"I will put my teaching in their minds and write it on their hearts..."
Jeremiah 31:33
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Calendar of Upcoming Events | |
Below are the weekly programs. You can find brief descriptions of these weekly programs on our website. Clickable links are in blue and italicized. | |
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. | |
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Friday, April 19, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Meet Our Authors (Online Only-Sunday Worship link & password)
Tuesday, April 23, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Shamanic Journeying with Jessica Riphenburg, Sanctuary (in person only)
Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online), Fellowship Area
Thursday, April 25, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Enneagram: Learn More (In person & Online), Sanctuary
Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online), Fellowship Area
Saturday, May 4, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Blood Drive, Multipurpose Room
Sunday, May 5, 10:00 am Worship, Birthday and Communion Sunday
Sunday, May 5, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Teen Youth Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, May 7, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Racial Justice Team Monthly Meeting (In person & Online), Multipurpose Room
Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Healing Prayer Service (In person & Online), Sanctuary
Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 - 9:00 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online), Fellowship Area
Thursday, May 9, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, NO SaLT Monthly Meeting (Canceled)
Saturday, May 11, NO Love Has the Final Word (Canceled)
Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online), Fellowship Area
Thursday, May 16, NO NION Monthly Meeting (Canceled)
| Prayer Requests? Contact Jean Duchrow or Lavon Geasland. | |
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News at McFarland UCC
(Note: Clickable links are blue and italicized.)
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Meet Our MUCC Authors - Tonight!
Join authors Howard Olson and Dawn Cogger for an engaging discussion hosted by UCC on Friday, April 19th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Pastor Bryan and Martha Olsen will be facilitating this enlightening event.
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Both Olson and Cogger are accomplished authors, with publications in 2023. Dawn Cogger presents her insightful work "Womb to Tomb to Womb: Holy Longing." Howard Olson shares his profound insights in "When Grace Becomes Amazing: A Twelve-Step Journey Into Freedom," which garnered significant acclaim, even securing a spot on the Amazon Best Seller list.
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Previously, Olson captivated readers with his September 2017 release, "The Last Dog: When the World Gets Crazy, Finding Serenity in Dogs, Spirit, and Nature." Cogger's essay, "Electing to Love," published in the 2018 anthology, "Corners: Voices on Change" is called powerful.
All of their works are available for purchase on Amazon.com. This event offers a unique opportunity to delve into their thought-provoking narratives and gain deeper insights into their literary journeys. Join via Zoom only, bring your questions, and prepare for an evening of inspiration and enlightenment.
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New Name: Creation Care Team
The Green/Ecojustice Team has a new name: We are now the Creation Care Team! The new name is simple and descriptive – even inspirational! Our mission is to care for God’s creation and work toward a healthy environment for all people. Our Covenant includes the statement: “We commit ourselves to education and to action to care for all of God’s creation, especially where there is inequity, suffering, and environmental degradation... It is vital that we take responsibility to protect the only home God has given to us.”
Our McFarland UCC Creation Care Ministry webpage describes the accomplishments that we’ve made in the past few years, and we continue to set and achieve goals toward becoming a sustainable church community. To show how important care for the environment is to the United Church of Christ, it’s notable that the UCC General Synods have passed several environmental resolutions since 2017, including the 2023 “Free
from Plastic Pollution” resolution. These resolutions call on all UCC locations “to commit to changing from a disposable culture to a reusable, sustainable one.”
From our church kitchen to the Community Garden to our native plantings, we are living our faith that we – with God’s help – can make a difference on our planet. If you’re interested in joining our team, please let Jayne Fischer know. To email the entire Creation Care Ministry Team use the email address creation-care@mcfarlanducc.org.
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Enneagram: Learn More
Submitted by Steve Davidson
Steve Davidson and Pastor Bryan Sirchio will present our third McFarland UCC Enneagram Session. It will be held in the sanctuary (also available online) on Thursday, April 25, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
This session is designed for those who already know or have a good idea of what their Enneagram Type is (1 – 9 ). If you need to determine your type number, we encourage you to take one or more of the following Enneagram Tests.
Free Tests:
https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test
https://www.thepersonalitylab.org/home-2
https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test
https://enneagramtest.net/
https://personalitypath.com/free-enneagram-personality-test/
Validated Tests for a Fee:
https://www.narrativeenneagram.org/enneagram-test/
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/rheti/
During this third session, we will cover the following:
- A short, 10-minute review of each of the nine types
- A 40-minute summary review of Wings, Arrows, Triads, Instinctual Types, and Childhood Wounds.
- A 40-minute open discussion, with each participant sharing their number type, what has been learned about the Enneagram, how it has been used so far, further interests in exploring/studying Enneagram, and suggestions for future Enneagram Sessions at MUCC.
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Blood Drive on May 4, 2024
All:
Our McFarland United Church of Christ is hosting a Blood Drive with ImpactLife on Saturday, May 4 th. It will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For the next two Sundays, we will be promoting the May 4th Blood Drive. Look for a signup table which will be set aside. We can assist you in signing up in Fellowship Hall after service. Signup times are scheduled every 10 minutes. Simply select a time and then enter your contact information. Donation time takes about 45-60 minutes depending on the person.
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An announcement on Sunday will remind everyone to sign up for the Blood Drive. Information will be printed in the bulletin insert with a link so you can sign yourselves up. Additionally, there are free give away items for making a donation in May!!!
Please consider making a donation! Your blood donation is life changing and life giving!
Thank you!
Becky Cohen, Moderator of MUCC
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SaLT Spot for April Meeting
- Two additional financial secretaries (Judy Taber & Joan Jacobsen) were nominated and approved to expand the Financial Secretary team to 5 members.
- SaLT agreed to support Pride in the Park, scheduled for June 23.
- Kathy Schwenn and Donna Grossman plan to attend the Southeast and Southwest Association Annual meeting on behalf of MUCC
- Outdoor Summer Church Service dates were chosen to be held on the 3rd Sundays of June - September.
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Annual Wisconsin Conference UCC
“Where God Is Still Speaking: Listening in New Ways”
The annual Wisconsin UCC Conference will be held Friday, June 7, through Sunday morning, June 9, at Green Lake Conference Center. We are seeking a few interested members to attend this conference opportunity. Last year MUCC sent five members and yes, newer members are encouraged to participate. Funding for registration plus meals
has been budgeted; shared rides may be available. The early (discounted) conference registration deadline is May 4th. When attendees are identified, then rooms can be reserved for a Friday night stay.
Please consider attending the conference. Contact Becky Cohen, moderator, Pastor Bryan, or Ginger in the church office if interested.
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Mother's Day
May 12
Share your personal "mother figure" with us! For Mother's Day, we'd like you to submit a picture of whom you see as a "mother figure" in your life. These will be shared during Mother's Day Sunday worship service in a slideshow. Be sure to identify the "mother" in the picture with their name, as well as your name. Leave pictures on the office desk or email them to Ginger in the office by Tuesday, May 7. If you'd like the picture back, please indicate so. Questions? Lavon Geasland or Martha Olsen.
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Weekly Creation Care Tips -
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
This week’s Tip: “According to the National Black Environmental Justice Network, Black Americans in 19 states are 79 percent more likely to live with industrial pollution than white people. Researchers also found that Black people breathe 56 percent more pollution than they cause, whereas white people breathe 17 percent less pollution than they generate. Lavigne (an advocate from Louisiana) said industries ‘come to Black communities because they think no one’s going to say anything. They think no one is going to fight.’” Vox, Feb 26, 2021. But this fight belongs to all of us!
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Pastor Bryan Will Be On Sabbatical Leave The Month of May
It is typical that pastors are granted a 2 month Sabbatical (in addition to their 1month of vacation) after 5 years of ministry. Well it's hard to believe but I'm now at that point! I actually do not want to be gone for 3 months this year for lots of reasons, and so I've gotten permission from SaLT to take one month this year and another month in 2025. So I'll be away from all pastoral duties all 4 Sundays in May. Next week I'll let you know who will be leading worship in May, and what to do in case you need pastoral care while I'm away. But if there's anything you'd like to talk with me about and don't want to wait until June, then be in touch and let's connect next week! And thanks for the gift of this time away. I'm going to spend some time at my brother's condo in South Carolina (near the Beach outside Charleston), and then spend time with both of my kids and all my grandchildren. Yay! I never get to see them enough...
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A Few Words from Pastor Bryan
Our own Farrel Smith sometimes sends me things he finds online that are meaningful to him. More times than not they are jokes (always appreciataed Farrel!), but this past week he sent me a little story of sorts that reallly touched my heart and that I wanted to share with the rest of you. I'm going to paste it here and then I'll share a few more words after you read it.
Every month Martín’s parents took a trip to see Grandma and came home on the same train the next day. One day the child said to his parents:
“I'm already grown up. Can I go to my grandma's alone?"
After a brief discussion, his parents accepted. They stood with him as he waited for the train to exit. They said goodbye to their son and gave him some tips through the window. Martin repeated to them:
“I know. I've been told this more than a thousand times."
As the train was about to leave, his father murmured in his ear:
“Son if you feel bad or insecure, this is for you!"
And he put something in his pocket.
Now Martin was alone, sitting on the train as he had wanted, without his parents for the first time.
He was admiring the landscape out the window. Around him some unknowns pushed themselves in. They made a lot of noise. They got in and out of the train car. The conductor made some comments about him being alone. One person looked at him with eyes of sadness.
Martin was feeling more uneasy with every minute that passed. And now he was scared. He felt cornered and alone. He put his head down, and with tears in his eyes, he remembered his dad had put something in his pocket. Trembling, he searched for what his father had given him. Upon finding the piece of paper he read it:
“Son, I'm in the last train car!"
That's how life is, we must let our kids go. We must let them try new things. But we always like to be in the last car, watching, in case they are afraid or in case they find obstacles and don’t know what to do. We want to be close to them as long as we are still alive.
Well I don't know about you, but even though I've read this little piece several times, and I know what's going to happen, my eyes tear up every tim when I get to the note and imagine that child realizing his dad is in the rear of the train, and that he's not alone. For me, it would have been my mom in the rear of the train.
I guess this gets to me in part because I'm a parent and I want my kids to know I'm always there for them, whenever they need me, but that my greatest joy is seeing them grow to the point where they don't really need me. At least not in the same way. That's part of it.
But what touches me most is that moment when the child realizes that he's not alone. That his dad's been there all along, and that he knows where to find him. I imagine the look on the child's face when he reads the note, and also the look on the child's face when he makes his way to the rear of the train and sees his dad. And the look of love on the parent's face too.
Or maybe just finding the note and knowing his dad was there was more than enough. He might have just smiled, put the note back in his pocket, sat down, exhaled, and completed the journey without letting his dad ever know he even took a look at the note. Just knowing his dad was there was enough. More than enough.
But here's why this story really moves me.
There's never been one moment of one journey you and I have ever taken...
when God has not been in the back of the train, or in the seat next to us, or looking out the window through our eyes.
There's a note in your pocket. :)
Love and Blessings,
Pastor Bryan
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