june 2021 communicator
TRANSCRIPT
The late spring brings with itplenty of fresh hope. The flowers arein full bloom, the air smells sweet,and the sun is setting later and latereach day. On top of that, things arestarting to feel back to normal.While COVID is not gone, many of us havehad our vaccinations and again are able tosee our parents and grandparents, childrenand grandchildren, and relatives and friendsof all kinds. It is a profoundly hopeful seasonafter a year of so much worry and despair.
It is precisely when things are feeling goodthat we often become forgetful of our faith.We forget that we still rely on God for all thebeauty around us, and we stop seeking God’spresence so often.
But of course it is vital that we keep ourconnection with God strong when things aregoing well. Perhaps, it is even more importantto sustain this relationship when things aregood than when they are bad, just like it isimportant to keep all our relationships strongin good times so that they can weather thestorm when bad times hit.
One way to keep that connection to God isthrough continued prayer. We don’t need badtimes in order to have prayers to share withGod. On the contrary, we can and shouldshare our prayers of joy and celebration oftenwith God. When we see a beautiful floweringtree, we can cry out or just say silently in ourhearts, “Wow, God, your works are stunning!”When we feel that warm sunshine on ourface, we can say, “Thank you, God, for anotherday of being alive on this miraculouscreation.”
Jews in Jesus’ time believed it wasimportant to pray with a genuine heart and
to pray often. Sometimes our prayersare a way to say, “I’m sorry,” to God,and sometimes our prayers praise Godfor God’s majesty and steadfastness.Whatever it is we pray, Jews of ancientIsrael believed that a prayer should be
said from a place of humility and openness.We know that God may not always answerour prayer just as we wish, but we accept theways God hears and responds to us.
Prayer has a long history in theChristian tradition, extending all the wayback to the first groups of Hebrews comingout of Egypt. We pray because we yearn tofeel God’s presence, to know that God is thereand is responsive to our earthly lives. Peopleacross time have used prayer as a way to getcloser to God and experience God’s love.
Jesus agreed about the importance ofprayer, and so he taught us a very specialprayer that we have said since his living days:The Lord’s Prayer. This is a prayer that wehave all said so many times that perhaps wehave stopped being able to appreciate itsmeaning. For that reason, we are going tospend the Sundays of June looking deeplyinto this prayer and seeing what freshmeaning it has to offer us.
I look forward to being with you as wecontinue to be a praying people. Many goodthings are happening and many excitingthings are on the way for our community, sonow is a great time to stay grounded inprayer so that our connection with Godremains strong and supporting for all thetransitions we have ahead.
Pastor Jen
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All-Church Paddling Adventure
Bill and Gail O’Neal have onceagain agreed to be our hosts for afun paddling adventure. All skilllevels are invited to join in on thefun.
Don’t have a canoe, kayak orpaddle board? No problem!Wingra Boats has them to rent.You will want to reserve yourwatercraft on their website, before your arrival.
When is this amazing adventure? It’sscheduled for June 27 at 2:00 pm on Wingra
Lake. We will gather at WingraBoats (824 Knickerbocker) Werequest that everyone signs upso we can keep you informed onthe event, and any changes thatmay occur due to weather.
Sign-up for the Event
Rent your Water Craft
Determined - A Documentary ViewingWhat will it take to cure your most dreaded
disease? How about the ability to wrangle withfamily?
Three women at high risk for Alzheimer'sdisease offer their brains and bodies to amedical study. After the deaths of theirmothers, these daughters are determined tocontribute to the search for a cure. This is thelatest fight against Alzheimer's - by those with avery personal stake in the battle.
The research project (Wisconsin Registry forAlzheimer’s Prevention or WRAP) is research
being conducted at the Wisconsin Alzheimer'sInstitute in the UW School of Medicine andPublic Health. The people in this documentaryare participants in WRAP, as is one of the film’sproducers and they are all from Wisconsin.
Please register here if you would like a link toview this documentary on June 8 and/orparticipate in a discussion the following eveningat 6:30PM.
