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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.
Because of You, Our Church Changes Lives
The Leadership Team co-chair Betty Custer kicked off our fall
stewardship season with the reminder that "because of you, our church
changes lives," which was most directly on display in that service with the
9th graders being confirmed and sharing their faith. What life-changing
work! Thank you to all who picked up your personalized stewardship packets
on Sunday. They include a reflection letter and info page, your current time
and talent interests, and pledge forms. Remember that besides considering
your financial pledge, this is a season to review your availabilities to
volunteer, and also to update your information in the online scheduler for
the biographical directory. For those who are unable to pick up a packet
this Sunday, they will be mailed to you next week. If there is not a packet
with your name on it, please let a pastor or Stewardship Team member know.
Pledges are being received in worship on All Saints Sunday, November 3, but
this year also includes new online pledge forms.
Hope's form can be found
here.
Advent's form can be found
here.
2019 Stewardship Team: Betty Custer, Ellen Ermer, Larry Henning, Rita Olson,
and both pastors
Sanctuary
Update—Ready, Set, Go
Orchard Ridge UCC, one of Dane Sanctuary Coalition’s Sanctuary
congregations, has said yes to the need for temporary shelter for an
asylum-seeking family in Madison. This is an expansion of Dane Sanctuary’s
mission as new needs have arisen in the immigrant community. The family will
be moving into ORUCC in the coming days. This will test our readiness as a
Coalition to spring into action for housing. Those of you who have signed up
to be Sanctuary volunteers may be called up to assist with the variety of
tasks that will be necessary to provide for this family. Stay tuned for
additional information as we have it to share.
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.
Food for
Haiti
Because Haiti Allies has lost their longtime funding for feeding the school
children, due to the death of our angel from California, any funds we can
raise for food will be most appreciate. Checks can be put in the offering
plate made out of Haiti Allies, with food in the memo line. if you prefer to
give cash, give it to either Kathy Johnson or Linda Pedersen. $5.00 feeds a
child for one week, so any amount is important. Thanks for helping us with
this ongoing need. For many children, this is the only meal they have each
day.
Racial Justice in Action at the MCC
Opportunities to participate with Jesus
in creating a racially just world.
Racial Justice Task Force Meeting
Monday, October 14, 6:30 pm. Anyone interested in helping to plan and lead
our ongoing racial justice efforts is welcome.
Know Your Rights Training:
Orchard Ridge UCC October 15
There will be another Know Your Rights training on Tuesday, October 15, from
7:00-9:00pm at First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison.
RSVPs can be sent to Dorit Bergen at
elanor3560@att.net.
This training is required for volunteers who will be working with the
Honduran family at Orchard Ridge, along with a background check and signing
a non-disclosure agreement. If you've been to one of our Know Your Rights
trainings, you do not need to attend another one, but you are welcome to do
so if you want a refresher.
Dane Sanctuary Coalition’s Volunteer
Driver Needed
Are you looking for a great way to help immigrants deal with the legal
system? Consider volunteering as driver to give rides to immigration
hearings and appointments. Want to learn more? Come to our next volunteer
driver training to get the details. The training will be on Monday, October
7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at First Baptist Church, 518 N. Franklin Ave, Madison.
Please RSVP by October 4 if you plan to attend. Email Dorit Bergen at
elanor3560@att.net.
Documentaries & Dialogue
This series continues each Wednesdays through Oct 30 at 6:30 pm. The films
are specifically crafted to enhance understanding and spark conversation
about whiteness, racism, and racial justice. Commit to the full series if
you’re able, but attend those that you can. We’ve extended the invitation to
other Big Read-related congregations.
Oct 16—The Color of Fear. Looks at
the state of race relations in America through the eyes of 8 men of
different cultural backgrounds. Reveals the pain and scars that racism
causes, which leads to a deeper sense of understanding and trust.
Oct 23—Cracking the Codes.
Addresses the causes and consequences of systemic inequity to disentangle
internal beliefs, attitudes and pre-judgements, and builds skills to address
the structural drivers of social and economic inequities.
Oct 30—Healing Justice. Explores
causes and consequences of the current North American justice system on
marginalized communities. Addresses the school-to-prison pipeline, the need
for comprehensive criminal justice reform, and the importance of healing and
restorative practices.
Books Available
Books Available Remaining copies for purchase of Trouble I’ve Seen and I’m
Still Here are located in the Welcome Center.
 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.
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
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Boundary Waters Group 2019
Congregational Meeting October 27
The Leadership Team has called a congregational meeting for the MCC after
worship services on Sunday, October 27. At the MCC annual meeting in January
2019, the congregations decided to form a Task Force to research some larger
capital projects and offer a proposal for how we might address them. Some
projects have been funded in other ways, including parking lot maintenance,
landscaping, and a furnace. Remaining projects, either for repair or
expansion of our mission and the ministry of our facilities, include upper
entryway replacement, lighting in Blessing Room and Shalom Room, lower
bathroom redesign, and siding and window replacement. You can read more
about the projects and what the Task Force recommends as the wisest
financial solution (a $300,000 mortgage) in this
document.
