October 13, 2013 No

First Congregational United Church of Christ The Tower Madison, Wisconsin

LXIX October 13, 2013 No. 33

Seeking Justice: The House I Live In

The Adult Education Committee, guided by priorities of our Outreach Board, is offering a Seeking Justice movie series. The first movie, Street Pulse, filmed in Madison, addressed homelessness. We now look forward to the second movie in the series, The House I Live In. As America remains embroiled in conflict overseas, a less visible war is taking place at home, costing countless lives, destroying families, and inflicting untold damage on future generations of Americans. Over forty years, the War on Drugs has accounted for more than 45 million arrests, made America the world’s largest jailer, and damaged poor communities at home and abroad. Yet for all that, drugs are cheaper, purer, and more available today than ever before. Filmed in more than twenty states, The House I Live In captures heart-wrenching stories from individuals at all levels of America’s War on Drugs. From the dealer to the grieving mother, the narcotics officer to the senator, the inmate to the federal judge, the film offers a penetrating look inside America’s longest war, offering a definitive portrait and revealing its profound human rights implications. While recognizing the seriousness of drug abuse as a matter of public health, the film investigates the trag- ic errors and shortcomings that have meant it is more often treated as a matter for law enforcement, creating a vast machine that feeds largely on America’s poor, and especially on minority communities. Beyond simple mis- guided policy, The House I Live In examines how political and economic corruptions have fueled the war for forty years, despite persistent evidence of its moral, economic, and practical failures. The film was written, directed and produced by Eugene Jarecki, an award-winning filmmaker, public thinker, and author. He is one of only two people to have twice won the Sundance Grand Jury prize for documentary, most recently in 2012 for The House I Live In. His prior film, Reagan, received wide critical acclaim and won an Em- my Award after premiering on HBO for the occasion of Reagan’s 100th birthday. In addition to his work in film, Jarecki is also a thinker on international affairs, and has appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Charlie Rose, and the Colbert Report. Two reviews of the movie follow:

Comprehensive in scope, heart wrenching in its humanity, and brilliant in its thesis, Jarecki’s new film grabs viewers and shakes them to their core. “The House I Live In” is not only the definitive film on the failure of America’s drug war, but it is also a masterpiece filled with hope and the potential to effect change. This film is surely destined for the annals of documentary history. -Sundance Film Festival 2012

FEARLESS! A model of the ambitious, vitalizing activist work that exists to stir the sleeping to wake. -New York Times

Please plan to join us Friday, October 18th to watch this movie. Light dinner at 5:30pm, with movie to begin at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Room. Discussion will follow. Childcare is available.

~ Eldonna Hazen

New Member Orientation If you are thinking about joining First Congregational UCC or would like to know more about the church, please join us for New Member Orientation sessions. The next two-week session has been scheduled for October 27th and November 3rd. We will meet in the Student Lounge from 8:45-9:45 am. We will get to know each other and some current members, learn about the UCC, and more specifically about First Con- gregational Church. Childcare will be provided. Please let Eldonna know if you will be attending, or if you have any questions. Join Us For FAMILIES AND Morning Service children

Sunday, October 13, 2013 Sunday Worship 10am in the Sanctuary FAMILY COSTUME BALL! Scripture Readings: Psalm 139, Romans 15:5-13 Friday, October 25 This Sunday we will celebrate how we “weave our 6:30 - 8:30pm welcome.” This congregation, since the 1960’s, has been concerned with making sure people of all First Cong Dining Room abilities are able to worship with and attend activities Families of all Shapes, Sizes, & Ages invited! in this older building. Twenty-one years ago First DJ, Dancing and Games! Congregational voted to be an Open and Affirming Costumes optional, but encouraged. congregation, welcoming LGBT and their families to join the community, without judgment.

