Shalom April 2023 issue

Shalom

APRIL 2023

WHY DID JESUS DIE?

For many parishioners traditional explanations of why Jesus died and the resurrection are stumbling blocks. "Some of us grew up learning that the reason Jesus died was because humans were sinful which made God angry, so God sent Jesus to 'atone' for our sins. In other words, Jesus had to die to appease a wrath-filled God.''

"For others the stumbling block is the whole idea of resurrection... The temptation to simply reject what we can't handle is always there... (But) Jesus didn't go to the cross in order for God to forgive us because God forgives us before we even know to ask. Jesus didn't go to the cross in order to change God's mind about us.

"Jesus went to the cross to change our minds about God. Jesus went to the cross so that we might see, as 1 John says, that 'God is love' and 'God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.'"

"So, who killed Jesus? For Peter and the early Christians, humans killed Jesus... The point of the cross is that Jesus takes violence out of circulation. He responds to human violence by absorbing it and responding with the only thing that will stop the cycle of violence from continuing and that is forgiveness." Read the complete reflection here.

Rev. Tammy Martens, retired Associate Pastor of Children, Youth and Families

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison

Used with her permission

MOVING BEYOND EASTER

TO RESURRECTION MINISTRIES

Holy Week at MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, is built around the African American spiritual Were You There? Picking up on a theme at an Awaken Dane meeting, it will relate the suffering of Jesus to those who are suffering around us, including immigrants, refugees, Palestinians and those who suffer abuse.

Members of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will be watching a PBS special on March 31, 6:00 p.m., The Last Days of Jesus. It shows the historical Jesus in a different light based on a new interpretation of contemporary historical evens in Rome

During Lent, Pat Pluss, the pastor of Swiss UCC, New Glarus, preached a sermon series on The Lord Is My Shepherd.

The Lenten theme of 1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson has been Hope.

1st UCC, Belleville, will have their traditional Palm Sunday parade from the local park to the church, complete with a donkey and palm branches.

The Congregational UCC, Evansville, will join in an ecumenical Good Friday lunch and worship with other Evansville churches. The Congregational UCC, Whitewater, shares in ecumenical Good Friday services.

As a part of their Immigration Justice Outreach, the McFarland UCC heard from a member couple who went to the Arizona border to attend an immigration justice seminar

As part of their social justice ministry, the Immigration Justice Team of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, offers rides to asylum seekers traveling to Milwaukee and Chicago for their interviews, hearings and other appointments. (See the March Shalom for a story of the involvement of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison.) They also offer to provide a room in a member's home for such asylum seekers.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, was the host for the Kingdom Justice Summit of Awaken Dane, a new form of being a worshipping community to bridge divides of conservative/progressive and mainline/evangelical.

The Joyful Hearts Mission Committee of Swiss UCC, New Glarus, highlighted the church's Dresses for Africa project in which 48 dresses were created and sent off.

Olivet UCC, Columbus, partners with the local United Methodist Church is providing a community meal each month.

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, provided a free community supper on March 27. The Congregational UCC, Whitewater, provided a community meal along with the First English Lutheran Church.

Swiss UCC, New Glarus, has been providing a regular men's community prayer breakfast

The food pantry of Swiss UCC, New Glarus, provides fresh items such as milk, eggs and butter every Wednesday.

1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, will host the Alleluia Sound & Good Vibrations on their 51st Annual Tour.

Middleton Community UCC has added accessibility improvements to their Camp Balsams, a resource that sets it apart from other churches. One of the goals of the Balsams Committee is to keep prices low enough to make it affordable.

Recently, some of their youth enjoyed winter fun as a part of their winter retreat there. Racial justice and white privilege were the theme of their retreat..

As Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, continues their series, The Soul-tasks of Aging: Toward a Theology of the Elder Years, they held a Wayfinding retreat on becoming death doulas in which participants shared stories of witnessing death and what they learned from the death.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, offered their church as a warming center for the community when the weather got bitterly cold. In addition, they have provided cots, blankets and meals for Family Promise guests during the winter.

McFarland UCC had a spring equinox Fire Ceremony to honor the spirituality of other religious observers.

on Maundy Thursday, the pastors of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, plan to host dinners for members in which they will share a Last Supper litany.

At their April 55 Alive, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will explore biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, pronouns, and sexual expression.

At the recent community meal at Zwingli UCC, Monticello, persons heard from representatives from UCCI and the Daycholah Center of the Wisconsin Conference about the outdoor ministry of the Conference.

Rev. Bryan Sirchio, pastor of McFarland UCC, relates his delightful surprise at recently hearing from Noel Paul Stookey, better know as a singer with Peter, Paul and Mary, and realizing that he had contact with Paul when he was a child. If you want to read more about it, click here.

Middleton Community UCC will provide a homemade meal for Healing House in April.

St. John's UCC, Monroe; Middleton Community UCC and 1st Congregational UCC, Madison are providing meals for college students at the Crossing at UW-Madison in March and .April.

In response to questions, McFarland UCC members are being encouraged to take their own coffee mugs to the church for their use or to donate to others.

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, was host to the International Women's Day lunch on March 8. The theme for this year's event was Break the Bias. which ;focused on biases against women.

Efforts to help Cristella and her daughter, Aurora--recent refugees fleeing violence in Central America--include contributions being raised by the Church School children of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison and the donation of items to furnish their living space.

The First Nations group of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, provided an update of their work and connection with Aldo Leopold's land ethic, including a video which reflected on past injustices toward Native Americans.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, has a Wonder Wall outside their chapel, inviting members to enter their faith questions.