Although this plan will not have an impact on next year's budget, we hope
the congregational meeting will give you an opportunity to be excited about
the plan and the work happening at the MCC as you prepare to submit pledges
the following week.
Prayer Path Dedication - October 20
At the retirement of Sonja Keesey-Berg in 2016, in recognition for her 23
years of service to the MCC as Administrative Secretary, we began the work
on a prayer path, which would also serve to highlight the various ways the
MCC is engaged in land-use stewardship. The path is at long last nearing
completion, particularly after this summer's landscaping work to make the
lower section more safely walkable. On Sunday, October 20, we will celebrate
Sonja and the Prayer Path and will offer special chances after worship to
walk and experience the path with a group or as individuals.
October Office Coverage
Kaisa will be on medical leave Oct 1 through 18. Her hope is to return the
week of Oct 21, but it may be part-time for a bit until she is able to
manage her full schedule after major surgery. Lisa will cover Kaisa's role,
and is learning the essential pieces to keep us moving. (Thank you, Lisa!)
Communications may look a little different, response times might change, and
there certainly will be some pieces of that will need to wait until we're
back in full swing. Please extend grace to all of your staff as we
prioritize what needs to be done in the coming weeks. We'll all miss Kaisa
while she's away, but we send our best thoughts and prayers for her healing.
Got Plans for 2020?
It is that time of year when the MCC Budget Committee begins listing items
for next years’ MCC budget. In addition to on-going expenses, we need to
know about any new projects or initiatives that might be in the works. If
you or your organization are contemplating a project that will need MCC
budget support in 2020, please let the Budget Committee know with an email
or phone call before October 14.
Estimates of project costs will be used for preliminary planning purposes
and can be updated later in the year. Thanks! John Rowe
jsrowe@wisc.edu or 222-1132.
Porchlight
Dinner
On Friday, November 22 MCC will serve its last dinner of 2019 to homeless
men at the Porchlight shelter at Grace Episcopal. (This is Not Thanksgiving
weekend.) So far this year, the Thursday Morning Coffee Women and Jewel
groups as well as Confirmation Class and ad hoc gatherings of individuals
have served. If you or your group are interested and need more information,
please contact Ken Streit.
Confirmation
We'll meet this evening at 6:15pm to carpool down to Porchlight men's
shelter to serve a meal. And be sure the upcoming Confirmation retreat is on
your calendar, next Fri, Oct 18, dinnertime, to noon-ish on Sat, Oct 19.
High
Schoolers - Murder Mystery Dinner
The first of planned fun activities for the year is a Halloween season
murder mystery gathering next Saturday, October 19, starting at 7:00pm RSVP
to Jill McLeod at mcfroglegs@hotmail.com or 608-421-4795.
High School Social Hour
We had a great first gathering of the year, with lots of breakfast consumed,
with stories of Guatemala from Audrey Kuhn, with a chance to hear how the
school year was starting. Our next High School Social Hour is Sunday,
Oct 13, 9:00am, at the Panera on Junction
Road. Free food!
Adult Education
Oct 13 – join a
conversation sparked by the faith statements of our confirmation students
last Sunday. How would we describe our own faith at this time? How has it
changed over time? How can we gain more comfort putting our faith into
words?
Oct 20 & 27 –
A two-part series on Dementia. Oct 20 is an introduction to dementia with
Kim Mueller. Kim is a UW-Madison Assistant Professor of Communications
Sciences and Disorders with work in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center,
and is also a former parishioner of Pastor Nick's. Oct 27 is a presentation
about Dementia Friendly Churches.
Sunday Adult Discussion
3rd Sunday of the Month at 9:00 am
All are welcome to attend Adult Discussion (formerly “Parent Hour”) the
3rd Sunday of the month, downstairs. 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!
JEWELS
Please come and join the JEWELS (joyful, engaging people enjoying life) on
October 15 at 6:00pm at Sara Hulsether's home (5814 S. Hill Drive). We
gather together to eat, connect with each other, try and understand our
world and our places in it...oh! and there is lots of laughter, too! Bring a
favorite autumn/harvest food to share - or, if you have the need for the
last wonderful summer food, bring that!!
Friends of Tree Lane Family Apartments
Tree Lane Neighbors Wish List has been
updated -click
here to view. We are also looking
for items to welcome new families moving
into the apartments. Other items noted as ongoing needs will be on the list
every month. Bring to the Donation Center at the MCC to be delivered to Tree
Lane by Jean & Ann.
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.
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Epiphany Choir Concert 2018 Directed by Jen
Striet
Community of Hope
UCC
Community of Hope: Let’s Dream Together!
