May 19 - 26, 2023

Below are weekly programs. You can find brief descriptions of these weekly programs on our website:

SUNDAY Morning, 10 am Zoom Worship

https://zoom.us/j/97010988439 Password: betogether

SUNDAY , 11:30 a.m. Bible Study  in person and on zoom Note: There will be no Bible Study on May 21st and 28th while Pastor Bryan is on vacation.

https://zoom.us/j/262314649

MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8 am Morning Devotion

https://zoom.us/j/94276813637

WEDNESDAY Eve., 6:30 pm Midweek Inhale Spiritual Practices

Note: There will be no Midweek Inhale while Pastor Bryan is on vaction, and because of

several other programs happening on Wednesdays we

will not begin again until Wednesday, June 28th!

https://zoom.us/j/123020606

Below are the upcoming non-weekly events on the calendar happening at McFarland UCC for about the next month. All events are on the McFarland UCC calendar with Zoom links and additional information in the details/description area. Click the event on the McFarland UCC calendar to see the details.

Wednesday, May 31 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Green Team Book Read, McFarland UCC under trees outside. Bring chair. In building, if rain.

Friday, June 2 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Native American Presentation: Celebrating the Tapestry of Humanity in Sanctuary

Saturday, June 3 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Native American Presentation: Celebrating the Tapestry of Humanity in Sanctuary

Sunday, June 4, Strength The Church UCC Wider Church Mission Collection

Sunday, June 4 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Teen Youth Meeting with Lake Edge UCC (in person)

Tuesday, June 6 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Racial Justice Meeting (In person & Online)

Thursday, June 8 6:00 – 8:00pm, SaLT Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room

Sunday, June 11 6:30-7:30 pm, Younger Youth Meeting

Wednesday, June 14 6:00-7:30 pm, Outreach Funds Committee Meeting (In person)

Thursday, June 15 6:30 - 7:30 pm, NION Monthly Meeting (Online only)

Tuesday, June 20 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Green Team Meeting (In person & Online) Multipurpose room

Native American Presentation: Celebrating the Tapestry of Humanity

Mark your calendars for either Friday, June 2, or Saturday, June 3, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., when McFarland UCC will be hosting a highly acclaimed multimedia exhibit and program called, “Taking a Journey of Hope and Discovery.”

The program will explore why there is a greater need now more than ever for understanding the interconnectedness of our common humanity and our relationship to each other and to nonhuman life on this planet. We are at the crossroads of truth in History, Science, Technology and Indigenous Wisdom, as we move toward the frontiers of the future.

Our presenters are McFarland residents Dawn and Art Shegonee. Art is a member of the Menominee and Potowatomi tribes in Wisconsin and has been a cultural consultant, teacher and presenter at over 400 schools and colleges throughout Wisconsin and neighboring states. In the 1990s, Art and Dawn co-founded the Call For Peace Drum & Dance Company, which has traveled around the world performing in Russia, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Israel, Puerto Rico and Ireland. They also performed at the openings for the Monona Terrace and the Overture Center for the Arts.

We hope this program will engage and inspire all of us to “Make a Difference” as the exhibit takes us around the world on a “Journey of Hope and Discovery.”

This presentation is free and open to the public. Invite your friends!

SaLT Spot – Highlights from 5/11 SaLT meeting

• Reviewed committee and ministry updates.
• Approved two requests from the Racial Justice Team

1. Supporting the Call for Peace event at MUCC 6/2 and 6/3, including an honorarium for presenters.
2. Changing the time for 7/9 worship to 9 am to accommodate a visit to the Sikh Temple in Middleton at 11 am.

• Approved MUCC sponsorship and having a presence in the McFarland Pride Festival at Arnold Larson Park on 6/25.
• Endorsed Pastor Bryan’s plan for pastoral coverage during his two-week vacation.
• Agreed to encourage two individuals to represent MUCC at the WI UCC Conference in Green Lake 6/9-6/10.
• Identified dates for outdoor worship: 6/18, 7/23, 8/20, and 9/17.
• After reviewing April financial reports, approved increasing General Fund cash balance and recommended a mid-year Financial Update to the congregation in July.

Befrienders Sign Up

Our church will be offering a Befrienders Training opportunity starting in September on Wednesday nights. These classes will also be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in-person.

What is a Befrienders, you might ask? It is a lay person who can walk a journey with an individual who is having a challenging time. A Befrienders is someone who is trained to enable them to be a friend to someone who may be dealing with a situation that they would appreciate a friend, for example; being a caregiver, divorce, depression, alcoholism, life threatening illness, or Alzheimer’s and dementia just to name a few.

If you would like to sign up for these classes or have questions, please contact Jean Duchrow, 608-335-3772. Workbooks for each participant will be ordered by August 1st.

Care Ministry Team

We want to have more organization for our Caring work with in the congregation. We looking for help in the following areas.

• Meals provided when needed
• Visits to shut ins, hospital/nursing homes
• Rides to doctor appointments, stores, etc.
• Prayer Chain
• Prayer Shawls

If anyone feels called to be a “Lead” person or would like to be included in any of these groups, please contact Lavon Geasland (608-279-4643) or Jean Duchrow (608-335-3772).

Green Team Book Read -

Speak with the Earth and it Will Teach You by Daniel Cooperrider



Memorial UCC in Fitchburg has invited MUCC to join them in book discussions. 

Please join us in reading this book. “It is not enough appreciated how much of an outdoor book the Bible is,” wrote author Wendell Berry. Author Daniel Cooperrider illustrates his point with beautiful narrative- - like a stroll through the woods - - Speak with the Earth analyzes the Bible’s treatment of nature and intersperses this analysis with the author's own reflections on experiences in nature. 

Daniel Cooperrider is a local UCC Pastor.

You can read his bio here - https://www.danielcooperrider.com/bio.

You can see a trailer on this book here - https://youtu.be/5VLET7Rrltg 



Book discussions

Join us even if you have not been able to make prior dates.

Trees - Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 at McFarland UCC (under trees. Inside building, if rain), McFarland. Bring a chair.

Clouds - Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30 at Lake Farm Park (Shelter #2), Madison. Bring a chair.  Author Daniel Cooperrider will join us for the final night of discussion of his book.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Be an usher.

Help in the kitchen.

No experience required...and it's fun!

Link for Usher Sign Up -For more information contact Becky Cohen (ushers) at cohenrw@yahoo.com.

Link for Kitchen/Hospitality Sign Up - For more information contact Joan Jacobsen (kitchen) at treasurer@mcfarlanducc.org

Lost and Found

A pair of prescription eyeglasses were found in a brush pile during Spring Clean Up. There are other items in the Lost and Found bin also wanting to return to their rightful owner. Please check out the Lost and Found basket in the coat area. On June 1 Ginger will donate whatever remains in the Lost and Found Basket.

Pastor Bryan is on Vacation May 15 - 29

Mike Bausch will be leading worship on both May 21 and May 28. Thanks so much Mike for being willing to lead us these two weeks in a row!

Pastoral Care While Pastor Bryan is gone: We're doing something different. Usually Pastor Kris Gorton covers for me (Pastor Bryan) when I'm gone (and vice versa), but Kris is now on sabbatical. It occurred to me that we have people in our own congregation who can more than cover the need for pastoral care in my absence. So if you need care of any kind, please contact our Care Team leaders Jean Duchrow ((608) 335-3772) and/or Lavon Geasland ((608)-298-7094). They will be the first line of support. If pastoral care from an ordained minister is required, our own Becky Boggs will be available, as will Hospital Chaplain Cameron Macdonal as she is able.

Thanks to these members of our congregation for being willing to serve us in this way!