Healing House Volunteer Opportunities – Sunday, July 4Our next opportunity to provide meals for the
homeless families staying at The Healing Housewill be on Sunday, July 4, 2021 (Yes, it’s on aholiday). MCC will provide the dinner meals for
July 4 and 5, both to be delivered July 4. Pleasecontact Ross Michaels for more information orto sign up to prepare a portion of a meal.608-220-7829 or [email protected]. Thank you.
Item Donation Request for Summer Servants ProjectsAs we started the program year this past September, June and Summer Servants seemed so very
far away! Now it is just around the corner and we are very excited to have projects in place to serveour community, both locally and globally, this Summer. We have a couple of items we are lookingfor donations of.
● individually wrapped tampons and pads (needed by June 1)● worn-out blue jeans/denim (needed by June 22)
Items may be left in the deck box, by the office entrance, at any time.
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Forward Garden: June MCC Work DaysMCC will be out at Forward Garden on two
Saturdays in June - June 12 and 26 - both from9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Our group will be helpingFarm Manager, Matt, with whatever is on thewhiteboard that day, which could be planting,watering, weeding, or even some earlyharvesting as we approach July.
No experience necessary! Matt is alwayswilling to train new volunteers, and thecommunity time we share together is such agift.
Once again, we'll be overlapping our time withthat of the youth group from Asbury, so ourregistration will be limited to 25 for each ofthese two work days. Please sign-up at: https://forms.gle/eVbhzLhn4nD6ZXvB7
Question? Contact Kristin Friel at [email protected]
MCC CaresStaying connected during a pandemic is a
challenge.If you would like a telephone check in, please
contact Jim Neuman at [email protected] or829-0710. We can also help you problem solveto get your needs met.
The card team will continue to send cards tomembers, friends, and immediate family whoare at home or on our church prayer list.
If you would like to be a part of our CareMinistry, receive services or make a referral,contact Jim Neuman at 829-0710.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
You may not know that the prayershawl rack in Fellowship Hall is full.These shawls are available for you togift to someone who mightappreciate a “hug from God”. Pleasesign out the chosen shawl in thewhite notebook located with the shawls.
And, you have a second gifting option. PocketPrayer Shawls are tiny comfort cloths that you
can take for yourself or gift to afriend. These shawls truly do fit inyour pocket! These tiny shawls andkits for making them are locatednext to the prayer shawl rack.Any questions, please contact Joan
Richner.
“Like” our public page: facebook.com/MiddletonCommunityChurch
Join our Members & Friends group: facebook.com/groups/mccmembersandfriends
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June 6 - online worship with LIVE watch party.service on Zoom at 9:30am, followed by Fellowship.
June 27, July 11, July 25 - LIVE outdoor worship at MCCservice at 9:30am, followed by Fellowship.
OR watch the prerecorded services anytime atyoutube.com/MiddletonUCC
Adult Faith and Fellowship Opportunities
MCC Online Worship
Find all of our Worship videoson MCC’s YouTube channel.
Participate! Let a staff member know if you’dlike to participate as a musician or liturgist.
Each week’s videos will be posted on YouTube,with links shared on our website, on ourFacebook pages and in our weekend updateemail. If you haven’t been receiving thoseemails, contact the church office to be added tothe list.
Join us for a Virtual Fellowship Hour selectSundays at 10:00 am, on Google Meet! (Thisgathering won’t occur on Sundays with liveZoom worship or outdoor worship services) Thisis purely about fellowship! All are welcome! Sograb your coffee or tea, and a treat and join usthrough the link below!
Join the video meeting: Fellowship Hour
Mind/Body/SpiritThis mindfulness group meets every Thursday
at 6:30pm. For the next few weeks we're goingto read a variety of articles from mindfulnesswriters. Brian will send links to the articles eachweek. Everyone is welcome! Please join us!Contact Brian for more information.
Join the Zoom video meeting: Mindfulness
Coffee and Conversation Hasmoved to a hybrid format.Attendees are welcome to joinus in-person at the church or logon through the Google Meet.The group meets on the firstand third Wednesday of themonth at 8:00 am.
