Shalom May 2023 issue

Shalom

MAY 2023

FOR ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING!

We are excited to welcome the Southwest Association to 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, on May 6, 9:00-2:00!

Our theme is Creativity, Art and Spiritual Practices in Our Communities! Much of our work in ministry is grounded in the creative arts, yet many of us are reluctant to call ourselves artists. We will have an indoor labyrinth open for walking, and an art gallery of works from churches around the Association. We are also welcoming objects of art to display. Call the church at (608) 752-8716 to arrange a drop-off time.

Our keynote speaker is Dr. Meredith Hite Estevez, oboist and creator of the podcast, "Artists for Joy". She is the author of The Artist's Joy: A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Embracing Imperfection, and Loving Your Creative Life. It's expected in bookstores in June 2024 from Broadcast Books.

We will enjoy beautiful music from a bell choir, oboist, vocalists and a quartet. Three engaging workshops fostering creativity in our communities are being offered by our keynoter and pastors Zayna Thomley, Eldonna Hazen and Tanya Sadagopan. It will conclude with a wonderful shared meal together from Chipotle and a blessing of our new Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Rachel Bauman.

Register today for this joyful day of community building, inspiration and learning! See you then. (The deadline for registration has been extended to April 27.)

Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan

Vice Moderator, Southwest Association

Minister at First Congregational UCC

54 S. Jackson St., Janesville, WI 53548

CONGREGATIONS

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, had a Sustainability Fair after their April 23 worship. It included an alternative vehicle in their parking lot, tips on driving greener, stories about home improvements and eating more sustainably..

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, noted in their newsletter a variety of ways that we can help our environment. They included conserving water, using reusable grocery bags, going solars. using k-pads instead of plastic plates and cups, and using a rain barrel.,

Middleton Community UCC had their 2nd Annual Electric Vehicle and Sustainability Show. It provided persons with the opportunity to talk to electric vehicle owners.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, had a "Wild Church" walk and work projects on their church grounds.

Other congregations also used the occasion to tend and beautify their properties, including St. John's UCC, New Glarus, Middleton Community UCC and Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, put out the call for volunteers to tend their several beds during the spring and summer.

Youth of Middleton Community UCC mounted the bird houses they had made and planted a bur oak tree.

1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, reflected on the burr oak tree, thought to be over 300 years old, that graces their property.

Members of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, picked up trash in the neighborhood of the church.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, pointed out that reducing or increasing (in winter and summer, respectively) the thermostat temperature by even a few degrees in their home makes a large difference.

Middleton Community UCC called for volunteers to prepare their Camp Balsams for the spring and summer.

OTHER CONGREGATION MINISTRIES

1st UCC, Belleville, has put up a Spring Giving Tree from the New Glarus Sunflower Resettlement Pathway, as a way to help a Ukrainian family settle here in the U.S.

Swiss UCC, New Glarus, is collecting cleaning items for homeless persons served by Porchlight.

The monthly Wayfinding retreat of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison on The Resurrection and Life after Death encouraged members to come with their beliefs, doubts, stories, etc.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, celebrated Easter by making ornaments, air clay creatures and crosses.

Immanuel UCC, Darlington, celebrated a Holy Humor Sunday on the Sunday after Easter, remembering that joy is an important part of being a Christian.

Members of the McFarland UCC will go to Milwaukee to visit the Black Holocaust Museum and lunch at a nearby Black-owned restaurant.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, called attention to the United Church of Christ encouraging their people to show love to family members, friends and neighbors who are trans on International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31.

Middleton Community UCC took a survey as a part of an effort to determine the degree of acceptance of LGBTQ+ persons in mainline denominations in western Wisconsin.

Windsor UCC is having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) orientation and training session to help members be prepared for unexpected cardiac arrest circumstances.

1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, will participate in a community CROP Walk to raise funds for Church World Service and local needs.

Swiss UCC, New Glarus, will participate in their community's Global 6K for Water walk/run, sponsored by World Vision, on May 20

Members of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, participated in a walk for the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin.

Lake Edge UCC, Madison, will have a reunion of work campers with Rev. John Shield to honor his long-time shepherding of the camp ministries.

The church also noted that a member has become certified to teach the Gokhale Method of dealing with back pain and other related issues.

Swiss UCC New Glarus, offered their Fair trade products at a 1/2 off sale.

The Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, is serving a community meal to celebrate the end of COVID restrictions and the welcoming of spring.

Dr. Desiree Grin was the recent guest speaker at the program of the Accessibility Committee of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison. She shared her heart-rending story of finding herself on the streets at age 14 and becoming an addict, and her subsequent efforts to create an affordable program to assist persons dealing with trauma.

The Bright Beginnings Preschool and Child Care has officially become a licensed child care group center at St. John's UCC, Monroe.

the Congregational UCC, Evansville, had a Medicare information session to help explain options and costs.

Members of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, helped Rev. Julia Weaver complete a stole on her loom.

Members of 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, learned the four basic steps of non-violent communication, also known as

The Language of Compassion.

