Featuring a New MOSES Member: Middleton Community Church UCC
By Margaret Irwin
Middleton Community Church United Church of Christ (referred to hereafter as MCC) was founded in 1936 by 34 people who wanted a Sunday school for children in the area whose families were not members of the existing Lutheran or Catholic congregations. It has been known ever since as “a church home for those who do not have a home,” welcoming people from a variety of religious backgrounds.
As the church grew in numbers, it moved to a larger location in downtown Middleton; since 2005 its spacious new home is opposite the Pope Farm Conservancy at the corner of Old Sauk Road and Schewe Road. The Rev. Zayna Thomley pastors the congregation, which now numbers over 300.
MCC focuses its decisions on making a difference in our world. While planning for their new location, the congregation found a parcel of 20 acres. Although they didn’t need this much space, they bought it and then looked for a developer who was willing to build smaller, more affordable houses than those already in the neighborhood. These “cottages” plus a child-care center will eventually occupy 10 acres of the land.
MCC enjoys welcoming its neighbors for summer twilight movies on the lawn, “Trunk or Treat” for Halloween, and an Electric Vehicle and Sustainability Show, where folks can talk to owners about their EV’s, test-ride an E-bike, learn about sustainability, and enjoy music, food, and games. The church has a special relationship with the neighboring public school, serving as a safe space for the students in emergencies. It’s also involved in the Forward Garden at the Pope Farm, where food is raised for local pantries.
These activities and many others that extend MCC’s reach beyond the church walls are the responsibility of the Mission and Stewardship Board. A recent survey of MCC members revealed their interest in justice in many forms: reproductive, environmental, racial, criminal, immigration, economic, and health and welfare.
Joining MOSES was a natural for this activist church. Member Ralph Jackson has played an important role in planning for the new jail through MOSES’s Justice System Reform Initiative task force. His wife, Marie, reports she had a life-changing experience when visiting a Wisconsin prison with the Rev. Jerry Hancock. It led her to take her therapy dog for regular visits with the residents of a correctional facility in Dodge County.
The Jacksons have kept the congregation informed of MOSES’s activities as they shepherded MCC toward membership. The congregation was officially welcomed as a new member at the February MOSES general meeting. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with the committed folks at MCC.