C&C Reading Schedule:June 2 : The End of White Innocence
& Bad EnglishJune 16: An Education, Portrait of an Artist,
& The Indebted
Join the video meeting: Coffee & Conversation
Yoga: Jane Mirshak is offering Breath,Movement and Shakti Naam Yoga Classesonline! For more information feel free to reachout to Jane directly by email or 917-670-6794.
Knitting Group: The MCC Knitting Group willmeet by Google Meet on Wednesday June 16 at7:00 p.m. On Monday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. wewill meet at the church. If the weather permits,we will meet in the courtyard. If not, we willmeet in Fellowship Hall.
If you knit and/or crochet and would like somefellowship while doing so, please email BethMichaels at [email protected].
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Children and Youth Faith and Fellowship Opportunities
Preschool and Elementary School will beIN-PERSON, starting June 6-August 29. (No SSon July 4) We will meet OUTSIDE at the churchfrom 9:30-10:30 am. Sunday School will be“Family Style”. This means families will attendtogether. Feel free to bring a blanket, or lawnchairs to sit on during our time together.
In June we will spend some time looking atWomen in the Bible. Come based on whatworks for your family!
On June 27 we will have an in-personoutdoor service. Children will start the servicewith their families, and be called up front forMoment with Children. Afterwards, they areinvited to go to Sunday School in the MemorialGarden with Darci. A parent (or other adult) isnot expected to join them. We will havevolunteers in place to help like in the past. Werecommended the children bring a towel orsmall blanket to sit on in the grass.
Middle School and High School SundaySchool will not meet from May 30-September5. Classes for this age group will resumeSeptember 12. However, Youth Groups willcontinue meeting through the summer!Check out the article and sign-up for the fun!Thank you Steve Weber, Aurora Pop-Vicas, RossMichaels, Wendy Koran, and Charlie Crow foryour leadership with the Youth Sunday Schoolthis past program year.
Our Next Youth Group will be June 13!Middle School 3:30-5:00High School 6:30-8:00
IN-PERSONSign-up is required.
Cost: $5 event/per personto help cover the cost of supplies
(Scholarships available)
June 13: Minute to Win It Games
We are going to have a blast playing silly,simple, yet challenging Minute to Win it gameswith our MCC Friends. Lots of fun challengesfor all! No particular skills required.
To ensure we have enough supplies foreveryone, you must sign up by June 10.
Save these dates for more Summer Fun:
July 11: Water Wars (Bring your own Super Soaker)August 8: Amazing Race
Parent volunteers are always needed! Sign-up onthe same link as the Youth.
Sign up here for Summer Youth Group (1, 2 or all 3)
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Family Vacation Bible School
Family VBS will be in-person, outdoors, theevenings of August 2-5. This year's theme is“Who is my Neighbor”. Neighbors are more thanthe people in our families or communities, andGod’s love for all is great!
Join as we learn more about our neighbors,and God’s great love! Vacation Bible School willbe “Family Style”, meaning families will attendtogether.
Families are encouraged to bring a blanket tosit on the lawn, and will move together throughthe various activities.
Pods of families are welcome to grouptogether! Cost: $50 per family.
Register your Family HereRegistration Closes July 18
Camp Balsams: Our Lakeside Retreat2021 Summer Reservations
Daily and weekly openings remain at CampBalsams early in the season and in late Augustand most of September. Camp Balsams is apersonal, family and group retreat, owned byMiddleton Community Church. Camp Balsamsis in the north woods of Wisconsin, five mileseast of Eagle River, on the shores of Bass Lake. Itis perfect for active family fun: fishing,swimming, or hiking. Camp Balsams is alsoperfect for quiet and spiritual retreat, cookings'mores, singing songs, and sharing our faitharound the fire, counting eagles and shootingstars.
