👋 New Life Weekly Update 10/13/2021

New Life Church

Weekly Update

October 13, 2021

Join us for Traditional Worship at 8:15 a.m. and Praise Band Worship at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday, October 17th. The 9:30 a.m. service is also livestreamed on Facebook Live. This Sunday, Pastor Heather will talk about Mark 10:32-45 - Serving, Not Being Served.

GAVIN WALSH'S LAST DAY

Gavin has resigned his position as Youth & Education Director and his last day will be this Sunday October 17, so we'd like to thank him and recognize his efforts to minister to our youth, children, and families in what has certainly been a hard year. Please join us in thanking him and wishing him well in his next pursuits. More directly from him is below...

"Receive"

We will 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 a link to it:

WEDNESDAY DINNER TONIGHT!

Our Wednesday Night Dinner TONIGHT will be served at 5:30 p.m. before the Adult FaithFul Formation, hosted by Jeff and Gretchen Lennberg! Families are taking responsibility for coordinating dinner once a month on a rotating basis – see the sign-up sheet by the kitchen serving window to choose a week. And this means that you’re only responsible once a month – if that! So please let Pastor Heather know if you’d be willing and able to help with this. We want to make this as easy as possible for busy families to have a night off of cooking, but also easy for those providing the meal – many hands make light work! Thanks!

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

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!

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

For OCTOBER sign-up sheet, click HERE! Or click on the sheet below.

Thanks to the many people who have already volunteered, and if YOU would like to sign up to help with this "Spook-tacular" fun, please contact Kathy Nelson or Janice Newell or the church office.

Welcome to New Partners and Bring-A-Friend Sunday

We will be welcoming new Community Partners on Sunday, November 7th at both services. If you or someone you know would like to know more about St. Matthew New Life Church, we will also have some Information Sessions on either Thursday, October 28 at 6:30pm OR Saturday, October 30 at 10:00am. Come to hear more about our ministries, events, and why we call you a partner and not a “member.” On Nov. 7, there will also be breakfast so it would be a great day to invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to worship! Let’s make it a fantastic celebratory day!

FALL CLEAN-UP OCTOBER 30

We're planning a Fall Clean-Up for October 30th, to spruce up our grounds in preparation of Winter. If you can help out with weeding, raking, etc. the time will be from 9 am until noon. Click here!

DO YOU LIKE BREAKFAST?

Enjoy delicious breakfasts on the first Sunday of the month! The next breakfast will be on November 7th (Welcome Sunday!) from 9-11 a.m. It will be hosted by the Erb family (Shannon, Jen, Elliott & Isaiah). Thanks to those who signed up to prepare meals for the rest of this year.

If you'd like to consider signing up beginning in January 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.

"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.

GIVING NEEDS

The last 20 months has been an unprecedented journey that no one could have anticipated. Given all the changes and unknowns we’ve experienced, your congregation is weathering the storm quite well financially – thanks to you! However, we are currently operating a bit behind where we anticipated we’d be on giving by about 15%. The Finance Team and Council have responded to that shortfall by refinancing our mortgage, which will create more cash flow starting in October. We have also kept an eye on expenses without hindering our ministry. We felt it was our duty to also let you know that this shortfall exists so that you might feel the need to respond if you’re able. If you haven’t increased your giving in a while, now may be the time to do so. We all want St. Matthew New Life to thrive in serving the gospel and our giving enables that to happen more and more. Thank you as always for all the ways you give to this ministry!

Don’t forget our online option and automated giving! Just go to our Vanco page where you can log in to your account. Once you’ve logged in, it should take you to your giving detail. If you click “Edit” you can edit amount, frequency, and account. Once you've signed up to give electronically, please let the office know if you no longer need offering envelopes and we can have those discontinued for you.

Thank you!

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!

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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.

Shop with an Elf!

The gift-giving season can’t come soon enough, and our annual “Breakfast with Santa” on Dec. 4 will be the best yet!

We will provide our guests with personalized shopping—kids can shop for their parents (with elvish assistance!), and parents can shop for their kids. All purchases will be by donation only.

Many more details will be forthcoming, but right now please consider:

Collecting new or very gently used (like new) items that can be used as gifts, and
Being a shopkeeper! You could manage the “book store” or the “jewelry store”—it all depends on what donations come in.

We are NOT collecting items at the church just yet—please hold on to them for a bit.

If you have questions or would like to help in some way, please contact Jillene Fisch at jillenes_beans@yahoo.com (best) or 608-692-8265.

