Shalom May 2022 issue

Shalom

MAY 2022

THE MANY WAYS GOD SPEAKS TO US

"'How do we responsibly discern where the Bible is right and where it is wrong? How do we avoid treating the Bible like a buffet, a smorgasbord, a cafeteria from which we choose what we like and leave the rest off our plate? ...How do we hear God speaking'"

"The Methodists have helped the Christian Church a great deal in attempting to answer this question... We hear God speaking through at least four sources: scripture, tradition, reason and human experience. These four are like the stabilizing supports or legs of a chair...

"I was raised in a Christian tradition that cited seven biblical passages that clearly condemned homosexuality, and I honestly believed there was no way for practicing homosexual to be Christian. Therefore, I stayed in the closet... (Then) I attended a conference...where Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong (spoke).

"(And ) I came out because I heard God speaking through my own nature, reason and human experience. Eventually, I was able to unpack those seven texts of terror in the Bible which supposedly condemned homosexuality... (So) we listen for all the ways God may be speaking in and through each other, in and through the scriptures, in and through all that is."

Rev. Ken Pennings Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison (shared with his permission)

For his full reflection, click here

SPRINGING INTO SPRING AT LAST!

MIDDLETON COMMUNITY UCC is going on a birdwatching field trip at Pleasant Branch Conservancy on April 30.

A few of our congregations celebrated Palm Sunday by having palm-waving processions. Members of 1st UCC, Belleville, circled a nearby local park. Members of Windsor UCC had a parade, and members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, processed in their church neighborhood.

Members of Olivet UCC, Columbus, joined in the ecumenical 8th Annual Way of the Cross Walk on Good Friday

The community's midweek Lenten services featured the book, Giving Up Something Bad for Lent, by James W. Moore.

The midweek Lenten services of Middleton Community UCC featured the book, Hope and the Nearness of God, by Teresa White.

Between Easter services at MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, members joined in a treasure hunt on the theme of Bible "trivia" meets Minecraft.

Middleton Community UCC, a long-time supporter, and its recent Interim Pastor, Rev. Jen Bloesch, encouraged its members to attend the Annual Gala of The Crossing, an ecumenical ministry on the campus of UW-Madison is on April 30. Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, also promoted the event. Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, provides meals to the students there as well..

A member of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, recently returned from a month of volunteering at a facility in Tucson, AZ, to help with the immigration asylum situation.

The congregation also hosted a Dane Sanctuary Coalition "Big View" event in which persons watched an episode of the documentary, Living Undocumented.

McFarland UCC called members' attention to an opportunity to help the people of Ukraine--participating in a national CROP Walk, which could include walking on one's treadmill or in one's neighborhood. Many of our congregations told their members how they can give to Ukrainian relief efforts.

1st Congregational UCC, Evansville, provides meeting space for Building a Safer Evansville (BASE), a community coalition dedicated to helping and supporting youth to make safe, healthy choices as a part of creating a more inclusive and welcoming Evansville.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, is one of the many sites of Gallery Night in early May, a semiannual, city-wide event sponsored by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Their exhibit will feature the work of students in kindergarten through 5th grade.

In preparation for calling a pastor, Edgerton Congregational UCC will have Leadership for Congregational Crossroads, a two-session workshop to explore where they have been as a congregation and where they are going.

A member of McFarland UCC recently shared a reading explaining what a sculpture she created means to her and that she came to that church because of its welcoming stance toward LBGTQ persons.

The adult education time of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, recently discussed the polarization of society and how each of us has unwittingly contributed to it .They shared the experience of a grassroots group, Braver Angels.

Advance Care Planning--learning about the types of decisions that ideally could be made in advance of the need--was the subject of a session at Lake Edge UCC, Madison.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, invited contributions of used magazines as a way to promote literacy--a project of MagLiteracy..

Middleton Community UCC held an EV Car and Sustainability Show on April 23 in honor of the annual Earth Day. It gave owners a chance to show off their electric vehicles and talk to people how much fun and efficient it is to own an EV/PHEV.

There were also games for kids, an interactive solar panel display, and representatives from clean energy.

and environmental organizations and businesses.

Children, youth and families of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, worked with recycled materials to create some art pieces for their Earth Day Art Exhibit.

McFarland UCC observed Earth Day by focusing their April 24 worship on the work of their Green Team, including displays on their various activities

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, observed the day by addressing the problem of plastics and what we can do about it.

Members of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, celebrated Earth Day by tending their church gardens, prairie, landscaping and bee hives.