We own five cabins rentable by MCCmembers for the summer season, this yearfrom May 25 to September 29. Also, one of thecabins, Charlie's Cabin, is rentable year around.Due to the pandemic, weeks during thesummer of 2021 will be 6 nights (up from 5 in2020), with arrival on Monday and departureon Sunday.Rates have not changed and for a 6 day week
will be:
Cabin 2 - $192; Cabin 5 - $384;Cabin 3 - $324; Charlie’s Cabin - $600.Cabin 4 - $300;
No deposit will be required this year. Healthcare services in the Eagle River area are limited.If anyone in your party has been exposed toCOVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms, youshould not travel to Camp Balsams. Full refundswill be provided to anyone needing to cancel.Occupancy is limited to 10 individuals per cabin.
It is the intention of the Camp BalsamsCommittee that the camp be accessible to allmembers. If the rates present a hardship,please contact Pastor Jen or one of the campco-chairs, Bill (608-695-4173) or Joan(608-228-2500) Richner [email protected].
Reserve a cabin by emailing Anne Tennies [email protected].
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Small Groups Policy - Revision 3 (effective June 1, 2021)If a person has been recently exposed to COVID, is quarantining, is waiting for test results or has any of the
COVID symptoms, they are asked to use common sense and not participate in a meeting in person.
The MCC Post-COVID Transition Team is periodically reviewing and revising church policy, taking intoaccount CDC guidelines, Dane County orders, and the needs of our community to balance keeping everyonesafe with the need to be present with each other.
In light of the upcoming lift of all Dane County COVID orders starting on June 2nd, the MCC Post-COVIDTransition Team has given special consideration on how to move forward with the COVID practices in ourown church.
We have released a new revised version of the Small Groups Policy, which is available on the website toview in full. The third revision is the same as the second revision, with the following changes:
1. During outdoor gatherings, including worship, the wearing of masks and maintaining 6 ft. socialdistancing is now optional for vaccinated people and recommended for non-vaccinated people.
2. Wearing of masks and social distancing is required for all indoor gatherings where unvaccinatedpeople are present. If it is determined that all participants are vaccinated, then the group convenermay gather consent from participants to continue the meeting without the use of masks. All othersmall group policies for cleaning still apply.
3. There are no longer restrictions on the number of groups that can meet outside.
To read the entire third revision of the COVID policy, please see the MCC website.
As our moderator, Alin Pop-Vicas, noted in an announcement to the community on May 20th, we are doingwhat we can to offer in-person activities and worship while also protecting those amongst us who do not yethave immunity from COVID. We encourage each member to consider their own needs and comfort zone aseach person decides for themselves and their family how to participate.
We appreciate everyone’s consideration for the needs and preferences of others and also everyone’spatience in our slow return to normal activity. In this continued time of transition, we are taking the followingsteps to improve the safety of our environment while also offering more opportunities for in persongatherings:
1. The Post-Covid Transition team is working closely with the Board of Finance to improve air qualityand circulation throughout the building through structural modifications.
2. The church has invested in camera equipment to offer hybrid options for attendance at activities,allowing some people to attend in person while others can attend online.
3. The Board of Worship is offering more options for live worship, including a Zoom live worship on June6th, and outdoor worship on June 27th, July 11th, and July 25th. Additionally, at the June meeting, theBoW will also make a proposal for a return to the sanctuary for worship and submit this proposal tocouncil in June for consideration.
If you have any questions about these changes, you can contact the following people:
Alin Pop-Vicas, Moderator: [email protected] Weber, Vice-Moderator: [email protected] Jen Bloesch [email protected]
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Pastor Jen [email protected]
(608)512-3612
Office:[email protected]
(608)831-4694Anne: (608)642-4016
Darci [email protected]
(402)217-3810
Barbara Brown:[email protected]
Gary Eckstein:[email protected]
Website:www.middletonucc.org
Ways You Can Support Our Mission PartnersMore information about each mission partner on our website.
Middleton Outreach MinistryFor current pantry hours and procedures, Click HERE.To donate, visit momhelps.org and click “Donate.”
The Road Home Dane CountySupport vulnerable families (including Healing House,a joint ministry with Just Dane).Visit trhome.org/ and click “Donate.”
MCPASD School Feeding ProgramsClick HERE for more information or to donate. Click“Donate,” then “Meals for Kids During School Closure”to direct your gift.
