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Hen House Weekly E-News
Why Hen House? The friendly chatter before Worship on Sundays reminds us of a Hen House! Since Jesus identified himself as a Mother Hen and, as an historical farm church, we enjoy being God's ‘Hen House’ and welcome everyone (town, urban, and rural) to our Worship and other programs - and invite you to even make Zwingli your Church home. The United Church of Christ values all people!
| | This Sunday we will be doing a lot of singing! I'm so grateful to those who shared your favorite hymns/songs for us to sing. I'm especially grateful to our pianist, Becky, who is helping to plan and prepare for this service (we are so blessed with our very talented Becky!). In addition to singing, I will be sharing a little information about some of the songs to help make them more meaningful to us. Please join us for this very musical Sunday -- and invite friends and family! Meanwhile, I share this poem by Steve Garnaas-Holmes (unfoldinglight.net) to bless you as you reflect on how God might be singing through you! | |
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“Rekindle the Gift”
You have a treasure in you,
a seed of glory planted from stars,
a song written for only you to sing.
You have gifts to give.
The treasure is buried,
and it may take some digging to recover.
The song is forgotten, but still hidden in your bones.
Nothing that happens to you can remove it,
no fear or shame destroy it,
no failure ruin it. It is who you are.
Rekindle the gift.
Listen for the quiet voice, the Spirit of Life singing in you.
Listen... and sing.
Tune your life to its melody.
Let it sing in you, let it sing you into life.
Rekindle the gift that is God within you.
Give God this joy— for it is God who is singing.
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Prayer List
Today, we invite you to keep in prayer:
Those suffering from drought, famine, accidents, fires, storms, flooding, tornados, excessive heat, violence, homelessness, illness, war in their communities.
Nations in crisis: Israel-Iran, India, Pakistan, Haiti, Sudan, The Congo, Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Syria, Lebanon. Prayers for all those suffering from the broken ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and for another ceasefire soon. Prayers for the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Prayers for those countries, companies and consumers who are affected by the escalating trade war.
For wise, compassionate leadership in our Executive, legislative and judicial branches of govt, and citizen action. For Civil Servants, immigrants, international students, and others facing uncertainty under the policies of the new administration.
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August 31 -- Hymn Sing Sunday
August 31 -- Pollinator Garden Team Mtg, 10:45 am
Sept. 7 -- Fall Welcome Sunday with Potluck!
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Fall Adult Education: Loving Across Divisions
Sundays 10:45 - 11:45 am: Sept. 14, 28; Oct 12, 26; Nov. 9
We live in divisive times and it is so tempting to just avoid those who think differently than we do. But when they are part of our family or workspace or community, that isn't possible. Jesus calls on us to "love one another", even to the point of loving an enemy! He calls on us to build 'Beloved Community' (MLK).
Our Fall Adult Education series will feature videos and conversation from those who are teaching skills to build better understanding and communication across differences. You still get to keep your passion and opinions (as well as grow in passion and opinions), but you will learn 'bridging skills' to live out Jesus' command to "love one another" in ways that can be applied in our families, communities, workplaces, country, and world.
Starting on Sunday Sept. 14, we will hold 5 sessions - on 2nd and 4th Sundays after Worship (10:45 - 11:45) through Nov. 9 (in our lower level). There will be no book to read, just a good non-partisan video and discussion, with refreshments! — everyone is welcome! Watch for more information about each session here in Hen House News and what the focus will be for each of the 5 weeks. Please help us to know how many refreshments to provide by signing up on the bulletin board if you plan on participating (even if you can't make every Sunday).
One of the programs we will be learning from, The Dignity Index, asserts that "Our disagreements aren’t causing the divisions in our country; it’s what we do when we disagree. Do we treat the other side with dignity, or do we treat them with contempt? The first brings us together; the second drives us apart." In this 8 minute video, Tim Shriver, Founder of the Index Project, shares more about moving beyond the "us vs. them" othering mindset that has become so prevalent in our society today. I hope the video encourages you to join us for as many of the sessions of this series as you can make! If you have questions, contact Pastor Karla. Be sure to watch Hen House News each week for more videos to help your learning (there are so many that we can't get to on Sundays so we are sharing some of them in HHN)!
| | Bethel Lutheran Church is providing another opportunity to reflect on how to re-connect across our divisions. |
Bethel Speaker Series: Dr. Kristen Du Mez – The Grace Between Us
Sunday, Sept 14 | 5:30 pm
Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, Wi
Free event and open to the public!
