"I will put my teaching in their minds and write it on their hearts..."
Jeremiah 31:33
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Calendar of Upcoming Events | |
Below are weekly programs. You can find brief descriptions of these weekly programs on our website: | |
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WEDNESDAY Eve., 6:30 pm Midweek Inhale Spiritual Practices
No Midweek Inhale Sept 13-Oct 18 due to Befrienders Training. https://zoom.us/j/123020606
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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. | |
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Sunday, September 17, 10:00 am, Outdoor Worship Service (In person & Online) Indoors if inclement weather.
Sunday, September 17, 5:00 - 6:30 pm, Youth Programming Kick-Off with games, pizza and potluck. All are welcome!
Tuesday, September 19, NO Ecojustice/Green Team Monthly Meeting, Work day 9/22 9-11 am instead.
Wednesday, September 20, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room
Friday, September 22, 9 - 11 am, Ecojustice/Green Team Work Day
Saturday, September 23, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Fall Equinox Fire Ceremony with Shamanic Practioner Jessica Riphenburg.
Tuesday, September 26, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, NION Monthly Meeting. Note that this was changed from Thursday, September 21st In person and Online
Wednesday, September 27, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 am, Black Holocaust Museum Visit, Milwaukee, lunch at a black-owned restaurant after.
Sunday, October 1, Neighbors in Need Collection
Sunday, October 1, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Teen Youth Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, October 3, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Racial Justice Team Monthly Meeting (In person & Online)- Multipurpose Room
Wednesday, October 4, 11, 18, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room
Sunday, September 10, 6:00 - 7:15 pm, Teen Youth Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, October 11, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room
Thursday, October 12, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, SaLT Monthly Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room
Saturday, October 14, 10:00 am, Love Has the Final Word Group Meeting (In person only)- Multipurpose Room
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Last Outdoor Worship Service!
THIS Sunday, Sept. 17 at 10 am
Bring a chair and enjoy the beautiful McFarland UCC grounds as we enjoy our third and final outdoor worship service of this warm weather season! (In case of inclement weather, services will be indoors of course.) If you have questions as to whether we're outside or inside, check our website. We'll make the call no later than 8:00 a.m. and post it on the website if we are not going to be outside. Look forward to seeing you in worship either way!
If you can come early at 8:45 am to help carry things outside and set up please do! Tom Ludwig will be with the choir so we need extra help this time if you can make it.
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Sunday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m.
Bible Obstacle Course and Gathering
By Sheryl Rowe
Join us Sunday, September 17 at 5:00 pm for our 2023 Youth programming kick-off! Old and young are welcome! There will be an obstacle course, pizza, and fun! Please RSVP if you are attending so we know how much pizza to order. You may also sign up to bring a salad or dessert if you are able. It is perfectly fine if you are busy and unable to bring a dish to pass. If there are questions, please contact Sheryl Rowe or Ginger Hummer.
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Friday, September 19, 9 - 11 a.m., Ecojustice Meeting/Work Day
Ecojustice will not meet Tuesday, Sept. 19. Instead there will be a work day Friday, Sept. 22, 9-11 am. The process of establishing native plants around the base of the bur oak trees and expanding the native prairie across the parking lot will begin.
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Saturday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. at Arnold Lars0n Park
Land Acknowledgement with Ho-Chunk tribal members and led by Brian Ward and the Indigenous Solidarity Collective of McFarland (ISCM). This will be a wonderful chance for members of our congregation to meet area Ho-Chunk singers, drummers, and leaders.
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Saturday, September 23,
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Fall Equinox Prayer and Fire Ceremony with Shamanic Practitioner Jessica Riphenburg.
We've been sharing these wonderful Equinox and Solstice celebrations since the 2022 summer solstice, and the gatherings keep continuing to grow. Join us! All ages welcome. Bring a chair or a blanket, and think about something you might want to let go of and/or give more completely to God.
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Wednesday, September 27th,
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
"Seeking Asylum" Documentary
By Julie Woodward
Ever wonder just what it means to "seek asylum"? Maybe you, like many, or maybe most of us, assume that once an immigrant is allowed to legally cross the US border, they're in......
Here is an opportunity to further educate ourselves and others about the challenges immigrants face when seeking asylum. The funds raised will go toward immigration specialty agencies in our area, some we have worked with in our short journey with Tcheki, Jeffrey & and Jefferson. Invite friends, and spread the word.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SHOWING OF: SEEKING ASYLUM: A Mother’s Journey
SEEKING ASYLUM is an award-winning feature documentary that bears witness to the endless deterrents migrants face when petitioning for asylum in the United States. In a system that has been designed for failure, we follow one woman’s journey as she searches for protection for herself and her children.
Many people view getting to the United States as the final hurdle in the migration journey, but we quickly learn that once in the U.S., the fight has just begun. During one of the most uncertain times in our country's history, Seeking Asylum documents the challenges asylum seekers face and shows why asylum is an integral part of the American Dream that we cannot afford to lose.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 27, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison
COST: Request donations of $25 per person. Pay online (see link below) or at the door. Members of the immigrant community are invited at no cost. Donations go to support the sponsoring organizations’ work for immigrant justice.
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Thursday, September 28, 6:30 - 8:00,
"Why Fair Trade?"
