Verona Salem United Church of Christ

09/05/2026

Join us for worship at 9:00am in person or online.

From Pastor Phil:
Creation in Christ Sunday
Many churches around the world are doing a new thing. Well, it is really an old thing. But it is a new take on an old thing.

Like the description Jesus gives of a scribe who is fit for the kin-dom of God, the church is bringing out treasures both old and new.

September 1, or the nearest Sunday after it, is now recognized as Creation in Christ Sunday by many who use the Revised Common Lectionary (like we tend to do).

The origin is found in ancient Byzantine church practices.

“Since ancient times, September 1 has symbolized the day of God’s creation of the world in the Byzantine tradition and has been the opening feast and "the beginning" of their liturgical year (in a parallel with the feast of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year).

A series of ecumenical conferences, known as ‘The Assisi Process,’ has explored that rich theological symbolism and the potential of the ‘Feast of Creation in Christ’ to enrich the Christological nature of non-Byzantine liturgical calendars. In short, the feast contains four interrelated themes: (1) Creation as God’s creative act, (2) Creation as Christological mystery, (3) Creation as Trinitarian mystery, and (4) Creation as sacramental and covenantal.”

That is some serious church language for:

Creation is a gift of God’s gracious and generous creativity. We claim that Christ as the love of God was present in the very act of creation. God’s nature is found in the act of creation, and creation itself can show us the mystery of God’s grace and a part of the relationship God has with us.

This Sunday we will explore what it means to be created, be re-created, and be a part of new creation in the love of God.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Phil

Thank You Salem
The church received a lovely thank you card from a family that used our space for an 80th birthday party filled with music.

“Thank you so much for allowing my family to use your church to celebrate an upcoming birthday. We had so many guests that none of our homes could fit that many people. Thank you for sharing your sacred space.”

Blessing Bags Meal Packing
Salem’s Missions Committee invites everyone to sign up to help with the Blessing Bags Meal Packing at Sugar River United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

People can sign up for shifts at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A49ABAB23AB9-62786672-midwest #/

There will be work for people of every ability.

Can’t make it to the bag packing that day? You can still support it by donating at: https://onrealm.org/sugarriverumc/-/form/give/now
Scroll down to Midwest Missions Rice Meals.

Join us as we help to feed people in need.

Upcoming Events
Sunday, September 6 - Worship at 9 am - John 1:1-5 “Creation, Re-
Creation, New Creation”
Tuesday, September 8 - Finance Committee 6 pm
Scouts 6 pm
Council, 7 pm
Wednesday, September 9 - BRC rehearsal 6:15 pm
Handbell Choir rehearsal 6:30 pm
Chancel Choir rehearsal 7 pm
Sunday, September 13 - Worship at 9 am (Wisconsin IronMan Triathlon)
Sunday, September 20 - WORSHIP at 10:15 am, RALLY SUNDAY

09/03/2026

08/30/2026

What a great Sunday with nine people joining or rejoining the church. (Those joining in person here with their mentors.)

08/29/2026

Worship begins at 9:00am in person or online Sunday. Participants in the SALT trip to the Pine Ridge reservation will again share their experiences. We will welcome new members. Join us!

From Pastor Phil:
A Tough Week in Pop Culture
Pop culture has taken some serious hits this past week. Icons of film, television, and music have died.

There was Peter Cullen, who voiced a range of characters from Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh to Optimus Prime in the Transformers.

And Tim Curry, who portrayed such diverse roles as the butler Wadsworth in Clue, Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Rooster Hannigan in Annie, and Nigel Thornberry in the Wild Thornberrys cartoon.

And then, of course, there was Dolly Parton. One of the few people said to unite fans from conservative grandparents to LGBTQIA+ grandchildren. A star of television, movies, and music, Dolly was iconic. In her own words, she based her over-the-top look on “the town tramp,” and said, “it takes a lot of money to look this trashy.”

But behind the public persona was a person of deep faith and courageous generosity.

Someone asked her what she thought of Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You,” and she gushed praise. She claimed that when she wrote the song, she put a little money in the bank. Then when Houston recorded it, she bought the bank. She then invested some of that bank money into black communities in Nashville, calling it the house that Whitney built.

In honor of her father, who was functionally illiterate, she started the Imagination Library, which has given over 300 million books to children. She gave one million dollars towards the research of one of the CoVid vaccines. She championed gay and transgender people before it was politically convenient to do so. And she defied the old boys network in every field she entered.

Somehow people we have never met still impact our lives. The actors in our favorite shows, plays, and movies can feel like a part of us. The music that stirs our hearts and makes our feet tap stays with us long after the song ends.

And in the case of Dolly Parton, we find an example worth emulating: kind, generous, faithful, funny, smart, investing in people and health and communities. And despite that over-the-top public persona, someone deeply genuine.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Phil

Blessing Bags Meal Packing
Salem’s Missions Committee invites everyone to sign up to help with the Blessing Bags Meal Packing at Sugar River United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

People can sign up for shifts at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A49ABAB23AB9-62786672-midwest #/

There will be work for people of every ability.

