|
Madison Christian Community
Weekly E-Letter
Each week, MCC sends an email newsletter with details about worship;
congregational events, activities and opportunities; information about
happenings in the community and wider church; and more. You can subscribe to
this free e-letter!
Click here.
Staying Connected:
Summer's Right Around the Corner
We will again offer a Worship-to-Go booklet for those who will be away on
Sunday but would like a mobile worship resource. We'll also hold Mid-Week
Outdoor Dinner & Worship Services this summer, each Monday in July. Keep an
eye out for additional information.
Tree Lane
Connections
Farmer's
Market
The first delivery of fresh produce from the MCC Food Pantry Garden was made
to Tree Lane this Wednesday. The Green Team picked and bagged spinach,
lettuce radishes, turnips and asparagus, like one would see at the Saturday
Farmer's Market. Children from the housing units created a homemade sign
inviting residents to take and eat. The plan is to deliver fresh veggies
each Wednesday at noon. More information to come on how you can help.
Tree
Lane Volunteer Opportunities
A small group of "Tree Lane Volunteers" met last week with Takisha Jordan, a
Road Home social worker at Tree Lane. Takisha wanted to clarify roles of the
several west side volunteer groups. They appreciate the MCC mission to help
our neighbors by donating needed supplies and providing fresh vegetables and
food items. Volunteer drivers are also needed to take residents grocery
shopping or to appointments. If interested or if you have questions please
contact Takisha directly. takishaj@trhome.org
Summer Yoga
Need an energy boost? Want to
try yoga? Ready for some gentle movement and deep relaxation? Classes are
great for all ages and abilities: Infinite Flow Yoga With Kiro in the
Blessing Room, Wednesdays 5:30-6:45. Drop in price: $15/session. Packages
available. Classes in June, July, and August except July 3.
https://www.ifyoga.com/ Namaste! Please see Beth Falkos for more
information.
Save
the Date for Church Camping
August 9-12
Join families and others from the MCC for a weekend of camping at Bethel
Horizons (near Dodgeville). We’ll take over the campground starting on
Friday, August 9. This has been an annual family camping tradition; everyone
is welcome for as long as you’d like! We hang out in the picnic shelter and
play together, often taking a trip to Gov. Dodge State Park. Tents or
campers (no hook-ups). Meals are whatever you choose to bring. There is a
shower house with bathroom facilities. Sunday morning August 11 we’ll have a
worship service with both pastors. They’ll continue on with Confirmation
students, including the high ropes course on Monday. You can come for part
of a day (like for worship) or stay all the way through. Talk to Pastor Nick
or Nicky McElfresh with questions.
2019 MCC
Directory
There are some hard copies available in the Shalom Room for those
who prefer that. Please contact Kaisa at
kaisa@themcc.net if you need one mailed directly.
Click here for a link to the electronic version.
PLEASE NOTE: we found the first error in the printed version - the last page
was left off! There will be print outs of the last page made available in
the Shalom Room for you to take home and add to your version. Or you can
click here for a link to the last page and print it out at home.
2019 Bible Reading
Would you like to set a goal of reading through the whole Bible this
year (or even having a nudge to read some more) and understand the fuller
narrative of God’s story in scripture? Pastor Nick again has available
copies of his reading guide, with a format mixing Old and New Testament
readings of about three chapters per day. You can pick up a booklet at
church on Sunday or find the
electronic version here.
Racial Justice in Action at the MCC
Summer Scheduling
This summer we will offer another showing of
the documentary "Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North" for those
who missed it or would like to see it again. Date to be determined.
Otherwise, we’re planning our next programming in the fall. Meanwhile, how
are you choosing to engage in racial justice? What would you like to learn,
and how are you seeking out resources? Where are the places in your family,
work, school, or community that you can speak up and speak out for equity?
What are you still reflecting on from the Big Read or other program? Racial
justice isn’t a program. Rather, it’s a response to the Spirit of Justice
who calls us into healing, and asks us to be vessels of healing.
Books Available
We have a few more copies of "I’m Still Here" and "Trouble I’ve Seen" in the
Welcome Center that are available for purchase.
Two
Minute Bible
 MCC member Don Falkos has been working on a new
Bible storytelling project to offer Bible stories in two minute
episodes. That’s why it’s called “Two Minute Bible” and is found at
http://twominutebible.com. Two new stories are posted each week.
Free Weekly Devotional Message; Mondays
Augsburg Fortress sends a devotional message and selection of
artwork based on a Bible reading. Interested,
click here to sign up.
Faith Formation & Affinity Groups
Fellowship
groups, Bible study groups prayer groups and shared interest groups are all
found on our Faith Formations & Affinity Groups page.
