"I will put my teaching in their minds and write it on their hearts..."
Jeremiah 31:33
| | | Calendar of Upcoming Events | | |
Below are the weekly programs. Brief descriptions of these weekly programs are on our website.
Clickable links are in blue, underlined, and italicized.
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SUNDAY Choir Practice, 9 am in person, Sanctuary
Contact Tom Ludwig, if interested.
| | 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. | | |
Friday, May 16, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Game Night for ALL Ages, Outside, inside if inclement weather
Saturday, May 17, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm or until done, Spring Clean Up, Outside & Inside
Sunday, May 18, 6:00 pm, Confirmation Meeting at Memorial UCC in Fitchburg
Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online)
Wednesday, May 28, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online)
Sunday, June 1, Communion and Birthday Sunday
Sunday, June 1, 5:30-7:00 pm, Teen Youth Meeting at McFarland UCC, 5705 Lacy Rd, Fitchburg
Tuesday, June 3, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Social Justice Collective Team Monthly Meeting (In person & Online), Multipurpose Room
Wednesday, June 4, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Befrienders Training (In person & Online)
Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 8, Wisconsin Conference UCC Annual Meeting, Contact Donna Grossman if you'd like to attend.
Sunday, June 8, Confirmation Sunday
Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, NO Befrienders Training
Thursday, June 12, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, SaLT Monthly Meeting (In person & Online), Multipurpose Room
Sunday, June 15, Strengthen Our Church Collection
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Thank you to this weekend's volunteers!
Greeters/Ushers: Bob & Carol Naylor
Hospitality Hosts: Lynn Belleau, Maryanne Raese
| | Resolve to get involved at McFarland UCC! Volunteer on Sunday. Join a ministry such as Racial Justice, Creation Care, Befrienders Care Team, SaLT, Youth ministry, Building & Ground Team, or others. Find out more by clicking here. | | |
News at McFarland UCC
Note: Clickable links are blue, underlined, and italicized.
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Game Night - POSTPONED
Game night tonight has been postponed. Watch for the rescheduled date.
Image by Alexa on Pixabay
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Spring Cleanup Day
May 17, 8:00 am-Noon
Join the Building and Grounds team on May 17 at 8:00 am to spruce up the church inside and out. Snacks and a light lunch will be provided. You don't need any tools, but you are welcome to bring a favorite rake, lopper, or rag.
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"God is Love" T-Shirt Order
Deadline extended to 5/18
The deadline to order black "God is Love" t-shirts has been extended to Sunday, May 18. Sizes are available from youth small to adult 5X. Pricing will be determined by the number sold. We will ship if you are not local! For more information, please contact Judy Taber at 608-215-4161 or judy...@gmail.com.
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Our Congregation's Statement On Israel/Palestine
Select Here to Read the Statement
Our congregation made a commitment last year after the annual Wisconsin Conference UCC meeting to study the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis throughout the year in preparation for a vote on a Resolution at this year's annual meeting in June. We faithfully completed our commitment to study the issue.
At our last Social Justice Collective meeting our group of about 15 agreed it was time for us to draft a statement that summarizes our position after studying the issue. A subcommittee comprised of Harriet Taylor, Marcus Murphy, and Pastor Bryan agreed to write a draft of a statement that would be shared with the congregation during worship on Sunday, May 18th, 2025. We will not discuss this statement during worship, but all members and friends are invited to read the statement and offer their responses, critiques, suggestions for revisions, etc. by Sunday, June 1st, 2025. Responses should be sent in writing via email either to any of the following persons: Pastor Bryan, Harriet Taylor, Marcus Murphy, Rachel Saladis, or Donna Grossman.
Thanks especially to Harriet Taylor who created an initial draft of this statement that Pastor Bryan and Marcus both agreed was exactly what we wanted and needed to say.
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Sound Bath - Chakra Balance and Affirmations
Sunday, May 18, 1-3 pm
Fellowship Area
Judy Taber has a connection with Karen Jedele and helped coordinate this opportunity.
What is a Sound Bath?
A sound bath is a meditative experience where participants lie down or sit comfortably while sounds and vibrations from various instruments are played. These instruments can include singing bowls, gongs, chimes, drums, and other harmonic tools. The term "bath" implies that the participants are immersed in the sounds, allowing the vibrations to wash over them, promoting relaxation, stress reduction, and sometimes even spiritual or emotional healing. The intention is to create a therapeutic environment where individuals can let go of tension, quiet the mind, and enter a state of deep relaxation or meditation.
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Immigration Justice Workshop
(Zoom Only)
May 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Monday, May 19: 6:30-8pm, the Wisconsin Conference Immigration Justice Working Group is holding a Zoom workshop, “Immigration Update: How Faith Communities Can Be in Solidarity & Advocate for Immigrants”. Aissa Olivarez of the Community Immigration Law Center will present information on immigration status and “Know Your Rights”; her presentation will include an update on immigration policy changes and how faith communities can best be in solidarity with and advocate for immigrants. Register to attend the workshop. Please note that this workshop will not be recorded.
Click Here to Register
Pastor Bryan will be moderating this workshop and encourages you all to attend.
| | Bob and Carol Naylor would like to make you aware of this opportunity! | | |
SaLT Spot
Highlights from May 10, 2025 meeting
The following are highlights from the last SaLT Meeting:
- SaLT is reviewing all of MUCC policies as we do annually.
