McFarland UCC | a church with heart
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Welcome the Hoot 'n Annie String Band

7/9/2018

 
You are invited to worship, 10 am Sunday, July 15, for an energetic service filled with music! You may recognize the Hoot 'n Annie String Band from MUCC's 2018 Valentine's Date Night play benefiting the McFarland Food Pantry.
"Get ready for a knee slappin' good time! Dancing encouraged!"
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The Hoot 'n Annie String Band is a Madison-based ensemble who first met at the ​Solidarity Singalong at the Capitol starting in 2011, and have branched out into other venues including the Madison Farmer's Market, the Children's Museum, Vilas Park Zoo, Bos Meadery, Chief's Tavern, Cress Spring Bakery, Stalzy's Octoberfest, Oak Park Villages East, and West, Lowell Elementary School, and last February's Valentine's Food Pantry benefit here at MUCC. The band is composed of Daithi Wolfe (fiddle), Prentice Berge (guitar), James Murray (ukelele bass), Cindy Murphy (cello, tenor banjo), and Michael Bausch (guitar, harmonica).
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More about worship @ MUCC
Check out the band on facebook

Meet Pastor Mike!

10/20/2017

 
​During 10 am worship this Sunday, October 22 
we will be welcoming our Interim Pastor, Michael Bausch.  
All are invited to stick around after worship for a little "get to know you" time. 
Coffee will be brewing and treats will be served!  
Continue reading to learn more about Pastor Mike.

​Introducing Our Interim Pastor

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​The Rev. Dr. Michael Bausch is a Wisconsin native with many years of experience serving UCC congregations in California, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Most recently he served as the interim pastor for two UCC churches at Slinger and Hartford, Wisconsin.
 
He resides in Beaver Dam with his wife, the Rev. Catherine Ann Carlson, a retired UCC minister, and they have two daughters, Anica, of Madison, and Brianna, living in Waupun with her husband Aaron, and their two children.
 
Michael is a graduate of Carroll University in Wisconsin, the Pacific School of Religion in California, and the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

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Among the books he has published are Everflowing Streams: Songs for Worship (1981), Silver Screen, Sacred Story: Using Multimedia in Worship (2002), Feeding Imaginations: Worship That Engages (2015) and Drawn In: Encounters With Art (2017). A CD of his original songs, You Can't Stop The Music, will be released next month.
 
While serving churches, Michael was also part-time adjunct faculty at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. and a lecturer teaching introductory courses in Old and New Testament at UW-Platteville. 

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​In worship and teaching, he loves bringing together the Bible, music, art, and film. He enjoys being around church people of all ages, and every now and then you might hear him whistle a tune as he walks through the church building. You may call him by his first name, Michael or Mike, and if you wish to add Pastor or Reverend, he'll say that's all up to you.
​​For fun, he plays tennis and pickle ball, and plays acoustic guitar as well as harmonica in several musical groups.

McFarland UCC Says Farewell to Pastor Kerri

10/9/2017

 
We will host a special worship service this Sunday, October 15 at 10 am to mark Pastor Kerri Parker's last day as our pastor and celebrate our shared ministry.  Community members are invited to attend.  A light meal will follow the service.

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“It has been my great joy to worship and serve with these people,” said Rev. Parker. “This is a congregation full of love - for the community that surrounds it, for the people in it, for the people who come through the door.  ‘A church with heart’ isn’t just a tag line here. It’s a real thing, the heart of the Gospel. I’m so proud of what we’ve done together and I have no doubt that extravagant love will continue on.”
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​Rev. Parker has been serving as the congregation’s pastor for seven years.  She joined the congregation in a transitional role for revitalization work in November 2010 and was called as the congregation’s settled pastor in January 2013.  New ministries at the church during this time period have includedMessy Church a cross-generational event with Biblical storytelling, hands-on activities, meal and simple worship offered on the second Sunday of the month Sept-April; God on Broadway, a popular summertime worship series; and community collaborations which resulted in the successful McFarland Community Garden.  
 
The church’s interim pastor, the Rev. Michael Bausch, will begin on October 16 and will lead worship for the first time with the congregation on Sunday October 22nd.  Rev. Parker will begin her new call as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, on October 30th.
 
 McFarland UCC is located at 5710 Anthony Street in McFarland.  The church is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ.   For more information and upcoming events, visit the church’s website at mcfarlanducc.org

Ordination of Kristin Gorton

9/27/2017

 
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
2 PM AT MCFARLAND UCC

We are pleased to announce the ordination service of one of our own McFarland UCC covenant partners, Kristin Gorton.  Kris is a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary and served as our sabbatical interim pastor during summer 2016.  After her ordination, the newly minted Rev. Kristin Gorton will serve at Memorial UCC in Fitchburg, as their pastor and teacher.  We are extremely proud of Kris and celebrate with her during this exciting time in her pastoral adventure.  
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Hold Onto Your Eyebrows, I'm About to Talk About God

9/20/2017

 

Testimony by Hélène Benink
​Sept, 17 2017


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​To begin, there are some things you should know about me…I make my living as a scientist. I had an international upbringing, moving around a lot. I grew up without religion in my immediate family. Growing up my only exposure to faith was through my maternal grandmother whom I spent time with every year. She took me through Our Father every night and church when in France (my siblings were old enough, and blunt enough, to say "no" to all of this). This was an experience filled with lots of warning and words that I didn’t understand, but no warmth.
 