Zoom Meeting
The Wisconsin Conference Immigration Justice Working Group is sponsoring this zoom meeting that will focus on "Fair Trade," and why paying workers in so-called third world countries a living wage is so important for the well-being of the workers and the earth. We'll also talk about the role fair trade can play in preventing the economic and social devastation that causes desperately poor people to immigrate to the U.S. There will be a presentation by Madison fair trade business owner Nikki Andersen, owner of "Change Boutique" on Willy St. in Madison, and also by Adrian Gonzalez, director of "Cafe Justo," a fair trade coffee company in Mexico. There will be time for Q & A as well. Pastor Bryan will moderate the meeting. Registration is required, but you are welcome to register when you join the zoom meeting as it begins on September 28th.
Please use this link to register for this meeting
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Visit to America’s Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee
By Lavon Geasland
The Racial Justice Team is sponsoring a trip to the Milwaukee Black Holocaust Museum on Saturday, September 30. This is a one-of-a-kind historical and memorial museum about the Black Holocaust in America. Parking is limited so we would like to do as much carpooling as we can. We will meet at the church parking lot at 8:30 so we can leave by 8:45 to arrive at the museum for a 10 am guided tour. The cost is $10.00 per person. After we are done at the museum we will gather together for lunch. We would like to know who would be going with us as we need to make a reservation for lunch. Please RSVP to Racial Justice e-mail by Sunday, Sept. 24. If you have questions regarding the museum or lunch, please contact Rachel Saladis or Lynn Belleau or use the email above.
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Thank You!
A big heartfelt thanks to Bryan and also to Pastor Kelli of McFarland Lutheran Church. The celebration of life that they lead for our family in memory of Kevin's mom, Marilyn was absolutely beautiful! We are grateful also for the love, prayers, and support of this church community that helped us get through this difficult time. Bless you all.
Kevin and Trish Kalhagen
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Crop Walk Oct. 15
By Ginger Hummer
When I contacted John and Jean Shield about this year's Crop Walk, John emailed me the following response: "Jean and I will not be walking this year, but we will be in full support of the CROP walk. Because of our 'advanced' ages, we have turned over our responsibilities and donor lists to Jeff Rabe, the Youth Minister at First Congregational Church. Jeff is also the Director of the Greater Madison CROP walk. Donor checks will still be made out to 'CROP.' The McFarland UCC will still get credit for donations that come from church members and friends."
Support John and Jean in their fight against hunger. Donations may be made online ("MUCC" may be listed in the "Personal Note" section, if remembered). If you'd prefer, checks may be made out to CROP and mailed to Attn: CROP, First Congregational UCC (or FCUCC), 1609 University Ave, Madison, WI 53726 with "MUCC" in the memo.
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A Few Words From Pastor Bryan
...and Danielle LaPorte
Danielle LaPorte is a new spiritual teacher to me, but I sure have been enjoying her book, How To Be Loving: As Your Heart is Breaking Open and Our World is Waking Up. I've been sharing readings from this book the past couple of weeks with our zoom morning devotion group.
Danielle is a very mature and deep teacher, but she's also extremely accessible. I admire writers who can explore very deep and nuanced spiritual content, but who can make it all so darn simple that it really just sounds like common sense. That's an extraordinary gift...
So here's a taste of her writing that I shared with our morning group this past week. You'll see what I mean. Just a little bit of teaching, very conversational, and then a simple but powerful practice to make it easy to integrate what she's saying and make real in our everyday lives.
I hope to see you this Sunday for outdoor worship!
Pastor Bryan
Danielle LaPorte: Compassion Sees Its Reflection
In a lot of mystical, metaphysical, and spiritual texts, we come across the idea that we’re all each other’s mirrors. Everyone is a reflection of us. Yes, in the most divine sense, this is true. But let’s refine this idea a bit to make it more helpful and applicable.
If I were to regard myself as an empath and if I were relating with someone with a narcissistic personality, then as a sensitive, sensing person, I’m probably not going to use the reflection theory to conclude that “by virtue of association” I must also be a full-tilt narcissist.
However . . . on some level, we are all mirroring one another.
What I could see is that within my own shadow, there are narcissistic seeds. Maybe just specks of narcissism, but there they are. And as someone who’s going for Divine Love, it’s my responsibility to pull those seed frequencies into view.
And that’s the win: to understand. We’re aspiring to see common ground. To take responsibility. To be able to look at the person we’re in conflict with and say, “Oh, I’ve done that before,” and relax in that shared shortcoming.
And from that understanding, we release blame—in all directions—and we become Compassionate.
A Simple Spiritual Practice: “I’ve Done That Before”
Okay. This is a fantastic shortcut to instant Compassion. It’s really easy. It’s one sentence. It’s this: “Oh, I’ve done that before.”
It works for approximately 92 percent of all misunderstandings and conflicts. (The other 8 percent of conflicts will require radical Forgiving.)
Step one: Someone’s behavior causes you pain or upset. Step two: Say to yourself, “Oh, I’ve done that before.” You’ve probably caused someone else pain and upset. Maybe told a lie, let someone down. Cheated a little bit, rounded up the truth. Spoke out of turn. Flew off the handle. Like, I’ve done all that before.
Maybe it was years ago, before you were as enlightened as you are now. Maybe it was last week. When have you been “that” kind of person to someone else? And if not outwardly to someone else, when have you done this inwardly to yourself?
If you can see when and/or where else you’ve reflected the same kind of behavior that’s got you ruffled now, you’re going to be standing on common ground—which is where all polarity dissolves.
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608-838-9322
5710 Anthony St.
McFarland WI 53558
mcfarlanducc.org
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Pastor Bryan Sirchio
608-577-8716
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