May 26 - June 2, 2023

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

SUNDAY Morning, 10 am Zoom Worship

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

SUNDAY , 11:30 a.m. Bible Study  in person and on zoom Note: There will be no Bible Study on May 28th while Pastor Bryan is on vacation.

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

Note: There will be no Midweek Inhale while Pastor Bryan is on vaction, and because of

several other programs happening on Wednesdays we

will not begin again until Wednesday, June 28th!

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.

Wednesday, May 31 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Green Team Book Read, McFarland UCC under trees outside. Bring chair. In building, if rain.

Friday, June 2 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Native American Presentation: Celebrating the Tapestry of Humanity in Sanctuary

Saturday, June 3 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Native American Presentation: Celebrating the Tapestry of Humanity in Sanctuary

Sunday, June 4, Strength The Church UCC Wider Church Mission Collection

Sunday, June 4 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Teen Youth Meeting with Lake Edge UCC

Tuesday, June 6 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Racial Justice Meeting (In person & Online)

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

Sunday, June 11 6:30-7:30 pm, Younger Youth Meeting

Wednesday, June 14 6:00-7:30 pm, Outreach Funds Committee Meeting (In person)

Thursday, June 15 6:30 - 7:30 pm, NION Monthly Meeting (Online only)

Tuesday, June 20 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Green Team Meeting (In person & Online) Multipurpose room

Green Team Book Read -

Speak with the Earth and it Will Teach You by Daniel Cooperrider

Join us even if you have not been able to make prior dates. On Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30, we will be meeting here at McFarland UCC under the trees outside (unless rain drives us inside) so bring a chair. The focus of this discussion is "Trees" from Daniel Cooperrider's book "Speak with the Earth and It Will Teach You."

McFarland UCC joins Memorial UCC in Fitchburg in reading this book. “It is not enough appreciated how much of an outdoor book the Bible is,” wrote author Wendell Berry. Author Daniel Cooperrider illustrates his point with beautiful narrative- - like a stroll through the woods - - Speak with the Earth analyzes the Bible’s treatment of nature and intersperses this analysis with the author's own reflections on experiences in nature. 



Book discussions

• Trees - Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 at McFarland UCC (under trees. Inside building, if rain), McFarland. Bring a chair.
• Clouds - Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30 at Lake Farm Park (Shelter #2), Madison. Bring a chair.  Author Daniel Cooperrider will join us for the final night of discussion of his book.

Native American Presentation: Celebrating the Tapestry of Humanity

Come Friday, June 2, or Saturday, June 3, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., when McFarland UCC will be hosting a highly acclaimed multimedia exhibit and program called, “Taking a Journey of Hope and Discovery.”

The program will explore why there is a greater need now more than ever for understanding the interconnectedness of our common humanity and our relationship to each other and to nonhuman life on this planet. We are at the crossroads of truth in History, Science, Technology and Indigenous Wisdom, as we move toward the frontiers of the future.

Our presenters are McFarland residents Dawn and Art Shegonee. Art is a member of the Menominee and Potowatomi tribes in Wisconsin and has been a cultural consultant, teacher and presenter at over 400 schools and colleges throughout Wisconsin and neighboring states. In the 1990s, Art and Dawn co-founded the Call For Peace Drum & Dance Company, which has traveled around the world performing in Russia, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Israel, Puerto Rico and Ireland. They also performed at the openings for the Monona Terrace and the Overture Center for the Arts.

We hope this program will engage and inspire all of us to “Make a Difference” as the exhibit takes us around the world on a “Journey of Hope and Discovery.”

This presentation is free and open to the public. Invite your friends!

Befrienders Sign Up

Our church will be offering a Befrienders Training opportunity starting in September on Wednesday nights. These classes will also be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in-person.

What is a Befrienders, you might ask? It is a lay person who can walk a journey with an individual who is having a challenging time. A Befrienders is someone who is trained to enable them to be a friend to someone who may be dealing with a situation that they would appreciate a friend, for example; being a caregiver, divorce, depression, alcoholism, life threatening illness, or Alzheimer’s and dementia just to name a few.

If you would like to sign up for these classes or have questions, please contact Jean Duchrow (608-335-3772). Workbooks for each participant will be ordered by August 1st.

Care Ministry Team

We want to have more organization for our Caring work with in the congregation. We looking for help in the following areas.

• Meals provided when needed
• Visits to shut ins, hospital/nursing homes
• Rides to doctor appointments, stores, etc.
• Prayer Chain
• Prayer Shawls

If anyone feels called to be a “Lead” person or would like to be included in any of these groups, please contact Lavon Geasland (608-279-4643) or Jean Duchrow (608-335-3772).

Lost and Found

A pair of prescription eyeglasses were found in a brush pile during Spring Clean Up. There are other items in the Lost and Found bin also wanting to return to their rightful owner. Please check out the Lost and Found basket in the coat area. On June 1 Ginger will donate whatever remains in the Lost and Found Basket.

Volunteer Opportunity:

Help Feed the Community at Local Garden

Take advantage of an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in addressing hunger in Dane County. Our very own Kathy Krusiec and her husband own land in Mineral Point, which they garden. According to Kathy, "Our mission is to feed the people that are hungry. We have the land and knowledge and are called to serve." They have donated over 3 tons of fresh, nutritious food to various Dane County food pantries, including the McFarland Food Pantry. Would you be willing to volunteer on June 1, 2, and 3 from 9am to 1pm?

No matter your skill level or prior experience, there's a role for everyone who wants to contribute. Whether you have a green thumb or simply a love for the outdoors and community, this is the perfect chance to get involved. The garden is seeking volunteers for various tasks such as planting, lunch preparation, documenting the planting process, and more.

Each work day will conclude with a lunch served at 1pm, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow volunteers and reflect on the collective efforts made towards the mission of alleviating hunger.

If you want to be a part of this incredible initiative and make a difference in the lives of those who are hungry, come to 19847 Ferndale Rd, Mineral Point, WI on June 1, 2, and 3 at 9am. For more information, please contact Kathy Krusiec 608-381-4314 or kkrusiec@hotmail.com.

Pastor Bryan is on Vacation May 15 - 29

Mike Bausch will be leading worship on May 28. Thanks so much Mike!

Pastoral Care While Pastor Bryan is gone: If you need care of any kind, please contact our Care Team leaders Jean Duchrow (608-335-3772) and/or Lavon Geasland (608-298-7094). They will be the first line of support. If pastoral care from an ordained minister is required, our own Becky Boggs will be available, as will Hospital Chaplain Cameron Macdonal as she is able.

Thanks to these members of our congregation for being willing to serve us in this way!