PLANTING TREES FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW US | |
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III recalled a story told by Howard Thurman, as he watched as a man planted a small grove of pecan trees. He was asked. "Why did you not plant larger trees so as to increase the posssibility of of your living to see them bear at least one cup of nuts?" He explained that as he had very little money, they were cheap.
"'So you do not expect to live to see the trees reach sufficient maturity to bear fruit?'"
"''No, but is that important? All my life I have eaten fruit from trees that I did not plant. Why should I not plant trees to bear fruit for those who may enjoy them long after I am gone?'"
"I am the beneficiary of the work of my parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors, forebears in life and in ministry, and so many others helped make it possible for me to be me and to do what I do."
"Despite the myth of the self-made man, or raising ourselves up by our bootstraps, we are contingent people. None of us created ourselves out of whole cloth. And we each build our part of life upon the foundations laid before we arrived... Shall we not build good foundations for generations to come?"
Rev. Phil Hobson, pastor of Salem UCC, Verona
Used with his permission
| | CONGREGATIONS OBSERVE LENT | |
Several of our congregations are using for their Lenten theme, Tell Me Something Good, a resource of Sanctified Art.
| First UCC, Belleville, is using the theme of wilderness during the Lenten season, including daily devotions. recalling Jesus' journey into the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. | On the Wednesdays in Lent, Redeemer UCC, Sussex, is having conversations at a local restaurant, using reflections by a Duke Divinity professor. | To make Lent especially meaningful, Middleton Community UCC is having Lenten Connection Groups on various days of the week. | As a way to observe Lent, First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc, is encouraging their members to decorate an Alleluia Luggage Tag. This is a way to pack their alleluias into a suitcase as a visual reminder of this season of waiting. | |
The Damascus Project of the Wisconsin Conference UCC is having a Lenten series on the book, Speak with the Earth and It Will Teach You, by Rev. Daniel Cooperrider.
During Lent First Congregational UCC, Hartland, is having a Good News Tree for members to place their pieces of good news from their week.
| Several of our congregations, such as Windsor UCC, Zwingli UCC, Monticello and First UCC, Belleville, are having Wednesday night Lenten suppers, some of which include a worship service. MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, is using Bless This Night for their evening prayer services. | Related to the Palm Sunday path events of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, several of our congregations will join in a march being held in several communities to proclaim God's values in contrast to the dominant politics of hate, greed and injustice | |
Many of our pastors included in their newsletters expressions of solidarity and concern, such as prayers, about the ICE actions in Minneapolis, including the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and related them to the Beattudes of Jesus, a lectionary text. Our Conference Minister, Rev. Franz Rigert, participated, along with 600 other clergy, in a demonstration in Minneapolis. To read the complete text of his remarks, click here.
The Senior Pastor of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, Rev. Julia Burkey, was a part of a press conference that focused on immigrant rights. The conference was well attended by members of that church.
One event related to that is the participation by members of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, in a public song event at a local Target store, as a way to urge Target to end its complicity with ICE.
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The Wisconsin Council of Churches alerts us to a Community Singing Gathering, Songs of Hope; Songs of Resistance, at Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, on March 13, 5:30.
Orchard Ridge UCC, Madion, has joined the Building Unity for Nonviolent Action coalition.
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Brookfield Congregational UCC, will host Sister Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking, in their worship on Sunday, April 12
| First Congregational UCC, Madison, noted that Advocacy is rooted in the Gospel of John, and that these are times that advocacy is called for, such as with those with disabilities, who are of a different language and culture, and who are LGBTQ+. | McFarland UCC noted that the spring primary election will feature effforts to make it more difficult to vote. As a result, they are having a get-out-the-vote (Reclaim Our Vote--ROV) campaign. | The Palestine Justice Working Group of the Wisconsin Conference urges persons to defeat Senate Bill 445, as by seeking to define antisemitism, it can be read to conflate political advocacy on behalf of justice for the Palestinian people with antisemitism. At the same time, they have a new educational opportunity, The Parents Circle--Family Forum. | |
Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, heard from a representative of Guns to Gardens, a safe gun surender program..
| Common Ground, a "committee" of First Congregational UCC, Lake Geneva, is having Attentive Listening sessions, and to honor Women's History Month (March) will host the executive director of Chicago's Women's History Center. | Trinity UCC, Brookfield, had a Jazz Concert in their worship. | Redeemer UCC, Sussex, had a two-part workshop on personality types (promoter, planner, producer, peacemaker) and spiritual gifts. | |
St. John's UCC, Monroe, will have a Grief Circle that will meet weekly beginning in March
Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison, is making available the software FreeWill to help members make their will and advanced directives. It is a gift from the Wisconsin Foundation UCC.