McFarland UCC has invited its members to write postcards to people of color in Milwaukee who have not voted to encourage them to vote in the election of April 4.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, invited its members to take a special walk on their labyrinth to meditate of the church's theme of Hospitality.

Though space limitations kept Patrick Fernan's latest production (Neil Simon's Rumors) from being held in McFarland UCC (though rehearsals were held there), the funds raised were donated to the local food pantry.

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, hosted a community blood drive in March.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, invited their children to prepare seeds for planting pizza toppings so that they can enjoy a Pizza Garden later on.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, continues to help Family Promise of Green County by building welcome kits for their guests and learning how to sign up for other volunteer opportunities.

A member of McFarland UCC introduced the Enneagram--a tool of personal awareness and growth--to its members.

1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, has a Childcare Center for the community.

1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, recently took its monthly turn delivering community Meals on Wheels

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will again launch a month-long activity known as Mystery Friends, in which adults and children are secretly matched up and correspond with one another.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

The Installation of Rev. Lance Lackore at 1st Congregational UCC, Lake Mills, will be on Sunday, April 23, at 2:00.

The Installation of Rev. Sara Rabe at 1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, will be Sunday, April 30, at 2:00.

Rev. Dave Schnepf is now serving as the Interim Minister at 1st Congregational UCC, Milton.

St. Stephen's UCC in Juneau has voted to close. Their last Sunday worship was March 26.

Rev. Tiff Bates will retire as Interim Associate Pastor of St. John's UCC, Monroe, effective May 7.

ANALYSIS OF APRIL 4

REFERENDUM QUESTIONS

The April 4 election will ask voters to weigh in on two important referendum questions related to bail and welfare requirements. Since many readers of this newsletter probably do not access Wisconsin Council of Churches newsletters, we are providing their thoughtful analysis of these questions. It offers some background that may be helpful. Here is the complete analysis.

SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING MAY 6

The Annual Meeting of the Southwest Association will be Saturday, May 6, 9:00--1:00, at 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville. The theme will be, Creativity, Art and Spiritual Practices in Our Communities. Dr. Merideth Hite Estevez, a spiritual space-maker for artists, will be the keynote speaker.

The registration deadline is April 24

PALESTINE-ISRAEL TODAY:

A CONVERSATION

On April 17, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Rev. Steve Davis, Interim Minister of Zwingli UCC, Paoli, will facilitate a conversation on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how Christians might respond. The intent of this meeting is to gauge interest in creating a Conference working group around the issue of Palestinian-Israeli relations. You can register here.

ANNUAL GALA APRIL 23

AT THE CROSSSING

We are invited to share in an evening of storytelling and fellowship on Friday, April 14, 6:00, at the Annual Gala of The Crossing, the ecumenical ministry to college students on the UW-Madison campus. Contact Sue Dixon for questions or tickets at suedix@charter.net or (608) 712-9050.

PREPARING FOR EARTH SUNDAY--

RESOURCES FOR CONGREGATIONS

A United Church of Christ webinar will be held on April 12, 12:00, to explain resources that congregations can use to celebrate Earth Day (April 22). In particular the focus will be on justice and food. Register here.

EARTH DAY SUMMIT

At 10:00 on Earth Day, April 22, the United Church of Christ will hold a 2.5 hour summit, What's Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope. It will feature a keynote by Rev. Jim Antal and a panel of inspiring speakers. Sign up here to receive the link to a recording of it.

WHITE CHRISTIAN

NATIONALISM STUDY

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is hosting an eight-week hybrid study on the challenges posed by white christian nationalism, The Seven Deadly Sins of White christian Nationalism. It is on Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00. It began February 28 and runs through April 18. It is facilitated by Rev. Dr. David Anderman, a member of the church.

Participants may attend in person or by Zoom. To receive the Zoom link email ddavea@,mac.com

NEW CENTURY HYMNALS NEEDED

Gretchen Viney, a member of 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, needs a few more New Century Hymnals and a accompanist (binder) volume for the 1st Congregational UCC, Grand Marsh, were she is serving as a regular pulpit supply. She is willing to pick them up. If you can help, contact her at ggviney@gmail.com.

COURSE ON THE PRACTICE OF FINDING OFFERED

Rev. Holly Whitcomb is offering a four-week e-course from April 10 to May 5 on The Practice of Finding. It will follow her book, The Practice of Finding: How Gratitude Leads the Way to Enough. Read about the details here.

GENERAL SYNOD QUESTION

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, has pointed out that delegates to the United Church of Christ General Synod in Indianapolis June 30 to July 4 will be voting on changing the UCC Bylaws from having General Synods every two years to every three years.

CONGREGATIONS DISCUSS

BOOKS AND MOVIES

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, alerted their members to Living Undocumented as the current "Big View" offering. It broadens one's understanding of what is like to llve as an undocumented person in the U.S..

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, showed the video series, The Work of the People, on the Wednesdays during Lent.

The book group of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will discuss Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times, by Otis Moss III.

Java & Jesus of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, picked up on their Lenten theme

of the radical hospitality of Jesus by discussing a chapter on forgiveness of Jesus Before Christianity, by Alert Nolan.

Then they invited participants to bring a favorite reading, poem or such which reminds them of grace and strength in difficult times.

The current book of Middleton Community UCC is See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, by Valarie Kaur.

Salem UCC, Verona, showed the movie, Inside Out as a part of their Nothing to Hide exhibit, and families received a take-home packet with discussion questions, games and projects to help children identify, understand and talk about feelings.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, has been having a Lenten study of Jesus' last week, using books by New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity John Dominic Crossan. They have also suggested that people can study during Lent Empty Altars: American Saints in a Cynical Age, by Diana Butler Boss..

The OPALS group of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, discussed Breakfast with Buddha, by Roland Merullo.