- We are looking into developing a Media Policy.
- SaLT will begin learning about the pastoral transition process with guidance from Reverend Rachel Bauman, Association Conference Minster with a meeting on June 1st.
- Discussed responsibilities of delegates attending UCC Conference meetings.
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Weekly Creation Care Topic
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
Tip of the Week: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Per aparna rajagopal in Sierra (Magazine of the Sierra Club), "the term Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) flattens a group of people who hail from a whole hemisphere of our planet—a hemisphere with myriad histories, languages, foods, cultures, religions, and more—into a single four-letter acronym. It’s a monochrome wash over communities who each have unique connections to land, water, wildlife, and being American..….braid our stories into all US environmental narratives. Because we are & always have been part of the environmental movement, even when it has hurt us."
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Pastor Bryan Gone May 19-29
Don't Miss Church Next Sunday! Associate Conference Minister Rev. Rachel Bauman to Preach!
You will love Rachel Bauman! She will be preaching on Sunday, May 25th, and she will also be the conference staff person in charge of helping our congregation find an interim minister and next settled pastor. You will love working with her and she's a great preacher!
The Befrienders team will handle pastoral care while Pastor Bryan is gone. Contact Jean Duchrow (608) 335-3772 if you need any help. And Pastor Kris Gorton (608-438-6307) will be on call in case the emergency need for an officially ordained minister arises. I (Pastor Bryan) will be attending the graduation of my nephew from West Point, and visiting my daughter and her family. Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
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A Few Words from Pastor Bryan
...and The Sufi Poet Hafiz
Oh I absolutely love this time of year, and while all 12 months are wonderful in their own way, May is definitely my favorite. In part it’s because my kids (now 41 and 39!) were both born on May 10th, 2 years apart, and 2 minutes apart (3 p.m. and 2:58). And of course my grandson Jack was born on my 60th birthday, which is May 18th. One day before Tom Ludwig’s, who will be 67 on Monday. He’s getting old. 😊
But more than anything it’s the season. The lengthening days. The warmer temperatures. Hardly any bugs. And everything is coming back to life. Every season is crucial. It’s all part of the Diving Rhythm of Life. But it sure feels good when everything is becoming new again. The reaching toward the light. The blossoming of trees. The opening of flowers.
All this reminds me of one of my favorite poems by the Sufi poet Hafiz. I’m sure I’ve shared it before, but here it is again;
How did the rose
Ever open its heart
And give to this world
All its
Beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light
Against its Being.
Otherwise,
We all remain
Too
Frightened
The phrase that’s touching me most these days is “It felt the encouragement of light against its Being.” The encouragement of Light. I just love that.
I think most of us could use some encouragement these days. With all that’s going on in the world and how easy it is to go to a place of fear and anxiety. And as usual, so many of us are dealing with challenges personally. The loss of jobs. The ending of relationships. The loss of loved ones. The uncertainty of the economy. I could go on. And yes, my resignation as pastor of McFarland UCC all that goes with that… Sigh.
But here’s the important question. How are you feeling “the encouragement of Light on your being” these days?
I’ll share with you some of my own responses to that question. I’m encouraged by being in relationship with others—several from our congregation—who are refusing to give more energy and attention to what’s “wrong,” and who are more committed than ever to joyfully and playfully “showing up” with Love and a commitment to Justice. I’m encouraged by people who are committed to NOT always complaining and dwelling on the negativity, and who are instead focusing on the fact that God is calling forth new and powerful responses of goodness and beauty and truth and creative actions to meet the challenges we face.
I’m encouraged as always by the essence of our faith that reminds us that Love and Truth will always have the final word in human history, no matter how seemingly bleak things get in the here and now. I’m encouraged by looking at all the ways our congregation is committed to honoring the earth, standing with people who are most vulnerable and victimized by greed, corruption, and hard-heartedness, and praying our way into some positive faith-based statements and actions regarding some of the world’s most deeply entrenched problems.
I’m encouraged also by seeing people grow in their personal spiritual journeys in ways that are healing and transforming for them individually, and by watching them use their own God-given gifts in joyful service to others. I'm encouraged to see yet another amazing group of people taking the "Befrienders" training. I’m encouraged by watching people come to our church and find a loving community of support and caring, and watching some of these people come alive spiritually in ways they never thought they would. And to be honest, already I’m encouraged to hear people in our congregation talk about the importance of stepping forward in my absence in some new ways and making sure that we continue to grow and move forward and not lose momentum as you await the arrival of your next pastor.
And what encourages me the most is seeing all the ways so many of you are committed to being a source of encouragement for each other and for folks beyond our church community. There’s no better way to feel the encouragement of Light on our own beings than to ask God to use us to somehow bless and encourage others. We are ourselves encouraged when we commit ourselves to encouraging others. That’ how Love works. As Mary Magdalene’s Gospel reminds us, Love is a Circle.
So be encouraged. Feel the warmth of the Spirit on your life. Feel the radiant Power of God moving in this world. It is undeniably present always if we are willing and wanting to see it. And feel the joy and warmth of God loving and encouraging others in and through your own actions and how you show up with love and service for other people and for the earth.
Roses and so many other flowers are on their way to opening up and offering this world their exquisite beauty right now.
May the encouragement of the Light of God on our Beings give us the courage to do (and BE) the same--no matter what we face.
See you soon,
Pastor B
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