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First UCC, Belleville, Zwingli UCC, Paoli, and First Congregational UCC, Madison, assembled snack packs for Friends of State Street Family, a homeless ministry in Madison.
| First Congregational UCC, Madison, reports that the Madison CROP Walk raised $19,391 to fight hujger and poverty at home and abroad. First UCC, Deerfield, reports that the Deerfield CROP Walk raised $3,852, which was allocated to the Belleville Food Pantry, | Reluctantly, First UCC, Reeseville, said a tearful farewell to their long-time (42 years) organist Larry Ludtke. They have been experimenting with alternatives. | At McFarland UCC, a yoga teacher led a candlelight potluck with movement, meditation and connection. | |
The organ of the now-disbanded Congregational UCC, Whitewater, has been installed in the First Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson. A special organ dedication service is scheduled to take place in their April 19 worship.
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Since raising kids is hard work, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, has a "Parents Together" Support Group.
The Rock County Human Services is using the Fellowship Hall of First Congregational UCC, Janesville, as an overnight warming shelter when the temperature is at or below 0.
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Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, had an AED Training.
First Congregational UCC, Madison, will feature Cameron Anderson's art in their Chapel Art Gallery during Lent.
McFarland UCC will display quilts in their fellowship area.
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Because of decreasing enrollment, the childcare center of First Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, will close after 57 years of operation when the school year ends in June.
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Correction: The correct spelling:is: Rev. Robert Koepcke, the interim minister of McFarland UCC.
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Harold Hackman, father of Rev. Todd Hackman, senior pastor of St, Johns's UCC, Monroe, died on February 3.
Rev. Dana Caldwell, the recent pastor of Immanuel UCC, Darlington, reports that she has stage IV cancer, one that impacts her spine and other parts of her body. She held a Queston and Answer meeting after church worship. Our prayers are with her.
| Zwingli UCC, Monticello, is seeking a part-time person to serve as their Caring Ministries Coordinator. They are seeking a compassionate and organized person to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers. One can apply by sending a cover letter and resume to zwinglira@gmail.com. | |
CREATION JUSTICE MINISTRIES
OF THE UCC RELEASES
A NEW RESOURCE
| A new downloadable resource, The Canopy of Creation: Trees, Faith and the Work of Justice, has been released by the Creation Justice Ministries of the UCC It points ouf that the same neighborhoods that were denied investment by redlining are the ones that have fewer trees, with unfortunate consequences, today. The event promoting this will be on March 18, at noon. | |
From Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison:
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." (Corrie ten Boom)
"Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother." (Kahlil Gibran)
"Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides. It must bring sides together." (Rev. Jesse Jackson)
"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming."
(Pablo Neruda)
| The young people of First Congregational UCC, Madison, are invited to participate in a one-day retreat about barriers that may hold them back. | |
In part, to prepare for the Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference, we are encouraged to participate in the All-Conference Read by reading Nice Racism, by Robin Diangelo,. A copy can be obtained at your local bookstore. Let us know whether you plan to participate by emailing the Conference or calling (608) 846-7880.
The Palestine Book Group of MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, discussed Mornings in Jenin, by Susan Abulhawa.
First Congregational UCC, Harland, had a workshop with the author, Ashley Jordan, of Unhappy Achiever.
First Congregational UCC, Lake Geneva, will discuss The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention, by Julia Cameron.
Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison is discussing On Tyranny: 20 Lessons for the 20th Century, by Timothy Snyder.
The new Church Book Club of First Congregational UCC, Hartland, will discuss Vigil, by George Sauders.
The Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, discussed The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien. For March they will discuss Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame, by Olivia Ford.
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CONTACTS
Associate Conference Minister:
Rev. Rachel Bauman
608-630-2992
Shalom Editor:
Rev. Roger Brooks
608-395-2390
swacommunications@gmail.com
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Southern Region of the Wisconsin. Conference; swacommunications@gmail.com
W1000 Spring Grove Rd., Ripon, WI 54971; 608-846-7880
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