Stressing that one of the most important things a church can do in this time of renewed focus on race relations is "to listen to our neighbors," pastor Rev. John Allen of 1st Congregational UCC, Milton, has invited members to participate in Milton's Community Forum on Police and Race Relations, Courageous Conversations Toward Racial Justice..

McFarland UCC will discuss the book, How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi.

The Poetry Discussion Group 1st Congregational UCC, Madison,.will continue discussing Maya Angelous's The Complete Poetry, in September

Rev. Leslie Schenk of Plymouth UCC, Madison, points out that "as we begin to look at our heroes and find them wanting in their views on race and inclusion, we seek to redeem them, noting that they lived in a different time, when racism, especially centered on Black people and Indigenous people, was commonplace."

Rev. Kris Gorton of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, alerts their members to the United Church of Christ's Thursdays for the Soul and Tuesdays for Nurture. The congregation has been having Family Conversations on Race, Talking about Racism: Tips for Families.

In addition, members can watch a video by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, of Trinity UCC in Chicago, A Letter to My Son.

On Sunday, September 20, Rev. June R. Cooper, Executive Director of City Mission in Boston, will speak at 1st Congregational UCC, Milton, for their Al Filipov Peace & Justice Forum.

The weekly Java & Jesus of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, looked at "Race Tests": Racial Boundary Maintenance in White Evangelical Churches, with the author, Dr. Glenn Bracey.

Middleton Community UCC has Continuing the Conversation on Race online on Wednesday evenings in September and October.

Each of the 12 young artists in Portraits of Justice, of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, was assigned an individual who has worked or is working for justice to paint, such as Sonia Sotomayer and Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

Plymouth UCC, Madison, points out that supporting the more than 300 black-owned businesses is a way to strengthen our communities of color. The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce publishes a Black Business Directory.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, had a family treasure hunt that used clues for members to find places around town. When the place was found a photo was taken of the spot.

MCC (incl. Community of Hope UCC, Madison) invited their members to Zoom paining classes, with the emphasis on fun, not the results.

In lieu of their annual back-to-Sunday-School party, Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, invited their families to decorate their church parking lot with chalk art.

1st UCC, Belleville, encouraged their members to contribute pictures and notes to a "blessing board," recalling how challenging it can be for to recognize God's blessings in our lives in this time.

Games and fun with church friends has been the emphasis of the online A Time for Children on Wednesdays at Middleton Community UCC

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is offering a new virtual program designed for kids ages 2-6, "Noah's Ark Animal Pairs Game."

While taking numerous precautions,St. John's UCC, Monroe, has been having in-person worship services in their sanctuary 1st UCC, Reeseville also began in-person worship on August 9.. Plymouth UCC, Mineral Point, on the other hand, regretfully felt it necessary to stop having in-person worship for the time being.

Edgerton Congregational UCC will have the September 6 worship in their parking lot.

Congregations have been taking advantage of the summer and early fall weather to have a variety of other outdoor events, e.g. movie nights by Middleton Community UCC and Memorial UCC, Fitchburg; and having the Knitting Group, Friendship Circle and Bible Study of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, meet outside.

In addition, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is recognizing that the church building is sacred space for many people by having it open on Thursday afternoons. The Plymouth UCC, Madison, building is also open with restrictions.

A covenant-signing ceremony and dedication of new signage marked the one-year anniversary of the partnership of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, and Christ the Solid rock Baptist Church.

For their September meeting, the Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will discuss the novel The Overstory, by Richard Powers, a novel of how natural-world power offers ways to save the continent's remaining acres of virgin forest.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will show the movie, The Lorax, which celebrates the environment, in their parking lot.

Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope UCC churches of Madison Christian Community together celebrated Pride Sunday as their welcome to the LGBTQ+ community.

The Coffee and Conversation of Middleton Community UCC discussed The Moment of Lift, by Melinda Gates, on empowering girls and women around the world.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC hosted a virtual program on child abuse, e.g. learning best practices to prevent abuse within faith communities, how to recognize and respond to the physical, emotional and spiritual impact, and how to recognize and respond to sexual behaviors of children.