So, it is on this Sunday that we use two texts to celebrate ALL of God’s children. Each one of us is “wonderfully and fearfully made,” as we hear in the First Cong youth reading from Psalm 139. We also hear the phrase, “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” God is Youth Pie Sale! On aware of who we are, how we are made and we are Saturday, November given the freedom to use the gifts of our weavings to 2nd, First Cong Youth, interact with our brothers and sisters and to praise armed with aprons God for God’s creation. and rolling pins, will be In the reading from Romans we hear the broad making and baking 101 stroke, “welcome one another.” We are not to be limited pies to sell. The pies, choice of apple or cherry, in our welcome; we are to expand our welcome. This will sell for $15. Jeff’s mother will again be mix- text tells us of a welcome to both Jews and Gentiles ing up the crust from scratch. Youth will be from Christ. The verses close with a prayer, “May the baking during the day and hot pies will be God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that ready for pick up between 3:00–5:00pm in the you may abound in hope.” This statement is a promise of church kitchen, or after worship November 3. hope for all, not just for some. Pies can be picked up fresh or can be frozen. Only 101 pies will be made so get your order in What situations have you been in where people have today! Pies can be ordered following worship been excluded? Were the exclusions intentional or on Sundays, or by calling the Church Office. accidental? How can we make ourselves more Funds raised from the pie sale support youth attentive to people who have different needs? How mission projects. can we make adjustments so ALL will feel welcomed?

~ Eldonna Hazen Second Sunday will be the Sunday for Youth Stuff at First Cong. Starting Sunday, October 13th, all youth (grades 7-12) will meet after worship for monthly meetings the Second Sunday of There are still a few each month. Meetings will run till 1:00pm. Second dates available this fall Sundays will also be the date for Youth Bible Study and winter on the Chancel (YBS) following Time With Children.

flower chart for you to NEEDED: Yarn and Knitting Needles! The pick your favorite date to Youth group will be working on a knitting project and are in need of yarn and needles. If you have sponsor the Chancel flowers! these items stored away and need a place to send The chart can be found in the back of them, we will take them! Please drop off in the the Sanctuary. Church office or contact Jeff Rabe. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Madison Area CROP Hun- Interested in helping with the ger Walk: Sunday, October 20 Be a part of the Walking Advent Workshop this year? Team, or support your favorite Come to a brief meeting after church participant! To donate or to walk this Sunday, October 13, in the Student go to www.crophungerwalk.org/ madisonwi (or simply google Lounge. We’d love to share ideas. Madison WI CROP WALK and Please note: The Advent Workshop is follow prompts). First Congregational Church already December 1, the Sunday after has a team set up, just click and go! We are also still looking for a few more volunteers for Thanksgiving. the day of the walk. Sign up in the back of the Sanctu- ary or contact Jeff Rabe at the church office. Thank you! Women’s Book Study Women! Mark your calendars now to attend a morning of Men's Fellow- coffee (or juice), treats, and ship Men that en- great conversation after read- joy lively discus- ing Kindred, by Octavia E. sion of contempo- Butler, a work of science fic- rary topics are en- tion. Dana, a modern black couraged to attend woman, is celebrating her Men's Fellowship. twenty-sixth birthday with her Discussion is new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her kicked off from a short reading that is available in home in California and transported to the antebellum advance, but not required. We meet in the Fellowship South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is Room from 8:45 to 9:55am on the 2nd and 4th Sun- drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save days of the month. Our October 13th topic will be him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to The Syrian Crisis. Contact Tom Syring for the read- the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows long- ing or with questions, [email protected], or 608- er, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is un- 663-3635. certain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has a chance to begin. The class will meet on four Saturday mornings Octo- Animal Friends ber 12, 26 and November 9, 23, from 8:00-9:30 am Blessing! Satur- in the Student Lounge and will be facilitated by El- day, October 19th donna Hazen. Books will be available in the office at 10:00am, all are for $12. Please let Eldonna know if you plan to at- invited to bring in tend. their pets for a blessing. Pictures of pets who would find this event too taxing are Bus tickets and Food coupons We are in need of also welcome! The blessing will take place in the bus tickets and food coupons, (Subway, McDon- small parking lot. (Dining Room if it rains). ald’s) to hand out to the needy. You can purchase the food coupons yourself and drop them off at the office, or you can send a check with a notation it is to be used for food coupons or bus tickets. Thank you! FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1609 University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin 53726 608-233-9751 (phone) 608-233-7180 (fax) [email protected] A www.firstcongmadison.org facebook.com/firstcongo Staff: Eldonna Hazen, Senior Minister Jerry Hancock, Director of Prison Ministry Project Donald J. DeBruin, Director of Music Ministries Jeff Rabe, Director of Christian Education for Children & Youth Rob Eagle, Bookkeeper Jill Farnsworth, Office Manager Bob Zeier, Building Manager

IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES: Eldonna Hazen, 241-8117, and Jerry Hancock, 658- 6630. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Office Hours: M-Th 8-12:30pm, 1-4pm, Worship attendance on Sunday, October 6, 2013, was 222, and Fri 8-12 for the Installation Service at 3:00pm, 201.

Church Calendar October 13-20, 2013 Sunday October 13 7:00pm Madison Area Jugglers ~ DR 8:45am Men’s Fellowship ~ FR 7:30pm AA ~ Room 303 10:00am Worship ~ S Friday October 18 10:15am Sunday School 5:30pm Adult Ed Dinner and 10:15am YBS ~ YR a movie ~ FR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Rm 301 7:30pm UW Table Tennis Club ~ DR 11:15am Advent Workshop Saturday October 19 mtg. ~ SL 10:00am Blessing of the Animals 11:15am Youth meeting ~ YR ~ Parking lot 7:00pm Adult Worship ~ SL Sunday October 20 Monday October 14 10:00am Worship ~ S 10:30am Stillpoint ~ SL 10:15am Sunday School 8:00pm SA ~ Room 303 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Rm 301 Tuesday October 15 1:00pm CROP Walk BK ~ Big Kitchen C ~ Chapel 12noon Bible Conversations ~ SL DR ~ Dining Room 1:30pm Worship at Oakwood FIGS ~ Families Including God and 5:15pm NA Women’s ~ Room 303 Stuff 7:00pm NA ~ Room 303 FR ~ Fellowship Room 7:30pm UW Table Tennis Club ~ DR LRC ~ Learning Resource Center Wednesday October 16 MS ~ Minister’s Study PiPS ~ Parents of Infants and Pre- 9:00am Staff Meeting, Worship Schoolers planning ~ SL S ~ Sanctuary Thursday October 17 SL ~ Student Lounge 6:30pm OWL ~ YR SR ~ Salad Room 6:30pm Eating Disorders Support YR ~ Youth Room Group ~ Rm 303 YBS ~ Youth Bible Study First Congregational Youth PIE SALE Sat, NOV 2

(Pick Up 3-5 PM) Home-Made: Cherry or Apple $15 / Pie Only 101 Pies Made ORDER YOUR PIE TODAY! Proceeds benefit Youth Mission Projects. Fill out form below and send/drop off at Church Office ORDERS MUST BE IN TO CHURCH OFFICE BY OCT 27

______

First Cong UCC Sr High PIE SALE First Congregational Church

$15 / Pie 1609 University Ave

Madison WI 53726

______# Cherry Pie(s)

______# Apple Pie(s)

______Total Pies $______Enclosed Make checks out to First Congregational Church (pie sale)

NAME: ______PHONE: ______First Congregational Animal Blessing Saturday, October 19

10:00pm Parking Lot (Dining Room if raining)

All Animal Friends invited! Bring a picture if too stressful for your friend.

Family Costume Ball Friday, October 25 6:30 – 8:30 pm Dining Room

Families of all ages and sizes invited! DJ, Dancing, Games