Reconciliation, Restorative Action, and Right Relationship

Rev. Kerri Parker will join us to share unsettling and healing stories: stories of colonization and disruption, paired with questions and actions that can lead us toward healing.  She will offer the reflection during the service, and afterwards lead a workshop for us on developing meaningful land acknowledgments.  The workshop is designed to be both informative and conversational, so please come with your questions.

Rev. Kerri Parker (she/her) has been Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches since 2017. During her tenure, the Council has become known nationwide for its leadership in faith-based COVID19 response, fresh ecumenical vision, and collaborations for racial equity.  In 2023 she was honored by the United Church of Christ with its Avery D. Post Ecumenical Award. Beyond ecumenism and her family, Rev. Parker’s passions are stories, show tunes, and justice. She has served as local church pastor in McFarland, WI and YWCA executive in Rock County, WI. Her wider church work includes the Christian Unity & Interfaith Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chair of the Board of the Wisconsin Conference of the UCC, United Church Camps Inc. and United Church of Christ General Synod Delegate. Rev. Parker has been a panelist and keynote speaker for presentations on pandemic ministry, ecumenism and church vitality, and biblical justice, and preaches widely around Wisconsin. In addition to editing and co-authoring study-action guides on Faith & Gun Violence, Jesus & Justice in Public, and Immigration: Becoming Welcoming Communities, she contributed to the book “There’s a Woman in the Pulpit” (Skylight Paths, 2015). Rev. Parker earned her MDiv from Chicago Theological Seminary and BA from Smith College. She is pursuing a DMin in Prophetic Leadership at Iliff School of Theology. She is a member of Orchard Ridge UCC in Madison, WI. Rev. Parker’s ministerial standing is in the Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ.

  • The Share the Plate for Sunday October 8th and Sunday October 15th is Odyssey Behind Bars. This program offers college jumpstart programs to students incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons. It is part of the UW Odyssey Project, which for 19 years has empowered students living in poverty to overcome obstacles, find their voices and reframe their futures. Susan Podebransky nominated them.

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Order of Service

  • Gathering Song  “Come, Come, Whoever You Are” #188
  • Welcome
  • Prelude  “Mountain Avens” by Beverly McKiver
  • Call to Worship
  • Lighting the Chalice and Musical Response
  • Shared Music  “We Are” – Hymn of the Month Hymn #1051 (teal hymnal) 
  • Time for All Ages  “Talking about Our Friends” With Rev. Kerri Parker
  • Shared Music  “My Life Flows On in Endless Song” Hymn #108 (gray hymnal) 
  • Wisdom from the World’s Traditions Isaiah, chapter 65, verses 17-25 (NRSV)
  • Reflection
  • Offering  “Re:pair” by Jennifer Hedstrom 
  • Joys and Sorrows
  • Shared Music  “One More Step” Hymn #168 (gray hymnal)
  • Extinguishing the Chalice and Benediction

Notes for Further Exploration

Our Land Acknowledgment Page & Workshop Recording (a work in progress…) with resources for learning more about the history of this area and other related resources

July 2023 service with Bruce Moffat about a piece of land in western Wisconsin being returned, in part, to shared use with Ho-Chunk.

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