Click here.
Bible Conversation
If you’re interested in reading through the Bible next year, new guidebooks
can be found on the back table in either sanctuary or can be downloaded by
clicking here.
Java For Justice
First Sunday of the Month
Coffee can be purchased in 12 oz. ($10) or 4 lb. ($45) bags; regular or decaf; bean, drip or perk. Make your checks payable to Mt.
Meru Coffee Project and place them in the envelope by the sign-up sheet in
the Shalom Room on the Coffee Table. Your support remains the sustaining
force in the lives of many coffee-farming families in Tanzania.
Thanks for your continued support.
Food Drive for Lussier Food Pantry
First Sunday of the Month
Please remember to make a special effort to bring food for the pantry.
Suggested items include canned goods (fruit, vegetables, tuna, beef stew,
fruit juice, etc.), also peanut butter, jelly, and cereal. We also need
large paper grocery bags. Please do not put pet food in with donations for
the Lussier Food Pantry. We do not have facilities to handle fresh produce.
For those who prefer to donate money, checks can be made out to the Lussier
Community Education Center, designated for the pantry. Dobbin McNatt,
Coordinator
|
Spring chicken, Marie Antoinette, enjoying the day
Staff Schedules
Pastor Sonja is available for
pastoral care. Pastor Sonja will be attending the national UCC gathering,
General Synod, in Milwaukee from Friday, June 21, through Tuesday, June 25.
For the weekend when both pastors are away, David Keesey-Berg will be
available for any pastoral emergencies.
Boundary
Waters 2019
On Sunday, June 16 in worship, we included a blessing of our 2019 High
School Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) trip participants. After worship,
they packed up their gear. Monday morning bright and early, they
began the journey to Snowbank Lake, returning Sunday evening, June 23. This
year’s group is: MJ Bauer, Audrey Kuhn, Alynn McLeod, Ruth McLeod, Zoe
Meyer, Isla Parker, Isla’s friend Shelby, and adults Jill McLeod and Pastor
Nick
Beer &
Bible
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm
Join us on Tuesdays for weekly Beer & Bible sessions as a chance
to look ahead at the upcoming Sunday’s readings for worship. It’s a chance
for some scripture if you’re away from worship on the weekend, or a chance
to be reflecting faithfully through the week. We’re gathering at the Great
Dane Hilldale, with the small room reserved for us, but also the option to
sit out on the patio.
Summer Pick Up Choir
In addition to this Sunday, the Pick Up Choir will sing on July 21 for the
Boundary Waters service and August 18 for Pride Sunday. Come those at 8:15
am with a heart ready to sing, and practice a song to sing in worship that
day. All voices, all ages welcome!
55+ Potluck
Our next gathering happens Wednesday, June 26, at noon at the MCC. We'll
hear from John Gern on the topic of "Butterflies."
Monday Meditators
This summer's Midweek Worship will take place every Monday evening in July.
In order that folks can attend both meditation and worship in July, the
Monday Meditation Group at MCC will meet on Wednesdays for the entire month
of July. We'll meet at the MCC on Wednesdays at the usual time - 5:30pm.
Join us! Namaste.
Summer Solstice Labyrinth Walk
Summer Solstice labyrinth walk will be held at the MCC on Friday, June 21,
from 5:00pm - 6:30pm. Both the indoor and outdoor labyrinths will be
available.
Summer Reading
Advent members might recognize Wisconsin author Nickolas Butler from the
cover of the June issue of “Living Lutheran.” Pastor Nick recognizes him
from his Boy Scout troop. Nick told Nick that we’d do a church read of his
newest book. The book involves a Lutheran who is struggling with faith as
his daughter has connected with an extreme conservative congregation
involved in faith healing. Copies are available for $17.
If you’d like to chat about it, we’ll gather Thursday, July 18 at 7:00.
Sunday Adult Discussion
3rd Sunday of the Month at 9:00 am
All are welcome to attend Adult Discussion (formerly “Parent Hour”) the
third Sunday of the month in the downstairs area. Anyone with interest in
sharing the challenges and occasional triumphs of parenting is invited—the
group is accepting, and always has a robust discussion. Anyone with a
commitment to our youth, regardless of parental status, is encouraged to
join us!
Kids in the Garden
More Volunteers Needed for Kids in the Garden
45 to 47 six to ten-year-old’s from the Lussier summer camp program come to
the MCC Tuesday and Thursday mornings from June 25-August 8 to spend about
an hour in the garden, cooking foods from the garden, or participating in
naturalist activities or crafts. Due to higher numbers of kids than in the
past, more volunteers are needed! It is not a huge time commitment.
