Shalom November 2022 issue

Shalom

NOVEMBER 2022

DO WE NEED TO BE IN WORSHIP?

In addition to the stories of Jesus, "I also love other good stories. This one is about how much we need each other. (I regret to not knowing the source, so I am unable to provide credit.)

"There was a man who'd been very regular in worship and was deeply committed to the life of the church and its ministries. But for some reason, he'd quit being an active participant for several months. The pastor (visited him. As they sat watching a roaring fire,) "the pastor took a tong and gently moved one of he pieces of wood away from the rest of the fire... After a while, the log set apart from the rest of the fire, grew darker and colder. And soon there was no fire, nor heat coming from that log.

"When the last ember on the log disappeared, the pastor picked up the log and placed in back on the fire. Soon, the log that had grown cold on its own, flared up into a lovely flame, warming the house and providing light. Nothing more was spoken for some time, until the man looked at the pastor and said, 'my, what a wonderful and fiery sermon that was.' The pastor departed. And the next Sunday, the man was back in worship.

"One of the great joys for me is to see a congregation get 'fired up' and begin to spread warmth and light to those around... But as I've said to the church in worship, we need each other... Now, I know there are some of you who are homebound...(or) traveling... Some of you may have been hurt by some word, or angered by some decision, but don't give up on us. We won't always agree, but we miss you when you are not here..."

Here is the complete reflection.

Rev. Susan Stull Carr, pastor of Congregational UCC, Mineral Point

Used with her permission

OUR CONGREGATIONS CELEBRATE AS THEY MOVE TOWARD ADVENT

Several of our congregations are celebrating the role that persons who have died during the past year have played in the lives of their congregations and others in All Saints Day, Totenfest and Remembrance Day events,

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, for instance, is celebrating with banners listing names of persons; and will have a service for families on a Friday.

The Congregational UCC, Whitewater, is publicizing in their newsletter recipes from their 1979 Women's Fellowship cookbook. The latest issue included recipes for vegetable popcorn, crab-Swiss bites and several dips.

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, will celebrate their 175th anniversary on November 13 as they welcome the "homecoming" of past members.

Several members of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, joined in a recent Indigenous People's Day at the Capitol.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, called attention to an event at The Crossing, our ecumenical campus ministry at UW-Madison--Sacred Wounds: Understanding the Landscape of Spiritual + Religious Trauma.

A recent program of Over 55 of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, was The Current State of Immigration in the U.S.

The church also invited members to support lawful permanent residency for Afghan refugees by writing letters to our representatives in Congress.

McFarland UCC invited its members to continue the conversation following the presentation of Confronting Christian Nationalism.

The church also had a project, Reclaim Our Vote, in which members sent post cards to people in communities of color throughout the U.S. encouraging them to vote.

St. John's UCC, Monroe hosted a talk, Personalized Nutrition for Immune Health.

The church is also offering a Virtual Grief Support group during November, and a session on Grief and the Holidays. A one-on-one grief support group is also available in person by appointment.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will provide Thanksgiving Day meals, though only by delivery and pickup.

In October Windsor UCC provided Food for Kidz, nutritious meals for families and persons in need.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, will host a meal for college students at The Crossing campus ministry on November 9.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, was one of five prayer rooms in the Madison area for the United Week of Prayer in October.

1st UCC, Belleville, will again have a float in the annual UFO Day parade.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, observed the October 17-23 Family Promise Week, remembering the nation's homeless population, by inviting their members to sleep on a sofa, on the floor, in their backyard.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, provides a Warmth Table for members to donate new or gently used items of clothing that others may take for their needs or the needs of those whom they are aware of.

1st UCC, Belleville recently held a Pastor Appreciation Sunday.

Edgerton Congregational UCC will hear from the founder of the Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls as a Global Mission Reception on October 30.

Plymouth Congregational UCC will again be one of the sites for the Madison Gallery Night.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, was named a 2022 Climate Champion by the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, is participating in Climate Hope Cards, a project of the national United Church of Christ, Participants draw or paint about climate hope, environmental justice or protecting the earth.

Members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, recently gleaned the Dane County Farmers Market and turned over the items to the Community Action Coalition.

Members of 1st UCC, Belleville, recently honored the veterans going on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., with a musical send-off at the airport.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, called attention to a Veterans Day breakfast.

A member of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, is donating the proceeds of the sale of her many quilts to the MCC Quilters and Purls.

A retreat of the Servant Leadership Team (SaLT) of 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, reflected on gratitude, using "appreciative inquiry."

1st UCC, Belleville, noted that a member, retired pastor Rev. Mark Yurs, recently had a series of reflections in the devotional booklet, These Days.

Members of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, took a Walk in the Woods to appreciate the beautiful colors and fall weather.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

Rev. Arthur (Chris) Christopherson, retired, and a member of 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, died at home on October 24.

The last service of Carolyn Kennedy, licensed lay minister of the Congregational UCC, Barneveld, will be Christmas Day.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, has welcomed a new Intern, Samuel Christensen.

Rev. Joylynn Graham will be leaving as pastor of Plymouth Congregational UCC,. Dodgeville, her last service being Christmas Eve.

WHAT LANGUAGE DO WE USE

WHEN TALKING ABOUT MONEY?

"Does your congregation use the language of urgency?

"(For instance,) 'We face a $30,000 deficit. We need everyone to give to keep the lights on.' I hear the language of urgency showing up in church when leaders put the emphasis on financial problems.

"Urgency can be motivating because it names an immediate and large problem. But it can also leave people overwhelmed and uncertain about their ability to make a difference. For this reason, we often do better to use the language of agency.

"Agency...names our capacity to make a difference... (For example,) 'We face some choices because of the gap between our financial resources and our vision of ministry... We could adjust our vision of what God calls us to do as a church..."

"Urgency uses fear...(whereas) the language of agency reminds people of their inherent ability and power to choose their future...

"Many of our congregations will make stewardship appeals to their congregations this fall. Will you speak with a voice of urgency or agency?" (Click here to read the full text.)

Rev. Andrew Warner

A HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL LEADS CONGREGATION TO AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY ABOUT RACISM!

For several years a part of the Halloween Carnival for UNICEF of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, has been a cakewalk, in which people walk around a circle and when the music stops, a number is drawn and whoever is standing on the corresponding circle wins their choice of the donated cakes, cupcakes or bars.

Imagine the church's surprise when they finally discovered that the term "cakewalk" has a racist past. The cakewalk originated in the pre-Civil War American South as a dance performed by enslaved people working on plantations. After the war cakewalks were featured in minstrel shows. The cakewalks also had a subversive nature to them.

When Plymouth Church discovered this racist past, they changed the game and its name. Read the complete story that appeared in the church's newsletter.

EVENT TO PROTECT PLACES OF WORSHIP OFFERED

On November 30, 8:00-12:00, Madison Police Department and others will provide an event to help congregations protect their places of worship. It will be held at the Madison Police Department Training Center, 5702 Femrite Drive; in Madison.

Those who plan to participate are asked to complete an online survey so the discussion can be tailored to meet their needs.

GRANTS TO HELP REPAY

SEMINARY DEBT

Clergy who are new to Wisconsin or who are recently ordained may qualify for Seminary Debt Repayment

Grants made possible by the Wisconsin Conference Forward in Faith capital campaign.

Funds will be awarded based upon the recommendations of the Associate Conference Ministers and approved by the Conference Board of Directors. Applications are due by November 7. Download the application h ere.

CONGREGATIONS' BOOK STUDIES

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, discussed The Overstory, by Richard Powers..

The book group of Lake EdgeUCC/Alliance@4200will meet by Zoom to discuss Pachinko: A Novel, by Min Jin Lee. There will also be a discussion of The Exiles: A Novel, by Christina Baker Kline

In November the book group of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will discuss Take My Hand, by Dolen Perkins Valdez.

The book group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will discuss The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

The Coffee and Conversation of Middleton Community UCC will begin discussions of the book, Shifting Climates, Shifting People, from Pilgrim press, edited by Miquel A. De La Torre.