The TED Talk and YouTube videos of Middleton Community UCC continued in August with Psychologist reacts to violent protests, Faith and doubt, How to stay calm when you know you'll be stressed, and How grief helped me become a better caregiver.

The Time of Prayer of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, has a theme each week to help guide the discussion, e.g. Book Lover's Day and Wave at the Surveillance Camera Day.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, has officially been listed as an A2A,(Accessible to All) Congregation by the UCC Disabilities Ministries.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, and Lake Edge UCC, Madison, are hosting community blood drives in August and September, respectively. Swiss UCC, New Glarus sponsored the annual community blood drive at another local church..

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, is tweaking its pen pal activity because of the importance of friendship during the time of uncertainty. It's encouraging its members to adopt Mystery Friends with whom they will keep in touch throughout the school year.

While undertaking new precautions, the Baraboo Congregational UCC has had its Farmer's Market at the church each Sunday. Donations for the food will be given to the local food pantry.

Salem UCC, Verona, is another congregation that has a project of making masks to donate, one that is an alternative to their annual school supply drive.

Months ago at the onset of the pandemic's stay-at-home guidance, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, sent home packets of seeds as way for families to remind themselves of Old Testament prophet Jeremiah's instructions of hope to the people of Judah who were locked down in captivity in Babylon. "Plant a garden," he said. Here is proof that hope is now blooming.

The theme will be Speaking the Truth in Love: Growing up into Christ, Growing into Truth, Speaking Truth to Ourselves and the World (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Join the meeting via Zoom, 9:00-11:30.

   + Installation of Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros.

   +Worship of Lament and Grace

   +Telling our Stories of Racial Injustice

  +Annual Business Meeting

Registration has begun and you are encouraged to register as ministers, lay delegates, and visitors here. Copies of the proposed constitutional changes, including adding a reference that "meetings may be held by electronic means." will be mailed to churches and ministers in September. Deadline to register is Friday. September 25.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81557330169  

To schedule a phone call or meeting, please click here:  https://calendly.com/support_with_lorraine

The Wisconsin Conference is seeking a Meeting Planner to plan and implement its annual meeting. This is a part-time contract position with an annual time commitment of around 250 hours.

The Meeting Planner is responsible for the planning and execution of all aspects of the Conference's 400+ attendance, four-day annual meeting, including workshops, business meetings, exhibits and gatherings.

Here is a more complete description. For full details and to apply, go to www.wcucc.org/planner. The application deadline is August 29.

Nancy Potter, the coordinator for our Wisconsin Council for Health and Human Services Ministries, alerts us to the need of our residents of our several agencies to have their morale boosted in this difficult time of enforced confinement and separation from their families.

The agencies include these in our Southwest Association: Fairhaven in Whitewater; New Glarus Home and Lodge; St. Clare Friedenshiem in Monroe; and Orion Family Services, in Madison.

Opportunities include providing baked cookies, puzzles, games, notes of encouragement and masks. Here is the complete list.

In response to the Kairos Call to Action, the Conference Creation Care Team is offering grants of up to $1000 available to Wisconsin Conference congregations that are planning initiatives to deepen their love of Creation and positively change their relationship with the environment.

These initiatives could address new models for community-based cooperation and ministry, environmental and economic justice work, (or) theological grounding for your congregation's response to the climate crisis...

These initiatives can be small or large, focused on enhanced efficiencies, consciousness-raising and education, or organizing and advocacy.... Priority consideration will be given to initiatives that ...connect with multiple partners... For more information and to submit a grant application, go to wcucc.org/creationcare. Contact Lisa Hart with questions.

The group has no plans to meet at this time.

The Contemporary Theology Book Group will next meet online by Zoom on Tuesday, September 15, 2:00 p.m., to discuss White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo, to the end of the book.

Associate Conference Minister:  

Moderator: 

Vice-Moderator:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Division on Church & Ministry: 

Social Concerns Committee: 

Shalom Editor:

swacommunications@gmail.com