FROM SUMMER LULL

TO FALL ACTIVITY

Here in September, school is starting! As a result, many congregations are providing school supplies (in some cases, with backpacks) to children who are needy or affected by domestic abuse, including First Congregational UCC Janesville; St. John's UCC, Merton; First Congregational UCC, Madison; Trinity UCC, Brookfield, St. John's UCC, Monroe; Middleton Community UCC; Congregational UCC, Evansville; MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison; Windsor UCC; and First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc.

Several also had a Blessing of the Backpacks in their worship services. Noting that many families are outside the guidelines for receiving meal assistance, Redeemer UCC, Sussex, provides Lunches for Learning.

An opportunity to reflect on the recent death of Corey Ruiz at the hand of a police officer will be provided by Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, on August 30, at 11:15 a.m., following their regular worship service. It will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Kerri Parker, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches. The church also called attention to a course, Justice for a New Day, at Fountain of Life Covenant Church in Madison (833 W. Badger Rd.) beginning in September.

Salem UCC, Verona, noted that the American Red Cross has declared the second national blood crisis in its history. They are especially in need of type O. They hosted a blood drive on .August 19.

St. John's UCC, Merton; Windsor UCC and First Congregational UCC, Hartland,, have also hosted blood drives.

Several of our pastors have indicated that they have been the target of phishing emails, in which the sender claims that a relative of the pastor is in need to emergency financial help.. Such emails should be deleted immediately, as the pastors have indicated that any such requests would come directly from them, such as through a phone call.

Common Ground of First Congregational UCC, Lake Geneva, will have an afternoon retreat on September 19.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, had a public discussion, led by Norman Stockwell, pubisher of The Progressive magazine, as a part of Fitchburg Resists.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, will reflect on immigration and persons' role in it on September 20.

First Congregational UCC, Platteville, will present A Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation: A New Birth of Freedom.

First Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson, will host The Gospellers, a ministry of the Wisconsin Conference.

First UCC, Reeseville, noted in their newsletter that September 13 is Grandparents Day. The pastor, Carrie Schuett, noted that it was a generation that walked to school and then walked back home. It was also a generation that spent all their free time with their friends, and one that played hide and seek after dark. Remember?

Redeemer UCC, Sussex, has been having Music in the Prairie during the summer.

Windsor UCC will have a piano concert on September 12 to support and showcase talented artists.

Zwingli UCC, Paoli, celebrated Rural Life Sunday in August, because the original date conflicted with Mother's Day.

Outdoor fellowship will be enjoyed by MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison (who will camp at Bethel Horizons); Memorial UCC, Fitchburg (who will camp out) and Trinity UCC, Brookfield (who will retreat at Cedar Valley Retreat house in West Bend).

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, will honor a former member who died recently with her art work.

Middleton Community UCC had a Neighbor Day to welcome members back whille particpating in projects.

The First Congregational UCC, Madson, takes advantage of its proximity to Camp Randall an the field house by earning money from their parking lot during football and volleyball games.

McFarland UCC had a Despacho Ceremony honoring Pachamama (Mother Earth) dedicated to supporting individuals.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is providing meals for a woman who broke a bone in her foot/

First Congregational UCC, Madison, provides the service of assisting persons in one of their parking lots.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

Correction: Rev. Dana Caldwell, pastor of Immanuel UCC, Darlington, is a woman.

Clarification: Though Rev. Christopher Faulk became an Associate Pastor of Trinity UCC, Brookfield, and will fill in when the pastor is not availale, he remains a Pulpit Supply person and is not on the staff of Trinity UCC.

THOUGHT TO PONDER

From Plymouth Congregtional UCC, Madison:

"The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love." (Parker Palmer)

YOUTH NEWS

A group of youth of First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc, led worship in which they explained their mission trip to Costa Rica, one in which they formed relationshiips and did various helping activities.

BOOK DISCUSSIONS

McFarland UCC is focusing on racial injustice by discusing the book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere and Why, by Christina Jeske.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, had such interest in The Art of Dying Well, by Katie Butler, that they are having another session.

First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc, will be discussing the books, The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans, and While You Were Out, by Meg Kissinger.

The Women's Book Group of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is reading Emma, by Jane Austen.on her 250th birthday.

The next book being discussed by the Book Club of Trinity UCC, Brookfield, is The Life Impossible, by Matt Haig.