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Hen House Weekly E-News
April 3, 2026
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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Dear Zwingli Friends,
We are still in Holy Week -- still in the harder parts of the week as we stay with Jesus through Good Friday and Holy Saturday -- and long for the joy of Easter Sunday. The first followers of Jesus did not know there would be a resurrection -- they only knew the deep grief and confusion of their loss when Jesus was crucified. They were surprised by his resurrection. When we join them in the painful part of the story during Holy Week, we can find an even deeper joy on Easter morning! As we observe Good Friday, we observe not only the crucifixion of Jesus but remember that crucifiction of Jesus continues to this day through the unjust suffering of so many innocents in our world. Matthew 25:40 reminds us that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Christ, which Mother Theresa interpreted in another way when she said, "Whenever I meet someone in need, it's really Jesus in his most distressing disguise." Sadly Jesus continues to be crucified in our world today.
So on Good Friday and Holy Saturday we grieve and pray through the crucifixion then and the crucifixions in our world today. But we do so remembering that darkness is where Easter and new life begins.
In her book Learning to Walk in the Dark, Barbara Brown Taylor writes with a holy tenderness: “Resurrection is always announced with Easter lilies, the sound of trumpets, bright streaming light. But it did not happen that way. If it happened in a cave, it happened in complete silence, in absolute darkness, with the smell of damp stone and dug earth in the air…New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark.”
So whatever darkness is real in your life and in our world, we can prayerfully sit with it, grieve it, and we can remember that we worship a God of Resurrection Love -- always bringing new life to us and through us for others. "The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it!"
Let us then move through the darkness of Good Friday and Holy Saturday toward the joy of Easter Sunday!
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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: US/Israel - Iran ‘War’: Civilians and troops and the political will to choose non-violent conflict resolution, France, Mexico, Cuba, U.S. - Venezuela tensions, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Haiti, Sudan, The Congo, Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. Prayers for those countries, companies, farmers, and consumers who are affected by the escalating trade war. The people of Pine Ridge Reservation and all Native Peoples.
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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Good Friday Tenebrae Service -- April 3
Tenebrae is the Latin word meaning ‘darkness’ and is a service where the story of Jesus’ last days is told through holy readings and the extinguishing of candles. Following his jubilant entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), Jesus told his disciples, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:23b–24).
In her sermon, Unless a Grain Falls, Episcopal pastor Barbara Brown Taylor writes:
". . . A grain of wheat cannot grow unless it dies. That is how Jesus put it. If you encase it in plastic and hang it around your neck, it will never be good for anything but a bauble. For the seed to do what it was meant to do, it has to be given up. It has to fall into the earth and be buried. It has to sit down there in the dark until its hour comes, when it will swell, crack, and hatch new life—a green shoot that will climb toward the sun until it breaks through, becoming a golden stalk of wheat that bears much fruit. If you dig around in its roots looking for the seed, you won’t find it anymore. It is dead and gone. It gave up its life so there could be more wheat in the world.
This is a very different understanding of Jesus’ death than the one most of us were taught, which was that Jesus died to atone for our sins. According to John, Jesus died to fill the world with wheat, with so many sons and daughters of God that no one would ever want for bread again. Only in order to do that, the seed had to be planted. It had to die, or it would never grow. . . .
When Jesus died, this power was made manifest. By absorbing into himself the worst that the world could do to a child of God and by refusing to do any of it back, he made sure it was put to death with him. By suffering every kind of hurt and shame without ever once letting them deflect him from his purpose, he broke their hold on humankind. In him, sin met its match. He showed us what is possible. These are just some of the fruits of Christ’s death, things that could never have happened if he had not been willing to fall to the ground.
Each of us has a grain of wheat with which to cast our votes. . . . It is the grain of our lives, and all of creation is holding its breath to see what we will do with it. Amen"
**We look forward to welcoming members of First UCC Belleville to this joint service held at Zwingli.
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This is the day in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. So what do we do?
