Sunday, January 21, 2023

This Week's Message is

"Fishers Of People"

Mark 1: 14-20

ACCESS WORSHIP

Join us for our regular worship Sundays at 8:00 a.m. (Traditional) and at 9:45 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 and are featured in the weekly newsletters on Wednesdays.

To view the service from January 14th 2024 click here.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WELCOME TEAM

We always encourage and appreciate volunteers for the Welcome Team to help out with parts of the worship service, such as greeter, welcome table, usher, tellers, coffee server and Communion helpers.

Here is the link to the January sign-up sheet!

(Or click on image below)

Here is a link to February Welcome Team

The sheet is on the welcome table to write your name in while you're here if you'd like or enter in your name from a computer or laptop or contact the office to sign up.

Here is a link to a sign-up genius form for Communion/Altar Care shifts too. Please sign up - we need helpers for this!

Anyone is invited to join the Welcome Team at any time!

LANDSCAPE PROJECT & FINANCES

Thank you so much for your gifts toward the completion of this project thus far - especially those year-end gifts that brought us almost to completion! Our goal is now only about $3,000 away! Please prayerfully consider your giving. Thank you also to those who were able to increase their giving last year as well. Your gifts (much appreciated) can be accomplished through electronic giving - THERE IS A FIELD TO CLICK IN VANCO, by check, or transfers. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Heather or Ken Wundrow

VENMO

St. Matthew's New Life has a new way for you to give! Venmo is an easy to use and safe way to give directly to your church home! Please click the link or use the QR code in order to link to our new Venmo page. Give for a special occasion or give your regular offering in this way.

https://venmo.com/u/newlifechurchmadison

Thank you always for your donation

YEAR END GIVING STATEMENTS

We will be sending out your 2023 giving statements next week in the mail - please watch for them! If there are any questions, please contact the church office. If you submitted a Commitment Card in November, those will also be returned to you with this mailing. If you filled one out but don't receive one back, please let the office know.

Also, just a quick note about Bank Fees: if you give with a debit or credit card through automated giving, please note on your giving statement the amount of bank fees we as a church are charged! It costs the church up to 3% of your gift total. If you would like to switch to giving from a checking or savings account, please contact the church office. Thank you!

ANNUAL MEETING

Come join us for a look back at 2023 and forward to 2024 for our ministry and financial implications of that ministry, plus the election of a new Council member. This is an important conversation about where God is leading us, so make every effort to be present. It will occur after the 9:45 am service (10:45 am approximately) on Sunday, February 4th. A light brunch will be provided (please contact the church office if you would like to provide!). Paper copies of the Annual Report (except financials) will be available on Sunday, Jan. 28 and the 2024 Spending Plan/Treasurer’s report will be available at the meeting. 

Any reports that need to be included in this report need to be turned in to Liz by TODAY Wednesday, January 17. Thank you!

WEDNESDAY ADULT BIBLE STUDY BEGINS!

Join Pastor Heather tonight for an online Bible study of all those books of the Bible you'd like to know more about. People have submitted books of the Bible that they don't know much about, and each Wednesday until Feb. 7 we will do an overview of each of them. Tonight we'll be looking at Proverbs and 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Each week will be different books so you can join us whenever you can. Let Pastor Heather know what other books you’d like to learn more about! Here is the Zoom link for you to join anytime.

WOMEN’S GROUP

On Sunday January 21st from 3-5pm, Josie Pradella will be offering a class on paper quilling. We will make paper hearts to send to women all over the world with the message “from my heart to yours.” This class is limited to 8 people, and there is limited space available for this Sunday - so sign up soon!

LIBERATING THE PEACEMAKER WITHIN

This great class will begin on Sunday February 18 and Wednesday February 21. Elton Tylenda will take us on a journey to discover our inner peacemaker. He says, “Real peace, both within and without, requires a transformation of consciousness beyond sorrow and despair. This course helps you navigate toward inner peace by exploring the perspective of great peacemakers across many spiritual wisdom traditions.” Come join us in person on Sundays at 11am or Wednesdays at 6:15pm for this engaging conversation! Thank you Elton and Josie for offering this gift! Check out www.lifeworldreconnect.org for more information!

MEN'S GROUP

The Men's Group will meet this coming Saturday, January 20th at the church from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Please plan to join us! All are welcome!

COMMON THREADS

Ginny Olson and Gail Kriel encourage anyone who'd like to learn how to knit or crochet to join in the Common Threads group. If you're experienced you 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 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday mornings of the month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. To sign up and for info, email Ginny. Prayer shawls are on the entrance table in the Community Room and are FREE for the taking by/for anyone who wants one.

