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Ordination Paper - Kristin L. Gorton

3/27/2017

The Southwest Wisconsin Association Division on Church and Ministry has approved an Ecclesiastical Council for the purpose of examining Kristin Gorton, who seeks ordination in the United Church of Christ.

CLICK HERE to read Kristin's Ordination Paper

Ecclesiastical Council will be held on
Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:00 am
McFarland United Church of Christ
5710 Anthony Street
McFarland, Wisconsin 53558-8625
(608)838-9322

"An Ecclesiastical Council is an important event in the discernment process leading to the ordination of a candidate. The Ecclesiastical Council presents the opportunity for all participating churches within the Southwest Association to affirm and authorize a particular candidate for ordination. Please support Kristin Gorton and the church with your participation in this Ecclesiastical Council."

-Rev. Phil Haslanger, chair
Division on Church and Ministry

Welcome Courtney!

3/23/2017

Families coming to worship with their little ones can expect a new face in the nursery. McFarland UCC welcomes Courtney O'Brien as our new nursery attendant. Courtney is state certified in daycare and just recently moved to McFarland from Oregon where she worked full time in child care.

"I am so excited to have this job opportunity at MUCC and am looking forward to being a part of the church. Ever since I was little I knew teaching and caring for young children was where my heart was. Having been in McFarland just two weeks, I love the community already. It’s been such a refreshing place to relocate. The people are amazing, there is a small town feel, and I’m closer to my parents, brothers and sweet nephew, Tegan O’Brien who plays hockey for McFarland. My family, friends, two dogs (Bentley and Cooper) and my daycare business are my pride and joy! I can't wait to start meeting everyone that's a part of this amazing Church."

Courtney will be celebrating her 33rd birthday this June and is especially thankful for life and family because at age 31 she was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma cancer. After four surgeries, 32 radiation treatments and four months of chemotherapy Cortney has been cancer free since July 26th 2016.

“[that was] one of the happiest days for the O’Brien family! My battle against cancer was by far the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do. But, cancer taught me a lot about life.

It brought me closer to God.
It's allowed me to live, laugh and love even more than before.
It's taught me the importance of family and friendships.
It's taught me to believe in my doctors and trust God with everything.
It's taught me to love the new me, even with the scars and bald head.
It's truly humbled me and made me a better person.

Courtney also enjoys running, being outdoors, nature, cooking, laughing, exercise, traveling, beaches, and so much more. Swing by the nursery (even if you're not dropping off a kiddo) and get to know this wonderful new addition to the MUCC staff family.

Sunday Scripture March 19

3/19/2017

This morning's scripture reading from The Message (MSG)

Luke 15:1-32

15 The Story of the Lost Sheep
1-3 By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story.
4-7 “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

The Story of the Lost Coin
8-10 “Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”

The Story of the Lost Son
11-12 Then he said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’
12-16 “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
17-20 “That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father.
20-21 “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’
22-24 “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.
25-27 “All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’
28-30 “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’
31-32 “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’”

Dinner Church in March

3/6/2017

Good food,
spiritual conversation,
& a chance to build relationships with your neighbors.

Among the oldest forms of Christian worship is this: gather the people, break the bread, and tell the stories. Sunday evening, March 19 we’ll spend some time together talking and sharing in this meaningful form of worship. Arrive between 3:15 and 5:15 pm if you are able to help with meal prep and setup. Dinner and worship will begin at 5:30, and we should be done by around 7:30 pm. As with all McFarland UCC activities, this is cross+generational – all ages are welcome at the table. Dinner is free.

Ordination Paper - Kristin L. Gorton

Welcome Courtney!

Sunday Scripture March 19

This morning's scripture reading from The Message (MSG)

Dinner Church in March

Good food,
spiritual conversation,
& a chance to build relationships with your neighbors.

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Ordination Paper - Kristin L. Gorton

Welcome Courtney!

Sunday Scripture March 19

This morning's scripture reading from The Message (MSG)

﻿Dinner Church in March

Good food, spiritual conversation,& a chance to build relationships with your neighbors.

Archives

Categories

Find us on social media

How to Find Us (in person)

Dinner Church in March

Good food,
spiritual conversation,
& a chance to build relationships with your neighbors.