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
Contact us at newlifelc@newlifelc.com or (608) 223-9337
Join us on Facebook or YouTube / Join our email list here
Website: www.newlifelc.com
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We hope you'll enjoy our new look and that it makes it easier for you to get news and updates about New Life Church, our community and events! | |
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This Sunday's sermon: "Luke's version of the Beatitudes - Luke 6:17-26
In addition to this week's sermon, note that it's "SOUP-er Bowl Sunday"
(see details below under Children & Youth Ministry!)
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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!
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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 will be featured in the weekly newsletters on Wednesdays. Masks are required for indoors worship.
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ASH WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, March 2 at 6:30 pm
As we begin the season of Lent, we start with an honest look at ourselves and our world. We are broken…we are frail…we are dust. But God can use simple, broken things to bring light into the world. Come be reminded of God’s work in you. Pastor Heather will also offer drive-through ashes & Communion for those unable to attend worship from 12:00-12:30 pm that day. There will not be dinner before worship, but we plan to get back to Wednesday dinners beginning on March 9th.
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LABYRINTH DURING LENT
Do you long for a better devotional life? Do you wish there was a time and place that could inspire such a thing? Well, you’re in luck! During this holy season, we have a perfect opportunity to spend some more contemplative time. To help you develop that, we will have our building open so you can come and pray in the Prayer Room or in the Worship Center, and walk the indoor labyrinth, which will be set up in the Recreation Center. There will be different invitations for prayer available each week. Come renew or grow your prayer habit.
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If you missed last week's service, from February 6th, here is the link to view it. | |
COVID POLICIES
We continue to care for you in these ways:
- extensive cleaning (especially in high traffic areas)
- encouraging masking and distancing
- being aware of your own symptoms – if you’re experiencing ones that are COVID related, we ask that you do not come into the building.
Also, when you come worship, please fill out the white visitor card in order to contact trace as well as for attendance. Thanks!
Through February, we will take Communion in our seats, not offer coffee fellowship or any meals. We hope to resume serving coffee on February 20th and get back to dinners and breakfast in March at the latest. We will still be offering worship in-person but are so thankful that Facebook live worship is available every week. We pray for the health and safety of everyone in our community!
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WELCOME TEAM VOLUNTEERS
FEBRUARY
We always encourage and appreciate volunteers for the Welcome Team to help out with parts of the worship service, like Soundboard/AudioVisual, greeter, welcome table, usher, tellers and coffee server. Please click here to open signup sheet of duties needed to be filled during the month of February. Anyone is invited to join the Welcome Team anytime!
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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.
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ADULT FAITH FORMATION
Pastor Heather is offering a four-week study on the book of Ephesians; one of Paul’s letters that encourages us to strengthen our identity in Christ. Since we will not be holding dinners during the month of February, this study will be offered virtually so anyone can join in. If you’d like to sign up, please contact the church office or Pastor Heather. You can also just join the conversation using this Zoom link. It’s not necessary, but if you’d like to order the book, please click here.
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WOMEN’S ‘PAINT & SIP’ EVENT
Fourteen women enjoyed a fun night out on Feb. 7th at Twisted Grounds Coffee House, where Shannon taught us how to paint a picture of Mt. Fuji, Japan. Some of us were not familiar with acrylics or brush techniques but quickly learned! It was a great time shared in conversation and fellowship. Watch the Weekly E-Mail Newsletter for future events Pastor Heather will be planning. Everyone is welcome (men too!) - the more the merrier!
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I’M STILL HERE: Black dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, Austin Channing Brown, Convergent, 2018
Join us for a discussion of this “eye-opening account of growing up black, Christian, and female that exposes how white America’s love affair with ‘diversity’ so often falls short of its ideals.” ( from Book jacket)
On the Sundays of March 6 and 13 immediately following the 9:30 a.m. service at New Life, feel free to attend one or both sessions. The discussions will be led by Iris Christenson and Kathy Michaelis.
The book is available from the Madison libraries (print & digital), Amazon ($9.93), or Room of One’s Own (E-book, $ 9.99).
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BIBLE STUDY GROUP and
NEW LIFE SATURDAY BOOK CLUB
The Bible Study Group that meets on Thursday mornings, led by Betty Sundbakken, has been meeting for discussions of a study on the book “Extraordinary Faith” by Sheila Walsh. This session of the group will run through mid-March. All are welcome to participate.
Also, the next meeting of the New Life Book Club led by Melanie Stepherson will take place on Saturday, March 5th. The group will discuss "Notes from a Blue Bike" by Tsh Oxenreider. In this book Tsh describes her family as they attempt to live a simpler, more intentional life.
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Stamping Group
Cheryll Steinke will lead a rubber stamping group on Valentine's Day, Monday, February 14th, from 6:30-8 pm in the Community Room. The group meets the second Monday evening of the month from fall to spring. Supplies are provided free. Come join in making some nice cards!
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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.
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Children & Youth Ministry | |
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New Life Kids
Join us during the 9:30 a.m. service for a children’s message and activity.
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High School Youth
See you on Sunday! We will start prepping the soup lunches at 8 am and end around 11 am. Following the fundraiser, we will have a Boundary Water trip informational meeting with pizza. So, bring your questions and appetite! Youths in 8th grade through 12th grade are invited on the trip.
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Skiing & Tubing Trip
Youth in Grades 6-12 are invited to go skiing or tubing at Cascade Mountain on Friday, February 25th from 10 am - 3 pm. We are also looking for a few adults to come along and help volunteer. Email Jessica if you are interested in going.
Family Movie Day
All ages are invited to join us for a family movie day on Sunday, March 6th from 3 pm - 6 pm.
We will be watching Encanto! Following the movie we will share pizza and popcorn and have a small discussion.
Have a Blessed Week!
Jessica Korrison
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Social Purpose Team is here for you
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).
And of course, if you would like to give to this fund, please submit checks with "Social Purpose Fund" in the memor or give online to that fund. Again, thank you for caring and sharing!
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WAYS TO PARTNER
We have established a partnership with the Nehemiah Center, which means that we will be looking for and offering ways for you to connect with their leadership in our area serving communities of color. As the months go along, we will highlight ways that you can personally and with your family grow this partnership alongside what we're doing as a congregation.
For the remainder of the month of February, we would like to help Nehemiah collect items for the Allied Wellness Center in support of the homeless population on the East Side of Madison. Please bring the following items in to church with you until Feb. 27th: small packages of paper towels, napkins or toilet paper. Thank you!
Other ways you and your family can partner: support black-owned businesses (click here for a list), visit www.lirs.org to support refugees, visit www.ldr.org to help with disaster response around the nation, or www.elca.org to find another way to give back to people in need.
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LANDSCAPING PROJECT
We are so excited to announce that we have received a $20,000 grant in order to revitalize our outdoor space! We will begin making plans and getting bids for the work shortly, so if you would like to join in that process, please contact Pastor Heather or Joe Milanese (joemilanese@gmail.com).
Stay tuned for some exciting plans!
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Prayers Rugs for new Afghan neighbors
In January, Common Threads members donated 10 handwoven prayer rugs to our newest Afghan neighbors who are waiting at Fort McCoy near Sparta, Wisconsin, to be resettled to a city somewhere in the US--perhaps Madison.
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While volunteering in the Legal Clinic at Fort McCoy, I learned that the Afghan guests who were attending full-day workshops about legal rights and responsibilities were sharing one prayer rug. This sometimes meant that 40 people had to share one rug! Thank you, Common Threads members. Your donation was much appreciated!
Iris Christenson
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LEAD Conference
Saturday, February 26, 2022
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (Middleton)
Welcome to our annual Leadership, Education and Development Day, “LEAD”! This year, our theme and keynote relates to John 15.11. We’ll talk about the complexity of joy in troubled times and how the currencies and gifts God has given us can nurture this joy. Pastor Julie Boleyn and James Fielder from Kaleidoscope Institute will be joining us as our keynote speakers. We will also have 24 workshops on a variety of topics that are relevant to all. So invite your staff, lay leaders and people that help your congregation thrive!
What Happens at LEAD?
- Worship – We will center ourselves and begin with worship!
- 24 workshops – you can attend up to 3!
- Ample time for connecting with people from other congregations is provided. Attendees reflect that talking to people from other congregations is one of the best things about LEAD!
- Displayers from Synod and Lutheran Affiliated Organizations will be there to share opportunities for shared ministry!
- This year, we will be receiving an offering for Refugee Resettlement. Please consider taking a special offering from your congregation to bring to LEAD and help support this great cause!
To register for LEAD complete an online registration including the selection of your preferred workshops. See the synod website link at
https://scsw-elca.org/lead2022/ for the full workshop descriptions.
Registration of $30 is open now through this Friday, February 11, 2022.
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Do You Like Breakfast?
(How about Wednesday Dinner?)
We'd like to restart serving "First Sunday" breakfasts again in March, as well as Wednesday dinners before Faith Formation. If you can help, it's easy, and you can get family, friends, or a group to help you! See the sign-up sheets by the kitchen serving window. We need volunteers for breakfast on March 6 and Wednesday dinners starting March 9. Thank you!
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Please Keep These People in Your Prayers
The family of Barb Olson, Donna Butler’s grandson Anthony, Boyd Fleming, Felicia Jones & family, Johnnie Jones, Michele Kiefer, Gail Kriel, the family of Dr. Russell Krebs, Trish Krueger, Hailey Lennberg, Laurie Neuendorf, Kishia Peters, Alvina Phillips, Vern Richmond, Jeremy Showers, Bobby Spridco, Bill Sterud, Darrick Thompson, Paul Volkmann, and Carolee Zick.
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 printer 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.
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This Sunday and Updates for the Week Ahead
February 13, 2022
8:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service
9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service
9:30 a.m. New Life Kids
"Soup-er Bowl" Fundraiser for Youth Ministry
Upcoming Schedule of Events This Week
Monday, February 14 - Valentine's Day
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Stamping Group (led by Cheryll Steinke) (Community Room)
Wednesday, February 16
6:15 p.m. Adult Faith Formation (led by Pastor Heather) (via Zoom meeting)
Thursday, February 17
9:00-11:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study (led by Betty Sundbakken) (Classroom A)
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 Peters MCF Band Practice (ReCreation Center)
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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
Nancy Schmidt, Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@newlifelc.com
Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager
shakiamturner@yahoo.com
Shane Peters, Custodian
ELCA South-Central Wisconsin Synod website:
https://scsw-elca.org/
New Life Church Council:
Iris Christenson
Brian Coel
Jim DePass
Rick Krueger
Joe Milanese, Vice President
Janice Newell, Secretary
Tom Olson
Shawn Peters
Linda Sime
MacKenzie Swanson
Jan Wilson
Ken Wundrow, Treasurer
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