September 22 - 29, 2023

Below are weekly programs. You can find brief descriptions of these weekly programs on our website:

SUNDAY Morning Worship, 10 am in person and via Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/97010988439 Password: betogether

SUNDAY , 11:30 a.m. Bible Study in person and on Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/262314649

MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8 am Morning Devotion

https://zoom.us/j/94276813637

WEDNESDAY Eve., 6:30 pm Midweek Inhale Spiritual Practices

No Midweek Inhale Sept 13-Oct 18 due to Befrienders Training. https://zoom.us/j/123020606

Below are the upcoming non-weekly events on the calendar happening at McFarland UCC for about the next month. All events are on the McFarland UCC calendar with Zoom links and additional information in the details/description area. Click the event on the McFarland UCC calendar to see the details.

Saturday, September 23, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Fall Equinox Fire Ceremony with Shamanic Practioner Jessica Riphenburg.

Tuesday, September 26, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, NION Monthly Meeting. Rescheduled from Thursday, September 21st, (In person and Online)

Wednesday, September 27, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room

Saturday, September 30, 10:00 am, Black Holocaust Museum Visit, Milwaukee, lunch at a black-owned restaurant after.

Sunday, October 1, Neighbors in Need Collection

Sunday, October 1, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Teen Youth Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, October 3, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Racial Justice Team Monthly Meeting (In person & Online)- Multipurpose Room

Wednesday, October 4, 11, 18, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room

Sunday, October 8, 5:30 - 6:45 pm, Younger Youth Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, October 11, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room

Thursday, October 12, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, SaLT Monthly Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room

Saturday, October 14, 10:00 am, Love Has the Final Word Group Meeting (In person only)- Multipurpose Room

Tuesday, October 17, Ecojustice/Green Team Monthly Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room

Wednesday, October 18, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training Meeting (In person & Online) - Multipurpose Room



Thursday, October 19, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, NION Monthly Meeting, In person and Online - Multipurpose Room

Ho-Chunk Land Acknowledgement Ceremony

Saturday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. at Arnold Lars0n Park

Land Acknowledgement with Ho-Chunk tribal members and led by Brian Ward and the Indigenous Solidarity Collective of McFarland (ISCM). This will be a wonderful chance for members of our congregation to meet area Ho-Chunk singers, drummers, and leaders.

Saturday, September 23,

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Fall Equinox Prayer and Fire Ceremony with Shamanic Practitioner Jessica Riphenburg

We've been sharing these wonderful Equinox and Solstice celebrations since the 2022 summer solstice, and the gatherings keep continuing to grow. Join us! All ages are welcome. Bring a chair or a blanket, and think about something you might want to let go of and/or give more completely to God.

NION Meeting Rescheduled to Tuesday, 9/26, 6:30 p.m.



The NION meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 21 was rescheduled to Tuesday, September 26, 6:30-8:00 pm. The meeting will be held both in person and via Zoom. In person attendance is preferred, with the Zoom option available for those who require it. (same zoom link and password as Sunday morning worship).

Wednesday, September 27th,

6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

"Seeking Asylum" Documentary

By Julie Woodward

Ever wonder just what it means to "seek asylum"? Maybe you, like many, or maybe most of us, assume that once an immigrant is allowed to legally cross the US border, they're in.

Here is an opportunity to further educate ourselves and others about the challenges immigrants face when seeking asylum. The funds raised will go toward immigration specialty agencies in our area, some we have worked with in our short journey with Tcheki, Jeffrey & and Jefferson. Invite friends, and spread the word...

Join the special showing of SEKING ASYLUM: A Mother’s Journey.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 27, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison

COST: Request donations of $25 per person. Pay online (see link below) or at the door. Members of the immigrant community are invited at no cost. Donations go to support the sponsoring organizations’ work for immigrant justice.

Thursday, September 28, 6:30 - 8:00,

"Why Fair Trade?"

Zoom Meeting

The Wisconsin Conference Immigration Justice Working Group is sponsoring this zoom meeting that will focus on "Fair Trade," and why paying workers in so-called third world countries a living wage is so important for the well-being of the workers and the earth. We'll also talk about the role fair trade can play in preventing the economic and social devastation that causes desperately poor people to immigrate to the U.S. There will be a presentation by Madison fair trade business owner Nikki Andersen, owner of "Change Boutique" on Willy St. in Madison, and also by Adrian Gonzalez, director of "Cafe Justo," a fair trade coffee company in Mexico. There will be time for Q & A as well. Pastor Bryan will moderate the meeting. Registration is required, but you are welcome to register when you join the zoom meeting as it begins on September 28th.

