Sunday February 9th , 2025

This Week's Message is:

"Discipleship"

Luke 5:1-11

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 at the bottom of this email and photos are 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 February 2 click here.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

NO CLASS THIS WEEK. We will start up again, 6:30pm on Wednesday February 12th. Session 4: The Practices: Explore the spiritual practice of the Sabbath. Contact Kathy Michaelis to get the zoom link. Never too late to join us!

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 Sunday Feb 9th 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!

BOOK DISCUSION

Have you read Iris Christenson’s book “My Good Kind of Trouble: An Activists Memoir”? Iris talks about the many times she has come to the rescue of those who needed her, immigrants fleeing war torn countries, prostitutes who wanted to leave the life behind, children who wanted to visit their parents in prison, elderly who wanted to live independently as long as possible. She inspires us to do the same. She took the situations life brought before her and did what she was capable of doing. Iris inspires us to use situations God brings in our life to make a difference. Let’s get together and talk about her book. Iris will join us for our first discussion on February 16. On February 16 and 23 we will meet in the classroom after the second service. Please join us. If you have any questions contact Melanie Stepherson at Melanie.stepherson@gmail.com. Hope to see you there. 

WOMEN’S EVENT

Please join us at New Life Church on Thursday, February 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm for a casual get together with other women to discuss God’s love for us. (It IS the day before Valentine’s Day!) Please bring a friend and let Janice Newell (buckyshome6@yahoo.com) know if you will be attending so she has enough materials. We would like to organize more casual events for women. If you are interested in helping to plan these, bring your ideas and we’ll stay after this event to do some planning. I promise we’ll be done by 8:00!

DIAPER DRIVE

To celebrate Black History Month we will be collecting baby diapers for the month of February. Small packages of diapers will be donated to Nehemiah Center to benefit the community they serve. There will be a collection box in the entryway. Please no adult diapers. Thank you for your generosity!

BLOOD DRIVE

We collected 17 units of blood, saving 51 lives! Thanks to those who donated blood, volunteered at the drive, and brought items in to serve a light lunch. Together New Life members are making a difference! Mark your calendars for our next drive on June 27.

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! There is no New Life Kids this Sunday.

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. 

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

Dave Kolmodin prayers for radiation treatmens

Dave Kolmodin Son Paul on the loss of his foot to cancer

Patti Kolmodin has a pinched nerve in her back

Shirley Theel

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:

Jillene Fisch, President

Tom Olson, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Brian Coel

Shannon Erb

Deb Kohlwey

Louise Miller

Shawn Peters

Linda Sime

Russell Theel

Uriah Reppert