Greetings!

Memorial UCC will be a drop-off site on for the Madison Area Jail Ministry's winter clothing drive. If you have adult-sized gently used winter clothes (coats, hats, mittens, scarves) for men and women and would like to donate them to the clothing drive, please bring them to Fellowship Hall by this Sunday. We will be collecting all the items and taking them to the jail on Jan.17th at noon. Men and women entering the jail in warmer months are released in winter wearing their summer clothes, so the clothing drive is an important way to help keep our neighbors warm this winter. Thanks!

THIS WEEK IN WORSHIP
On this Sunday when we celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we are going to hear two scripture readings that seem especially timely. One is from Psalm 40: 1-10, a song of confidence in God even in the midst of trouble. Then we shift to John 1: 29-42, where Jesus invites potential followers to "come and see," heading into an unknown future with trust in him. Pastor Phil will be preaching, the bells will play at 10 and we will share communion at 8:15.

...AND FROM LAST SUNDAY
Rev. Ann Beaty was our guest preacher while Pastor Phil was helping First Congregational UCC celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Prison Ministry Project. Here's a link to Phil's reflection there.

SEARCH COMMITTEE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU
Our Pastor Search Committee will have another listening sessions after each service this Sunday. They are also still seeking your thoughts on a series of questions. The final question is below. All this is part of the process of drafting the profile of our congregation to send out for potential candidates to consider. You can respond to the questions or offer other thoughts by email to MUCC.Search.Comm@gmail.com. You can also contact anyone on the search committee anytime - Brian James-Richardson, Sonjia Short, John Rosch, Mary Holtshopple, Dean Baumgardner, Amy Boutelle and Lisa Schoenwetter.
Here is this week's question:
We have identified the following 12 aspects of ministry that we think are highest priority (listed in no particular order). Have we missed something that you think is more important than these 12? If so, what?
Our church needs a person who:
a. Is an effective preacher/speaker
b. Is effective in planning and leading worship
c. Regularly encourages people to participate in UCC activities and programs
d. Helps people understand and act upon issues of social justice
e. Makes pastoral calls on people in hospitals, nursing homes and confined to their homes
f. Is active in ecumenical relationships and encourages the church to participate
g. Writes clearly and well
h. Encourages people to relate their faith to their daily lives
i.    Accepts people with divergent views
j.    Is mature and emotionally secure
k. Works regularly at bringing new members into the church
l.    Is compassionate and caring

KING HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE IS THIS WEEKEND
There are a wide variety of events going on this weekend in conjunction with the observance of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. Here are a few of them:
Free Community Dinner - Friday, 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Gordon Commons, 770 W. Dayton St. 2nd Floor, Symphony Room.
Ecumenical Service - Sunday, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2019 Fisher St.
Madison/Dane County Observance - Monday, 6 p.m., Overture Center's Capitol Theatre (freedom songs start in lobby at 5 p.m.)

BEING A BLACK COP IN A TENSE TIME - THURSDAY
The Fitchburg Public Library is presenting "The Paradox of Being a Black Police Officer in Today's Society" at the BTC Auditorium (5445 E Cheryl Pkwy) on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Madison Police Officer Corey Saffold, a school liaison officer and law enforcement professional in Madison, will discuss his experiences being a black oﬃcer during a time when police are viewed as an enemy and are often not trusted, especially among the African-American community. This event is free and open to the public.

PRAYER TIME FOR CREATION CARE
People will be gathering at noon on Friday, Jan. 20, at The Crossing Campus Ministry, 1127 University Ave. for a time of interfaith prayers, statements and silence in support for and encouragement of creation care efforts as one administration in Washington DC hands off to another. This is one of five vigils around Wisconsin at noon that day focused on creation care. You can read more here.

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AGAINST HATE ON JAN. 20

As stories emerge from around the county about acts of hatred, bigotry, prejudice and xenophobia, some people in Madison will be gathering on Friday evening, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the intersection of State and Lake Streets for a silent walk to the top of State Street. Walkers will carry candles as a symbol of light in the darkness and of sign of solidarity with friends and neighbors who face degrading treatment. There will be a brief program when the walk reaches the Capitol Square.

ECUMENICAL PEACEMAKERS SEEKING ALLIES
In late December, a small group of UCC, Lutheran and Catholic faith leaders from Wisconsin met to discuss ways to engage in peace making and peace education in the year ahead. They are seeking members of local congregations who might like to be part of their efforts. If you would like to know more about this or would like to be connected to the organizers, please contact Pastor Phil.

NEXT DOCTOR WHO IS JAN. 20
We did not meet in December due to weather, so our next Doctor Who viewing will be the one we planned for then, the 2007 Christmas Special “Voyage of the Damned.” It stars David Tennant and Kylie Minogue on an interstellar Titanic. We are meeting January 20 at church at 6 p.m. for potluck and discussion.