Reconciling In Christ Team

Our Team – Terri Beck-Engel, Jillene Fisch, Sandy Kowal, Margo McBain, Wayne and Barb Meyer, Noah Peck, and Barb Zimmerman – is getting ready to craft our Welcome Statement. It will be given to the Council for their input and vote in November. And then we will ask you for your input as well. The Team will be holding some Listening Sessions on Sundays November 21 and December 12 both at 10:30am. This statement will include an intentional New Life welcome to LGBTQIA+ and Transgendered people as well as a commitment to racial equity and justice.

Women's Bible Study

The Women's Bible Study group meets 9-11 a.m. on Thursdays. We're studying the Biblical Book of Daniel. For more info, contact Betty Sundbakken or the church office. All are welcome to join in with the discussions.

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. We'll have a spot behind the glass doors for it.

Adult Faith Formation

Adult Faith Formation discussions will be held again this week on Wednesdays and Sundays. Pastor Heather invites you to talk about S-E-X! (Yes, you read that correctly!) The church has not been known for its healthy conversations around sexuality in general, and, especially as the norms around sexuality change, we want to talk about our sense of Biblical understandings with regard to this most intimate, but normal human interaction. Also, how do we read Scripture with a lens of love and inclusion as we move toward a welcoming statement for LGBTQ+ and transgendered people? This is meant to be a very open and honest conversation that we hope will enhance our sense of Scripture and God’s call to love each other. The conversation takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6:15-7:30 pm or on Sunday mornings from 10:30-11:30 am. through the end of October. Join us any time!

Youth Education

Greetings,

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy as we approach the fall and the change in temps. Today is a sad day for me as I have to say goodbye to New Life as the youth and education coordinator.

Although the last year with COVID has been a challenge, I have learned a lot in this role and have come to love this community and New Life. This decision that I have made has been a tough one, however, due to personal reasons and what is best for me and my family and also, New Life I feel the time is right for me to move on to a new opportunity.

One of my biggest passions has been Healthcare, so I have decided to study and take on a role with the Red Cross as a Phlebotomist. This is a passion as it is exciting to see us helping those who need blood and is a role that is rewarding to them.

I do want to part with some words that get me through the tough and trying times. One thing that is hard is not knowing, but we can worry about things we don't know or focus on the here and now and be the best version of who we are right now.

God will never turn His back; however at times we have to find locked doors on our own and make that first move. I do want to encourage this community to use the Church as a foundation - we all need refueling from time to time.

Again I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support this past year, I truly pray for blessings and wish you all the best. I know that God has truly great things planned.

God Bless and thank you,

Gavin Walsh

Youth Faithful Formation

Pastor Heather, the Council, and some key leaders will be talking about how to continue gathering, but it will likely be next week before we have a plan. Therefore, there will be no Youth FF tonight! If you'd like to be a part of what happens next in either youth, children, or family ministries, please contact Pastor Heather. Thank you for your prayers in this transition!

New Life Kids

Pastor Heather will continue to offer a children’s message during the 9:30 service, but the activities following will require some volunteers. This Sunday there will be no gathering after the message. Again, if you'd like to be a part of this vital ministry, please let Pastor Heather know.

This Sunday and This Week at New Life

October 17, 2021:

8:15 a.m. Traditional worship service

9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service and Worship Online via Facebook Live

9:30 a.m. New Life Kids Message in worship

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Adult FaithFul Formation led by Pastor Heather

Upcoming Schedule of Events This Week

Wednesday, October 13

5:30 p.m. Wednesday Evening Dinner (hosted by Jeff & Gretchen Lennberg)

6:15-7:30 p.m. Adult FaithFul Formation (FFF) - Pastor Heather leads

Thursday, October 14

9:00-11:00 a.m. Women’s Thursday Bible Study led by Betty Sundbakken

6:30-7:30 p.m. Praise Band Rehearsal (Worship Center)

7-10 pm Shawn Peters band MCF rehearsal (Re-Creation Center)

Saturday, October 16

8:30-11:30 a.m. Praise Band Retreat (Worship Center)

12:00-5:00 p.m. Vicki Harrington Baby Shower (Community Room)

Monday, October 18

10:00 a.m. - noon Gift Cards Distribution (by Social Purpose Team)

6:00 p.m. - Congregation Council meeting

7:00 p.m. Black History Course (virtual) led by Kathy Michaelis

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, Dave Kolmodin, Gail Kriel, Trish Krueger, Hailey Lennberg, Laurie Neuendorf, Jade Peck, Stephanie Peck's friend Jessie, Kishia Peters, Alvina Phillips, Mary Rauwolf, Vern Richmond, Jeremy Showers, Bobby Spridco, Bill Sterud, Darrick Thompson, Shirley Theel, Grace Volkmann 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.