NEW LIFE CHURCH ELCA

WEEKLY E-MAIL NEWSLETTER

Sunday Worship Times:

Traditional Worship 8:15 a.m.

Praise Band Worship 9:30 a.m., also livestreamed on Facebook Live

7564 Cottage Grove Rd. Madison WI 53718

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Join us on Facebook or YouTube / Join our email list here

Website: www.newlifelc.com

WORSHIP

This week's message is from Luke 23:33-43

"The Reign of Christ" Sunday

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!

View last Sunday's 9:30 am service from Sunday, November 13th - click here.

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.

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP

Come join us for an evening of blessing and thankfulness as we take part in a Thanksgiving Eve service at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23rd. We will also kick off our collection for St. Mark’s Food Pantry with our Reverse Advent Calendar, so please bring to worship any items you wish to donate. Enjoy pie and conversation in the Community Room after the service! If you'd like to bring a pie, let us know.

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS

As we anticipate this wonderful time of year, we hope you can make plans to join the New Life Community as we give God thanks for the gift of Jesus’ birth!

Come help us prepare our building for this season as we decorate, set up Christmas trees, and hang garland on Wednesday, November 30 at 6:15 pm. All are welcome for dinner at 5:30 pm and there will be cookies and hot beverages while we decorate.

A lot of hands will be needed so please come help out!

Our theme for Sunday and Wednesday worship gatherings is “From Generation to Generation.” The holidays always bring with them memories of generations gathered together, rituals and traditions carried on from one generation to another – and like a tapestry woven throughout time, the Christmas story weaves us in too. With daily devotionals, poems and visuals, we will be emersed in hearing and telling this story for all the ages.

Sunday Themes:

Nov. 27 – There’s room for every story
Dec. 4 – God meets us in our fear
Dec. 11 – We can choose a better way
Dec. 18 – We see God in each other

Advent Devotional Service

On Wednesdays, Dec. 7, 14, and 21 at 6:30 pm we will also gather for an Advent Devotional Service at 6:30 pm (after dinner – all are welcome!) to hear more about this theme, read Scripture and poems together, and sing some favorite Christmas carols.

On December 21^st we will also include portions of the worship acknowledging the Longest Night, and the grief people manage during this time of year.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Our theme will connect to the telling of this great story at two services: 5 pm – a family-friendly worship with an impromptu Christmas Pageant and candlelight (glowsticks also available for young hands) and 7 pm – a classic Christmas service with favorite songs and candlelight.

CHRISTMAS DAY is a Sunday, but we believe we will all want to be with our families that day, so please tune in to Facebook at 9:30 am for a special devotional message from Pastor Heather. (There will be no in-person worship that morning!)

Come join us for all of these opportunities to sing God’s praises for the immeasurable gift of Jesus!

WE NEED HELPERS!

With some of the holiday services coming up, we are going to need helpers!

1) Can you bring a pie for the social in the Community Room after the Thanksgiving Eve service? See the sign up sheet on the front table.

2) We will also need a few Welcome Team helpers for the Thanksgiving Eve service at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 23rd: one Greeter/Welcome Table, one Usher, and two kitchen helpers to slice and serve pies after service. If you can help, please let the office know.

3) Decorators!! Can you help? Tonight at 6:30 p.m. (after the dinner at 5:30 that you're welcome to come to) people are asked to help gather up Christmas decorations in the ReCreation Center, and then on Wednesday, November 30th at 6:30 p.m. we will definitely need many hands for the "Hanging of the Greens" (garland, trees, ornaments) in the Worship Center! PLEASE come out to help if you can.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Saturday December 3

8:30-11:00am

Come start the season off with a wonderful family-friendly morning. Pictures with Santa, a filling breakfast, items for kids to “purchase” as gifts for adults in their lives (donations welcome but not necessary), and a festive atmosphere! In order to provide the gifts for kids to give to their family, we are collecting new or gently-used small adult gifts ONLY! Items such as ties, socks, candles, scarves, mittens/hats, purses, etc. We will not be accepting any large items, clothing, or gifts for children. We are also asking folks to donate gift bags and tissue paper. This FREE event is open to the whole community, so please invite your neighbors and friends! If you would like to help at the event or donate food items, click on this Sign Up Genius form!

