👋 New Life Weekly Update 01/05/2022

New Life Church

Weekly Update

JANUARY 5, 2022

The sermon for January 9th will be about Baptism (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

"Receive"

We continue to offer worship via Facebook Live at 9:30 am on Sundays - please join us on our Facebook page for this opportunity! If you have trouble joining the Facebook Live, the worship videos will be available by each Monday on New Life's Youtube Channel.

Thank you to all who have been participating in our weekly worship!

If you missed last week's service, here is the link to it.

How to Access Worship

Our 9:30 am service will always be live streamed and available via our Facebook page so if you’re out of town and can’t attend in-person, you can always worship with us! Please also share this as a resource with others – it’s available anytime, not just when we’re live – as well as on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4F48R7NG-hzy-2EOk0EG-g) and website beginning on Monday mornings.

Certainly, we’d love to have you come and worship with us in-person anytime it’s possible:

Traditional Worship Service at 8:15 a.m.

Praise Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.

Masks required inside for worship

COVID POLICIES

As we’re experiencing a surge of cases in our area, we wanted to remind you of our COVID procedures and policies. We continue to clean after each worship service as well as many times throughout the week, especially in high traffic areas. We continue to encourage you to remain distanced and wear required masks in the building. In addition, please be aware of your own symptoms and if you’re experiencing ones that are COVID related, we ask that you do not come into the building. This is all done to keep everyone as safe as possible. Thank you for helping us care for everyone in these uncertain times. For the next two Sundays (Jan. 9 & 16), out of an abundance of caution we will return to taking Communion in our seats and not offering coffee fellowship. At this time, there are no plans to shift to all virtual worship or events, but don’t forget that Facebook live worship is available every week. We pray for the health and safety of everyone in our community!

EPIPHANY PARTY JANUARY 5th

The day of Epiphany is a celebration to recognize the Magi who brought their gifts to Jesus. It’s typically celebrated on the twelfth day of Christmas, Jan. 6, but we will do it a day early! Come for dinner TONIGHT, Wednesday, January 5 at 5:30pm and then stay for a party! We’ll help take down the Christmas decorations, listen one last time to those favorite songs, and exchange some white elephant gifts with others who gather! Also, this will be the perfect opportunity to meet our new Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator, Jessica Korrison! It will be a fun night of celebration!

ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of St. Matthew New Life Lutheran Church will take place after the 9:30am service on Sunday, January 30th (at approx. 10:30am). Please plan to attend in order to hear about upcoming ministry plans, meet Jessica Korrison (if you haven’t already!), vote on the 2022 Ministry Spending Plan, elect new Council leaders, and vote on the Reconciling in Christ Welcome Statement. We hope you’re already planning to join us for this vital conversation that maps out the coming year for our ministry together – but there’s also an extra enticement: the Reeds are making gumbo!

Come be a part of what God is doing in and through New Life!

Reconciling In Christ Welcome Statement

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

Our Welcome Statement – an intentional welcome to LGBTQIA+ and Transgendered people as well as a commitment to racial equity and justice – has been approved by the Church Council and now comes to you for conversation! Please take this 30-second survey about the statement. Thanks to our team (Terri Beck-Engel, Jillene Fisch, Sandy Kowal, Margo McBain, Wayne and Barb Meyer, Noah Peck, and Barb Zimmerman).

We will vote as a community on this statement at our Annual Meeting on January 30^th.

To read the Welcome Statement and vote in the survey, please click here.

EXCITING NEW ADULT FAITH FORMATION STARTS NEXT WEDNESDAY

Pastor Heather is planning a three-week series to extend our Fall conversation about sexuality. There were many great questions about “what the letters mean” and the spectrums of gender identity, expression, and orientation. If you’re wondering some of the same things, please join us as we get ready to vote on our Welcome Statement! Plus we’ll have some exciting guest speakers: on Jan. 12 we will welcome Bonnie Augusta, Ginny Qualmann’s sister, who has spent many years in the Madison schools advocating for LGBTQ youth. She brings a wealth of knowledge and will share her journey of understanding as well. These vital conversations will happen on Wednesday nights from 6:15-7:30pm. A free community dinner is served at 5:30pm – come for that and stay to learn! In February, Pastor Heather will do a four-week study on a book of the Bible – have a favorite? Please let her know!

