Last Sunday's Installation Service was a wonderful day for Zwingli and for me! Many thanks to all who participated in any way to help make it a welcoming space for all our guests, and a meaningful day for Zwingli. In the liturgy, I was told to "warn the idle"! I do not think that will need to happen here because the people in this congregation don't appear to be idle! I'm so impressed with the ways you step forward to do what you can to serve Zwingli and be a part of its mission! Thank you to each of you for sharing your time, talent and gifts. | This Sunday we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Stewardship Sunday. They really do go together because generosity comes from the experience of gratitude based on the experience of feeling blessed. We are invited, even called, to live a stewardship life -- recognizing the ways we are blessed and then being good stewards of our lives, our hearts, our skills, our earth, our money, our time, . . . Zwingli invites you to reflect on your stewardship of time and talent (through using the Time & Talent form you were sent) and through financial giving as you are able (if you choose to, please make a pledge for the coming year to help the Council to budget for 2025). Zwingli might be a small church, but I've discovered you do have a big, open, and generous heart -- and a desire to bring the Love of God to this community and the world! | |
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What is Stewardship?
Stewardship involves OUR NEED TO GIVE, rather than giving to a need. Stewardship is a TOTAL WAY OF LIFE, a conversation of mind and heart. Stewardship is not something we do,
it is about WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE.
Stewardship is about asking ourselves,
“WHAT DO WE OWN and WHAT OWNS US?”.
Stewardship is an ACT OF WORSHIP, rather than an obligation.
(from https://www.saintcharles.org/stewardship-as-a-way-of-life/)
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May God bless our gratitude and our giving. | |
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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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Advent Sunday Readers
Advent begins in December and runs for 4 weeks before Christmas, as an opportunity to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas, the birth of Christ. As is the custom at Zwingli, we will light the Advent Wreath each of these Sundays and invite you (and a friend, your spouse, your family) to take one of the Sundays. There is a signup sheet on the bulletin board (sign up soon as there are only 4 Sundays!). Pastor Karla will give you the information you need for your Sunday.
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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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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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Reminder!
Impact of the Pandemic on Congregations questionnaire
is due November 22
| 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. 22.
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. 21 so we can meet the Nov. 22 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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A conversation on Collective Liberation with Palestinian and Israeli activists
TUESDAY, NOV. 19 | 7-9 PM
at Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E Gorham St, Madison, WI 53703
Osama IIiwat was born in Jerusalem and early on in his life was displaced like so many Palestinians. He grew up in Jericho. He was a board member of Combatants for Peace and founder of Visit Palestine. He has dedicated his life to nonviolent resistance, working with different organizations such as: Sulha Peace Project and Interfaith Encounter Association.
Rotem Levin was born and raised in central Israel. After his military service he participated in a transformational intensive dialogue program in Germany where he got to know Palestinians on a personal and intimate level. After this experience he started working with peace organizations and was the coordinator of the educational programs of Combatants for Peace in 2018.
If you cannot attend in person, it will be livestreamed on the church's YouTube page (and available for later viewing).
Co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace Madison, Mennonite Action -Madison, Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, Christ Presbyterian Church, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, Veterans for Peace Madison-Clarence Kailin Chapter, World Beyond War-Madison, the Havens Wright Center for Social Justice and the Interfaith Peace Working Group.
REGISTRATION IS REQUESTED: Click here.
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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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Community Thanksgiving Service
- Tuesday Nov. 26, 7 pm at Grace UMC in Belleville
- To join the choir (directed by Judith Moe) please come to the rehearsal on Wednesday Nov. 20, 7:30pm
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Christmas Eve Service Time Correction
In the November newsletter it states that the Dec. 24 service will take place at 5 pm. Please note that it will be held at 7 pm! Petra Streiff has offered to provide rides to those who do not want to drive that night. Please contact her in advance so she can schedule you in (608-527-4155).
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