WELCOME/VISITOR CARDS

Please help us out by filling out a white welcome/visitor card when you attend Sunday service. Our helpers on the Welcome Team have been doing a great job asking people to fill these out (and ushers try to take a head count), but sometimes we can’t quite catch everyone. Even if you are scooting in to the Worship Center, please just grab a card, then fill it out later and place it in the silver bowl as you leave at the end of the service. These cards are important for us to track attendance weekly as well as get any new contact information. As the holidays come up and we welcome new visitors, it will especially help set an example for visitors to fill them out too. Also, remember to check off the time(s) of the service(s) you participated in. Quick and easy and it helps keep us all connected at New Life!

NAMETAGS: Please Wear Them

We have nametags pre-printed on the partition in the Community Room for all regular attenders - plus blank nametag cards available for visitors. If you don't find yours there, please sign the sheet on the table next to the partition and we will make one for you! Once you get your nametag, it's yours to keep and take home and bring back with you each time you come to church. Or rehang it back in your alphabetical area by last name. With many new people and especially as the holidays come up and we welcome visitors each week, we need to restore this hospitable practice. Please wear your nametags.

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.

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 and coffee server.

Here is the link to the NOVEMBER sign-up sheet! Please note that we will also need a few helpers for the Thanksgiving Eve service at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 23rd: one Greeter/Welcome Table, one Usher, and 2-3 kitchen helpers to slice and serve pies after service. If you can help with any of those duties, please let the office know.

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

ORDER CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

We are offering the opportunity for you to order a Christmas Poinsettia (or more than one!) that will be placed up front in the worship center to adorn the altar stage for Christmas Eve service.

We will be placing one large order with Felly's Flowers, to be delivered to the church at the same time a couple of days before Christmas Eve. The deadline for you to submit your order will be Tuesday, November 29.

There are a few ways for you to order: 1) Click here or on the graphic at left for the Google.doc sign-up order form; 2) Sign up on the hard copy sheet on the Welcome Table; or, 3) Contact the church office. We will coordinate our order and ensure placement of the poinsettias on the altar stage.

The plants can be tagged in honor or memory of a loved one. They'll also be marked on the back with a label of your name so that you may take your poinsettia home with you following the service or come get it after Christmas. The colors and prices are listed on the order form. Payment may be made by check to New Life Church placed in the offering bowl or mailed to the church office. Please help us beautify our worship center with these colorful plants for Christmas!

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. Or as always, you can mail in your donations to New Life.

VANCO(Give Online)

CONNECTIONS

Ministry

Adult Ministry

WEDNESDAY DINNER AND EVENING ACTIVITIES

You are invited to join others in the New Life community for dinner every Wednesday night at 5:30 pm – this week it's Bring Your Own Dinner (BYOD) but light snacks will be provided. After dinner (approximately) at 6:30 pm, we'll go into the ReCreation Center to work on two different projects: 1) helping pack food for the Monona Grove Schools, or 2) helping gather Christmas decorations & stage them for Nov. 30. We hope to see a lot of people come out to eat with us and help with projects.

Children & Youth Ministry

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.

THIS Sunday we will be having an informational meeting for next summer's High School Mission Trip!

MISSION TRIP 2023 - Sarasota, FL

Trip Dates: Sunday, July 9th - Friday, July 14th

We will be spending the week in Sarasota Florida to bring relief and restoration to the victims of Hurricane Ian.

Informational Meeting THIS Sunday, November 20th at 10:30am

We are estimating that the cost will be around $300 - $500 but during the meeting we will discuss transportation and fundraising.

There are only 15 spots available for youth and chaperones. The deposit and sign up are due by December 18th. The meeting on Sunday will determine the deposit cost.

Mission Trip Fundraiser

Handmade New Life Church ornaments will be for sale starting November 30th. They will be $20 with $16 going towards next summer's mission trip!

Middle and High Schoolers!

On Sunday, December 11th after 9:30am service we will go shopping for the Big Brother Big Sister Teen Gift Drive.

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

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

Throughout the pandemic, we have been able to help so many families in the community because of this fund. Most recently, due to inflation especially at the gas pump, we have distributed almost $2000 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!

