Author: Gordon Govier

Some of the folks are from Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church – a predominantly African-America congregation. Others are from Lake Edge Lutheran – a very white congregation. There are a smattering of people from an Episcopal congregation, a United Church of Christ congregation, other points on the Christian denominational spectrum.Guiding the group is Rev. Everett Mitchell, pastor of Christ the Solid Rock (and a Dane County judge). This group has grown from something he began at Lake Edge in 2008 as a law student after teaching a Sunday school series on Black Theology and Black Power to this vibrant  multidenominational weekly exploration…

MADISON — In the midst of protests, conflicts over the upcoming election, and a range of varying reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was time for some peace and prayer. Nearly 1,000 people came out to downtown Madison for those moments of peace and prayer during the second “Unite” Rosary Rally on October 11.

Dave Heide, the owner and executive chef at Liliana’s restaurant in Fitchburg, is not what you would describe as much of a churchy person. And yet he has found that folks from area congregations have played an important role as he has sought new ways to feed the hungry in this time of a pandemic and beyond. Heide’s newest venture – Little John’s – envisions having a space to create meals from food gleaned from grocery stores and then distributed as healthy meals to people for whatever they can afford – or for free. (Here is a short video describing the project.)And Heide…

(WKOW) — Churches continue bringing their communities together to worship during the pandemic, even on the first Sunday since Governor Evers’ new order restricting indoor gatherings to 25 percent. But churches were exempt from that ruling. Church congregations have had to be creative throughout the pandemic to keep people safe, like hosting church outside as many did during Easter, or even live streaming as many are now still doing.

MILWAUKEE (WKOW) — In the past year, the state of Wisconsin has renewed the call to give non-violent offenders a second chance. Gov. Tony Evers created a pardon advisory board that issued its first pardons in October 2019, the first in Wisconsin in nine years. As of mid-September, the board has pardoned 65 people. Now, one Milwaukee man is finally achieving his dreams and will use his experience to help others on their journey to redemption. For 17 years, Doyle Sprewer has tried to put his past behind him. A 2003 felony marijuana conviction has kept him from getting countless…

MADISON — On a beautiful, if blustery, fall evening, more than 130 volunteers, conference members, and staff of the District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul gathered September 30 at the Madison Mallards’ Duck Pond to celebrate the work of volunteers who serve neighbors in need in our community. Traditionally, the District Council has held a volunteer appreciation event dinner in November.

The Catholic Diocese of Madison does not plan to reinstate a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass due to increased COVID-19 activity in Wisconsin, as the Diocese of Green Bay did this week. “As of right now, we are not inclined to reinstate a diocesan-wide dispensation, rather we are reminding everyone of the normal conditions under which dispensations are liberally available under canon law,” Diocese of Madison spokesman Brent King said Wednesday in an email. “This includes being dispensed by a local pastor. We trust the discernment and good sense of people to make prudent decisions about attending Mass.”

There’s been no shortage of needs brought to our collective attention as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but blood donations may not be one that immediately springs to mind. However, a few Madison churches not only identified this pressing need but decided to work together to be a part of resolving it within their community. An awareness of the critical shortage in blood donations provided the impetus for what is now an ongoing collaborative effort between Madison Church and Trinity United Methodist Church. Their next combined blood drive will be on Oct. 12.

MIDDLETON — Stained glass windows were shattered, bricks and debris covered the floor and pews of the sanctuary, and an alleged drunken driver was in the hospital after ramming a vehicle into St. Bernard Catholic Church early Monday. Middleton police say the crash at the church, located at the corner of Parmenter Street and University Avenue near the city’s downtown, occurred at about 1 a.m. The driver, whose name has not been released, has been cited for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and for having open intoxicants.

Halfway through a recent outdoor Sunday service, a small Christian congregation on Madison’s East Side welcomed a bright, late summer sun as it peeked through a cluster of gray clouds. “Every Sunday, we’ve had good weather, literally every Sunday,” said Camara Stovall, a longtime member of the S.S. Morris Community African Methodist Episcopal Church. “It will rain from, like, Monday to Saturday, and then it just stops.” Stovall called it a “blessing in disguise” because for months now, this church has had to rely on the weather to cooperate in order to meet safely as a congregation amid the COVID-19…