We continue offering worship via Facebook Live at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays - please join us on our Facebook page for this opportunity!

If you have trouble joining 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!

To view the service from January 8, 2023, click here.

(NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the very end of the sermon was cut off but then service resumes)

ACCESS WORSHIP

Join us for worship Sundays at 8:15 a.m. (Traditional) and at 9:30 a.m. (Praise Band Worship) which is also always livestreamed on our Facebook page and available on our YouTube page any time after, not just when we're live. Our most recent worship services are also posted to our website on Monday mornings and are featured in the weekly newsletters on Wednesdays. Masks are optional but encouraged if people want to wear them.

HAPPENING IN EARLY JANUARY...

DINNERS AND ADULT FAITH FORMATION - TONIGHT!

AS A REMINDER: NO WEDNESDAY DINNERS UNTIL MARCH 1

Pastor Heather is very excited to get started on another Adult Bible Study in the New Year! With winter weather, however, we’ll spend these six weeks doing our study online together (we will also forgo dinner for this period of time). Starting TONIGHT, Wednesday Jan. 11 at 6:15 pm we will dive into a wonderful study of the always-intriguing Book of Revelation. If you would like to get a copy of the book Pastor Heather will be using (which she would recommend), please find it HERE for $15. Here is the Zoom link for the class. We hope you’ll plan to dive into this great study in the new year!

STEWARDSHIP OF SPACE BEGINS!

COME HELP CLEAN THE KITCHEN ON SUNDAY

Pastor Heather said in her New Year’s message that 2023 will be the year of “Stewardship of Space,” and we will dive into that theme this Sunday, January 15 by doing a little cleaning out of the kitchen! If you’re able and willing, please come after the second service to help clean and clear out the cabinets as well as clearly label where things should be found. This is a great help to all who use the kitchen, so please come help out! We will work for an hour and see how far we can get! If you can’t help this time, please watch for other opportunities throughout this whole year!

ANNUAL MEETING

Come join us for a look back at 2022 and forward to 2023 for our ministry and financial implications of that ministry, plus the election of new Council members. This is an important conversation about where God is leading us, so make every effort to be a part of this conversation. It will occur after the 9:30 am service (10:30 am approximately) on Sunday, January 29. A light lunch will be provided (gumbo from the Reeds, chili from Wundrows, vegetarian option from Fisches) – please plan to bring a dish to pass to fill this meal out (salad, dessert, drinks, etc.). Paper copies of the Annual Report (except financials) will be available on Sunday, Jan. 22 and the 2023 Spending Plan/Treasurer’s report will be available at the meeting. Any reports that need to be included in that need to be turned in to Kathy Scholl by TODAY - Wednesday, January 11. Thank you!

RETIREMENT OF KATHY SCHOLL

Kathy has served as the Office Assistant since April of 2019 and has done an excellent job of helping this community through pastoral transition as well as pandemic. She (and her husband Verne) will be retiring, and we would like to celebrate her ministry and wish them well in their retirement plans! Come celebrate Kathy on Sunday, February 12 after both services. Her last day will be Feb. 17.

HIRING

We will, of course, be in the search for Kathy’s replacement with the hopes of having someone in place by Feb. 13. Job description and other details can be requested from Pastor Heather or found on Indeed. Please share this job opening with anyone you know who might be interested in a part-time position with great people!

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS THE CHURCH DATABASE (Community Church Builder, or "CCB")

Curious about the church's database? Did you know you can enter and update your contact information and view your own giving profile? Follow this link with step-by-step directions provided by our church treasurer Ken.

YOUR OFFERING

Thanks for your support to meet our financial obligations. Consider giving online, if you aren't already! You can select a one-time donor or recurring donation, and it's easy to do - just click the box below to begin and go to our Vanco page, where you can log in to set up or access 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. Or as always, you can continue receiving envelopes and mail in your donations to New Life.

YOGA CLASSES IN JANUARY

Daughter of the congregation, Kathryn Wundrow, has recently completed a 200-hour training to become a yoga instructor and is sharing this gift with the New Life community! All are welcome and any amount of experience is fine. There is no cost except for a very modest suggested donation collected for The Rainbow Project (www.therainbowproject.net) and for the energy cost at the church. We also ask that everyone bring their own yoga mat. This is a 4-WEEK CLASS (it began yesterday but you are still welcome to join) held on Tuesdays from 6-7 pm. Just email Kathryn.

Sunday Mornings

New Life Kids

Join us during the 9:30 a.m. service for a children’s message and craft.

Explorers & eMerge

Youth Faith Formation is every Sunday after 9:30 service.

MISSION TRIP 2023 - Sarasota, FL

Who: Youth currently in grades 8-12

What: Partnering with Luther Springs and Lutheran Disaster

Response, we will work alongside those impacted by

Hurricane Ian, helping to clean up, repair and rebuild. 

Where: Based out of Faith Lutheran Church, Sarasota, FL 

When: Sunday, July 9th - Friday, July 14th, 2023

Registration can be completed here and the $100 deposits can be made by check or online. We are asking that the next payment of $200 be made by February 26th and the remaining balance due on April 30th. I will be reserving flights next week and we will finally have the final flight cost.

SOUPer Bowl Sunday is back!

After each service on Sunday, February 12th the Mission Trip youth will be hosting a SOUPer Bowl fundraiser. If you would like to donate soup, let Jessica know! This year we will have the option for to-go or dine in.

If you are interested or want more information on any of the activities, feel free to reach out to Jessica Korrison.

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

Throughout the pandemic, we have been able to help so many families in the community because of this fund. By the end of 2022, we have distributed close to $12,000 in much-needed gift cards. 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).