Madison Schools Feeding Programsfree meals to all children 18 and underVisit https://food.madison.k12.wi.us for times andlocations for food distribution.
Middleton Youth CenterClick HERE, and then click “donate to the YouthCenter here.”
Orion Family ServicesIf you would like to support Orion, mail a check to“Orion Family Services, Inc., 6333 Odana Road, Suite20, Madison, WI 53719.”
Horizon High SchoolVisit horizonhs.org and click “Donate.”
Wisconsin Conference UCCEmergency Response Fund to support churchesfacing significant financial challengesGive online at wcucc.org by clicking the red "Donate"button at the top of the page.
Dane County COVID-19 Emergency and RecoveryFundFunds will be split into two approaches: Short-termemergency and Long-term response and recovery.Click HERE, then click “Donate Here.”
Red CrossThere is currently a severe blood shortage. To makean appointment, visit redcrossblood.orgFinancial donations are also appreciated. Click HEREfor all the ways you can donate.
Voces de la Frontera Direct Relief Fund: COVID-19Relief for Undocumented WorkersVoces de la Frontera, is raising critical funds to ensurethe most vulnerable members of our communitieswill be able to meet their basic needs. Donate athttps://bit.ly/VocesReliefFund
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Surprising GiftsDo you know about a charitable organization
which would benefit from our church’s support?The Board of Mission and Stewardship would likeyour help to identify worthwhile local, national,and international charitable organizations for
our church to give $200 Surprising Gifts to thisJune. You can nominate your favorite charity orcause online here. We will be acceptingnominations through Sunday, June 6.
Are you above 12 years old and still needing a vaccination?Fortunately, there are many resources to help you find a vaccination site!A first great spot to look is the Vaccine Finder website.You can also get on the Wisconsin Department of Health registry to get signed up for a vaccine.If you have additional questions or want to register by phone
instead of online, you can call the DHS Hotline at (844) 864-1064.If you need additional support getting scheduled for a vaccine,
or have spiritual or religious questions about the vaccine, pleasereach out to Pastor Jen Bloesch at [email protected] can also help you navigate the websites and coordinate aride to your vaccination appointment.
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June 2021Click the links to join the online meetings. Visit our Google Calendar for dial-in instructions.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
*GREEN indicatesin-person events
1 28am
Coffee & Conv.
6pmSummer Servants
3
6:30pmMindfulness
4 5
69:30am
Live Worship WatchParty & Fellowship
Family Sunday School
7
6:45pmBd of Christ. Ed
7:00pmBd of Worship
8
“Determined”Documentary
viewing
9
6pmSummer Servants
6:30pm“Determined”
Panel Discussion
10
6:30pmMindfulness
11 129-11am
Work Day atForward Garden(sign-up required)
13 9:30amFamily Sunday School
10amFellowship Hour
3:30pmMS Youth Group
(sign-up required)
6:30pmHS Youth Group
(sign-up required)
14
6:30pmBd of Finance
Bd of Mission &Stewardship
Bd of Memb. &Fellowship
15 168am
Coffee & Conv.
6pmSummer Servants
7pmKnitting Group
17
6:30pmMindfulness
18 19
209:30am
Family Sunday School10am
Fellowship Hour
21
Building Use:Creative Soul
Camp
6:45pmCouncil Mtg
22
Building Use:Creative Soul
Camp
23
Building Use:Creative Soul
Camp
6pmSummer Servants
24
Building Use:Creative Soul
Camp
6:30pmMindfulness
25 269-11am
Work Day atForward Garden(sign-up required)
27 9:30amLive Outdoor Worship
Sunday School
2pmPaddling Adventure
28
6:30pmKnitting Group
29 30
6pmSummer Servants
“In early June, the worldof leaf and blade andflowers explodes, and
every sunset isdifferent.”
— John Steinbeck
June 6 - online worship with LIVE watch party.service on Zoom at 9:30am, followed by Fellowship.
June 27, July 11, July 25 - LIVE outdoor worship at MCCservice at 9:30am, followed by Fellowship.
OR watch the prerecorded services anytime at youtube.com/MiddletonUCC
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