Nov 29 2009
Our advent devotional this year is ADVENT REFLECTIONS, assembled by the Wisconsin United Methodist Federation for Social Action. click here for a pdf, or pick up a hard copy at the church.
The reading for Tuesday, December 1: Continue Reading »
Nov 23 2009
preached by Winton Boyd on Sunday, November 22, 2009
Continue Reading »
Nov 19 2009
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”
In this marvelous web of mutuality and interconnectedness, we live our lives as members of Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ (ORUCC).
Whatever affects one member of ORUCC directly, affects all members of ORUCC indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be as a member of ORUCC until you are what you ought to be as a member of ORUCC, and vice versa.
Simply stated, we’re here for each other!
At ORUCC, we demonstrate our mutuality and interconnectedness in many ways, but I’d like to focus on our Care-Ministries.
Caring for one another is not merely the privilege & responsibility of the paid clergy, but of the whole congregation.
Informally, at all times and places, we are sharing words and deeds of kindness and compassion with people in our congregation who have special needs.
Formally, we are sharing words and deeds of kindness and compassion with people in our congregation who have special needs through our:
Pastoral Partner Ministry;
Prayer Shawl Ministry;
Meals Ministry; and
Cards Ministry.
Pastoral Partner Ministry:
Each of our Pastoral Partners has built a relationship of care with one person in the congregation who may be going through a tough time, or with a person who may be finding it difficult to leave the home. Our “Partners” chat, pray, laugh, play games, and listen to music together. Would you like to serve as a Pastoral Partner? Contact me at ken@orucc.org or (608) 271-7212.
Prayer Shawl Ministry:
Former ORUCC pastor, Ree Hale, established a wonderful ministry called “Prayer Shawls,” and now this ministry continues through the coordination of our Moderator, Karen Faulkner. Imagine going through a very difficult time in your life; then a friend from church drops by your home, wraps a beautiful hand-knit shawl around your shoulders, and says “Dear Friend, as I wrap this shawl around your shoulders you are being surrounded by the prayers of your family at ORUCC. We’re here for you.”
You can support the “Prayer Shawl” ministry by donating yarn, knitting shawls, suggesting names of people who may appreciate receiving a shawl, or delivering a shawl yourself. Let Karen Faulkner or Debbie Bauerkemper know how you’d like to support this important Care-Ministry. Contact Karen at (608) 833-9730, or kfaulkner@ tds.net. Contact Debbie at (608) 271-7212 or office@orucc.org.
Meals Ministry:
Has someone ever delivered a delicious home-cooked meal to you? There’s nothing like it! One way to demonstrate “We’re here for each other” is through our cooking! Jan Christian oversees Meal Coordinators who enlist folks to prepare and deliver one or more meals to people in challenging situations. You can support this ministry by serving as a Meal Coordinator or by making yourself available to prepare and deliver a meal as your time and schedule permits. Contact Jan Christian at (608) 827-0500, or jlchrist@facstaff.wisc.edu.
Cards Ministry:
Another way we care for one another at ORUCC is by sending each other greeting cards. On a table in the church lounge is a box of gorgeous greeting cards and envelopes created by Dianne Stevens, who asks you to make use of the cards even if you can’t give a donation. Contact Dianne at (608) 271-2179, or dianne@dianneandpaul.net .
This was a sampling of the ongoing ministries of Care in our congregation. There are more! Through these and other Care-Ministries, may we help each other be what we ought to be in this “interrelated structure of reality!”
Much love and peace to you,
Rev. Ken Pennings
Associate Pastor of Congregational Life
Nov 19 2009
Nov 18 2009
Mission Trip Update
The 2010 Youth Group Mission Trip will be to Alamosa, Colorado. We will work with La Puente Home and San Luis Valley Habitat for Humanity. The dates are July 31- August 7, 2010. A question was asked about the total cost per person for the mission trip. I have calculated $700 to be the total cost for each participant. It is my hope that with our fundraising efforts, we will be able to cut this cost in half so that each family will be asked to pay a total of $350 for each child going.
Please ask Tammy Martens for a registration form. A deposit of $100 is due by November 30. Please let me know if you have any questions.
A group of families met and came up with a number of fundraisers to help get us to Alamosa, Colorado.
They include:
December: Orchard Ridge Post Office (Jackie Eveland-Psyck organizing)
January: T-shirt, sweatshirt sale (Chris Riese organizing)
February: Valentine’s Bake Sale (Gail Ansheles organizing)
March: Pizza Sale (Bob Ansheles, Lisa Harris organizing)
May: Bratfest (Tammy Martens organizing)
June: Golf Outing (Jon Blanchard, Tammy Boyd organizing)
Youth Christmas Party
High School Youth are invited to a Christmas Caroling/Party on Saturday, December 12 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. We will first go caroling (meet at the church at 3:00) and then come back to the church for a white elephant gift exchange and supper. Be creative with the white elephant gift you bring—the goal is not to spend any money for this gift! But if you are lacking in white elephant creativity, please don’t spend more than $5.00 on a gift. Please RSVP to Tammy if you are planning to come.
2010 Youth Gathering Monthly
With the help of the Youth Planning Team, we are trying to launch a new Youth Group adventure. High School Youth are invited to gather monthly for Youth Group time on the 4th Sundays of the month. This is also the Sunday that Tru Function plays in worship. Youth are invited for lunch and group activity from 11:30-1:00 p.m. We will start on Sunday, January 24.
