Shalom June 2021

Shalom

JUNE 2021

THE RHYTHM OF GENEROSITY

In his sermon during the closing worship of the Conference Annual Meeting, Rev. Andrew Warner reflected on how the breath prayer used with the children by his colleague at Plymouth Congregational UCC, Milwaukee--breathing in and then out--relates to generosity. "We know generosity in the depth of our bodies. Receiving. Sharing. Sprit. Peace... Generosity is the rhythm of our lives."

He went on to explain how, in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 9:1-8), the apostle Paul made generosity not a demand but a call, not a bill but a way of life, not an invoice by an invitation, when he wrote, "'And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.'"

Andrew explained that "We're born into a world of relationships; with God, with nature, and with each other... Paul wants us to breathe in this abundance, to fill our souls with the awareness of this blessing, so that our minds expand with the knowledge that God's grace abounds, more than enough.

"That's the first movement of generosity--to realize how much we've received. But we can't just hold our breath. We can't just receive and keep it. We breathe in, and then we release it. Receive. Share. We give back; that's the second movement of generosity."

Here is the complete sermon.

Click Here

CONGREGATIONS OFFERING

OUTDOOR AND IN-PERSON WORSHIP

Lake Edge UCC, Madison, will have a joint outdoor worship service with their partner congregation, Christ the Solid Rock Church on May 30, and begin regular courtyard worship with them in June. 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, will have outdoor worship with sister congregations and on their own in June. McFarland UCC will have outdoor worship services beginning on June 20. Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will have both an indoor, in-person worship beginning June 6 and an outdoor worship on their lawn on their communion Sundays throughout the summer. Middleton Community UCC had their first outdoor in-person worship service in May, as did Zwingli UCC, Paoli. 1st UCC, Belleville will have a worship service in a local park on June 27.

Zwingli UCC, Paoli, and Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, have begun, or will soon begin, having in-person worship.

On Pentecost Sunday, members of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, are invited to socialize after the online worship at a nearby park.

AND VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

A recent example of the advocacy of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, is their efforts of behalf of establishing a homeless shelter near the East Towne Mall. They urged their members to draw upon the arguments advanced by Just Dane, and send letters to their Alders.

McFarland UCC will join with a local Lutheran church in having a Zoom showing and discussion of Ethnic Notions, a documentary that examines anti-Black stereotypes.

The Racial Justice Ministries of McFarland UCC initiated community gathering at the local gazebo where the Ho-Chunk people were honored and there was information and discussion about racial justice.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC took a turn at helping staff the Black Thought Wall, an interactive community art installation that celebrates Black expression, joy and sacredness on South Park Street in Madison.

In her Time with Children, the children try to stump the pastor Rev. Kris Gorton, of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, in the Bible Story Mystery Box. While not on Holy Humor Sunday (the Sunday after Easter), their Time with Children provided a Holy Humor-filled happy birthday video.

On June 8 Middleton Community UCC will have a documentary screening and discussion panel about Alzheimer's disease. The documentary tells of three women at high risk for Alzheimer's who offer their brains and bodies to a medical study. Click here to register and obtain the link for the program.

Our congregations are finding that the online feature of computers offers added possibilities. For instance, at least these are providing their members with new electronic pictorial directories: MCC/Community of Hope UCC; Memorial UCC, Fitchburg and Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison.

On June 10, 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, will take their turn as one of the faith bodies in Sauk County that is sponsoring the Solar Power Hours. These are a public education and bulk purchasing program to make solar easier and more affordable for home and business owners.

In their Pentecost worship on May 23, Windsor UCC debuted a new song, Stronger Together, written by two of their members.

Again this year Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, will host live music on their front lawn as a part of Make Music Madison on June 21. Here is the line-up.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, had two Zoom presentations about recycling by two of their members.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Dodgeville, takes a regular turn staffing their community food pantry. Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, recently put out an plea for help at the food pantry at The Meadows apartment complex on the east side of Madison.

As a part of its transition process, the Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, is inviting its members to contribute their historical memories to a Wall of Wonder

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, will host another community blood drive on June 25. Appointments are strongly recommended.

The Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, served a free community meal on May 26.

Middleton Community UCC will have an All-Church Paddling Adventure on Wingra Lake on June 27.

The Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will discuss the novel, The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich, which is based on her Native American roots.

Members of 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, will participate in their community's Pride Fest in the city park on June 17

The children and youth of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will be making a Bible garden on church grounds. They'll learn about the plants, herbs, fruits and vegetables mentioned in the bible and how they were once used.

The Sunday School of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will be moving outdoors this summer. Following a theme of Storms Odysseys & Shipwrecks, Sunday School families will explore three Bible stories revealing God's presence in a storm.

The book group of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, will discuss Weight of a Piano, by Chris Cander, in June.

The Coffee and Conversation of Middleton Community UCC will discuss the End of White Innocence & Bad English, and An Education, Portrait of an Artist & The Indebted.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is displaying in its chapel a Pandemic Art Exhibit, which includes a pandemic prayer wall, portraits of justice and the church's origami paper cranes project.

OUR ASSOCIATION MINISTER'S

OFFICE HOURS

Zoom Office Hours

Wednesday:

June 9 - 1:00-2:30

June 23 - 1:00-2:30

Join Zoom Meeting

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

Meeting ID: 848 2118 0978.

OUR CONGREGATIONS ARE

MOVING FROM SPRING TO SUMMER

Some of our congregations are finding creative ways to honor their high school

graduates. For instance, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will have a drive-thru parade in their church parking lot. 1st UCC, Belleville, will honor their graduates with a drive-by party. MCC/Community of Hope UCC will again honor them with ceramic vessels, which will include messages from members, Bible verses and drawings.

Remembering that the apostle Paul wrote letters to the churches of his time, the pastors of 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, and Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, have invited their members to try their hand at writing letters to or about their church.

As a member of the Dane Sanctuary Coalition, MCC/Community of Hope UCC has invited their members to write letters to people in detention at the southern border They point out that climate change, with its catastrophic flooding and affect upon crops, has added to the other pressures upon people to migrate

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is looking forward to their annual campout at Governor Dodge State Park in August.

Middleton Community UCC is again offering their Camp Balsams lakeside retreat east of Eagle River for members to reserve for personal, family or group retreats

In addition to having small-group conversations in their chapel in June, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will have an all-church event at a local park in June.

TRANSITIONING TO

IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

A CONFERENCE SERIES

Our Conference Minister, Rev. Franz Rigert, offered some comments regarding an email from the Wisconsin Council of Churches regarding re-gathering. You can read it here.

In addition, the Wisconsin Conference is offering a series of topical discussions, "BE(Coming) the Church Today: Learning and Sharing in Community," on the Wednesdays in June, 12:00-1:00 each day. Here are the topics:

June 2 : Strategies for In-Person Re-Gathering--Discerning When and How to

Re-Open

June 9: Hybrid Hospitality: Intentional Invitations to Build & Rebuild Community...

June 16: Cultivating a Hybrid Community (Without Burning Out).

June 23: Mental Health and Spiritual Care: The Impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic on Our Mental Health & Congregational Life.

June 30: Tending the Soul: Ongoing Supportive Ministries.

There is no fee, but registration is required to ensure you receive the Zoom link. You may register for some or all of the sessions.

Here is the complete information..

UCC WEBINAR ON

INDIGENOUS WATER PROTECTORS

On June 14, at 1:00, the United

Church of Christ will have a webinar, Taking a Stand with Indigenous Water Protectors. There will be an explanation as to why there will be a major demonstration involving persons from around the country to oppose the expansion of a tar sands oil pipeline in northern Minnesota.

Whether or not you make the webinar's scheduled time, you can sign up here for the webinar

WANT AD

The Middleton Community UCC is seeking a part-time (approximately 20 hours/week) Youth Coordinator to work directly with youth and in collaboration with the Faith Formation Director. Click here for a copy of the job description. For more information, or to send a resume, please contact Middleton Community United Church of Christ at mccucc@middletonucc.org.