WEDNESDAY DINNERS

Wednesday dinners will restart TONIGHT, January 5th, provided by Debi Shepherd-Wundrow and Jen Erb. If you'd like to help host a dinner in 2022, please see the sign-up sheet on the right kitchen serving window to choose a week.

There's a new sheet up for 2022!

DO YOU LIKE BREAKFAST?

Enjoy delicious breakfasts on the first Sunday of the month! WE NEED PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR NEXT MONTH! See sign-up sheets for 2022 on the left kitchen serving window.

If you'd like to consider signing up in 2022, we'd love to have your help! It could be a couple of families/friends, a small group you meet with, even a whole ministry team! It's fun and easy to do, and we can help you with the details.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Bring your strengths & skills to help at New Life!

~ Sound Board (Operate sound & video equipment)

~ Altar Care (Worship set-up & supplies)

~ Coffee Server (Make pots & serve coffee)

~ Teller/Counter (2-person team to count offerings)

~ Welcome Team (Greet & guide people as they enter worship)

For info on these opportunities, call the church office—223-9337.

We especially NEED new people to help with A/V & Sound Board—no experience needed, we’ll train you and it’s FUN! Just let us know if you're interested and we'll connect you with that team.

Look for the Google doc form to sign up each month for Welcome Team!

Here is the JANUARY 2022 sign-up sheet (CLICK HERE)!

"Give"

Your Offering

Thanks for your support to meet our financial obligations. Consider giving online, if you don't already. You can select a one-time or recurring donation. It's very easy to do - please click the box below to get started.

Give Online

If you would prefer to mail in your donations, they can be sent to the address at New Life: 7564 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, WI, 53718.

Social Purpose Team is here just for you

Please know that if you are experiencing any financial need (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, medical, unemployment/furlough, etc.), you only need to let Pastor Heather know. This information will be kept confidential to her and our financial officers (treasurer and bookkeeper).

And of course, if you would like to give to this fund, please submit checks with "Social Purpose Fund" in the memo or give online to that fund. Again, thank you New Life for your caring and sharing!

____________________________________________________

WAYS TO PARTNER

We have established a partnership with the Nehemiah Center, which means that we will be looking for and offering ways for you to connect with their leadership in our area serving communities of color. As the months go along, we will highlight ways that you can personally and with your family grow this partnership alongside what we’re doing as a congregation.

This month, we’re asking for donations of any size diapers in small packages. You can bring these to the church entryway and we will deliver them to Nehemiah directly. Thank you!

Other ways you and your family can partner: support black-owned businesses (click here for a list), visit www.lirs.org to support refugees, visit www.ldr.org to help with disaster response around the nation, or www.elca.org to find another way to give back to people in need.

Children & Youth Ministry

Hello families!

I am very excited and blessed to be joining the New Life Community and Staff. I appreciate how inviting everyone has been and look forward to getting to know families of all ages.

Middle School and High School Youth:

Come help design what youth ministry looks like at New Life!

Meet with me after church on Sunday, January 9^th or on Wednesday, January 12^th during Youth Faith Formation.

New Life Kids:

Each week we will have a children’s message followed by some children activities during the 9:30am service, so please join us. I would love to meet you and have some fun.

Children & Youth Team:

We are looking for a few more people to join the Youth Team. If you have a passion for children and youth ministry, we would love your input on how we can engage the community and families. You do not need to have kids to be involved. If you are interested, please let either me or Pastor Heather know.

Have a blessed week!

Jessica Korrison

youtheducator@newlifelc.com

BLACK HISTORY FOR A NEW DAY COURSE

We will again be encouraging you to sign up for this life-changing educational opportunity. This 9-week course begins again on Monday, February 7, 2022 – registration closes on January 21 so please go to https://nehemiah.org/blackhistorycourse to register. If you need financial assistance, we have scholarships available!