In the Gospel story we learn that after placing Jesus' body in the tomb, it was the beginning of the Sabbath so "'On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.' (Luke 23:50-56) In one simple verse, I find incredible hope. I find a way forward. I find something to do. I find an invitation to a beautiful mystery. Here’s my best current attempt to make sense of what the disciples did. They simply did the next right thing: 'On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.' They leaned into their faith practices. They exhibited raw trust and entered Sabbath Rest with all their emotions and all their questions. Their actions motivate me." Their actions motivate me."
(https://saturatetheworld.com/2022/04/12/holy-saturday/)
So this is a day for us to rest in our faith practices as we reflect on the death of Jesus as well as other deaths and losses we are grieving for ourselves and for our world. If you want to learn more about Holy Saturday, we hope this article by Pastor Rob Hamilton helps you - go here. He ends it with these truths:
"Holy Saturday tells us the truth that is so often hidden:
God is still moving—even in the dark.
God is still saving—even when it looks like nothing is happening.
And Easter is coming."
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A Gift to Bless our Easter Worship
We have new paraments, an altar cloth, and a stole for our pastor for Easter! We thank Gail Dahlk and Debbie Versnik for this gift to Zwingli. Gail Dahlk had purchased some fabric from the Swiss Miss in New Glarus many years ago. It is so beautiful and embroidered with gold crosses.
After years of not finding a good use for the fabric, Gail asked Debbie Versnik to see if anyone could make something for the church to use. After conferring with Becky Stilwell and Pastor Karla, Debbie decided to make an altar cloth and paraments for the lectern and pulpit for Easter. When these were made and there was extra cloth, someone suggested a stole be made for the Zwingli Pastor. So Debbie made a matching stole for Pastor Karla to wear! Many thanks to Gail and Debbie and Becky for blessing us with this gift for Zwingli.
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A Holy Week/Easter Message from our Conference Minister
Rev. Franz Rigert, Conference Minister of the Wisconsin Conference UCC shares this message with us. To read his entire message, go here:
"...Despite the troubles and tragedies of our time Jesus left us this promise: “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” That promise is my hope and strength.
Easter brings new life, springtime and healing. It’s about pursuing a better way, a more just future and deeper spiritual journey. Love is at the heart of the Resurrection. A love that seeks peace, not violence. A love that invites reconciliation, not retribution. A love that refuses to spew hate and instead chooses to spawn goodness.
I wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyful Easter."
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Chili/Soup/Potato Bar & Dessert Luncheon: April 16 -- 11 AM - 1:30 PM
The chili, chicken noodle soup and baked potatoes will be made in-house. We need donations of desserts and kindly ask for a $20 donation if you choose not to provide a dessert.
Please have desserts at the church by 10:00 AM on April 16.
Questions? Contact any committee member:
Kriss Ace, Louise Brunkow, Cherry Pulver, Debbie Versnik, Faith Wittwer
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"Our Town"
Friday, April 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
First Congregational Church,1609 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726
Thornton Wilder’s quintessential American play “Our Town” will be presented by First Congregational members on Friday, April 17, the playwright’s birthday. Wilder has strong ties to the community. He was born in Madison in 1897 and was baptized at First Congregational. Bring with your friends and neighbors. Free admission. You are invited to bring a non-perishable food item and/or socks to be donated to a local charity.
Playwright Thornton Wilder's family were members of First Congregational in his formative years at the turn of the century. He was born in Madison on April 17, 1897 and the family moved to China when he was nine. His father was superintendent of the Sunday School. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Wilder's death, First Congregational's Director of Christian Education, Jeff Rabe is bringing "Our Town' to the First Cong Stage. This stage-reading will have the feel of an old fashioned radio show, complete with sound effects.
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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 ones are: Protect Lifesaving Care: Urge Congress to Support Access to Reproductive Healthcare, and Urge Congress to Prevent Increased Funding for ICE! Scroll down the page to find others that you might want to express your opinion about.
| | The Southern Region of the Wisconsin Conference UCC publishes Shalom, a monthly e-newsletter featuring events and happenings within the Conference, including Zwingli. Click here to check it out! | | | | |
