SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

Since several of our congregations used the theme of seeking during Lent, here is a timely reflection by Rev. Jerry Hancock, of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison.

"(The) most memorable line in (Bob Towner's) most memorable sermon was 'Jesus is not the answer to all our questions. Jesus is the question to all our answers' ...(This) says a lot about how searching for answers is not a sign of a lack of faith but is central to our faith.

"Accepting searching as a part of our faith goes beyond simply asking WWJD (What Would Jesus Do), though that is usually a good idea, it means living with a certain ambiguity, an ambiguity that starts with the Bible.

"The Bible is pretty double-edged when it comes to swords... (Not only Isaiah and Joel) ...(say) we should beat our plowshares into swords... Even Jesus, after the Last Supper, on his way to the Garden, encourages the disciples to get some swords for protection.

"So we can faithfully ask the question, when is it ok to use a sword or any kind of weapon? In self-defense? In defense of another? In defense of country? In support of Ukraine against Russia?

"These are faithful questions that can lead to very different answers. But whatever our answer, Jesus will have a question for us. I think His question is always, where is the love?" Click here for the complete reflection.

Rev. Jerry Hancock, Associate Pastor

1st Congregational UCC, Madison

Used with his permission

CONGREGATIONS TRANSITION

FROM SPRING TO SUMMER

Several of our congregations have been sprucing up their properties with spring beautification days, including Windsor UCC; Swiss UCC, New Glarus; Memorial UCC, Fitchburg; and McFarland UCC. McFarland UCC also planted some new trees on their church grounds.

Middleton Community UCC pointed out that their Summer Servants exists, in part, to help their own members who find themselves unable to do outside and inside chores

(Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, has also begun a program that solicits help and offers help to members.)

In the Summer Servants of Middleton Community UCC, their youth will help at Forward Garden and the Madison Neighborhood House and hear a speaker from The Beacon talk about homelessness.

The congregation has work sessions at Forward Garden throughout the summer.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, also used the occasion to have a work day at Arbor Good Neighbor House, a welcoming place for immigrants and others.

The congregation also heard a presentation from the Director of the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change to learn how federal tax credits and incentives can help one pay for clean energy projects.

And they had a Show and Tell in which members shared pertinent information.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg celebrated Earth Day with a Land Acknowledgment ceremony. Previously, members visited the HoCak UCC near Black River Falls to worship with the folk there.

With a bulletin board display Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, has continued its exploration of what it mans to be indigenous in North America. This is a follow-up to the Conference's resolution on how the Doctrine of Discovery has caused continuing harm.

The Immigrant/Refugee Welcoming Committee or 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, recently read an article, Ten Myths About Immigration. One such myth is that refugees are not screened before entering the U.S.

On June 4, the children of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, will present a play about tending God's gift of our earth.

The annual Kids in the Garden of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, which includes nature-based crafts, will run from June to early August.

1st UCC, Belleville, will have a Compassion Camp: Changing the World with Loving Kindness for all ages on June evenings.

On the last week in June, Immanuel UCC, Darlington, will have a Ready, Set, Move! Day Camp.

Summer activities of 1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, will be dependent upon the interests of those who attend, but may include nature walks, birding, fishing and arts/crafts.

The summer Sunday school of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will run from late June into August and include a variety of activities.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, plans to take an adult mission trip to Moon Beach Camp to volunteer at Camp AweSum, a specialized camp for children with autism and their families

Lake Edge UCC/Alliance @4200, Madison, hosted a Zoom meeting on Ending the War in Ukraine, a call to action form the Interfaith Peace Working Group

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, will

help build a Habitat for Humanity house on a June Saturday. They stressed that no experience is needed.

Olivet Congregational UCC, Columbus, had a program on Powers of Attorney: Critical Documents for Caregivers..

After A Blessing of the Bicycles at Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, members were invited to take a bike ride to Lake Farm County Park

As a youth mission trip fundraiser, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, had a beginner class on the Zentangle Method of drawing.

Salem UCC, Verona, recently noted that their youth have provided 57 hours of service in their community. They added that ten youth and their chaperones will travel to the Twin Cities for a Serving and Learning Together trip.

At a salad supper the women of MCC/Community of Hope, Madison, will hear from a speaker from Days for Girls in Madison, an organization that focuses on women's health, developing global partnership and finding solutions to help end the stigma and limitations for women and girls.

The Over 55 group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, heard a presentation on Dementia; Basics of Care from an instructor at the UW School of Nursing and a senior care specialist.

Edgerton Congregational UCC heard a presentation on how the church can support the mission of Edgerton Community Outreach.

McFarland UCC will host a multimedia exhibit and program, Taking a Journey of Hope and Discovery. McFarland residents will explain 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 our planet.

Washington Reformation UCC, Monticello, ill have their 13th annual 4th of July music festival from 11:00 to 4:00.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, had an ice cream social to honor those who have been members for 50+ years as well as their recently-confirmed youth..

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, had an Asset Mapping workshop during a recent worship service. In it they reflected on the many skills, talents, resources and opportunities that are a part of their blessings.

Recently a dozen youth of 1st Congregational UCC. Madison, helped Second Harvest Foodbank sort, weigh and package 880 pounds of Slim Jim-style sausages.

Rev. Kris Gorton of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, has been providing a series of explanations of what she will be doing during her sabbatical--Walking in God's Way of Release, Retrace, Remember, Reconnect and Return.