Here’s what previous participants have to say: "The Black History Course is an excellent course for everyone--even someone who has had a few history courses in high school and college. I was surprised to learn that my education in black history was very inadequate even though I attended school for about 20 plus years. The Course truly changed how I look at the history of slavery, Jim Crow and the new Jim Crow and how these systems of oppression were supported by white citizens through overt violent actions and apathy. We have so much work to do to undo the effects of the hundreds of years of oppression of persons of color." (Iris Christenson)

~ AND ~

"We highly recommend the Black History For A New Day Course. Excellent speakers! We learned so much of American history that we never knew that now helps inform us in all areas of life. It was wonderful to journey through this course as a church. So many valuable and thoughtful discussions ensued in a safe and welcoming environment facilitated by Kathy Michaelis. Amazing opportunity to learn and grow." (Dave and Terri Beck-Engel)

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Heather or

Kathy Michaelis.

BIBLE STUDY GROUP

The Bible Study Group that meets on Thursday mornings, led by Betty Sundbakken, will begin a new 8-week study - starting next week - on January 13th. The group meets at New Life Church for discussion from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Thursday mornings. This course will run until March 3rd with the topic focusing on the book "Extraordinary Faith" by Sheila Walsh. If you have any questions, please contact Betty.

All are welcome to participate.

NEW LIFE BOOK CLUB TO RESUME IN 2022

The New Life Book Club led by Melanie Stepherson will start meeting again on Saturday mornings, with the first meeting on January 15th. The times are 9:00-11:30 a.m. in Classroom A.

WOMEN’S ‘PAINT & SIP’ EVENT

Want to have some fun with great company? Pastor Heather is offering a fun women’s night out on Monday, February 7 from 6:15-8:30pm at Twisted Grounds Coffee House on Cottage Grove Rd in Madison. For the cost of $44 you will create (with some help 😊) a beautiful painting, have a glass of wine, and enjoy some time with your sisters in Christ! Sign up will be available soon, so save the date!

COMMON THREADS

Ginny Olson and Gail Kriel have started up a Common Threads group again, that anyone is welcome to participate in. You'll learn how to knit or crochet, or if you have experience could work on your own project as well as make prayer shawls and blankets for the prayer shawl ministry.

Sessions take place at Ginny's studio on the second Tuesday evenings of the month from 6:30-8:30 pm and the fourth Tuesday mornings of the month from 9:30-11:30 am.

To sign up and for more information, please email Ginny Olson by clicking here. Also, if you have any yarn you'd like to bring in to the church, the group would welcome that.

PLEASE NOTE: On the table near the entrance to the Community Room there are Prayer Shawls available for anyone who needs/wants one for comfort. These beautiful shawls were made by the Common Threads group, and they would like people to have them.

This Sunday and This Week at New Life

January 9, 2022

8:15 a.m Traditional Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service

Upcoming Schedule of Events This Week

Wednesday, January 5 - Epiphany

5:30-6:00 p.m. Dinner (hosted by Debi Shepherd-Wundrow and Jen Erb)

6:15-8:00 p.m. FaithFul Formation and Epiphany Party to help take down Christmas decorations, exchange White Elephant gifts, and meet Jessica

Thursday, January 6

5:30-8 p.m. Cub Scouts Pack 145 (Community Room)

7:00 p.m. Shawn Peters MCF Band Rehearsal (Re-Creation Center)

Saturday, January 8

9:00-10:00 a.m. Praise Band Rehearsal (Worship Center)

Please keep the following in your prayers this week:

Donna Butler's daughter Michelle along with her sister Beverly and the family of her late cousin Simon, Boyd Fleming, Felicia Jones & family, Johnnie Jones, Michele Kiefer, Gail Kriel, Trish Krueger, Hailey Lennberg, Laurie Neuendorf, Jade Peck, Stephanie Peck's friend Jessie, Kishia Peters, Alvina Phillips,

Vern Richmond, Jeremy Showers, Bobby Spridco, Bill Sterud, Darrick Thompson, and Carolee Zick.

If you would like to be included on our prayer list, please contact the church office . Permission is required from the individual for us to print their name. Individuals will be on the list for one month unless requested. Please let us know if there is someone to be added, or if someone has improved or healed and can be taken off the list.