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Hen House Weekly E-News
September 26, 2025
Why Hen House? The friendly chatter before Worship on Sundays reminds us of a Hen House! Since Jesus identified himself as a Mother Hen and, as an historical farm church, we enjoy being God's ‘Hen House’ and welcome everyone (town, urban, and rural) to our Worship and other programs - and invite you to even make Zwingli your Church home. The United Church of Christ values all people!
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Many thanks to all those who contributed snacks and/or volunteered to package the snacks for the Friends of State Street Family program to provide snack bags to our siblings struggling with the challenges of homelessness in downtown Madison. We packaged 94 snack bags! Special thanks to organizers and leaders Judy, Petra, and Sue!
On Sunday we will continue our reflection on the 7 stories. Last week we went into historical Christianity to remember just how much the Domination Story had been part of Church history (especially through the Roman Empire), and about Jesus' teachings on how the Kingdom (Kin-dom) of God is very different from the domination empires and kingdoms of the world.
This Sunday we will explore the story of Revolution -- which tries to overcome the oppressive domination structures in our world. But Jesus and Paul offer a better way - a revolution of Love. Join us as we reflect on the teachings of Paul in Romans 12:9-21. What would our world look like if more nations and people lived in this way?
Pastor Paul Dazet offers us his reflection, a sacred practice, and Jesus centered questions to help us consider what Paul's words mean for us as individuals when we face evil and enemies in our lives. I remind you that this does not mean we have to allow others to continually abuse us -- we must care for our wounds and prayerfully discern how to respond in a way that brings good to the abuser AND to all others involved, including ourselves.
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Overcoming Evil
When harm finds us,
Our first instinct is to defend,
To lash out, or
To retreat.
But Paul gives us another way,
A way that feels upside down in a world wired for retaliation.
Bless those who curse you.
Feed your enemies.
Don’t repay evil for evil.
Overcome evil with good.
This isn’t a list of spiritual platitudes.
It’s a survival manual for disciples.
Not for how to win,
But how to remain human in a dehumanizing world.
It’s not about playing nice.
It’s about participating in the cross-shaped love of Christ,
Even when it hurts.
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Sacred Practice: Examine Your Reflexes:
When you feel wronged, what is your gut response:
retaliation, silence, sarcasm, withdrawal?
Sit in silence with this breath prayer:
Inhale: Overcome evil…
Exhale: …with good.
Ask the Spirit to shape your instincts into the image of Christ.
Jesus-Centered Question:
- Where in my life have I let evil define my response?
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What would it look like to bless—not because they deserve it, but because I’m free?
https://tinyurl.com/dazethumaninhostileworld
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Prayer List
Today, we invite you to keep in prayer:
Those suffering from drought, famine, accidents, fires, storms, flooding, tornados, excessive heat, violence, homelessness, illness, war in their communities.
Nations in crisis: Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Israel-Qatar, India, Pakistan, Haiti, Sudan, The Congo, Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Poland. Prayers for all those suffering from the broken ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and for another ceasefire soon. Prayers for the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Prayers for those countries, companies and consumers who are affected by the escalating trade war.
For wise, compassionate leadership in our Executive, legislative and judicial branches of govt, and citizen action. For Civil Servants, immigrants, international students, and others facing uncertainty under the policies of the new administration.
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Write a Climate Hope Advocacy Card!
Please return your cards with a note to Representative Mark Pocan this Sunday, September 28. Remember to share why you personally support solar energy as a person of faith. Many people are motivated by love: love of neighbor, love of children, and love of God's creation. To counter current proposals for severe funding cuts, you can end your comments by advocating for full funding of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Fiscal Year 2026. Zwingli will send the cards to the UCC Offices and they will be delivered to Representative Pocan’s office.
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Zwingli will participate in this special missions offering on October 5.
Look for offering envelopes in your bulletin.
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Fall is here and thus begins cold, flu & covid season. If you have symptoms, please wear a face mask so we all can stay healthy.
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Repair Cafe to Launch Publicly on Oct. 11!
We had a wonderful in-house trial Cafe this summer and have scheduled our first public Repair Cafe for October 11 from 10 am - Noon. We are excited to have our Team of Repairers returning, as well as our Hospitality Team. We can offer to repair lamps, furniture, sewing, mending, electrical, technology, and sharpen knives. Check out our Repair Cafe page on our Zwingli website to meet our Team and learn more!
If you have repair skills you want to share, contact Debbie or Pastor Karla. We could definitely use more repairers for sewing/mending and technology. If you want to help with hospitality, contact Sue or Pastor Karla. Finally, if you want to help us put flyers up in your town (library, grocery store . . . ), contact Pastor Karla. The Repair Cafe is an international movement to help the world move to a more sustainable way of caring for our planet -- repairing instead of trashing items that still have use left in them (and helping individuals/families save money too). Zwingli is pleased to share the gifts of our members with our local community - and make a difference! If you want to learn more about Repair Cafe's, check out Repair Cafe International here.
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This Sunday we will meet again after Worship for our Adult Education Program entitled "Loving Across Divisions". We will listen to a talk by Tim Shriver on The Dignity Index. Here's a new 1 minute video on Overcoming Contempt to inspire you to explore the index as a tool for choosing to step away from the dehumanizing ways of revenge - and overcome evil with good (exactly what our scripture this Sunday calls us to do). It's a way of practicing revolutionary love -- for others and for ourselves.
We will meet in the basement to watch a video and have a discussion. I hope you will join us (it does help if you sign up on the bulletin board so we know how many refreshments to provide, but it isn't necessary).
Blessings,
Karla
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Marques Bovre Tribute Band at Dot's Tavern Sept. 28!!
We all have one more opportunity this summer to enjoy the iconic music of Marques Bovre (Sue Bovre's son) as sung by Sue's grandson Quintin and The Marques Bovre Tribute Band! The Band will perform at Dot's Tavern on Sept. 28 from 2-5 pm (bring your own chairs).
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Online Daily Devotional through the UCC
The Daily Devotional is a spiritually deep well, to which thousands of readers are drawn each day. The overall voice of the Daily Devotional is tended by the Stillspeaking Writers’ Group and supported by the staff of The Pilgrim Press. It is available on the UCC National website. If you would like to read it there or subscribe to receive it in your inbox, go here to access this inspiring and relevant free resource provided by the UCC.
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Friendship Time Begins October 5
Please join us!
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Opportunities for Citizen Advocacy through letters to Congress
The United Church of Christ offers us the opportunity to learn more about bills before Congress and voice our opinions to our legislators. They make it very easy to send an email. Check out the many topics on their page: https://www.ucc.org/action-center/. The most recent one is: No CR (continuing resolution) without healthcare access. Scroll down the page to find others that you might want to express your opinion about.
| | If you would like to learn more about the work of the United Church of Christ Southwest Wisconsin Association, send a message to this email address to be added to their monthly newsletter: swacommunications@gmail.com | | | | |
