Shalom September 2021

Shalom

SEPTEMBER 2021

THOUGHTS FOR LABOR DAY

Louse Schmier, writing in the newsletter of 1st UCC, Reeseville (Rev. Lois Rosko, pastor at the time, reflected on an experience she had on the Valdosta State University campus. "A custodian was cleaning the carpets. I stopped to chat with him,. He looked at me more than tad stunned when I said..., 'Thanks for keeping this place clean. I for one really appreciate it.'

"'Thank you for that,' said the custodian. 'No one has ever said that to me, especially a professor. People act like I'm made of see-through glass. Thank you for seeing me.'"

Louise then reflected, "After I came home from my walk, I was...thinking about what it took for me to add the 700 square feet of...three rooms by myself some thirty odd years ago... And, once again, I realized how much I admire the people who work with their hands--and their minds--a competent carpenter or gardener or auto mechanic or electrician or plumber or painter who may not have a college degree, who maybe didn't even graduate high school., who can masterfully wield a hammer or wrench or screwdriver or paint brush...I so honor anyone if he does his work skillfully with excellence and with integrity...

"I look around at my campus and I see secretaries, clerks, cooks, grounds keepers, police, electricians, locksmiths, painters, garbage collectors, computer technicians, exterminators, mail people, and a host of other see-through glass people. Too often ignored...

"The problem is...that there is nothing more precious than the feeling you matter, that you contribute to the value of the whole, and be recognized for it. Feeling that you're genuinely appreciated and cared about is the greatest energizer of most people...

"Be consciously and vocally appreciative. It doesn't cost anything to say a kindly and acknowledging word..."

CONGREGATIONS PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY AMID THE PANDEMIC

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, Middleton Community UCC, and 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, have decided to indefinitely pause their reopening for in-person Sunday worship services because of the explosive growth of the Delta variant of COVID-19. Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, has ceased their in-person worship until the end of October, except for outdoor communion on the 1st Sundays of the month.

Others, such as Immanuel UCC, Darlington, MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison; Windsor UCC, 1st UCC, Belleville; 1st Congregational UCC, Whitewater, Middleton Community UCC, Salem UCC, Verona, Edgerton Congregational UCC, and St. John's UCC, Monroe; are proceeding cautiously and stressing rules, such as mask-wearing

CONGREGATIONS ARE SERVING AND ENRICHING THEMSLEVES

In addition to those mentioned in the August Shalom, these congregations are providing school supplies to their local schools: McFarland UCC; 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville; and 1st Congregational UCC, Madison.

As recommended by the Conference's Creation Care Team (see the article in the right-hand column), the Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will discuss Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, at their September meeting. Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, is also offering discussion opportunities.

For the last of its Sunday Shenanigans, the Sunday School children of 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, had fun at Devil's Lake State Park for games, worship and a picnic.

Three congregations took advantage of the summer weather to show movies outdoors. McFarland UCC showed Remember the Titans, the true story of a newly-appointed African American coach and his high school team. Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, showed a Tom & Jerry cartoon. 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, showed Muppet Treasure Island.

1st Congregational UCC, Whitewater, also had a Vacation Bible School during a week in August.

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, has had a series of stories about the church's history. In August the story reported on how congregation educated itself about the slave situation in Kansas and took a strong stand against slavery.

Two of our congregations have Little Free Libraries on their properties: Mazomanie UCC and Middleton Community UCC.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC reports that a student's doctoral dissertation, which included an important visit to the church, has been published.

The Monday Morning Book Group of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will discuss Our Time Is Now: Power Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America, by Stacey Abrams.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, will once again serve as host for Grant County's program of providing shelter and meals to homeless families. It will be at the Day Center in Lancaster

The Mind/Body/Spirit mindfulness group of Middleton Community UCC is currently reading Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World, by Sharon Salzberg.

The next book group discussion of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, will be on Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies, by Vicky Zimmerman.

OUR CONGREGATIONS

FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO SERVE!

At Zwingli UCC, Monticello, Hands of Change is a group of caring young people who strive to make a difference in their world by going out after school to visit a service site in Green County, such as nursing homes and assisted living centers, Green Cares Food Bank and Green County Humane Society.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, has a car donation program in which they provide cars to neighborhood families in need of reliable transportation.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC is partnering with Dane County Time Bank in their program to write letters to school district administrators, school board members, principals and elected officials to petition them to take proactive measures to keep all students safe in the wake of he coronavirus.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, has alerted their members to a program on September 23, 7:00 p.m., by their former pastor, Rev Phil Haslanger--"One Light, Many Candles." He has adapted a multimedia program created bv Rev. Betty and Noel Paul Stookey, along with original music by Michael Bryant.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC invites their members to a night with Just One International, a nonprofit organization operating in Honduras and based in Madison, on Sunday, September 26, 7:00 p.m. The agency's work of education and family empowerment relates to students of a member of the congregation who taught there in 20l17-18.

