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