Please use this link to register for this meeting

Visit to America’s Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee

By Lavon Geasland



The Racial Justice Team is sponsoring a trip to the Milwaukee Black Holocaust Museum on Saturday, September 30. This is a one-of-a-kind historical and memorial museum about the Black Holocaust in America. Parking is limited so we would like to do as much carpooling as we can. We will meet at the church parking lot at 8:30 so we can leave by 8:45 to arrive at the museum for a 10 am guided tour. The cost is $10.00 per person. After we are done at the museum we will gather together for lunch. We would like to know who would be going with us as we need to make a reservation for lunch. Please RSVP to Racial Justice e-mail by Sunday, Sept. 24. If you have questions regarding the museum or lunch, please contact Rachel Saladis or Lynn Belleau or use the email above.

Neighbors In Need Collection

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Neighbors in Need is the United Church of Christ's (UCC) annual offering to support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy efforts, and direct service projects funded by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries.

Two-thirds of your donations to NIN support advocacy, programming, and grants. One-third of your generous gifts directly support CAIM. Donations may be made online or via check with "NIN" in the memo. Thank You! 

Crop Walk Oct. 15

By Ginger Hummer



When I contacted John and Jean Shield about this year's Crop Walk, John emailed me the following response: "Jean and I will not be walking this year, but we will be in full support of the CROP walk. Because of our 'advanced' ages, we have turned over our responsibilities and donor lists to Jeff Rabe, the Youth Minister at First Congregational Church. Jeff is also the Director of the Greater Madison CROP walk. Donor checks will still be made out to 'CROP.' The McFarland UCC will still get credit for donations that come from church members and friends."

Support John and Jean in their fight against hunger. Donations may be made online ("MUCC" may be listed in the "Personal Note" section, if remembered). If you'd prefer, checks may be made out to CROP and mailed to Attn: CROP, First Congregational UCC (or FCUCC), 1609 University Ave, Madison, WI 53726 with "MUCC" in the memo.

SaLT Spot: Highlights from the September meeting

• SaLT discussed the transition to a new church treasurer in 2024, including potential use of software to assist with bookkeeping and management based on recommendations from the Finance Committee.

• 2024 Leadership and Volunteer openings were discussed and available opportunities will be shared at upcoming services beginning Sept. 24th.

• Our next mission outreach moment will focus again on the church website and how people can step into opportunities to serve our congregation and community.

A Few Words From Pastor Bryan

I had the privilege this week of joining a number of songwriters at an amazing organic farm and ranch about an hour north of Dallas, TX. In the photo here from left to right you'll see yours truly, McFarland UCC's friends Andra Moran and Ken Medema, John and Alyssa Creasy, Beverly Vandermolen, and Harry Wooten. Such an amazingly gifted bunch of folks to work with.

We were commissioned by "Creation Justice Ministries," a wonderful organization that began as part of the National Council of Churches 40 years ago. CJM is supported by over 30 denominations, and the songs we composed will be made available for churches throughout the world to use around Earth Day 2024 worship services.

We wrote three songs in our 2 days together, and I think they are all pretty darn good, but of course I'm way too close to them to have any real perspective. We'll see. Songs usually get tweaked a bit here and there before they find their final form.

One of the songs we finished focused on the need for humankind to fall in love with the earth. Another was about the problem of plastic (CJM's curriculum for 2024 is called "Plastic Jesus," so we had to take a crack at a song about that!). But the one that CJM staff member Derrick Weston (CJM's Theological Education and Training Educator) said he feels will be a theme song for their organization for the foreseeable future is called, "Waiting For Us."

"Waiting For Us" took its cues from Romans 8:19, which says:

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God..."

We talked about how creation itself is basically waiting for humankind to wake up and grow up and show up fully and urgently as God's children and do the things that must be done NOW regarding climate change.

I'll teach you the song before too long in worship, but for now I'll just share the lyrics with you (see below). I think they sing way more powerfully than they read, but you'll at least get a sense of what we felt was important to say.

I look forward to seeing you in church this Sunday, and hopefully tomorrow (Saturday) at the Land Acknowledgement and the Fall Equinox Fire ceremony.

Love to you all,

Pastor B

"Waiting For Us"

By the Creation Justice Ministries Musical Collective

Now is the time for a greater awakening

Creation longs for God’s children to see

beyond our fear, convenience, and short sided greed

there is enough... with justice and love

Together we can

Together we will

Together we must

All creation is waiting for us 

Ice caps are holding the flood gates

Melting with each passing day

Smoke from the wildfires now burning

Stealing our blue skies away

“Business as usual” mandates

Profits mean more than the poor

People at risk for erasing

Those on the margins pay more

Chorus

There is a sacred connection

Deeper than all that divides

All things are stardust and soil 

Strands in the web of all life

There is no time for deception

There is no time for delay

Holding and healing and saving

This is our challenge today

Chorus