Reminder: The last section of the newsletter is always the calendar. If your email ends before that, it may have been "clipped." If you see that message, just click on the "View entire message" link next to it to view the newsletter in its entirety.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Watch for a New Year's message from Pastor Heather coming tomorrow. We pray that your 2026 is a blessing to you so you can bless others!

Sunday, January 4, 2025

This Week's Message is:

“Revelation of God”

Matthew 2:1-12

Breakfast Served this Sunday from 8:45-9:40am!

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 livestreamed on our Facebook and available on YouTube any time after. Our most recent worship services are also posted to our website. To view the last Sunday's Service click below.

YEAR-END GIVING

First of all, thank you for all the ways you already financially support the ministry of St. Matthew's New Life! We pray that you will continue to give in any way that you can, and potentially consider an additional end of the year gift. As we look forward to 2026 and beyond, we hope that you’ll help this vibrant community end the year on a very strong note! There are also other ways to give: from your IRA (if you're over age 70½ ), stock appreciation transfer, or living will or trust giving. If you have questions about any of this, please let the office know and we can give you more information. Please remember that all year-end giving needs to be postmarked by TODAY! As always, this ministry only happens in and through you! Thank you!

BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY!

Thank you to the Zielke and Erb families for volunteering to provide breakfast! This Sunday, there will be pancakes, sausage, some fruit and/or sweets! If you'd like to help with this great ministry, please look at the sign up at the Kitchen Window in the Community Room, or email the office!

NEW LIFE KIDS - 2026 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Please consider signing up to lead a Sunday school lesson in 2026! We have many different lesson options, from art to games to videos- it's up to you! Sign up here

A NEW EARTH BOOK STUDY

Starting THIS SUNDAY at 11am, Jeff Lennberg will lead us through Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose." Come discover what it means to deny yourself and follow Jesus in a deeper way. If you would like to be on the email list for updates about this class, please contact Jeff. His emails about what section to read have begun! Start the New year off with this commitment to discover more about following Jesus!

EPIPHANY PARTY!!!

Let’s celebrate with dinner and devotion, as well as packing away the Christmas decor. We will have the scissor lift again to make this that much easier! Many hands make light work and more fun! Come for this time together Wednesday January 7, 6-8pm.

WEDNESDAY FAITH FORMATION

To follow up our fall study of Paul, we will be diving into one of his most celebrated letters - the Book of Romans. Join Pastor Heather on Zoom each Wednesday beginning on January 14 at 6pm. Please contact her to receive the link directly or watch this spot in each week's newsletter. All are welcome!

NEXT WOMEN'S EVENT - "HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS"

Thursday, January 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

We will have a short devotion and share some snacks and then we’ll use our feet and learn line dancing! Thank you to Joan Lampert for getting this set up! To use our hands, we’ll bring offerings for our food pantry. Please RSVP to Janice Newell (buckyshome6@yahoo.com) if you are planning to attend so we can plan appropriately and bring a friend! Also, if line dancing isn’t “your thing,” feel free to come for the fellowship and watch the fun.

We hope all women and their friends will join us for times together to grow in faith and fellowship! If you’d like to be added to the email list to hear details about these events, please email Janice Newell.

MISSION TRIP INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Please see below for more about this meeting, but it's open to all! Sunday January 11 between services and after second service. Come learn more!

ANNUAL REPORTS DUE JANUARY 15

In preparation for the Annual Meeting on Sunday February 1, we are compiling our 2025 Annual Report. Any team or group leaders that would like to submit a report of the year, please have it in to the Office Manager no later than Thursday January 15.

NEW LIFE KIDS meets each Sunday at 8:50a in the ReCreation Center. This week, we will be learning about building our houses on solid foundations.

NEW LIFE KIDS - 2026 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Please consider signing up to lead a Sunday school lesson in 2026! We have many different lesson options, from art to games to videos- it's up to you! Sign up here

RESISTING CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT CAN I DO?

Featuring Rev. Dr. Kerri Parker, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council of Churches

January 11th, 2026 from 1-3 pm at Holy Wisdom Monastery

This presentation will consist of understanding what Christian Nationalism is, how it functions in our society, the relationship between religion and government, and much more! For more information and to register, click here! This event is free and open to the public!

GoFund ME FOR THE AZAD FAMILY

The Social Purpose Team has recommended that New Life support an effort to reunite Najib and Sarwat Azad’s family. Najib and Sarwat have been involved with our community since 2024. Najib and Sarwat and their 4 children live in Stevens Point but 19 of Najib’s family members are still trapped in Afghanistan and face the danger of being imprisoned or killed by the Taliban. They have been thoroughly vetted and approved for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), which is considered an exception to the travel bans. The only thing preventing them from coming to the US now is the cost of travel. Iris Christenson has set up a GoFundMe account that is linked to the nonprofit that Najib and Sarwat have created, Focus Development Organization, Inc., so all donations are tax deductible and used solely for the purpose of covering the expenses related to travel.

You can use the QR code above or this link to go to the GoFundMe page. (The GoFundMe platform charges an administrative fee of 2.9%. Adding a tip is optional but you should be careful when completing the donation form to fill in the tip question because a “default tip” amount will be added if you don’t fill in an answer.) The goal amount for the GoFundMe campaign is $30,000—an amount that would cover the travel costs for 6 family members. 

If you have any questions about this effort to help the Azad family, contact Iris Christenson at 608-239-6060.

CarePortal UPDATE

Here is an update from Nicole Hines:

I’m excited to share a recent CarePortal update! New Life was able to fully fund and take the lead on a request for a young mother in need of a car seat and an umbrella. I had the privilege of personally delivering the items and was honored to meet her—as well as several others—during my visit to Shelter from the Storm.

The experience was incredibly moving and has only deepened my desire to continue partnering with CarePortal. I’m grateful for this ministry and hopeful that we can keep responding generously to future requests. I look forward to engaging our team even more as new opportunities arise. As always, please let me know what questions you have about CarePortal. 

ST MARK'S FOOD PANTRY

The reverse Advent food drive for St Mark’s food pantry was a tremendous success. Our congregation is extremely supportive of this mission. Last Thursday Ed and I made our second delivery in December, and because of your generosity the donations completely filled the back of my SUV again. We dropped off 17 bags/boxes of food. 

In addition, the Social Purpose Committee recommended, and the council approved, another $2,000 donation. Mark Taylor, the coordinator of the pantry, sends a huge thank you to our congregation. According to Mark, our monetary gift will primarily be used to purchase perishable items-meat, eggs and milk again. Donations can be placed on the table in the community room. Paper, plastic and reusable bags are a continuing need and can also be donated.

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 kept confidential to her and our financial officers (treasurer and bookkeeper).

Prayers needed for

Hospitalized, Injured, Ill or Medical Prayers



Barb Zimmerman

Joan Cleary (Maggie Andres's Mother)

Mary Roberts

Ken Wundrow

Jim Melka


Theo Weber


Marge McEwen

Every Day Prayers

Shane Peters

Condolences

Jean Hoover in the death of wife Vickey

Sandra Cummins in the death of husband Rex

Cheryl Phillips and Family in the death of her dad James

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.

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

Ashley Reinke, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

youtheducator@newlifelc.com

Sarah Sheffer, Office Manager/Newsletter

newlifelc@newlifelc.com

Jim Manos, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@newlifelc.com

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

shakiamturner@yahoo.com

New Life Church Council:

Jillene Fisch, President

Linda Sime, Vice President

Tom Olson, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Brian Coel

Shannon Erb

Deb Kohlwey

Louise Miller

Shawn Peters

Uriah Reppert

Derek Schuette