Can’t make it to the bag packing that day? You can still support it by donating at: https://onrealm.org/sugarriverumc/-/form/give/now

Scroll down to Midwest Missions Rice Meals.

Join us as we help to feed people in need.

Upcoming Events
Sunday, August 30 - Worship at 9 am with SALT Trip experiences, (re)welcoming Members to Salem, and Exodus 3:1-15, “Finding God in the Wilderness”
Monday, August 31 - Scouts 7 pm

Sunday, September 6 - Worship at 9 am

Sunday, September 13 - Worship at 9 am (Wisconsin IronMan Triathlon)

Sunday, September 20 - WORSHIP at 10:15 am, RALLY SUNDAY

08/22/2026

Join us for worship at 9:00am in person or online. Participants from the SALT trip to the Pine Ridge reservation will share more of their experiences. Faith Formation leaders will be honored.

From Pastor Phil:

What Holds a Community Together
This past week I have met with our Missions Committee, people of First UCC of Belleville, and the Board of Directors of Badger Prairie Needs Network. While very different groups, one of the things that struck me was this question: what holds a community together?

I think the answer lies in our connections. Connections are those things we share: shared history, shared meals, shared celebrations, shared griefs. Connections are the conversations we have, and the willingness to support one another in our hopes as well as in our trials.

Church is many things. One of the big ones is our connections: to God, to one another, tour neighbors, and to creation.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Phil

Come Meet Re-Member at Great Dane
Re-Member is the organization that the Salem SALT trip worked with on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Re-Member's current and former Executive Directors invite you to join them at:

Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. - Fitchburg
2980 Cahill Main | Fitchburg, WI
Thursday, August 27
6 - 8 p.m.

Join us for conversation with fellow volunteers and supporters from the region. Make some new friends! Hear updates about what has been happening on the Rez this year, and our plans for what's to come in 2027. There's no cost to attend.

Blessing Bags Meal Packing
Salem’s Missions Committee invites everyone to sign up to help with the Blessing Bags Meal Packing at Sugar River United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

People can sign up for shifts at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A49ABAB23AB9-62786672-midwest #/

There will be work for people of every ability.

Can’t make it to the bag packing that day? You can still support it by donating at: https://onrealm.org/sugarriverumc/-/form/give/now
Scroll down to Midwest Missions Rice Meals.

Join us as we help to feed people in need.

Blood Drive Thank Yous
This past Wednesday we had 34 donors come in, with 4 deferred and 31 products collected. Ten of the 34 are Salem members.

We also had great help from Salem members volunteering to help with set up, registration, canteen and everything else.

Thank you to our volunteers and donors.
Celebrating Our Faith Formation Leaders
This Sunday we will celebrate and thank our Faith Formation Leaders from the past year. This includes Sunday School teachers and assistants, SALT Trip leaders, and more. Join us for this time of gratitude.

New Members Next Sunday
A reminder to our joining and re-joining members that we will celebrate you becoming a part of our church on Sunday, August 30. And for everyone else, be there to help us welcome people becoming a part of our community of faith.

Upcoming Events
Sunday, August 23 - Worship at 9:00 with SALT Trip experiences, celebrating our Faith Formation leaders, and Matthew 16:13-20, “But Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Monday, August 24 - Scouts 5 pm

Tuesday, August 25 - Music Committee 6:30
Faith Formation 6:30

Thursday, August 27 - Re-Member at Great Dane, Fitchburg 6-8 pm

Sunday, August 30 - 9:00 Worship with New Members
Budget Requests due

08/15/2026

Join us at 9:00am for worship in person or online. Some of our youth and adults who participated in the SALT trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation earlier this summer will share their experiences.

The Red Cross blood drive is this Wednesday.

Congratulations again to Reverend Lisa Hart on your ordination last Sunday!

08/10/2026

Congratulations Reverend Lisa Hamilton Hart! We were overjoyed to celebrate your ordination today.

08/07/2026

Join us for worship at 9:00am for this very special Sunday. Some of the youth and adults who participated in the SALT trip in June will share their experiences and reflections. This will continue throughout the Sundays in August.

At 3:00pm we celebrate the ordination of Lisa Hart. A reception will follow the ordination.

From Pastor Phil:

What a Great Question
This fall, we will be looking at questions about faith, the Bible, God, spirituality, current events, and all sorts of other topics. My question for you is, what questions do you have?

What has been on your heart and mind?

What have you always wanted to know, but been afraid to ask?

We will have some Sunday surveys or you can email me. Bring on the questions.

I promise that I do not have all the answers.

But it can be helpful to wrestle with important questions together, especially in the context of faith, in the container of worship, and in a spirit of curiosity.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Phil

Blood Drive August 19
The American Red Cross has declared the second national blood crisis in its history. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O. The blood supply fell nearly 25% in June, and blood donations are now at a four-year summer low.

Salem will once again be hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, August 19. You can volunteer to work registration or the canteen at the kiosk in Fellowship Hall. And you can sign up to donate here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive Type in the zip code and load down to August 19th.