BOOK GROUP DELAYED UNTIL JAN. 27
There are a number of people who cannot be with us this Friday, so we are going to defer our discussion of Lisa Sharon Harper's The Very Good Gospel until Friday, Jan. 27, at 7:15 a.m.

PANTRY PRODUCT IS SKIN LOTION
The Good Neighbors Personal Essentials Pantry product of the month will be skin lotion again. So many of our guests have asked for it - we don't order it - and this cold weather is hard on folks. You can put it in the blue bin in the gathering space. And our loose plate collection on Jan. 22 will go towards supporting the pantry.

ARC FRUIT SALE UNDERWAY
Each year, Memorial helps sell fruit for the ARC-Dane County, which advocates for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are order forms in the niche that you can use to order oranges and/or grapefruit that will be delivered in early March.

THINK AHEAD TO OUR GARAGE SALE
Memorial will be having it annual garage sale towards the end of April, so as you are sorting through things at home this winter, be sure to set aside items that we could sell then. We'd appreciate if you wait until after Easter to bring items to church.

YOUR GIFT CARDS ARE HELPING REFUGEES

We are continuing to collect $25 gift cards for refugees from the Middle East coming to the Madison. There is an envelope for them in the niche at church. Open Doors for Refugees - the organization working with Lutheran Social Services and Jewish Social Services on the resettlement work - asks for gift cards of $25 each from department and grocery stores. Your generosity is helping families settle into life in their new homes.

WINTER CARNIVAL AT NINE SPRINGS ON JAN. 21
The City of Fitchburg, Leopold Community School and a number of other entities are putting on a Winter Carnival on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nine Springs Golf Course, 2201 Traceway Dr. There will ice skating, s'mores, a bonfire, skiing and snowshoeing and more.

WE'LL HOST CROSSING MEAL ON JAN. 22
We will be providing food for the students who are part of The Crossing Campus Ministry on Sunday evening, Jan. 22 at after their 5 p.m. worship service. Watch for sign-up sheets that will indicate what is needed.

MEMORIAL'S ANNUAL MEETING IS JAN. 29
We will gather as a congregation at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, for our annual congregational meeting. At this meeting, the congregation will vote on the proposed budget for 2017 and elect four members to serve two-year terms on our church council. The nominees are Janine Bessemer and Jan Klawitter, who are seeking re-election, and Rita Elver and Sue Webb, who are seeking election. There will also be updates from our Pastor Search Committee, our plans for our centennial year and any other business that seems appropriate that day. All members are eligible to vote at the meeting. Our annual report will be sent out next week.

JANUARY COUNCIL MINUTES ARE ONLINE
You can read the draft minutes from the Jan.10 church Council meeting here.

NEHEMIAH VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION IN JAN. 21
Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development will be having a Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, Jan. 21st, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Fountain of Life Covenant Church, 633 W. Badger Rd. This orientation will explain Nehemiah’s philosophy of ministry for empowering the African American community and will help connect volunteers to one of our programs. Email volunteer@nehemiah.org for more information.

KIDS' MUSICAL SCHEDULED FOR MAY 7
Terry Kiss Frank has picked a date for our Kids' Musical - Sunday, May 7. She will have sign-up lists out soon so she can get sense of who is interested in participating this year. The musical is always one of the highlights of the year around Memorial.

MOVIE: WHO MADE MY CLOTHING?
The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing? Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, The True Cost is an unprecedented project that invites us on an eye-opening journey into the lives of the many people and places behind our clothes. SlaveFree Madison and Zonta are presenting this on Sunday, Jan. 29, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Fitchburg Library, 5530 Lacy Rd.

HISTORY NOTE -
As we move through our centennial year, we'll include historical notes in our weekly email.
1932 - Financial reverses and lack of employment affected the contributions to the church in 1932, but the spiritual life of the congregation seemed markedly deepened. Our consistory paid the pastor's salary in full (unlike the previous year), but the Board of Home Missions could only pay 1/6 of its share. The 15th anniversary of the church was celebrated in May and June. The choir scheduled a musical playlet for May to raise money to help pay for the much-needed choir vestments.

LOOKING FARTHER AHEAD

Annual Congregational Meeting - Jan. 29
Chili/Corn Bread Cook Off - Feb. 12
Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins - March 1
Easter Sunday - April 16
Children's Musical - May 7
100th Anniversary Celebration - June 4 worship
2017 Back Bay Mission Trip - November 4-11

You can check out events on our online calendar at any time. You can find our worship team lists for this month and next month here. You can "like" Memorial United Church of Christ on Facebook by going to this page.