Sunday, September 15th in worship the Steering Committee introduced a
document called “Desired Future Conditions” to articulate our congregational
aspirations as we look ahead to the coming years.
You can find a copy of that here. In addition, they’ve scheduled
opportunities for small group conversations that are coming up soon. These
are for everyone at Hope—whether a long time member or a new attendee—who
has a stake in who we are and who God is calling us to be.
Sign up online here or on Sunday.
Neighbors in Need Special UCC Offering
Community of Hope will receive one of four annual
UCC special offerings on September 29. This missional offering supports
ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third
of funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry(CAIM). Two-thirds
is used to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and
direct service projects through grants. Community of Hope was beneficiary of
a NIN grant received for Sanctuary in 2017.
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.
Advent Lutheran
Church
South-Central Synod Interim Bishop
Peter Rogness, a brother of Andrew and former bishop of Milwaukee and St.
Paul, has been named interim bishop for our synod.
You can find a few more details here.(Last week’s email included some
small bits of information about the resignation of Vivianne Thomas-Breitfeld
and included this link
https://scsw-elca.org/2019/08/resignationquestions/ )
Blessing Room Baptismal Font
A new addition to our baptismal font is a bowl by potter George Lowe, a
Luther College professor and brother-in-law of Kris and Paul Wilkie. The
bowl was given in honor of the baptism of their granddaughter Charlotte last
month.
2019 Holy Land Trip
November
8-18. View the tour description
at
gtd.org/post/pdfbrochure/191108.pdf.
Click for Pictures from 2016 Trip
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In the Wider Church . . .
“Aliens, Immigrants, & Other Evildoers”
Dane Arts in partnership with East High School and Centro Hispano welcomes
New Orleans performance artist, Jose Torres-Tama for a night performance on
Wednesday, October 9- 7 P.M. at East High school. The public is invited. The
price per ticket is $10 adults, $5 for students with ID.
YWCA Racial Justice Summit
Oct 15-16, with optional seminars on Oct
17, Monona Terrace “Transforming our Future.”
This event brings together people and organizations committed to learning
about institutional racism and build an ongoing practice of racial justice.
The summit focuses on systemic racism and convenes nationally-known keynote
speakers and researchers, in addition to local experts and advocates as
presenters. It provides a platform for community dialogue and
action-envisioning for racial justice in an environment that encourages
learning from and supporting each other for this common imperative in our
personal lives as well as organizational roles.
Click here for information and registration
Gun Violence Prevention / Day of Action
The
majority of Wisconsin lawmakers have ignored the evidence, ignored their
constituents, and ignored the devastation gun violence thrusts into the
lives of Wisconsinites. It's time for us to pack the Capitol full of
citizens, who are united in their determination to prevent gun violence.
Deserve To Be Heard on
Thursday, October 24th, 2019; 9:45am
- 10am – Check-in at
Bethel Lutheran Church,
312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI
10am - 12:45pm – Orientation on gun violence in Wisconsin, training on
citizen-lobbying best practices, and lunch at Bethel Lutheran Church
1:00pm - 3:00pm – Meetings with your elected officials or their staff
members at the Capitol
$15 fee includes your lunch and all training materials.
Reconciling
in Christ Reformation Celebration
Pastor Nick and the Synod Reconciling in Christ team invite you to a
Reformation Celebration!
We will gather on Reformation Sunday (Oct. 27) at 3:00 at St. John’s
Lutheran in Evansville (312 S. 3rd St.).
This will be a chance to connect our congregations around our work to
welcome and embrace our LGBTQ+ siblings. We will also celebrate the ongoing
reformation of the church as we mark the 10 year anniversary of the 2009
ELCA Churchwide Assembly decision that opened the possibility for LGBTQ+
persons to be ordained into ministry in the ELCA and have their
relationships recognized more fully recognized and blessed by the church.
The gathering will include some interactive prayers and testimonials of the
difference this makes in our lives, as well as cake and bubbly beverages!
Volunteer
with Koats for Kids!
For the last 34 years, CAC has teamed up with Klinke Cleaners, Channel 3000,
and Magic 98 to deliver winter coats and accessories to children, families,
and adults most in need. It takes about 400 volunteers to help us distribute
over 3000 coats each year! Do you have 3 hours to help us make it a success
this year? We have a few days that still need a significant amount of
volunteers. Most importantly, we have a slot that just opened up on our
opening day, October 15, for 15 volunteers.
Here is a list of days with high needs:
* October 15, 9:00-12:00pm
* October 24, 3:00-7:00pm
* October 31, 3:00-7:00pm
* November 6, 9:00am-12:00pm, and 12:00-3:00pm
* November 7, 9:00am-12:00pm, 12:00-3:00pm, and 3;00-7:00pm
If you are able to help us, please sign up here. If you have any questions
or concerns, contact our volunteer coordinator, Bridgette Weber, at (608)
246-4730, ext. 241, or bridgettew@cacscw.org.
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