Volunteers usually arrive about 9:45 AM. The kids arrive about 10 and start
leaving at 11. The kids are broken into small groups of 4-5. A Lussier staff
member, and usually a Lussier summer intern, and an MCC volunteer work with
each small group. The groups will rotate among three “stations”—garden,
cooking, and naturalist/crafts. The garden coordinator, Becky Hustad, plans
the activities for each session and sends the lesson plans to volunteers by
email each week.
Please consider helping out when you can! You
can volunteer one session, or every session, or anything in between. You can
choose which station you prefer—cooking, garden, or naturalist/crafts. If
you haven’t volunteered in the garden before, you will need to add that
ministry to your MSP profile. This is a wonderful way to give back to our
wider community. It is also fun and you get to taste the yummy snacks
prepared by the kids.
If you have questions about the program or
volunteering feel free to talk with experienced program volunteers Joyce
Anderson, Reggie Dunst, Hildy McGown, Betty and Corkey Custer, Jen Streit or
our pastors.
UCC
Camp Opportunities
Registrations are filling up, so check this out if you want to make summer
plans! In addition to many types of camps for children and youth, there are
unique opportunities for all ages. Here’s a sampling: Grandparent & Me,
Memory Camp (for those with mild to moderate dementia and their care
partners and families), Family Camp, Creativity Connection, Adult Sail
Institute, Unravel & Unwind (yarn crafting retreat), and Camp AweSum (for
youth on the autism spectrum and their families). Scholarships are
available.
Click here to find a complete list of upcoming camps and retreats.
|
Epiphany Choir Concert 2018 Directed by Jen
Striet
Community of Hope
UCC
SWA Shalom
Community of Hope, we encourage all of our members to keep up with the
goings on of the closer-in wider church by subscribing to the e-newsletter
for our Southwest Wisconsin Association. Click
here to
send an email to sign up.
Grow in Faith with the UCC Lay Academy
Lay Academy is a ministry of transformation and
faith formation offered by the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of
Christ. Participants dive into scripture, explore theology, consider God’s
presence in their lives and discover fresh ways to speak about and live out
their faith in their day-to-day lives. Classes are held throughout the year. For more detailed information, go to
www.wcucc.org/layacademy or talk to Pastor Sonja.
Individual Support for Our WI Conference
Day-to-day, you might not see our connection to the UCC Wisconsin
Conference. But it’s there! From grant money and publicity for our
Big Read, to a subsidized clergy retreat in November, to our Associate Conference Minister Rev. Joanne Thomson joining us
for the 50th Anniversary of Community of Hope celebration, the Conference
supports our ministry. We would not be who we are without them, all year
long! You are encouraged to consider making a contribution to the Wisconsin
Conference Annual Appeal.
Here’s how.
Advent Lutheran
Church
2019 Holy Land Trip
If you are
hoping to join the journey to Palestine and Israel with Pastor Nick November
8-18, the final registration date is July 5. Please let Nick know if you’re
considering it so we can try to hold space. After that date, we will hold a
couple of info sessions. The price of $3349 includes airfare, lodging,
tours, and most meals. View the tour description (and share with friends!)
at
gtd.org/post/pdfbrochure/191108.pdf
and
register for the trip online using this link.
Click for Pictures from 2016 Trip
________________________________
In the Wider Church . . .
Denominational Resources and Efforts
-
Here is a note from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
related to recent abortion news (and the ELCA social statement).
-
For ELCA Disaster Response to recent tornadoes (and
other extreme events),
visit this page
-
The UCC page for responding and donating to
domestic disasters is
found
here.
-
Here is a second piece from Bishop Eaton addressing the
well-being of children in detention centers.
-
After the deportation this week of student Pastor
Betty Rendon,
here is a statement by the chair of Lutheran Immigration
and Refugee Services (LIRS).
This Retirement Party Will Quack You Up!
Associate
Conference Minister Joanne Thomson, a friend to Hope and the MCC, is
retiring this summer. Her retirement shindig will be held on Sunday, July
14, at a Madison Mallards ballgame. Tickets are
Great Dane Duck Blind General Admission tickets, which include open-air
seating in right field, all-you-can-eat ballpark food, bottomless beverages,
and a 2019 Mallards hat. Our price for a soda-only Duck Blind ticket is $20,
and a “with beer” ticket is $29. Deadline for tickets is June 19. Reserve
your tickets
here to join in the fun of celebrating Joanne’s ministry with us.
2019 ELCA Advocacy
ELCA Advocacy goals and tasks for engaging government this year. Read
about this work for housing and homelessness, child nutrition, criminal
justice reform, caring for creation, foreign assistance, and more, visit
this
blog post.
|