Shalom July 2023 issue

Shalom

JULY 2023

CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM

AND THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

As your Shalom editor, for our monthly reflections I have always used the writings of members of our churches. Now for the first time, I will diverge from that commitment. As "warrant," so to speak, I note that at least one of our congregations (Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison) has had adult sessions on Christian nationalism, which would use the power of the government to enforce a fundamentalist perspective on all Americans. In addition, in our February, 2023, issue, we called attention to a Faith and Democracy Tour sponsored in part by the Wisconsin Council of Churches

Therefore, I am sharing an editorial that appeared in Church & State magazine ("What Your Friends May Not Know About Separation of Church and State," by Rachel K. Laser), because there seems to be a widespread lack of appreciation for what the separation of church and state means, and it is important for UCC folk to understand it, because we sometimes find ourselves in an unpopular minority.

"Effective public education would be impossible without separation of Church and State...

"Many of our most fundamental rights rely on the separation of church and state..., (such as the) right to marry the person you love... All of those rights are threatened by oppressive, fundamentalist religious groups that seek to use the power of the state to enforce their theology...

"Religious groups and leaders cherish separation of religion and government" because it protects unpopular minorities, which the United Church of Christ sometimes is, from intolerant majorities.

Read the editorial in its entirety.

SUMMER MINISTRIES

OF OUR CONGREGATIONS

The theme of the summer Sunday School of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will be Workshop of Wonders: Imagine & Build with God. The summer Sunday School of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will explore drumming. Middleton Community UCC and Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, also offer a Sunday School in the summer. Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will have their annual Kids in the Garden

Salem UCC, Verona, will have an intergenerational Vacation Bible School on three summer Sundays.

Outdoor worship services were held and are taking place for St. John's UCC, Monroe; McFarland UCC; Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison and MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, joined with Middleton Community UCC in a worship service in Forward Gardens, near the Middleton church..

Dealing with dwindling membership and finances, the Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, has embarked on a turning point in their church's future. They have begun a process of discernment and discussion involving the whole congregation that will last until their Annual Meeting next January. At that time a vote will taken to revitalize their church's mission or to begin planning toward becoming a legacy church. Our prayers are with them.

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, is praying each Sunday in June for a distressed nation in the world. Example include Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and Yemen.

McFarland UCC was a sponsor of McFarland's first Pride Festival, Pride in the Park, on Jun 25.

1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, was recognized by Janesville's City Council as part of their PRIDE declaration at a recent meeting.

Middleton Community UCC celebrated and reaffirmed their Open and Affirming covenant in a worship service.

Windsor UCC has embarked on a process in which they will consider becoming an Open and Affirming church. It began with a description of the history of the ONA movement in the United Church of Christ. One purpose of the designation is to declare their openness to calling pastors regardless of their sexual orientation.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is engaged in a process of sharing memories as a part of exploring their church's history. Related to this, they have invited members to take a tour of their labyrinthine building, which has housed major national conflicts through the years

Relating to the changes brought about by the COVID pandemic, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, will have SHIFTS: Conversations about our New Now during July.

Prior to her death as a result of acute myeloid leukemia, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, encouraged their members to visit a longtime member.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, was also a location of Make Music Madison, which began part of the larger Make Music Day, an international music celebration held in \over 100 cities.

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, will have Concerts on the Square with a cook out at their church prior to them.

1st UCC, Belleville, participated in their community's Music in the Park. It involved hosting a food stand.

1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, will have Jazz in the Church on July 16.

The exhibition that features the work of a Sheboygan artist, Divine Ambiguity: Reclaiming the Sacred, at 1st Congregational UCC, Lake Mills, puts a spotlight on vulnerable persons. it lifted them up in a world that is seeing movement toward authoritarian, nationalistic and fear-based political rhetoric, It is open to the public on Tuesdays, 9:00-12:00, and on Sundays, 1:00-4:00, through July 16

1st UCC, Belleville, will host a free ice cream stand prior to a presentation by UW linebacker Maema Njongmeta July 13 at the Belleville H.S. Maema will seek to remove the stigma of mental illness.

Following a call from the Wisconsin Council of Churches, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, and MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, are encouraging their members to learn more about the Brothertown Indian Nation, which is seeking federal recognition, and to sign a petition.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madisonnoted that their help has enabled eight families to graduate into permanent subsidized housing through Heart Room.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, has put out calls to help provide items for a family who is expecting twins, and to host an asylum seeker from Nicaragua and a couple from Colombia.

