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Hen House Weekly E-News
March 27, 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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Our journey through Lent is nearing completion as we move into Palm Sunday this weekend and then Holy Week next week. The road to Easter isn't a pleasant one, but it is an important one to take and so we are providing several meaningful worship services for you to recognize the holy days of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. These services give us the opportunity to enter the story and walk with Jesus ourselves. Doing so makes Easter even more special -- the resurrection is even more meaningful once we as disciples have also endured the harshness of the week. So if it is possible for you to attend, I hope you will join us for the special services this week, beginning with a Palm Sunday celebration.
These words from Episcopal Pastor Michael Marsh remind us that "Love is what makes the week holy. Yes, there is a lot going on this week and yet each day and each liturgy reminds us that we are loved. Each liturgy expresses that in a different way. On Palm Sunday love leads the way to Jerusalem. That love washes feet on Maundy Thursday and gives itself to us in the holy supper. On Good Friday it is not so much death on the cross that saves us as love on the cross that saves us. Jesus loves us to and through death. On Holy Saturday love bids us to sit and wait in the silence and darkness of the tomb. Finally, that love empties the tomb on Easter Sunday, revealing itself as the dawn of a new day and the beginning of a new life." Poet Ann Weems sums up Holy Week with this poem:
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“Holy Week” by Ann Weems
Holy is the week …
Holy, consecrated, belonging to God …
We move from hosannas to horror
with the predictable ease
of those who know not what they do.
Our hosannas sung,
our palms waved,
let us go with passion into this week.
It is a time to curse fig trees that do not yield fruit.
It is a time to cleanse our temples of any blasphemy.
It is a time greet Jesus as the Lord’s Anointed One,
to lavishly break our alabaster
and pour perfume out for him
without counting the cost.
It is a time for preparation …
The time to give thanks and break bread is upon us.
The time to give thanks and drink of the cup is imminent.
Eat, drink, remember:
On this night of nights, each one must ask,
as we dip our bread in the wine,
“Is it I?”
And on that darkest of days, each of us must stand
beneath the tree
and watch the dying
if we are to be there
when the stone is rolled away.
The only road to Easter morning
is through the unrelenting shadows of that Friday.
Only then will the alleluias be sung;
only then will the dancing begin.
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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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"Special Music for Easter"
All who would like to join a chorus of voices for Easter Sunday please stay after worship this Sunday for a brief rehearsal. We will do a familiar hymn. Please join your voice with others to sing Alleluia and celebrate the resurrection!.
Contact Petra with questions.
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Weekly Lenten Readings from Bread for the World
Bread for the World, a non-profit organization seeking to end hunger, is providing an online devotional journal this Lenten season titled "Walking as Children of the Light". Check it out. We will have copies of each week's meditation at Church on Sunday for those who prefer to take a meditation home with them. The readings are short, are Biblically based, and even invite us to consider how we can take small actions that bring Christ's Light to the world.
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Palm Sunday Path in Madison and Mt. Horeb on Sunday March 29th!
The Palm Sunday Path is a growing movement of church leaders who have decided that now is the time for Christians to stand up to rising authoritarianism and white Christian nationalism in a new way. Palm Sunday places before us a lasting contrast. Jesus enters Jerusalem not through force or spectacle, but in humility and mercy—exposing the limits of power built on fear and domination. Matthew tells us that when Jesus entered the city, the whole city was shaken. Not by an army, but by truth.
The Palm Sunday Path is anchored by the Matthew 25 values of feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger, and envisions tens of thousands of Christians across multiple states taking action on Palm Sunday afternoon as a kick-off to local efforts to live out these values. It is meant to be a non-partisan public liturgy with song and prayer (you can bring lawn chairs) and in Madison, a peaceful walk around the Capitol. To learn more about it, read this message from the Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches. For those interested in attending the Mt Horeb event, check out details here.
If you would like to meet others from Zwingli at the Mount Horeb event, contact Petra who is planning on attending.
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Chili/Soup luncheon!
Thursday April 16, 2026
11 AM - 1:30 PM
The luncheon was a long standing tradition prior to the Covid pandemic in 2020, and now it’s being brought back. A few changes from previous years have been instituted - the chili and chicken noodle soup will be made in-house. Baked potatoes with all the fixins’ and wonderful desserts are staples of the luncheon.
As in years before, we are asking for your help. We need donations of desserts, and kindly ask for a $20 donation, if you choose not to provide a dessert. The success of our luncheon depends on all of our participation.
Dessert ideas: pie. angel food cake, bars, refrigerated dessert, other cakes, cookies. Please deliver your desserts to the church by 10:00 AM on April 16.
Posters are up with prices and other details in the church hallway, and signage is being distributed in/around Paoli. Plan to attend for a delicious meal!
Blessings!
Your luncheon committee members,
Kriss Ace, Louise Brunkow, Cherry Pulver, Debbie Versnik, and Faith Wittwer
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Heifer Gift Matched!
(letter edited to fit this space)
Dear Friend:
I'm truly fortunate to witness every day how the giving spirit of groups like yours can change the world. No matter how much circumstances change, one thing remains the same: people continue to show generosity and dedication to the families we serve.
Which is why I want to extend my sincere appreciation for your group's recent contribution of $352 to Heifer. Your compassion makes a permanent difference in so many lives. I'm reminded of the quote by Mr. Fred Rogers: "All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world, That's one of the things that connects us as neighbors--in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver." And to magnify the joy of your gift, an additional group of generous donors has matched your donation, doubling the impact of your gift! ....
.... I hope you know how much we, and the families who are touched by your generosity, appreciate you all. Our work would not be possible without you by our side.
Christy Moore, Sr. Vice President of Marketing
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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: Urge Congress to support access to reproductive health care. 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! | | | | |