Also, because of these increased needs, if you would be able to give to this fund, please submit checks with "Social Purpose Fund" in the memo or give online to that fund.

Other ways you and your family can partner: support black-owned businesses (click here for a list and for other ways you can help).

Again, thank you for caring and sharing!

COLLECTING COATS

New Life will be collecting coats in January to benefit the communities served by the Madison Area Jail Ministry and River Food Pantry. They are looking for winter coats of all sizes, especially men’s size large and extra large.

Look for a bin in the narthex on January 8th. We will be collecting through January 29th.

Thank you in advance for your donation!

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE JANUARY 30TH

New Life Church will be the venue for a Blood Drive of the American Red Cross on Monday, January 30, 2023. Mark your calendar to save the date! Times will be from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room.

The Red Cross North Central Blood Services Division of Sheboygan Ave. in Madison is hoping for about 20-25 blood donations. All donation appointments will be made through their website:

redcross.org/local/wisconsin/about-us/locations/southwest-chapter.html.

Donors will receive a free long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt while supply lasts.

Black History for a New Day Course

Many people at New Life have participated in this amazing course in the past and we’d like to invite you to consider taking the newest opportunity to do so as well. You can register through Nehemiah (www.nehemiah.org) before Jan. 15. Classes will be Mondays 7-9 pm via Zoom (or hybrid in person) beginning on February 6. Cost is $300/person but New Life has scholarship funds to help with that if you’re unable to do so. Please let Pastor Heather know if you would like to register using those scholarship funds. And if you’d taken it before but would like to do so again, Nehemiah is offering a 50% discount for alumni. Deadline to register is January 15!

NEW LIFE SATURDAY BOOK CLUB

Please join us on Saturday, January 14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Classroom A for the New Life Book Club, led by Melanie Stepherson. We will be discussing "Amazing Grace" by Eric Metaxas. This is the story of British abolitionist William Wilberforce, and his role as human rights activist, cultural reformer, and member of Parliament. This account of Wilberforce's life will help many to become acquainted with an exceptional man who was a hero to Abraham Lincoln and an inspiration to the anti-slavery movement in America.

MEN’S GROUP

Hey guys! We're offering a time for the men of our community to gather and be strengthened in their faith, and we invite new people to join us anytime! The next time we'll get together will be on Saturday, January 21st from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the church. Questions? Contact group leaders Shawn Peters and Jim DePass.

Please Keep These People in Your Prayers

Donna Butler’s grandson Anthony, Shaq Brown, the friends and family of Carolyn Dawson, Boyd Fleming, Jodi Franco and her daughter-in-law (medical issues), Terry Hines (Dave Kolmodin's cousin), Michele Kiefer, Dave Kohlwey's brother Neil, Gail Kriel, Patti Kolmodin, Vicki Landes, Hailey Lennberg, Annie O'Kane, Kathy Nelson's brother LaVerne, Stephanie Peck's grandfathers, Alvina Phillips, family of Steve Rayments (friend of Jeff Lennberg), Trish Splettstoesser, Bobby Spridco, Cheryll & Bill Steinke, Bill Sterud, Russ & Shirley Theel's son-in-law Gil Franco, family of Grace Volkman, Jan Wilson's sister Pat, Carolee Zick, and Barb Zimmerman.

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 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.

Celebration of Life for Grace Volkman will take place this Saturday, Jan. 14th. 10:00 a.m. - Noon is visitation; service held at noon, Pastor Heather Hayward presiding. The location is Gunderson Funeral Home East, on Monona Drive. View obituary here.

This Sunday and Updates for this Week

January 15, 2023

8:15 a.m. Traditional Praise Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Contemporary Praise Worship Service

(also livestreamed on Facebook Live)

9:30 a.m. New Life Kids

10:30 a.m. Youth Faith Formation (ReCreation Center)

2:00-4:00 p.m. - Youth Activity Outdoors (Vilas Zoo)

Schedule of Events This Week

Wednesday, January 11 — Deadline to submit reports for Annual Report

6:15-7:30 p.m. — Adult Faith Formation (via Zoom) (led by Pastor Heather)

Thursday, January 12

9:00-11:00 a.m. — Bible Study Group (led by Betty Sundbakken) (Classroom A)

6:30-7:30 p.m. — Contemporary Praise Worship Band Practice (Worship Center)

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Shawn's MCF Band practice (ReCreation Center)

Saturday, January 14

9:00-11:30 a.m. — New Life Book Club (led by Melanie Stepherson) (Classroom A)

Monday, January 16 — OFFICE CLOSED for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 17

6:00-7:00 p.m. — Yoga with Kathryn (ReCreation Center)

Wednesday, January 18

6:15-7:30 p.m. — Adult Faith Formation (via Zoom) (led by Pastor Heather)

Office hours are Monday through Thursday. Please feel free to contact staff members of New Life by email at [email protected] or by calling the office at 608-223-9337. Contacts are listed here.

New Life Staff:

Rev. Heather Hayward, Pastor

[email protected]

Jessica Korrison, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

[email protected]

Kathy Scholl, Office Assistant/Newsletter

[email protected]

Mike Berchem, Bookkeeper

[email protected]

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

[email protected]

ELCA South-Central Wisconsin Synod website:

https://scsw-elca.org/

New Life Church Council:

Iris Christenson, Secretary

Brian Coel, Vice-President

Jim DePass

Rick Krueger

Joe Milanese

Janice Newell, President

Tom Olson

Shawn Peters

Linda Sime

MacKenzie Swanson

Jan Wilson

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer