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Jeanette Bossingham (center) | |
This coming Sunday, Worship at Zwingli will center around Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota -- home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe with an estimated population of close to 40,000. As many of you might know, two of our members have been volunteering there for many years: Veterinarian Judy Batker has volunteered for horse care for 14 years. Jeanette Bossingham has brought donations from Zwingli and volunteered there with her son, Kim, for 14 years. On Sunday they will each give the message based on their experiences (and there will be slides!). | |
The service will include native songs that they have learned and are eager to share with us, as well as scripture from the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. I listened to an insightful webinar featuring native speakers about why this translation is helpful not only to Native peoples, but also meant to be a gift to the rest of us. I encourage you to listen! The Lead Translator and Project Manager, Terry M. Wildman (Ojibwe/Yaqui) in answer to the question, 'why do we need a native Bible in English?' said:
"Because of the boarding schools and the government policy of having us not speak our language, that means they didn't teach us to read our languages . . . so I found out that like over 90% of our people aren't reading our languages in our heart language, like they don't get a chance to hear the gospel story of Jesus, Creator Sets Free as we call him, in our translation, in their heart language."
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They formed a translation council of many different tribal heritages and ages, including biblical translation consultants, making this book very much a translation of scripture into a culturally familiar language for native peoples (although he asserts that it is more of a general translation and can't represent all tribes and ways of thinking).
I invite you to join us on Sunday to listen to the heart language of this translation of scripture, and the heart stories of Jeanette and Judy about their experiences volunteering at Pine Ridge (where I am sure Judy and Jeanette would say, they receive more than they give)! As we Worship on Sunday, may we do so in recognition that we worship and live on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.
For today, I close by sharing inspiration for us from the First Nations Version (FNV) translation of John 1:1-5. We are invited to read it 'with gentleness' the way Wildman says native peoples approach holy readings:
"Long ago, in the time before all days, before the creation of all things, the one who is known as the Word was there face to face with the Great Spirit. This Word fully represents Creator and shows us who he is and what he is like. He has always been there from the beginning, for the Word and Creator are one and the same. Through the Word all things came into being, and not one thing exists that he did not create. Creator's life shined out from the Word, giving light to all human beings. This is the true Light that comes to all the peoples of the world and shines on everyone. The Light shines into the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it or put it out."
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Community Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday Nov. 26, 7 pm at Grace UMC in Belleville
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Kriss Ace will be placing an order for poinsettias for the sanctuary again this year. Be thinking about the color you want: pink, red or white. Estimated price for a 6½” pot is $16/$17 dollars.
A signup sheet will be on the bulletin board. Please include the number of plants, color, your name and if the poinsettia is in memory or in honor of someone. The order deadline is November 24. Kriss will collect payments. Make your check out to Zwingli UCC Paoli and in the memo print: poinsettia payment.
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We will prepare the sanctuary for Advent on Saturday, November 30 at 1:00. Please come and join the fun putting ornaments on the tree, preparing the Advent wreath, putting out candles, and more! There will be something for everyone to do, even if you prefer to supervise! Snacks will be provided as well as lots of good conversation.
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As we have in the past years, Host a Family is looking for generous hosts to provide gifts for families of children in the McFarland, Oregon, and Stoughton School Districts. There are more than 100 local families with children who have already asked for assistance. Can you help them? You can now look for a family to host for the 2024 holiday season.
Zwingli members have participated in this service opportunity in past years and are invited to again this year. If you prefer, you can just purchase a gift card (preferably for $25 or $50) to donate. All gifts and donations can be brought to the church by Sunday Dec. 1 where Judy Batker will pick them up and deliver them. If you have questions, contact her.
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Help Zwingli Choose Animals
to Donate to the Heifer Project!!
For many years our church has supported Heifer International at Christmas time. In millions of homes around the world, families like yours struggle to feed their loved ones three meals a day. We have a chance to make 3 meals a day a reality by donating money toward the purchase of a flock of chicks ($20), a goat ($120), one water buffalo ($250), or a bag of seeds ($60).
There will be a donation bucket near our goal poster where you can drop spare change, cash or checks. On December 15, we will see how much money we have gathered and determine what we will donate on behalf of our Church!!!! Let’s bring Joy to the World from a little country church in Paoli Wisconsin!
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With COVID rates on the rise, it's time to refresh the basics. If you're experiencing respiratory symptoms like sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and/or runny nose - Stay home. Mask up.
While washing hands and sanitizing surfaces is always a good idea, those tools alone will not protect us from airborne illness. Getting vaccinated, and wearing a high-quality, well-fitted mask in crowded spaces, combined with testing and staying home when symptomatic, are some of our best tools for limiting the transmission of COVID and other respiratory diseases.
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Reminder!
Impact of the Pandemic on Congregations questionnaire
"deadline extended to Nov. 30th so you still have time to fill it out!"
| Zwingli UCC has been selected to participate in the national Faith Communities Today study (FACT) Attender Survey to do just what the title of this article says. This Survey will give the national UCC offices more information from local congregations and members. They will also give us an individualized report of Zwingli’s responses (if they receive at least 10 online responses to the survey – so if you can, please fill out the form online). We will also get a $200 gift card to Amazon! For more information check out this very short video. | |
The survey itself will take a participant about 10-15 minutes to complete. Your responses are anonymous. This survey uses a split ballot method, meaning all participants will have 50% of the survey the same and for the other half they are randomly assigned one of two different sections. This approach is used to gather data on more questions without adding length to the survey. Here is the link for you to fill out BY NOV. 30.
If you prefer to fill out a paper copy, please contact Kathie in the church office and she will send you one. Return your paper form to Kathie or Karla no later than Nov. 25 so we can meet the Nov. 30 submission deadline.
If you have any questions, contact Pastor Karla. Thank you for taking the time to help us learn more from the church attender’s perspective!
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