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In Worship, we have been exploring the three seasons of Grace taught by John Wesley, founder of the United Methodist Church. This Sunday we will explore the third one, known as Sanctifying Grace -- how God's grace grows the seed of Christ, the fruits of the Spirit, within us. I love this image of a quote by Andy Griffith, which does a good job of summarizing the work of sanctifying grace. After we receive justifying grace (God's forgiveness and love for us), God's grace continues to work in us "leading us to a place higher than we were before".
"Wesley affirmed that we can lose our responsiveness to grace and thereby 'backslide' or shut ourselves off from God's grace. Still, God's grace remains steadfast, ever blessing, sustaining and beckoning us toward wholeness and salvation. In other words, we grow in Christlikeness as we open our lives to God's presence and power at work in us and the world. Growing in grace and discipleship cannot be done within our own strength. The One who invites us on the journey toward the fullness of grace accompanies us and supplies our needs. The God who liberates us and gives us a new future enables us to live toward that new creation by providing means by which we can grow in grace." (from https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/a-wesleyan-understanding-of-grace)
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This Sunday, we will also be celebrating Rural Life Sunday -- historically known as Rogation Sunday. I understand that Zwingli has been celebrating this Sunday for many years, and often with tractors! I'd love to hear your stories.
Historically, "Rogation Days, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day, originated in Vienne, France (not Vienna, Austria), in 470 after a series of natural disasters had caused much suffering among the people. Archbishop Mamertus proclaimed a fast and ordered that special litanies and prayers be said as the population processed around their fields, asking God’s protection and blessing on the crops that were just beginning to sprout. The Latin word rogare means “to ask”, thus these were “rogation” processions. In an agricultural society, closely connected with the soil and highly vulnerable to the uncertainties of nature, this was an idea that took root quickly, and the custom spread around Europe and over to Britain." (to learn more about the early history and customs go to this page -- which also includes the image above).
While we will not be walking around the church or fields, I am told by some of our farmers that we will have TRACTORS! Join us in celebrating Rural Life and blessing the planting and animal husbandry of farmers.
- If you have a tractor you'd like to bring, please do so!
- If you like, bring a packet of seeds to symbolize all the seeds you are planting on your farm or in your garden -- or an image of cows, pigs, chickens, to symbolize the animals you are raising. We will be placing them on our Celebrate Rural Life Sunday Table (like we did for Earth Day a few weeks ago).
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Please join us for this special Sunday -- and invite your friends and families!
Blessings,
Karla
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Flicker Wild Church
How does the UCC support emerging ministries? The Strengthen the Church Offering is a source of funding for Congregational Assessment, Support, and Advancement Grants. One of these grants helped support the new ministry of Flicker Wild Church.
This community, found in various outdoor landscapes outside of Madison, Wisconsin, embraces the expansiveness of God’s presence in creation, and the movement of Spirit in the movement of the seasons. Scripture, poetry, movement, meditation, and song ground their worship practices, with a “wild wander” in place of the sermon. Flicker Wild Church’s invitation to worship not just in nature, but with nature and to be in spiritual relationship with the more-than-human world has offered hospitality to those who might be unlikely to step into a traditional church building.
We will receive the Strengthen the Church offering on June 8.
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Vacation Bible School for families
all ages welcome!
In joyful partnership, Grace UMC and First UCC Belleville invite you to ‘Waves of Wonder” Family Nights, a special Vacation Bible School for families, children and adults (and grandparents) of all ages!
Four evenings of fun, faith, and friendship will include a light dinner, music, bible stories, crafts and games. We hope you will join us for all or as many sessions as works for you. Bring your family and friends!
5:30-7:30 pm June 5, 9,11,and 12
at First United Church of Christ, 130 E Church St., Belleville
For more info or to register: phone: (608-424-3572) email: office@bellevillefirstucc.org
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Earth Day Worship with Lizzy Burkhalter
On Sunday, April 27, we were blessed with a special speaker who has a bachelor degree in Environmental Sciences and Conservation Biology from UW-Madison. She was active in the campus ministry program where Pastor Karla served as campus minister.