Their Land Use Umbrella Group launched the program, Tending Soil and Soul, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays after worship.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, will offer Climate Change and Migration both in person and by Zoom on May 15, 3:00-4:00. Here is more information about the event.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, celebrated Earth Day by watching a TED Talk, Climate Change Will Displace Millions: Here's How We Prepare. The church's Environmental Justice group facilitated a discussion afterward. In addition, that group encouraged members to add their names to a letter to our elected officials

The Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, served their monthly community meal, and the Congregational UCC, Evansville will serve their free community meal in early May.

Lake Edge UCC, Madison, serves meals at Healing House, a facility for families with members leaving the hospitals, 4-6 times a year. With their partner congregation, Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church, they will be serving a Taco Tuesday Community Dinner at Frank Allis Elementary School. Middleton Community UCC will also serve a meal at Healing House in May.

Olivet UCC, Columbus, took their turn hosting the community food pantry.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, and Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, are co-sponsors of the 6th annual Interfaith Ramadan Iftar (Break the Fast) event on April 30, 7:15 p.m., at Lakeview Park in Middleton

Wayfinding for Seniors resumes at Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison. It will emphasize the spiritual aspects of aging and the end of life.

The pastor of the Middleton Community UCC, Rev. Zayna Thomley, held public office hours at Barriques.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is inviting members to join one-hour gatherings--"pod parties"--during April and May.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, resumed First Friday Fellowship gatherings during Lent.

We Were the Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter, will be the book for the May Zoom book group meeting of Lake Edge UCC, Madison.

How to Stop Time, by Matt Haig, will be the focus of the Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison. Their Java & Jesus discussed these books in April: The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, by Richard Rohr and After Jesus, Before Christianity: An Historical Exploration of the First Two Centuries of th Jesus Movement, by Erin Vearncomb.

Coffee and Conversation of Middleton Community UCC will discuss Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, by John Philip Newell, in May.

As Middleton Community UCC provides the meeting space for Mad City Quilt Guild, the Guild is inviting members of the church to their Market Day in the church's Fellowship Hall on May 7.

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INSTALLATION OF REV. JULIA BURKEY

AT ORCHARD RIDGE UCC

The installation of Rev. Julia Burkey as the pastor of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will be in person on Sunday, May 22, at 2:00.

The Division of Church and Ministry of the Southwest Association invites all members, friends and clergy of the Association to attend. The installation theme will be about claiming joy in times of transition. (Psalm 121:8--"May God guard your going out nd your coming in, from this time and forever more')

Clergy are invited to wear red stoles, but no robes are necessary. There will be cake following the service.

During the service a compassion offering will be received for the church's collaborative housing justice program, the Heart Room (https://orucc.org/justice/heartroom/).

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

Bill Whitford was called as the Pulpit Supply Pastor at Immanuel UCC, Darlington, effective March 1.

Rev. Lance Lackore has been called as Interim Pastor at 1st Congregational UCC, Lake Mills, effective April 1.

Zwingli UCC, Paoli, has called Rev. Stephen Davis, as Interim Pastor.

REMINDER: SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING IS THIS SATURDAY

The Annual Meeting of the Southwest Association convenes by Zoom at 9:00 a.m. and will adjourn at 3:00. The registration deadline has passed.

Programing is provided by the Supportive Ministries Task Force under the theme, "Tending the Soul of the Beloved Community" in both the keynote address and the breakout sessions.

In addition, the regular business will be conducted.

CRISIS LEADERSHIP

FOR GOD'S BELOVED

The regular feature of the Wisconsin Conference UCC, Tending the Soul of the Beloved Community, offers a reflection in preparation for a conversation that will take place on May 4, 1:00, on Zoom.

"If it feels like you don't know where you're going, that's okay. Here's something that can help you reflect on what God might have in store for you and your congregation...

"As we move to the next phase of these issues, the question is, What will be the same and what will be different..." Change is challenging...

"Adaptive change is the gap between the values and beliefs people stand for and the reality that they face. Technical change refers to issues that can be diagnosed and solved...

"As a leader it is much easier to make technical changes, but many of the challenges following a crisis are adaptive in nature...

"(After quoting Henri Nouwen,) As we leaders respond to our call to do the hard work of adaptive change that will serve the greater good by serving God on the next phase of this crisis time, may we be sustained by the knowledge that we indeed, are God's Beloved."

Cathy Willie

WISCONSIN CONFERENCE

ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 10-12

The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference will be held June 10-12 at the Green Lake Conference Center. The theme will be, Building up he Beloved Community. It will acknowledge the toll that the pandemic has taken on congregations, pastors and lay leaders. Here is more information.

It will include a celebration of the 26 years in which the Lay Academy transformed and equipped the saints of the Conference's congregations. It has been succeeded by the Damascus Project.