The 100th prayer shawl created by the Prayer Shawl Ministry of Middleton Community UCC was recently donated.

The Over 55 group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, heard about the Grandparent Vocation, Wisdom, Legacies and Spiritual Growth.

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.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, will have their annual Gallery Night as a part of the Madison-wide event.

Middleton Community UCC packed grocery bags for MOM clients who receive home deliveries.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, had a children's clothing and shoe drive during April to help stock the pantries of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and United Way.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

St. John's UCC, Monroe, called Christina Schoenwetter as their new Pastor of Engagement. She will begin on June 26. Christina is currently a Member in Discernment.

LEARN ABOUT CREATION CARE

AT CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING

The Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting at the Green Lake Conference Center on June 9-11 will focus on Creation Care.

Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond will be give the keynote address, "Sharing Leadership into the Future." Sarah has a doctorate in administrative leadership. She was campus minister and executive 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.

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

CROSSES IN THE DESERT

As a follow-up to the April Shalom report on a trip to the border by members of our Association, their trip prompts a question: How can we help?

The crosses in the desert, placed there by the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans, a humanitarian organization, testify to the fact that people are willing to risk their lives to get to a safe place to live.

We can help by (1) educating ourselves and encouraging others to do the same; (2) sponsoring an asylum-seeker; and (3) by supporting an existing program, such as the Madison College Foundation, supported by the McFarland UCC.

ANTI-RACISM TRAINING

REQUIRED FOR CLERGY

Following the new Manual on Ministry of the United Church of Christ, the Wisconsin Conference is requiring all of its clergy to participate in an anti-racism training.

The next opportunity will be April 27, May 11 and May 25. As that time is now rapidly approaching, we alert you to the next opportunity--October 12 to November 16. Here are the details.

FARM LABOR BREAKFAST

BY WORKER JUSTICE WISCONSIN

We are invited to the Faith Labor Breakfast of Worker Justice Wisconsin at Christ Presbyterian Church on May 4, 8:00-10:00.

The speakers will be workers they've partnered with to recover wages and organize their workplaces. They will also have someone from Starbucks who will share the latest in their unionizing campaign. Register here..

Members of Lake Edge UCC, Madison, and Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will be attending.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

STATEMENT ON GUN VIOLENCE

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, called attention to this in their newsletter:

"'There is something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem you are unwilling to resolve,'" noted theologian Miroslav Volf.

"The officers and national staff of the United Church of Christ mourn with those who lament the needless deaths...in Nashville, TN."

Read the complete statement here.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST STATEMENT ON PALESTINE JUSTICE

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, called attention to this in their newsletter:

"On March 10, leaders of the United Church of Christ (and other mainline denominations)...and six other Christian organizations sent a prophetic letter to President Biden and members of Congress...(calling) for urgent action...to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing and flagrant violations of Palestinian rights."

To learn more click here.

UCC WEBINAR ON POLICE VIOLENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The monthly UCC webinar will be on Wednesday, May 10, at noon, on police violence and environmental justice. It will describe the efforts of faith leaders in Atlanta to deal with the struggle to confront violence at they seek to prevent the destruction of the Weelaunee Forest for the building of a police trailing facility.

CONFFERENCE OFFICE

TRANSITIONS TO DAYCHOLAH

On April 12 the Conference staff bid farewell to the Trost Center and moved many of their belongings to the Daycholah Center at Green Lake. While some of the staff expect to be present at Daycholah each week, all of them are available by email and cellphone whether working remotely or on site. Read about the move here.

WANT ADS:

FAITH FORMATION DIRECTOR

AND DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SOUGHT

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.

1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, is seeking a Director of Christian Education to join their staff of nine who are dedicated to sharing the joy of inclusive, progressive Christian faith with their families, children and adults. Responsibilities include helping with outreach opportunities, such as Pride events. Read more about this here.

CONGREGATIONS DISCUSS

BOOKS AND MOVIES

Washington Reformation UCC, Monticello, will discuss Have a Little Faith, by Mitch Albom

The Seekers Book Club of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, will finish their discussion of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is having several small groups discussing Rev. Daniel Cooperrider's book, Speak with the Earth and it Will Teach You.

The adult Sunday School of Middleton Community UCC has been discussing Who Is Jesus: How Can Christians Relate to Other Faith Traditions?. It asked the question, Have we domesticated Jesus and lost the mystery and power of faith? It will include a visit from Rabbi Bonnie Margulis.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, provided a detailed review of Transforming: The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians, by Austen Hartke. The book identifies Bible passages that have special meaning for transgender individuals, and shares ways that individuals and churches can support trans people in our midst.

difficult times. You can read the full article here.

The movie group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, watched and discussed Message from Hiroshima, about what life was like there before the atomic bomb, at Oakwood Village.

The Madison Big Read, How the Word Is Passed, by Clint Smith, was discussed by the Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison. Their May book will be The Daughters of Yalta, by Catherine Grace Katz.

The OPALS of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, will discuss The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison.