Shalom

JANUARY 2023

"COINCIDENCES" AND THE DIVINE MYSTERY


"There are quite a few quotes by Albert Einstein that reflect his deep spirituality and openness to the Divine Mystery... There's just so much of life that can't be approached or experienced (through the lenses of empirical verifiability). Like love, forgiveness, and grace, for example.


"Here are two of my favorite Einstein quotes: First, 'I think the most important question facing humanity is, "Is the universe a friendly place?" ...And second, 'Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.'"


The author goes on to relate an experience he had that led to the "coincidence" of running into a friend he hadn't seen in almost five years as a result of an awkwardness having developed in their relationship and one who kept coming to mind..


."Coincidence? I don't want to blow God's cover or anything. All I know is that life is amazingly beautiful when we trust that God is always working behind the scenes in ways we can't possibly explain or figure out. It is such a gift to know that we don't have to pull everything off on our own. Some things are just given...


"(It) sure is a gift when of those 'God things' is almost too obvious to miss isn't it? How about you? I bet you've had some experiences of God anonymous Grace as well..."


Rev. Bryan Sirchio, pastor of McFarland UCC

Used with his permission

SOME DECEMBER LEFTOVERS

AND JANUARY HAPPENINGS

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, invited their members to take an "Advent challenge" of "being with" their neighbors. reflecting on such things as paying attention to two people they run into in their routines and praying for them.

In addition to having Snow Captains who keep their parking lots clear and safe, MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, asked their members to be alert to persons who might need an arm to hang onto as they go to the church.

1st Congregational UCC Janesville, offers for sale Christmas cards that feature artwork of their children


Greeting cards featuring original artwork and photography by members are offered by Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, as a way of raising funds for their ministry to families needing housing stability.

1st UCC, Belleville, invited members to add photos, such as of their family, to the church's Christmas tree.


MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, invited their members to put an ornament from their home to add to their tree as a sign of their connections to the church.

McFarland UCC invited their members to loan their nativity sets a display in their sanctuary or fellowship hall.

Once again, MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, is offering for sale wood products, such as nativity figures, by Palestinian producers as a way to support them.

Several of our congregations decided not to have Christmas Day Sunday worship services, preferring to have Christmas Eve services as an alternative. McFarland UCC, on the other hand, used the novel approach of having a community pot luck meal on Christmas Day.


In addition to those noted in the December issue of Shalom, MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, had the project of making gingerbread houses.

The annual Longest Night Homeless Persons Memorial Service, organized by JustDane, and held on December 21, was publicized by 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, and Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison. After the service participants are led around the Capitol square by a horse-drawn hearse.

1st UCC, Belleville, invited their members to enjoy Christmas lights by driving through Community Park in December.

.McFarland UCC again celebrated the winter solstice by having an equinox fire ceremony, following a Shamanic fire ritual.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, also held a winter coat drive for the Madison Area Jail Ministry.

On January 8th, Memorial UCC, Fitchburg will have an Old Befana production, which is an adaptation of an ancient Yule story. It will be presented by Ken Lonnquist and friends.

After a pandemic hiatus, Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, again provided care packages for their college students during December.

1st UCC, Belleville, provided hoodies, sweatpants, socks and hand warmers to homeless persons in Madison. The Congregational UCC, Evansville, donated toys, clothing and gift cards to the Toys for Evansville program.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will host a Faith Based Housing Summit on January 31 to encourage members to be involved in the affordable housing ministry. They are sponsors along with the Wisconsin Council of Churches and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice. Plymouth UCC, Madison, also called attention to this event. Register here.

Middleton Community UCC will provide meals for Healing House residents in January.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will hold their annual all-church retreat at Daycholah Center on Green Lake.

In the cover story of its December 14 issue, The Cap Times featured the Restorative Justice Ministry of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison. During the 16 years of this ministry, many incarcerated persons (carefully selected by the prison staff) tell of the life-changing effects of the program The dozens of its volunteers also report the powerful effects on them as well. If you missed it, you can read the article here.

Zwingli UCC. Monticello, is bringing back the Welcome Table Community Meal on the last Monday of each month. They point out that there are many households with only one or two people, so family meals and gatherings are rare.


The Loving Lunches that Olivet UCC, Columbus, provides, along with their ecumenical partners, to their community in the summer was written up in a recent publication of the Wisconsin Conference.


The youth of 1st Congregational UCC. Madison, will be heading to an Escape Room in January.

The middle school and high school youth of Middleton Community UCC will reflect on racial justice in their winter retreats at the church's Camp Balsams in January and February.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, provided members with an opportunity to sign a petition to Toyota and GM to go all-electric by 2035. (The pastor of Advent Lutheran Church is on the board of an affiliate of Faith in Place.)

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS



Currently there are pastoral openings at Salem UCC, Verona; St. John's UCC, Monroe; Edgerton Congregational UCC and 1st Congregational UCC, Boscobel (part-time).

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE SUNDAY

Has your church celebrated the United Church of Christ Health and Human Service Sunday on January 29 or some other Sunday? If not, perhaps this is the year to do so. Here are liturgical resources that you can use.

AREA CROP WALK RESULTS

The results of the area CROP Walks: Madison (including 1st Congregational UCC, Madison; Lake Edge UCC, Madison; Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison; Memorial UCC, Fitchburg; Middleton Community UCC; Salem UCC, Verona and McFarland UCC): $33,000; Belleville (incl. 1st UCC): $3,001.49; and Whitewater (incl. Congregational UCC): $4,711. That totals approximately $40,712!

PROCLAIMING THE WORD OF GOD


The Madison Learning Community, an initiative of Dubuque Theological Seminary, is offering a preaching class, Proclaiming the Word of God, to Madison-area pastors, church leaders and others who are eager to deepen their ministry skills and join a diverse community committed to the local church.


The courses will be on Tuesdays, 6:00-7:45, from January 24 to April 18, by Rev Dr. Marcus Allen, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Madison; and Rev. Dr. Jessica Patchett, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Madison.


If interested contact Lief Erickson at lerickson@dbq.edu or (608) 469-2261.

CONGREGATIONS DISCUSS

BOOKS AND MOVIES

As a part of their ongoing discussions about the UCC and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, had a discussion of how their traditions approach the Bible

Using resources provided by Vote the Common Good (a 17-session video curriculum), the adult Sunday School of Middleton Community UCC will discuss Confronting Christian Nationalism.


Their Tuesday Night Fellowship will discuss The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, by Jonathan Hatch.

The book club of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will discuss How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, by Clint Smith, which is the next UW Big Read.

The Over 55 group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, discussed Speak with the Earth and it Will Teach You, a book by Rev. Daniel Cooperrider, the husband of their pastor.

The book group of Lake Edge UCC, Madison/Alliance at 4200 will discuss The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi at their January meeting.

DANCING IN THE DARKNESS


We are invited to join Rev. Traci Blackmon on January 5, at 2:30, as she interviews Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III on his latest book, Dancing in the Darkness, a life-affirming guide to the practical, political and spiritual challenges of our day. Register here.

CONTACTS

 

Associate Conference Minister 

Rev. Rachel Bauman

608-630-2992


Moderator

David Mickle

 

Vice-Moderator:

Rev. Tanya Sadagopan

 

Secretary:

Marlea Gilbert

 

Treasurer:

Donald Taft

 

Division on Church & Ministry

Rev. Ruth Bradshaw, Chair

 

Social Concerns Committee

Carolyn Kennedy, Chair


Shalom Editor:

Roger Brooks

swacommunications@gmail.com

Southwest Association | swacommunications@gmail.com
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532 | 608-846-7880