Sunday January 19, 2025

This Week's Message is:

"The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength"

John 2: 1-11

SABBATICAL NEWS

Pastor Heather has begun her time of Sabbatical. She will return on February 12. During these six weeks she will not be available via phone, text, or email. Should any needs arise, there are people assigned to respond. Please contact the church office, speak with a Council member (names and pictures on the office window) or any member of the Sabbatical Team (Ann Krebs Byrne, Deb Kohlwey, Kathy Michaelis, Dave Mullen, and Gregg Schieve) for any questions.

ACCESS WORSHIP

Join us for our Traditional worship Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and at 9:45 a.m. for Praise worship which is always livestreamed on our Facebook and available on our YouTube any time after. Our most recent worship services are also posted to our website. To view the service from January 19 click here.

ANNUAL MEETING FEBRUARY 2ND

Come join us for a look back at 2024 and forward to 2025 for our ministry and the 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 please make every effort to be present. We will only have one worship service at 9 am, followed by a luncheon and the Annual Meeting in the Community Room. Sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, and dessert will be provided and, while it's not required, we'd like to invite attendees to bring a side dish to share. Suggestions include baked beans, fresh veggies or fruit, a bag of chips, a salad, or anything else. There will be a clipboard at the table in the entry to sign up if you'd like to bring something. Paper copies of the Annual Report will be available this Sunday, January 26.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION IN JANUARY

ADULT EDUCATION - It's NOT TOO LATE to sign up for PRACTICING THE WAY. Join us on Wednesday evenings beginning January 15th for Practicing The Way, a pathway for apprenticeship to Jesus by John Mark Comer. This will be a six-session course – three sessions in January (15, 22, 29) and then three sessions in February (12, 19, 26) – gathering via Zoom. We will start at 6:30 and end by 7:45pm. Each session will include video, discussion, “practices” for the week (homework!), and concluding in prayer. Please register for this class through the office in order to receive the Zoom link. Kathy Michaelis will be leading this class. If you wish to purchase the Companion Guide or view sessions you might miss, please check their website: ttps://launch.practicingtheway.org/. There is no cost for online access, and this is not a requirement to join the Zoom sessions. 

Click the link for a taste of the course: Practicing the Way Course

SUNDAY ADULT FAITH FORMATION

“What Makes Your Heart Sing?” That is a question you’ll be hearing a lot about in the next month or so. As Pastor Heather is on sabbatical answering that question for herself, we will also be pondering this as a community. CJ Webster, Licensed Therapist and friend of New Life, will be with us throughout Pastor’s first leave to help us in this discussion – preaching on Jan. 5 and Feb. 9, and offering an Adult Faith Formation class on Sundays in January at 11am. We will be talking about our answers to this question, but also things like “what keeps our hearts from singing?” Please come for this vital conversation – we will meet in the Classroom following second service. All are welcome!

PRAYER TEAM

This team gathers for prayer on Saturdays from 7-8 am. If you are planning on coming please text or call Jean at 608-957-2781 as we will occasionally meet off site or not at all due to weather conditions!

BLOOD DRIVE

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025 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 volunteer at the drive or make a treat or contact Deb Kohlwey at kohlweydeb123@gmail.com or call her at 608-239-9335 for any other questions.

LOST AND FOUND

Please remember to check lost and found for any items left at the church. Lost and Found is location above the coat rack by the front door. All items left will be donated by Jan 31.

Please email Ashley if you would like to reserve your spot for your kiddo or volunteer! Volunteer Sign-up sheet

NEW LIFE KIDS needs YOU! VOLUNTEER!

If you would be interested in being a part of the New Life Kids teaching team, please let Ashley and take a look at the sign up sheet.

NEW LIFE KIDS - Sundays at 8:50am.

Kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to join us each Sunday morning in the ReCreation Center!

BABY TO 4K FAMILIES - Sunday at 8:50am Families with babies - 4K are invited to meet in the Kidzone to spend time together. This is a time for children to play together and for families to connect.

BLACK HISTORY FOR A NEW DAY

Over the years a number of people at New Life have taken the Black History for a New Day offered by the Justified Anger, Nehemiah Center. AND they are offering the course once again. Class dates are February 17th, 24th, March 3,10,17,31, and April 7, 21, 28. On-site (at the Fountain of Life Church, just off Park Street) or via zoom. The cost is $300.

ROOTS ETHIOPIA

The New Life Community has reached our goal of $2,000 for books for Ethiopia! Of course, there is always room for more - ANY amount over $2000 will go to the next project at the high school, which is renovating a room to create a hands-on science lab. This is the next (and final) project to improve the High School. 

WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE FOR JAIL MINISTRY

Last winter, we helped with the Madison Area Jail Ministry winter clothing and we'd like to do it again! If you have any gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, sweaters, winter footwear or winter pants to share the love of God with those less fortunate, they are in dire need of donations in women’s and men’s or unisex size L, XL, XXL, 3X, 4X. There will be a large box in the entry way for these donations and they will be accepted beginning in January. Thank you in advance!

ST MARKS FOOD PANTRY

Last week another delivery of food, bags, and calendars was made to St Mark’s food pantry.  Mark, the pantry coordinator, extends a huge thank you to our congregation for its continued support. Usage of the pantry continues to increase. In December 2024 the pantry served 92 units (individuals/families) compared to 61 units in December 2023. The donation of shelf stable food and personal care items is always needed. Right now they are low on cereal and canned meals (stew, hearty soups, pasta with meat). Donations can be placed on the table in the Community Room. 

Please continue to donate paper/plastic/reusable bags and 2025 calendars. Unfortunately, they can not accept egg cartons. 

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

We continue to need your help in order to be able to distribute gift cards to those in need - which totals on average about $1,000 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).

Prayers needed for

Hospitalized, Injured, Ill or Medical Prayers



Cheryll Steinke's neighbor, Yoshi

Don Skaar

Barb Zimmerman

Every Day Prayers

Connie Losse

Dave Kolmodin

Russ and Shirley Theel

Donna Butlers Stepson Lamarcus as he faces a prison term and hope he has a good outcome.  

Donna Butlers elderly neighbor, Sally for healing and restoration, as she has been hospitalized several times

Condolences

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 to office.

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 newlifelc@newlifelc.com or by caling the office at 608-223-9337. Contacts are listed here.

New Life Staff:

Rev. Heather Hayward, Pastor

pastor@newlifelc.com

Ashley Reinke, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

youtheducator@newlifelc.com

Liz Rusch, Office Manager/Newsletter

newlifelc@newlifelc.com

Jim Manos, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@newlifelc.com

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

shakiamturner@yahoo.com

New Life Church Council:

Janice Newell, President

Jillene Fisch, Vice-President

Tom Olson, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Brian Coel

Shannon Erb

Deb Kohlwey

Louise Miller

Shawn Peters

Linda Sime

Russell Theel