I began consciously exploring the idea of my own spirituality as an adult. I identified a gap, a need for something more than I had in my life. I turned to the one person who knew me best and with whom I share an unconditional love, Jeanne. However, our conversations about this didn’t exactly happen the way you might think that they did. That is, I needed answers and so, reached deep into the “scientist” part of me, and started asking questions; it was nothing short of an assault. Who could blame me, I had me a bona fide, albeit recovered, Catholic and I needed answers.
She was so very patient with me…
But faith is hard to explain.
 
Fast forward a wee bit farther in my life, through exploration of the Unitarians, and we come to walking into the McFarland UCC where I meet amazing people who are so very good. Fast forward ever so slightly more and we come to the reason that I am speaking to you today…
 
My wife Jeanne was asked to go to the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ as a delegate from our church. Shortly after accepting, she found out that she could not go. No one had spoken to me about this and so I didn’t know much about what it was; only that my wife had been excited to go and felt awful about letting anyone down by backing out. I then surprised myself saying that I’d go. Never in my life have I seen her eyebrows shoot up that far that fast. To be honest, I surprised both of us in that moment. But I assured her that I was in and to let Rachel know.
 
As the time approached I went to the website and officially signed up, looked at the meeting schedule and began feeling apprehensive; who was I to take this opportunity? After all, I didn’t exactly think the way other members did. I didn’t even actually believe in God, what was I thinking? And Robert’s Rules? I don’t even know who Robert was, much less what his rules are. (Not much of that at scientific meetings.) …I eventually convinced myself that this could all be made better in my head by reminding myself that floundering outside of my comfort zone is good and fun and means that I get to grow!
 
The night before I was to go I lay in bed and thought to myself that I could do right by this congregation if I did everything that I could to open myself to this experience and learn as much as I could. What I had to offer was me and so that is what I offered.
 
Joan picked me up Friday morning and after some getting to know you a bit better chitty chatting, I asked about expectations for a delegate. That’s when I also asked about Robert and his rules. She thought I was kidding… I quickly realized that one incredible gift that came out of this is experience right of the bat was that I had been given the privilege of finding a friend.

Though I started tentatively, as the weekend progressed I became more and more engaged. In between sessions of meeting, Joan and I cleared our heads and unwound our legs by walking the grounds, exploring the history that was there. By Saturday I began to recognize a slow and steady change inside of me. I began engaging with other members more freely. There was not a single event or moment of change, but I felt a shift. An opening. I even shared myself in a breakout session; believe that!

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The whole experience was incredible. The speakers were moving and eloquent. The level of respect was through the roof. Every idea presented the right one…full alignment with my beliefs. I realized that the UCC is much more than faith…it’s acting on it to do good.

​On Saturday evening PK had dinner with us and I’m not sure what exactly I shared with her (it is difficult to focus when you feel that your feet aren’t actually touching the ground).

At some point, she asked us what we were thinking for the evening session and next day. I pointed to the lay ministry evening session. Not sure that I caught it (with my feet off the ground issue) but I felt like both PK and Joan's eyebrows may have shot up on that one.
 
I went to the session and I felt so very overwhelmed by what I can only describe as a warm tether…I made my way to the door several times only to have a group of people surround me with conversation that engaged me completely. I got back to our room late…Joan was waiting up…I’m not sure that you could miss the grin on my face, even in the dimly lit room. I was exhausted in the best way possible. Blown away by the warmth all around me.
 
On Sunday at worship my emotions bubbled over as I put some pieces together…for the first time, I understood that God exists and that the Holy Spirit does indeed dance. I saw and felt God. I burst into tears, all the while trying to focus on gathering myself a bit. After service, PK offered me a hug…and I didn’t want her to ever let go…I needed so very badly to be held (what with the Spirit dancing and the light everywhere and my feet, my feet...)
 
Friends, I experienced a moment that I can only describe by borrowing the words of Pastor Kerri in one of her sermons. A moment in time, a space where heaven and earth meet. I felt that space and it shook me to my core. I acted in that space and I received in that space. I was forever changed by it. I was able to shed expectations of myself and be my true self. I was me, I felt the Spirit and I saw God. In that space I understood that God was love and that love was in each of us. Strangers showed me God in their hearts. Strangers were only strangers because we hadn’t seen one another yet. They were not strangers in how they felt to me…I still feel close to them because of the love that they shine. It was and is palpable. I felt it on my palms when I held my hands up in worship on that Sunday (and every Sunday since). I saw it in the eyes of the strangers around me. I now see it everywhere. In others, in my own eyes, in my hands. The interconnected, intertwined whispers of something stronger than any one. Stronger than any love. That which must be felt, for it cannot be explained.
I went to the Wisconsin Conference of the UCC and I found God. Already on the drive home the grass, the trees, the sky, were all different to me than on the way there. I lost all of my words and gained butterflies in my belly. 
 
Today I can only somewhat rely on myself to control the urge to talk about this to everyone I can (continuing to cause many a scientists’ eyebrow to shoot up).
To relieve the bubbling over, I have also been writing some things down.
 
In closing I want to thank you, each of you, for holding me. Thank you for listening to me. You allow me to continue firmly out of my comfort zone and you help me, in countless ways, continue to grow and explore who I am. Please know that I am grateful to each of you and to each of you for this gift. 

Messy Church is Back!

8/30/2017

 
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Messy Church will kickoff SEPTEMBER 10, 2017!  This is our monthly cross+generational event for learning our most important faith stories.  Held from 4:30-6:30 each month, it begins with Biblical storytelling, continues with hands-on learning through arts & crafts, and includes a simple dinner.  We wrap up with a brief informal worship recapping the theme of the day, group prayer, and song.  All are welcome.
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Backpack Blessing 2017

8/20/2017

 
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This Sunday morning, August 27, during 10 am worship, we will bless backpacks and briefcases as students and teachers prepare for another school year.

This blessing is not just for the kiddos. 
College students, come on down! 
Adults headed back to school, you too! 
Teachers, YES! 


If you forget your bag, come on down. After all, this is really a blessing of people – you don’t need a bag to get blessed.

McFarland Baccalaureate

5/15/2017

 
  We are pleased to be cosponsors of McFarland's Baccalaureate Celebration, to be held this year at one of our neighboring congregations. If you know a McFarland High School graduate, please encourage them to attend.  Pastors from all 3 congregations will be present to offer blessings.  Sunday evening, May 21 at Christ the King, beginning at 7 pm.

Brunch Church

4/26/2017

 
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Sunday, May 14, our regular worship experience will be extended, lasting from 10 to 11:30 am.  We will serve delicious breakfast, have hands-on activity stations, and enjoy a celebration of Messy Church as it wraps up for summer.  Messy Church is our monthly cross+generational faith development event and will return in the fall.
Click HERE to learn more about Messy Church

Holy Week & Easter Events

4/4/2017

 
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At McFarland UCC we aren’t afraid to do church differently. 
When you join us for one of these upcoming activities, 
​​you’ll have a chance to experience the story of Easter – and the events leading up to it - in fresh ways. 

Palm Sunday, April 9th 10 am

You won't want to miss this lively service with palm branches for everyone and a play developed by children of the congregation!  CLICK HERE for a video invitation.
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Messy Easter, April 9th 4:30 - 6:30 pm

​Engage your inner child with storytelling, arts and crafts as we retell the Easter story in simple ways.  Remind yourself – and teach your dear ones – that the story of Easter has so much more to offer than mere brunch and bunnies.  Sunday April 9th.  Arrive between 4:30 and 4:45 pm.  Dinner is included.  We wrap up around 6:15 pm.   Questions about Messy Church?  Watch our video.
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Dinner Church - Maundy Thursday, April 13th 6:15 pm

Good food, spiritual conversation and a chance to build relationships with your neighbors. Dinner church is one of the oldest expressions of church - gathering together, breaking bread, and making sense of scripture and life through conversation around the table. 

Dinner and worship begin at 6:15, and we should be done by around 8 pm. (Would you like to help with prep and setup? Email us to be connected with the ministry team, or arrive early; we create the setting together.) 

As with all McFarland UCC activities, this is cross+generational - all ages are welcome at Dinner Church.  
CLICK HERE to RSVP/share on Facebook


Easter Breakfast, April 16th 8:30 - 9:30 am

The annual Easter Breakfast is FREE and a great way to start the morning! 

Easter Sunday Service, April 16th 10 am

MUCC's Easter Sunday service is a celebration with new and traditional music throughout.  Communion is open to all.  Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
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Look for us as mcfarlanducc
Worshiping at 10 am on Sundays In person & Zoom
5710 Anthony Street, McFarland WI 53558

Can't make it to worship with us? Visit our Facebook page for prayer opportunities & links.
We are proud to be an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!
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​Contact Us

Office Hours: Wednesdays & Thursdays 9am - 1pm (Or by appointment) 

Office Phone:  (608) 838-9322  
​​Office Email: office@mcfarlanducc.org

Pastor Bryan Sirchio
Pastor Email: pastorb@mcfarlanducc.org
Pastor's Cell:  (608) 577-8716

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