In June, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison , celebrated the graduation of their preschool students It was an occasion for their Early Childhood learners to reconnect with a favorite librarian from Hawthorne Library. The children went on a summer field trip to Troy Gardens

Since the pandemic forced cancellation of the annual Pride Fest Parade, members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC paraded instead around their neighborhood on Pride Weekend.

Celebrating the end of summer, members of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, took a hike, with live music, in their own woods, orchard and flower garden.

OUR ASSOCIATION MINISTER'S

OFFICE HOURS

Zoom Office Hours

Wednesday:

September 1 - 1:00-2:30

September 15 - 1:00-2:30

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84821180978

Meeting ID: 848 2118 0978.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS AND NEWS

Our Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Lorraine Cineceros, will leave us in mid-November to become the Conference Minister of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference. Here is more information that our Conference provided. We thank Lorraine for the valuable service she has rendered for us, and we wish her the best in her new ministry.

Rev. Julia Burkey, pastor of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, reports that she, her husband and infant daughter contracted COVID-19, apparently as a result of going unmasked outside. Fortunately, their symptoms have not been severe.

ATTENTION LAY LEADERS:

CLERGY RENEWAL GRANTS

Rev. Franz Rigert, our Conference Minister, has alerted us to the opportunity to provide pastors with Clergy Renewal Grants as a way to help them deal with the extra stresses brought about by by the pandemic.

The modest financial grant of between $500 and $1000 would help congregations cover such things as the cost of pulpit supply. Here is more information

CONFERENCE RECOMMENDS

BRAIDING SWEETGRASS

Members of Wisconsin Conference congregations are encouraged to join in a Big Read this fall and beyond, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.

The encouragement comes in particular from the Conference Creation Care Team, and is a response the Kairos Call to Action on behalf of God's good, but threatened, Creation.

Conference activities and resources to support the Big Read will include:

Virtual Conference-wide discussions of the book on the Thursdays (7:00 p.m.) of September 9 and 30, and October 21.

A talk by the author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, by Zoom on October 9.

A study guide and other resources.

Here is the complete description of this initiative

In addition, there will be an event at Pilgrim Center October 7in which the author will speak from his Native American perspective on nature and ideas of creation care. We'll share more information in the October Shalom.

"MOVING FROM LAMENT

TO HOPEFULNESS"

SEPTEMBER 1

The Wisconsin Conference Supportive Miniseries Team invites us to join a Tending the Soul Zoom event on Wednesday, September 1, 12:00-1:00, for a discussion, "Moving from Lament to Hopefulness." tt will provide an opportunity to talk through our shared experience of the DOVID-19 pandemic. To join in, please register here.

YOU ANSWERED THE CONFERENCE'S SURVEY ON BEING THE CHURCH

DURING THE PANDEMIC

The Conference has shared the responses to their survey on how our congregations dealt with the pandemic's challenges.

You told them that hybrid worship is here to stay and that the pandemic revealed more food insecurity in your communities than previously imagined.

You handled vaccination hesitancy with a combination of compassion and firmness.

Most of fall, the pandemic forced you to find fresh ways to be the Body of Christ in a wounded world.

Here is a more detailed report on the responses. Note the first article.

IMMIGRATION JUSTICE

WORSHIP LITURGY

The Immigration Justice Working Group is creating a liturgy for worship that will focus on the plight of immigrants attempting to enter our country. It will be available by mid-September. Check out the Conference website to receive it.

WANT ADS (Still Seeking)

Plymouth Congregational UCC,. Madison, is seeking a part-time youth leader. Click here for the details.

St. John’s UCC, Monroe, is seeking a collaborative, creative individual to join their team as office administrator/media coordinator. This individual should have experience in all aspects of office administration and knowledge and appreciation of digital platforms. The individual must demonstrate creativity through which the liveliness of our ministries comes alive through the visual story and communicates our message to members of the congregation and a wider community, sparking spiritual curiosity and growth. If you are interested in this part-time position, please submit a resume to toddstjohns@tds.net or in person to the church office.