In her message, The Garden Still Grows, Lizzy inspired us with stories of her farmer Grandpa (who founded the Pringle Nature Center in Bristol, WI) and her own experiences in Community Gardening. All these experiences have blessed her spiritual life. She told us:
"Caring for creation doesn’t have to mean changing your whole life overnight. It can start small. You can begin by noticing. By taking a walk and saying a quiet prayer of thanks for the beauty around you. By turning off lights when you don’t need them. Recycling. Composting. Supporting local farmers. Using less plastic. Talking with your family or neighbors about why the earth matters. Or maybe it’s something bigger. Maybe you feel called to plant a pollinator garden, speak up at your local city council meeting, or volunteer with an organization working to protect our natural spaces. Every action, no matter the size, is part of restoring what God made good. And when we do this- when we care for the earth- we’re not just being responsible citizens. We’re being faithful disciples. We’re honoring God. We’re answering that ancient, holy call that was given in the very first garden. So let us go out today as gardeners- caretakers of creation. Let us look for God in the world around us, and let us respond with love, reverence, and action. Because the garden is still here. And it’s still ours to tend."
At Zwingli there has been talk about planting a pollinator garden in our backyard, knowing we can get grants to support us in this effort. We are excited that Lizzy has agreed to use her knowledge to help us explore this idea. If you would like to be part of this exploration Team, please let Pastor Karla know soon (as we hope to meet soon).
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Gaza and the West Bank: A Struggle for Survival Amid Genocide with Rev. Khader el-Yateem
May 29, 7:00 PM | Midvale Lutheran Church, Madison
Israel’s extreme violence in Gaza and the West Bank is uprooting entire communities, destroying homes, displacing civilians, many of them children, and depriving inhabitants of food, water, shelter and medical care. This violence is putting the continued existence of the entire Gazan people at risk and making each day a struggle for their survival. The question is no longer when peace will come, but whether the people of Gaza and the West Bank will survive long enough to see it. This presentation aims to shed light on the lived experiences of Palestinians under siege, the international silence surrounding their suffering and the resilience they continue to show in the face of what many are calling a slow, unfolding genocide. It will also lift up some of the resistance to Israel’s action in Gaza that is going on around the world.
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Rev. El-Yateem, a highly respected Arab-American leader and community organizer, was born in Bethlehem in 1968 and emigrated to the United States in 1992. One of Rev. El-Yateem’s primary focuses is promoting open dialogue and unity, especially among Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Rev. El-Yateem serves as Executive Director for Service and Justice at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prior to this appointment, Rev. El Yateem served as the Assistant to the Bishop and the Director for Evangelical Mission in the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA.
This event is hosted by Midvale Lutheran Church (4329 Tokay Blvd, Madison), and sponsored by the Interfaith Peace Working Group, the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin - ELCA, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches.
Register here.
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Is anyone in your family graduating this spring?
Please let our pastor know if you have 8th grade, high school, college, (undergrad or graduate level), or tech school graduates so we can schedule a Sunday to honor and celebrate their accomplishments.
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Looking for an opportunity to express your opinion on US public policy?
As a member of the United Church of Christ, Zwingli is supported with resources by our national offices. Among these resources is an Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington DC. This Office gives information to understand the issues and legislation -- and the ability to easily express our opinion to our political leaders. Go to this website to access these opportunities to express yourself (if you do not have a computer, check out your local library).
We will update this announcement with new opportunities (as they are added - bolded) so you can know the current issues you can respond to. You can also get alerts in your inbox by signing up here. Currently, there are opportunities to express your opinion on: Love the Least of These: Protect Children, the Sick, and the Poor, Help Protect our Right to Speak Out Against Injustice: Urge Congress to Vote NO on the Budget Reconciliation Bill, End the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza. For Mother's Day: Tell Congress NO CUTS for Federal Support to Mothers and Children, Tell Congress It's Time for Moral Courage, This Earth Day, Support Environmental Justice for all! As You File Your Taxes, Say Yes to Peace, Tell Congress to pass a Moral Budget, Support for Humanitarian Aid and Peace-making is non-negotiable; Protect Govt Funding; Protect DEI; Protect Medicare and Food Stamps; Protect Trans, Nonbinary and Intersex Civil Rights; Protect Everyday Consumers; Have a Heart for God's Planet; Foreign Aid; Federal Funding Freeze; Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking; Immigration Policies; Trans Protection; Voting Rights; Affordable Internet; Indian Boarding Schools; and Military Aid to Israel. We know that some of you want to put your faith beliefs in action and hope those of you who wish to advocate find this resource useful.
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