Men’s Group
Men of the church are invited to meet on August 20th at Doug Smith’s home at 6 pm. Please let Doug know if you are planning to attend.

Save the Date!
Salem and its members have been invited to join with Sugar River UMC for the 3rd annual Blessing Rice Bag packing event. This effort, through Midwest Missions, will be held on Saturday, September 26, at Sugar River, from 9:30 to 3:30. There will be three shifts, and work available for all levels of abilities.

Each bag costs $2 and feeds six people. They are looking to pack 5,200 bags, which will feed over 30,000 people. In addition to packing the bags, they are seeking donations to help cover the costs of the food, as well as shipping them, which comes to around $11,000.

Mark your calendars now, and look for sign up and donation information soon.

Budget Request Reminder
Budget requests for 2027 are due to the financial committee by Sunday August 30.

Please send them to [email protected]

Upcoming Events
Sunday, August 9 - Worship at 9:15 with SALT Trip experiences,
Matthew 14:22-33, “Staying Prayed Up”
Ordination of Lisa Hart, 3 pm
Tuesday, August 11 - Finance Committee, 6 pm
Council, 7 pm
Saturday, August 15 - Newsletter Deadline

08/02/2026

Just because the power went out in the middle of worship doesn’t mean we stop singing and praying.

07/31/2026

Join us for worship in person or online at 9:00am Sunday.

From Pastor Phil:

Deferred Maintenance
In seminary, we lived, studied and worshiped in beautiful buildings built in the 1920s. The top of the tower was designed in the same style as the top of Tribune Tower in downtown Chicago. There were rooms with dark wood paneling and leaded windows. In many ways, it was an architectural gem.

Amid the beauty, there were also cracks in the plaster of the walls, old and leaky steam pipes, drafty windows, and brick walls in desperate need of tuckpointing. The building suffered from years of deferred maintenance.

These past few weeks, we have seen the problems of our patch of the world that are the result of deferred maintenance in the social contract and the body politic.

Tornadoes tore through areas of WIsconsin around Appleton, Neenah, and Menasha. This is the strongest storm to hit the area since 1984. Throughout the US, we are seeing storms that used to be once in 100 years happening much more often than that. (https://time.com/7289719/hundred-year-weather-events-happen-more-often/)

We have deferred dealing with climate change and are beginning to realize what this means for our lives and our communities.

In Madison, the aftermath of the shooting of a man by police has revealed layers of deferred maintenance around homelessness, poverty, mental health, and trust-building between law enforcement and communities of people of color.

The outpouring of support for the Fox cities is heartwarming and inspiring. But fixing the problems that lead to more storms will take a lot more effort, political will, and resources.

The community that has come together around the memorial for Corey Ruiz has provided food, shelter, mental health resources, and other support for vulnerable people. But fixing the problems that led up to this situation will take a lot more effort, political will, and resources.

We did not arrive here overnight. We will not improve these situations overnight.

We can make a difference in our climate.

We can make a difference in how our communities take care of people who are homeless, struggling with mental health issues, in poverty, and vulnerable.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Phil

Wisconsin Conference Disaster Relief
To support recovery efforts from the tornadoes, you can donate online through the Wisconsin Conference Disaster Relief here: https://onrealm.org/wcucc/-/form/give/hurricane

Verona National Night Out
This Tuesday night from 5-8 pm, you are invited to the 41st Annual National Night Out, hosted by the Verona Police Department at Festival Park (behind Verona City Center).

Highlights include: Landings by UW Health Med-Flight and possibly a military Blackhawk (weather permitting), Police K9 & drone demos, Verona Fire Dept. & FitchRona EMS, Bounce Houses, Face Painting & Balloon Art, Live DJ + Free Raffle Prizes, and FREE Food: Shredded chicken, hot dogs, corn on the cob, frozen treats & more!

Ordination
Join us on Sunday, August 9 at 3 pm for the ordination of Lisa Hart.

We will be celebrating Holy Communion, with Lisa officiating, at that service. This will take the place of communion at the morning service.

Krista Nechvatal is coordinating the reception afterwards. Please bring your favorite baked goods, dessert, or treat.

Remote Area Medical Event
Remote Area Medical (RAM) will be in Wisconsin, holding a free clinic in Verona this weekend. RAM provides free medical, dental, and vision care to anyone in need—no questions asked.

https://www.ramusa.org/events/verona-wisconsin/

Church Budget Planning
All committees and individuals are asked to have their budget proposals for 2027 to the financial committee by Sunday August 30. The financial committee will begin working on the 2027 budget on Tuesday September 8.

Please send your budget requests to [email protected]

Upcoming Events
Sunday, Aug 2 - Worship at 9 am - Matthew 14:13-21 “No ID
Required”
Tuesday, Aug 4 - Handbell Duet Rehearsal 7 pm
Wednesday, Aug 5 - Handbell Choir Rehearsal 6:30 pm
Sunday, Aug 9 - Worship at 9 am
Lisa Hart’s Ordination, 3 pm