CONGREGATIONS PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

First Congregational UCC, Hartland, provides a variety of learning opportunities, such as Warping Reality: Inside the Psychology of Cults, America's

Long Struggle with Slavery and Men & Women Who Won the West.

Middleton Community UCC helps new members and those considering membership to better understand the progressive nature of the church, such as through courses, like God Is Still Speaking and No Matter Who You Are.

St. John's UCC, Merton, offered Tech Tips for Parents.

Trinity UCC, Brookfield, will provide Estate Planning in the Current Financial Environment.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, offered Wisconsin's Immigration Landscape and Your Role in It.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, also reflected on immigration in a panel discussion

A workshop at Redeemer UCC, Sussex, will provide an understanding of The Singular They.

In a regional, interfaith gathering, Redeemer UCC, Sussex, will also gather in the spirit of St. Frances to celebrate the Care for Creation .

Salem UCC, Verona, offered Spirit in Community, a gathering to explore and experience a variety of spiritual practices.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, will team up with Middleton Community UCC to host a gathering on Faith, Politics and the Common Good.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, held a Life Line Screenng, as a part of their ongoing commitment to offer stroke and cardiovascular disease risk screening.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, regulary offers adult education. They dealt with Abraham, Father of Many Nations in September

Immanuel UCC, Darlington, invites us to the dedication of their restored stained glass windows in their worship on October 11, at 10:00.

McFarland UCC walked in their community's Family Festival parade.

Rev. Karla Schmidt of Zwingli UCC, Paoli, clarifies that the poem/prayer attributed to her in the September Shalom was actually written by Steve Garnaas-Holmes..

Common Ground of Frst Congregational UCC, Lake Geneva, hosted a retreat

Salem UCC, Verona, celebrated Creation in Christ Sunday, the first Sunday in September.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will provide an opportunity--a 12-month group--for those who are creative or have always wanted to be. They will use the book, The Artist's Rule, by Christine Valters Painter.

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, will have a Trunk or Treat their parking lot on Octoberr 31.

As reported by First Congregational UCC, Lake Geneva, there will be a CROP Walk in Williams Bay on October 18. starting at 1:00, with registration at 12:30, in the Lions Fieldhouse.

As Jeff Rabe has left First Congregational UCC, Madison, to get information on the Madison CROP Walk, go to the Church World Service or CROP Walk 2026 website.

Are you concerned about AI centers? Salem UCC, Verona, offers thsse thoughts:

"The UCC’s Environmental Justice Ministries and Media Justice Ministry have joined together to study AI data centers and their impact on our local communities.  The study circle is seeking input from UCC members and clergy working on this issue in their home communities.

"The group says the research it’s conducted has yielded some concerning trends within the AI industry. The study circle has gathered articles and webinars about power mapping the industry, encouraging it to ask questions like “Who is benefiting from this data center?” and “How are these deals being implemented at the local level?” The group found that, in some cases, the AI industry is making backroom deals with local leaders who sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that forbid them from discussing the details.

"The group also found growing concerns about the power requirements of these data centers, which require new fossil-fuel power and draw energy from local power grids. Similarly, data centers can consume more water than they return and often introduce pollutants into the water in the form of debris and additives. Noise pollution is also a factor since they can emanate a constant humming sound 24/7, which affects local neighbors and wildlife.

"The full article can be found here:   https://www.ucc.org/how-do-we-respond-to-ai-data-centers-ucc-study-circle-seeks-input-from-local-activists/"

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, will observe a Super Sunday, in which participants will enjoy crafts and reflect on a Bible passage.

Rev. Zayna Thomley, pastor of Middleton Community UCC, a certified forest therapy guide, led members of First Congregational UCC, Madison, on a forest walk, a Japanese practice.

Middleton Community UCC provided an opportunity for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids (parents and caregivers) to receive support and gain information.

Redeemer UCC, Sussex, invited their members to share a photo or two of their summer adventures.

Zwingli UCC, Paoli, called attention to an event hosted by Swiss UCC, New Glarus, in which members were helped to be prepared for an active shooter.

First UCC, Belleville, hosted a workshop, Actor to Ally to Accomplice, that provided tips for how to engage in justice work.

Redeemer UCC, Sussex, will have their Farm to Fork Fundraiser on October 3.

Windsor UCC held their Fall Festiival, featuring a dinner, crafts and bake sale.

As a part of their continuing discernment of becoming an ONA church, First UCC, Belleville, had a workshop in which they explored the ways race and justice interact withtheir faith.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, heard from Bill McKibben on Climate, Courage, and Collective Action.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, noted that their church garden was bursting at the seams with tomatoes, and, therefore, offered them to members.

Windsor UCC will host a Battle of the Bands & Talent Show in a local park.

In Growing Forward Together, Redeemer UCC, Sussex, reflected on their connections as they consider how they might best move forward.

The Community Church (UCC) of Fontana, is another congregation that provides a free meal for their community.

Estate planning will be considered at First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc, on October 8.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

The mother of Rev. Lance Lackore, pastor of First Congregational UCC, Lake Mills, died recently.

As the husband of Rev. Mary Jane Huber, pastor of St. John's UCC, Merton, had surgery recently, the church put together a basket of some of Larry's favorites as an alternative to a meal train..

THOUGHT TO PONDER

From Rev. Karla Schmidt, pastor of Zwingli UCC, Paoli

"On her website, Lutheran Pastor Jennifer shares this quote and writes, '(C.S.) Lewis' point is this, being a Christian doesn't mean believing certain things about Jesus. It doesn't mean following Jesus' teachings as a kind of moral guidebook. Being a Christian means being transformed by Christ. Becoming a new person, a new creature, becoming a little Christ.'"

UCC ON DATA CENTERS

The next UCC Creation Justice Webinar will be on data centers. It will be on October 14, at 12:00 noon, featuring a leader in the struggle to confront Elon Musk's center in Memphis, TN.

BOOK AND FILM DISCUSSIONS

Zwingli UCC. Paoli, is offering a book study this fall on Native Americans, Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's Meditations on Hope and Courage, by Steven Charleston.

On September 20, at 6:00, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will show the film, Samaritans, about the humanitarian aid along the Mexican border by Samaritans.

The book group of Memorial UCC, Fktchburg, will read The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray ;Hinton and others.

In October the Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will discuss The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts, by Loren Grush.

The all-Church Read Discussion of First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc, dealt with the book, While You Were Out, by Meg Kissinger.

First Congregational UCC, Lake Geneva, will be the host for a showing of the film, No Country for Mothers.