McFarland UCC will host and provide temporary living accommodations for a young Haitian couple with a 1-year-old baby. Many items are needed quickly

At last report the CROP Walkers of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, raised more than $5,600.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will participate in an effort of the Dane County Emergency Management Office and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice to provide support for short-term emergency shelter needs.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, also had a Blessing of the Bicycles.

The Wisconsin Conference has awarded Catalyst grants to Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, for their Friends of the Arbor Good Neighbor House project and to Middleton Community UCC for their Neighbor Day Project.

The youth of St. John's UCC, Monroe, took a mission trip to St. Louis. They volunteered at a community food pantry garden and worked with those who help the homeless and children in crisis from abuse.

Salem UCC, Verona, youth took a serving and learning trip to the Twin Cities to explore Native American spirituality and culture.

Members of McFarland UCC will be participating in a worship of the Sikh Temple.

Rev. Tanya Sadagopan, pastor of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, is inviting members to share their questions about faith, God or Jesus toward crafting sermons about them.

Members of the Edgerton Congregational UCC helped build beds and collected mattress pads for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Community.

Members of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will be enjoying a camping outing at Wildcat Mountain State Park in July.

1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, will provide meals and overnight supervision at the GIFTS Men's Shelter in July.

A member's sculptures titled Poems of Praise & Promise in Stone are on display at MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison

Middleton Community UCC served a meal to the residents of Healing House.

The Congregational UCC, Mineral Point, will provide community meals in July and August. A free community supper will be provided by Zwingli UCC, Monticello. 1st Congregational UCC, Baraboo, will provide noon meals during the summer to children and their families who would typically get them at school.

Members of the Congregational UCC, Evansville, will deliver Meals on Wheels in July.

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, alerted their members to a group of instructors that will go to Bolivia to learn about the indigenous community there and to deliver school supplies.

Swiss UCC, New Glarus, is also collecting school supplies. They will be given to Green and Dane County Big Brothers and Bis Sisters to give to families in need.

1st Congregational UCC's Summer Storm Drain Mural Project is returning for the summer.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

Christina Schoenwetter was approved for ordination by an Ecclesiastical Council on June 4. She will begin her ministry as Associate Pastor of St. John's UCC, Monroe, on June 25.

Debi Cox will begin as the Director of Christian Education of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, later this summer.

On June 1 Emily Kaddatz began as the Interim Faith Formation Director of Middleton Community UCC.

On July 2 Bill Whitford will conclude his ministry as the Pulpit Supply Pastor of Immanuel UCC, Darlington.

Rev, Leslie Schenk, pastor of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, fell a couple of times while at the conference annual meeting. Though the falls resulted in no major damage, as a result she will have left hip replacement surgery instead the scheduled knee replacement surgery.

THE CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING

EMBRACED CHANGE

In his state of church address, Conference Minister Rev. Franz Rigert, lifted up the Annual Meeting theme, Changing Church: Following Jesus Forward. He encouraged us to grieve what has been lost but remember the Spirit of Pentecost.

Using the image of the woman who broke open her alabaster jar and anointed Jesus, he lifted up five takeaways from the meeting: The Cracked Open Church is pouring out a love that fosters personal wholeness, congregational wellness and healing for the world; one that works toward a just world for all; one that cultivates lifelong faith development; one that accompanies congregations through change and one that inspires generosity.

Read his complete address here..

A highlight of the business session was the unanimous approval of a resolution declaring the Wisconsin Conference as Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged for Mental Health (WISE).

CHURCHES INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INVESTIGATION OF BROADBAND ACCESS

The Wisconsin Council of Churches and United Way of Wisconsin have been chosen to facilitate digital equity and broadband access. A key part of this is for churches to participate in listening sessions. Read the full details here.

UCC WEBINAR ON THE WILDFIRES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

On July 12. at noon. the UCC Webinar will address the wildfires and how they reflect climate change,, "Seeing through the Smoke: Wildfires, Climate and a Path Forward." Register here.

WANT AD:

PART-TIME YOUTH DIRECTOR

St. John's UCC, Monroe, is seeking applicants for its part-time youth director. The position will include, but not be limited to, leading a regular Senor High Fellowship program.

CONGREGATIONS DISCUSS

BOOKS AND MOVIES

The Book Club of Swiss UCC, New Glarus, will discuss Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis Majors, the story of a courageous 18-year-old who gave up her comforts to become the adoptive mother to 13 girls in Uganda.

The Seekers Book Club of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, will discuss Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Kristin Robes du Mez.

The Book Group of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg will discuss A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them, by Timothy Egan.

The movie group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, watched and discussed Good Will Hunting, at Oakwood Village.

The summer programming of Java & Jesus of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison,

focus on the Phoenix Affirmations, which will also be the focus of the weekly sermons.