The Grace Between Us… because something holy happens in the space between certainty and doubt, between pain and healing, between people who don’t always agree but are still willing to sit at the same table. That space, that tension, that hope is grace. In a time when so much of our world feels polarized, reactive, and loud, The Grace Between Us is an intentional pause. It’s a chance to remember that grace isn’t a vague theological idea.
Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She is known for her research on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics in American history. Her most recent book is, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, and she is a frequent commentator for the Washington Post, NPR and CBS.
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Computer or Tablet Needed
It would be very helpful for Pastor Karla to have a computer or a tablet to keep at the church for use on Sunday mornings for adult ed and worship needs. If you have a used one that you are no longer using that you would like to donate to the church, she and the Council would very much appreciate the donation (we have a form to help you get tax credit if you like). We have a very old computer at the church which is very slow so we aren't sure it is up to the task! Contact Karla if you have one to donate.
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About a dozen UCC churches in southeast Wisconsin were impacted by the unprecedented rainfall this month. Most reported manageable flooding in the lower levels of their buildings. One church, however, sustained significant damage. The Wisconsin Conference and National Ministries are working to provide assistance. Both the Conference and the Christmas Fund are providing emergency financial assistance.
To provide immediate support, please consider donating to our established relief fund set up through the Conference. Or drop a check in the offering plate with SE WI Flood in the note section. We'll see that it gets forwarded to the conference.
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Marques Bovre Tribute Band Concert Coming to Paoli
Marques Bovre grew up at Zwingli and his mother, Sue, is still a very active and beloved member. Her grandson (Marques' son), Quintin Bovre and other members of the Marques Bove Tribute Band (Marques' former bandmates Doug Meihsner and Eric Dummer and friend Jeff Funk) will be playing in Paoli on Sunday August 31! Sue will be there and invites you to come too! This show is sponsored by the good people at the Hop Garden.
Location: The Mill, Paoli 6890 Paoli Road, Paoli, Wisconsin 5350
Website: Visit Event Website
Date & Time: Aug 31, 2025 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM +
| | There is a sign-up sheet for the potluck posted on the bulletin board. | |
Donations for Pine Ridge Reservation
Please note that Sunday August 31 is now the deadline for donations
Jeanette Bossingham is so grateful to Zwingli for making so many donations for Pine Ridge Reservation over the years. Her trip there this year is planned for September and she has her car almost full - so will only accept donations through Sunday, August 31.
She gives these suggestions for donations (all sizes are okay): sweats (tops and bottoms), jeans, shoes, boots, socks, winter jackets and hats and mittens/glove, sweaters, bedding for twin size beds, school supplies. Jeanette says, “Mitakuye Oyasin” (we are all related). Please bring items in plastic bags and put Jeanette's name on the outside of the bag (and place them on the chairs near the mailboxes).
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Check out the UCC Outdoor Ministry Fall Activities!
There are several Sept and Oct opportunities coming up so check them out now! For adults these include: Active Adult Adventure Camp, Watercolor Painting, Copper Enameling, a Quilters Weekend, a volunteer work weekend (includes ages 12 and up). For families, there will be a Green Lake Harvest Fest Family and Friends Weekend! Click here to learn more.
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Friendship Time Schedule ready for Sign Ups!
The schedule for Fall to Spring Friendship Time is posted on the bulletin board. Please sign up to host when you know what dates you are free! It will begin on October 5.
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Opportunities for Citizen Advocacy through letters to Congress
The United Church of Christ offers us the opportunity to learn more about bills before Congress and voice our opinions to our legislators. They make it very easy to send an email. Check out the many topics on their page: https://www.ucc.org/action-center/. The most recent one is: Stand with Washington D.C, and Support D.C Statehood! Scroll down the page to find others that you might want to express your opinion about.
| | If you would like to learn more about the work of the United Church of Christ Southwest Wisconsin Association, send a message to this email address to be added to their monthly newsletter: swacommunications@gmail.com | | | | |