TEEN GIFT DRIVE

It's that time again - the annual New Life Teen Gift Drive to gather gifts for middle and high school students in our area. We will once again be working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County to distribute the gifts we collect. The now familiar Gift Box will be set up at church on November 30 through Sunday, December 11.

We do have a few gift ideas but the best approach is to get advice from a teen. If you would prefer, the BBBS folks have put together an Amazon Wishlist to purchase items and have them shipped directly to them. This is the link for the wish list if you are interested: https://a.co/8r3x8tV.

Teen gift ideas: Paint by numbers, Card or board games, Bluetooth speaker, Hydroflask stickers, LED photo clip lights for a room, Headphones, sweaters, nail polish, socks, Carhart winter hats, glove spa-like face masks. OR gift cards to places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.

New this year there's an option to donate money for our middle and high school youth to go shopping on December 11th.

Questions? Contact Kathy Michaelis at ksmichaelis@gmail.com. gref ple manage during this time of year.

One More Idea for the Holiday Gift Giving...you could donate towards the social purpose fund with a $50 Woodman's gift card and bring it to the church office.

A BIG THANK YOU!

We were so thankful to be able to pack about 150 bags for kids in the MG schools every week in the month of November! Thank you to leaders, Vicki Schultz and Nicole Hines, our school contacts, Kathy Klinke and Danielle King, the New Life staff, our youth as well as the Athletes of Faith youth, and all our volunteers! We will be packing again beginning the week of February 13, 2023 so please watch for that and sign up to help with this vital ministry!

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 THIS Saturday, November 19th from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the church. The group leaders, Shawn Peters and Jim DePass, would like to gather up some contact information (names, emails, cell phone numbers for group text messages) - please put your info on the blue notepad on the high table in the lobby if you'd like to join us! We are working on some potential projects and gatherings. One of the projects will possibly be helping put up the stable for the Breakfast with Santa event. If you have questions, let the office know.

Please Keep These People in Your Prayers

Donna Butler’s grandson Anthony, Shaq Brown, the friends and family of Carolyn Dawson, Boyd Fleming, Terry Hines (Dave Kolmodin's cousin), Michele Kiefer, Dave Kohlwey's brother Neil, Gail Kriel, Patti Kolmodin, Vicki Landes, Hailey Lennberg, Annie O'Kane, Stephanie Peck (grandfathers in hospice), Alvina Phillips, Trish Splettstoesser, Bobby Spridco, Cheryll & Bill Steinke, Bill Sterud, Russ & Shirley Theel's son-in-law Gil Franco, 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.

This Sunday and Updates for this Week

November 20, 2022 -

8:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service

(also livestreamed on Facebook Live)

9:30 a.m. New Life Kids

10:30 a.m. Youth Faith Formation (Community Room)

Schedule of Events This Week

Wednesday, November 16

5:30-6:15 p.m. — Community Dinner (Community Room)

6:30 p.m. — Gathering Christmas Decorations (Recreation Center)

6:30 p.m. — Food Packing for Monona Grove Schools (ReCreation Center)

Thursday, November 17

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

Noon — Pastors Conference here (Community Room)

5:30-8:00 p.m. — Cub Scouts Pack 145 (Community Room)

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

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

Saturday, November 19

8:00-9:00 a.m.—New Life Men's Group (Classroom A)

Monday, November 21

10:00 a.m. - Noon — Gift Cards Distributions (Social Purpose Team) (Office)

Tuesday, November 22

9:30-11:30 a.m. — Common Threads Group (led by Ginny & Gail at studio)

Wednesday, November 23

5:00-6:00 p.m. — Praise Band Rehearsal

6:30 p.m. — Thanksgiving Eve in-person Worship (also streamed on Facebook Live)

Thursday, November 24 - THANKSGIVING DAY - OFFICE CLOSED

CONTACT

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

New Life Staff:

Rev. Heather Hayward, Pastor

pastor@newlifelc.com

Jessica Korrison, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

youtheducator@newlifelc.com

Kathy Scholl, Office Assistant/Newsletter

newlifelc@newlifelc.com

Mike Berchem, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@newlifelc.com

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

shakiamturner@yahoo.com

ELCA South-Central Wisconsin Synod website: