green Team of McFarland UCC has adopted a McFarland playground. They will pull weeds and pick up trash.
Zwingli ULCC, Monticello, had a float in the community's 2021 Homecoming Parade.
Following the theme of the UCC General Synod, "Rooted in Love," members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC will share in worship services their thoughts about what kept them rooted in love during the pandemic.
Edgerton Congregational UCC took advantage of their location as they handed out bottles of cold water during the community's Tobacco Days parade.

Immanuel UCC, Darlington, opened up their parking lot and front lawn, and handed out bottles of water, for people to watch the Canoe Fest Parade.
St. John's UCC, Monroe, will have a one-day Camp Creation at Kiwanis Youth Cabin for all its children in early August.
1st Congregational UCC, Madison, hosted a Generational Wealth Workshop that focused on the racial wealth gap and its roots in unequal access to generational wealth.
Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, held a Zoom workshop, "Taking a Faithful Stance on Equity: A Training in Local Civic Engagement." It equipped members to speak out at school board and other local government meetings on such topics as racism and white supremacy.
The youth of Middleton Community UCC will join in an Amazing Race that will cover the church property, Pope Farm and the church's neighborhood.
Middleton Community UCC alerted their members to "Love Builds Up," a Zoom training on empathic listening of the Wisconsin Council of Churches.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will bid goodbye to summer with the last all-church summer gathering at a locals Madison park.
EXPLORING BOOKS
IN THE SUMMER

The August book for the Lake Edge UCC, Madison, book group will be Giver of Stars, by Jojo Moyes..
The next book for .McFarland UCC's Racial Justice Book Club will be Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism, by Jemar Tisby.

The Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will discuss The Engineer's Wife, by Tracey Enerson Wood, the story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Coffee and Conversation of Middleton Community UCC will be discussing In Defense of Kindness, by Bruce Reyes-Chow, throughout August.

The OPALS book club of MCC/Community of Hope UCC will discuss Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irving.
How Happiness Happens: Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment and Unmet Expectations, by Max Lucado, will be the book club book of Swiss UICC, New Glarus.


OUR ASSOCIATION MINISTER'S
OFFICE HOURS

Zoom Office Hours
Wednesday:
   August 4 - 1:00-2:30
August 18 - 1:00-2:30

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 848 2118 0978.
PASTORAL TRANSITIONS AND NEWS

Everyone is invited to an Open House at Salem UCC, Verona, on Sunday, August 1, 10:00-2:00, to celebrate Rev. Mark Yurs' 30 years of ministry there.

Delisa Buckingham-Taylor was ordained at Grace UCC, Fort Atkinson, on July 17.

Rev. Dr. Shawn Stapleton (NACCC) was called as settled pastor of the Congregational UCC, Brodhead, effective August 10.

Rev. Lori Powell has announced her resignation as pastor of the Congregational UCC, Edgerton, effective October 10.

REACHING OUT
TO HELP THE
PEOPLE OF HAITI

The Wisconsin Conference Immigration Working Group urges congregations to sign and circulate the attached petition to make COVID-19 vaccines available in Haiti, as currently there are no vaccines available in Haiti.
Rev. Bryan Sirchio, pastor of McFarland UCC, has shared that his long-time involvement with helping the people of Haiti has a personal connection. He has been friends with George Kittle, tight end of he San Francisco 49ers and his family since they were children. They had a fund-raising event for Haiti Allies in July--a virtual yoga class taught by George's sister.
TAKING A FAITHFUL STANCE FOR
RACIAL EQUITY

Members of the Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, Racial Justice Mission Team joined with nearly 200 people from all over Wisconsin in a Zoom forum of the Wisconsin Council of Churches.

The goal is to organize people of faith to counter the misinformation and pressure that school boards are facing in attempts to ban racial equity efforts, such as through efforts to ban the teaching of what is referred to as "critical race theory."

INTERESTED IN GOING ON A BACK BAY WORK TRIP?

The Wisconsin Conference is planning a week long mission trip to UCC partner Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS, February 27 to March 5, 2022. In addition to the costs of travel and meals, participants will pay $250
to cover costs of materials and lodging.

Here are more details. Please email Franz Rigert with questions or to express interest.
UCC WEBINAR FEATURES
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT KNEW

The latest Creation Justice webinar of the United Church of Christ will be on Wednesday, September 8, at 12:00 noon, on the topic, They Knew: 50 Years of the US Government Causing the Climate Crisis
 
It will feature one of leading voices in environmentalism over recent decades, James Gustave Speth. In August, he is releasing a new book on the subject.
entitled, It has been described it as "a damning record that will become a potent tool for justice.” Even if you can’t make the scheduled time, still sign-up, and you will be sent you a recording Register now.
WANT ADS

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, is seeking a Music Director and an Organist/Pianist for their Sunday morning services and special events, as well as being available for practicing with the choir and special music persons. These are part-time, paid positions. For more information call (6708) 55-7175.
.
Plymouth Congregational UCC,. Madison, is seeking a part-time youth leader. Click here for the details.

St. John’s UCC, Monroe, is seeking a collaborative, creative individual to join their team as office administrator/media coordinator. This individual should have experience in all aspects of office administration and knowledge and appreciation of digital platforms. The individual must demonstrate creativity through which the liveliness of our ministries comes alive through the visual story and communicates our message to members of the congregation and a wider community, sparking spiritual curiosity and growth. If you are interested in this part-time position, please submit a resume to toddstjohns@tds.net or in person to the church office by 
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
Southwest Association | swacommunications@gmail.com
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532 | 608-846-7880