After a recent worship service, of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, an exchange student from Argentina explained what she has been doing in Madison and how she will become a lawyer doing a post graduate study of international and migration law.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, continues to make little dresses for Africa.

Members of 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, recently visited the Underground Railroad Museum in Milton.

McFarland UCC recently blessed the prayer shawls created by a group in their church.

The Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, also has a member who delivers prayer shawls she makes to homebound members

Middleton Community UCC and 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will be hosts for the city-wide Make Music Madison on June 21.

The Friends of State Street thanked 1st UCC, Belleville, for their recent donation of warm clothing for the homeless in Madison.

The 55 Alive group of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, had a presentation by a member of Bureau of Consumer Protection on protecting oneself from common scams and frauds.

For about a year MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, has provided their parking lot for a camper for a person transitioning from homelessness.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC,. Madison, as agreed to be a host for Reach Dane's Sneaker Drive, which also includes socks and underwear.

Middleton Community UCC had an Undies Sunday in which they collected all kins of underwear and socks for a local outreach ministry.

As a way to express their caring, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, put out a need for meals for a member who had knee replacement surgery.

In their continuing effort to highlight art, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, had an Interpretive Collage Art Project event in which young artists were recognized.

An artist member has refreshed the art display in their chapel. It includes prayers from Reformed Jewish prayerbooks.

Rev. Jerry Hancock, Director of the Prison Ministry Project of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will be the recipient of the Voices for Justice Award of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS



Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, called Rev. Kate Mackey as Associate Pastor for Children, Youth and Families effective June 1.

A liturgy of release and service of appreciation/recognition/farewell will be held for Rev. Lance Smith, of Zwingli UCC, Monticello, on June 11.

An Ecclesiastical Council will be held for Christina Schoenwetter on Sunday, June 4, 3:00, at 1st Congregational UCC, Madison (1609 University Ave.). In it Christina will explain her ordination paper and answer questions from those present.

Rev. Kris Gorton, pastor of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, began a 12-week sabbatical on May 21.

Several of our congregations are searching for pastors and for part-time interim ministers.

CHANGING CHURCH: FOLLOWING JESUS FORWARD IS CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING THEME

The Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting at the Green Lake Conference Center on June 9-11 will reflect on this time when religious institutions no longer command universal loyalty. What does "Changing Church: Following Jesus Forward" mean? "The Body of Christ has always existed in paradox."

Stephanie Perdew, the Director of the Damascus Project, will preach at the opening worship service.

Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond, will give the keynote address, "Sharing Leadership into the Future." She was formerly director of University Christian Ministries at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Workshops will include a sharing by congregations on how churches and individuals can go solar, using federal climate legislation, and how to develop leaders through establishing a Green Team. Also, how to become an age-friendly congregation.

You can read more about the meeting here, and register by using this link.

RESOLUTION ON WISE

AT CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING

It is expected that a witness resolution on the Wisconsin Conference becoming a WISE Conference will be voted on at the Conference Annual Meeting June 8-11, WISE, an acronym standing for Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged, relates to mental health. Read the details here.

Congregations are encouraged to address the stigma around mental health and to be proactive in including mental health issues in their welcoming ministries. Mental Health Sunday was May 21.

The 2015 General Synod of the UCC adopted a Mental Health Resolution.

WEAR ORANGE FOR NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

The Wisconsin Council of Churches has called our attention to June as the month for National Gun Violence Awareness, and June 2-4 as the weekend for such awareness.

Congregations may invite members to wear orange in worship, plan to use the Council's Action Guide in an education program, have special prayers for gun violence and light up their building in orange. Here is the complete message about this.

BOUNDARY TRAINING

FOR RETIRED CLERGY

On Wednesday, June 21, 5:00-8:00, there will be an opportunity for retired clergy to fulfill the requirement to complete boundary training. It will be provided by Rev. Stephen Boyd and Rev. Tara Barber. They will draw upon books by Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly. Register here. The deadline for registering is May 31.

UCC WEBINAR ON

STRENGTHENING EPA PROTECTIONS

On June 14, at noon, the UCC Webinar will be on Seizing an Opportunity: Strengthening the Protections of the Environmental Protection Agency. Register here.

WANT AD:

FAITH FORMATION DIRECTOR

Middleton Community UCC is seeking to hire a person who will oversee a formative program for children and youth to grow in their faith through education, experience and integration into the church's community.

In addition to being responsible for weekly, summer and retreat programming, the person, in cooperation with other staff, will cultivate a church culture that is intergenerational and supportive of children and youth in every aspect of congregational life.

Here is a complete description of the position.

CONGREGATIONS DISCUSS

BOOKS AND MOVIES

The women's summer book study of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will be Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement, by the March for Our Lives Founders.

The Seekers Book Club of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, will discuss If Grace Is True: Why God Will Save Every Person, by Mulholland and Gulley.

McFarland UCC, and Memorial UCC, Fitchburg joined in a discussion of Speak with the Earth and it Will Teach You, by Daniel Cooperrider.

Members of Lake Edge UCC/Alliance @4200, Madison will discuss The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict.

The movie group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, watched and discussed The Whale, a psychological drama relating to to obesity, at Oakwood Village.

The book group of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will discuss By Her Own Design: The Story of Ann Lowe, Society's Best Kept Secret, by Piper Huguley.

The OPALS of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, discussed Enemies in Love: A German POW, a Black Nurse and an Unlikely Romance, by Alexis Clark..

Java & Jesus of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, began discussing The Why and What of Christian Feminist Theology, by Anne M. Clifford.

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