January 23rd 9:30-11:30 is the next meeting, Hope to see you there.

New Life Kids - 9am ReCreation Room

Join us this week as we continue our rotation on Jesus and John the Baptist! All ages will be learning through science!

Explorers: 9am Youth Room

Join us as we continue into Alpha!

eMerge: 11am ReCreation Room

This Sunday we will finish our study on what mission means to us in our faith journey and talk about this summer's Mission Trip!

NEW LIFE KIDS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Want to help out with New Life Kids? We have a variety of activities each week and could use volunteers! See the schedule here and below or email Jessica.

2024 MISSION TRIP

Who: Youth currently in grades 8-12

What: Partnering with Praying Pelican Missions

Where: Chicago, IL

When: Saturday, July 13 - Friday, July 19

The total trip cost per person is $300. a $150 deposit is due at sign up and the final payment of $150 is due on May 12. Let Jessica know if you are interested!

SAVE THE DATE FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

Monday, August 5 - Thursday, August 8 9am - 12pm

4K– 5^th grade kids are invited to join us as we Swim into God's Word.

YOUTH TEAM MEETING

Our first meeting for the new year will be on Monday, January 29th at 6:30pm via Zoom.

SOUPer Bowl Sunday is back!

After each service on Sunday, February 11th the Mission Trip youth will be hosting a SOUPer Bowl fundraiser. If you would like to donate soup, let Jessica know! 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.

Ballroom Basics for Balance (BB4B)

BB4B is an 8 week course that will be offered at New Life on Fridays from 9:30 - 10:30am February 2 - March 22. The cost of the course is $48.00 and is payable on or before the first class. To register or ask questions, email Debra Kohlwey at [email protected] or call 608-239-9335. No partner is required.

Check out a video on the course at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeOLNgOqNZQ

You can also visit the website at ballroombasicsforbalance.org

Please share the information with your friends.

BLOOD DRIVE

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 from noon to 5, New Life Church is hosting a Red Cross blood drive. There are many ways to help. First, you can publicize the event by word of mouth and by liking the Facebook event. Then you can donate blood by signing up online at redcrossblood.org. If giving blood is not for you, then you could also contact Deb Kohlwey at [email protected] to volunteer at the drive or make a treat.

WISCONSIN IN BLACK & WHITE

January 21 & 28 – 11:00am in the Classroom

This PBS Wisconsin production in partnership with the Nehemiah Center is intended to help us “understand how the African-American experience has shaped the world we all live in, and how allies can find roles supporting racial justice today.” There are four episodes in the series, each from 20-30 minutes, covering Criminal Justice, Education, Health, and the Wealth Gap. We will watch one each week, then share reactions and thoughts. We will start with Criminal Justice; the second session will be whatever the group chooses.  If you can’t make it, the series is available online to watch on your own here.

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

New Life continues to distribute much-needed gift cards to those in need - totally on average about $3,000 every month! Because of the increased need, 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. Thank you! Also, 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 keep confidential to her and our financial officers (treasurer and bookkeeper).

Another way you and your family can help in the community is to support black-owned businesses (click here for a list and other ways you can help). Again, thank you for caring and sharing!

Prayers needed for

Hospitalized, Injured, Ill or Medical Prayers :

Shirley Theel on dental surgery

Maggie Andres' daughter Kelli (medical treatments)

Gil and Jodi Franco and their daughter-in-law (medical issues)

AJ White-Wolf

Eric Peters (Hospice)

Connie Losse (medical)

Russell Fresenger (Surgery)

Every Day Prayers

Dave Kohlwey for healing light and his son Edmund

Stan and Alvina Phillips,

Bobby Spridco,

Cheryll & Bill Steinke,

Russ & Shirley Theel,

Kim Zielke

Jean and Vickie Hoover

Condolences

Family of Sharon Klausch,

Laue Family of Beaver Dam,

Family and friends of Michael Jensen

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 click on the calendar to take you to our Google calendar.

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 608-223-937. Contacts are listed here.

New Life Staff:

Rev. Heather Hayward, Pastor

[email protected]

Jessica Korrison, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

[email protected]

Liz Rusch, Office Manager/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:

Janice Newell, President

Brian Coel, Vice-President

Tom Olson, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Shannon Erb

Jillene Fisch

Deb Kohlwey

Shawn Peters

Linda Sime

MacKenzie Swanson

Russel Theel