While not verifying their worshipers' claims, MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, McFarland UCC and Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, are asking or strongly recommending them to be vaccinated, if possible, to participate in worship.

At the same time, some are allowing worshipers to hum, or sing softly, along with the hymns while masked.

IN THE NOVEMBER SHALOM

Not wanting to overlook congregations that celebrated various events, we add these to those mentioned in the November Shalom:

Middleton Community UCC and Community of Hope UCC, Madison, have joined the congregations that have gone to in-person worship.

Swiss UCC, new Glarus, also had a Polka Sunday worship.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, Immanuel UCC, Darlington, St John's UCC, New Glarus, and Community of Hope UCC, Madison, celebrated All Saints Day or Totenfest in November. MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, also had a candlelit prayer path to honor the saints in their members' lives,

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, explained the source of Veterans Day (originally called Remembrance/Armistice Day) at the end of World War I.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, welcomed those attending worship in person for the first time in many months with a lovely display off more than 1000 colorful paper cranes in their sanctuary.

After a successful fund-raising project, the solar panels of McFarland UCC have been installed.

Rev. Julia Burkey, pastor of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, reflected that "thin places are more accessible this time of year (such as on All Saints Day), those places where the distance between heaven and earth collapse and where we feel the presence of the sacred most readily available." In that spirit, the church had a Thin Places Ritual, and their Java & Jesus had a session on Thin Places and Thick Descriptions.

Interfaith services and vigils to honor Transgender Day in late November were hosted or publicized by Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, and Memorial UCC, Fitchburg.

Emphasizing silence and listening for the Holy Spirit, 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, held two listening sessions for their members in November.

In a program of word and music, One Light, Many Candles, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, also stressed listening to one another's story without judgment.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, is checking out their members' interest in a nine-week course that focuses on the African American experience in America since our country's inception, Black History for a New Day.. It is taught in collaboration with University of Wisconsin history professors.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison has an orange t-shirt on display to honor the children of the First Nations who never returned from residential boarding schools.

The several groups that implement the justice missions of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison (e.g. Care of Creation, Immigration Justice), are now coordinating their efforts through items in their newsletter.

For example, a group of nearly 60 members recently gathered to hold a vigil featuring stories and music demanding that pathways to citizenship be included in the Build Back Better Plan.

One of the members of 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, recently took 51 of her quilts to a local nursing facility

Study groups in our congregations have been discussing these books: 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo: Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion, in which Sara Miles tells of how her life journey led her to establish a food pantry; Middleton Community UCC: Real Change, by Sharon Salzberg; and MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison: Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is following up on an initiative we reported on in the October Shalom--participating in an ongoing state-wide group, organized by the Wisconsin Council of Churches, WISDOM and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice that is challenging the groups who are attempting silence the teaching in our school systems the truth about racial issues

Java & Jesus of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, had a discussion on a Christian Century article by William James Jennings, author of After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging.

Members of Middleton Community UCC had a picnic and hike outing at Hoyt Park.

Olivet Congregational UCC, Columbus, will take its turn hosting the local food pantry in December.

The Not in Our Name Team of McFarland UCC recently heard of how they and others are helping a Nicaraguan refugee family get settled through the Shelter from the Storm Ministries in Sun Prairie.

Each Monday after school, Hands of Change of Zwingli UCC, Monticello, exposes their youth to a variety of ways to serve others, such as through existing agencies.

Using their Advent theme of Close to Home, Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, is inviting its members to take and share photos on the theme for day, such as Hope, Courage, Belonging and Extraordinary.

The annual Drive-Thru Nativity of Zwingli UCC, Monticello, and Washington Reformation UCC will be on Saturday, December 18, 4:00-6:00, in the parking lot of Zwingli UCC.

Windsor UCC also has an outdoor walk-thru nativity scene.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, is offering Palestinian wood carvings and olive oil for sale on the Sundays during Advent.

Middleton Community UCC encourages their members to buy Porchlight Products to support their job training program for formerly homeless persons with disabilities.

As many of you know, Rev Lorraine Cineceros finished her ministry with us on November 12. She will begin her ministry as the Conference Minister of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference shortly. A search committee is working hard to find our new permanent Associate Conference Minister

In the meantime, Rev. Ted Drewsen is the Bridge ACM, Ted retired to the Madison area to be close to his two married children. Before that, he was the pastor of Pilgrim UCC in Fond du Lac, 2001-2020. He also served churches in Chagrin Falls, OH, and Eau Claire. He has been in the Wisconsin Conference for years, but never in the Southwest Association. He is excited to learn about and serve our Association.

You may reach Ted by phone or text at (920) 251-9600, or by email at tdrewsen@wcucc.org

Rather than addressing digital shifts or programmatic challenges, this is an opportunity to refocus on what inspires and sustain you in ministry. It will include an opening retreat and monthly small group Here is more information..

On Wednesday, December 8, at 12:00 noon, the United Church of Christ will offer a webinar, "Polluted Democracy." It will highlight how the fossil fuel industry has an enormous impact on Congress through campaign donations. Register here.

The Wisconsin Council of Churches alerts us the need for churches to offer to be COVID testing sites, as the state of Wisconsin will be distributing the sites more widely than was previously the case.. Here is more more information along with the hance to sign up.

The Social Concerns Division of the Southwest Association alerts us to their having grants available to congregations, such as to help. with their outreach to local food pantries. They have had a smaller number of applications than usual due to the pandemic, so most requests will receive a favorable response. Click here for more information and an application.

Associate Conference Minister:  

Moderator: 

Vice-Moderator:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Division on Church & Ministry: 

Social Concerns Committee: 

Shalom Editor:

swacommunications@gmail.com