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Sunday, March 22, 2026

This Week's Message is:

“Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness”

John 8:2-11

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.

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP

The first week of April will bring us to the final steps of walking with Jesus to the cross, grave, and empty tomb! Please join us!

Maundy Thursday

April 2 at 6pm

This night we will gather around tables as Jesus did with his friends. We will also share a potluck dinner to begin this time together. Please let the church office know if you'd be able to help coordinate this!

Good Friday

April 3 at 6:30pm

Walk the final steps with Jesus to the cross. We share this as Good News even though it doesn't feel good. This will be a service of meditative awe as we contemplate all Jesus has done for us.

Easter Sunday

April 5 at 8, 9:30, and 10:45am

Come hear the best Good News ever - He is Risen! The early service is more traditional, while the second two are led by our band. Come celebrate!! There will also be breakfast in between services!

LENTEN WORSHIP

Come for the next two Wednesdays (March 18 & 25) at 6:30pm as we dive deeper into our theme of "Tell Me Something Good." We remember that the good news really is good news. We continue the conversation from Sundays, and share places where we are encountering the good news in our lives. We also share art, poems, and devotions from the materials offered from this series. Come to be reminded that the good news is alive in the world TONIGHT at 6:30pm.

MEN'S GROUP

The Men's Group will meet this coming Saturday, March 21st at the church from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Please plan to join us! All are welcome!

COMMON THREADS

Twice a month, our Common Threads ministry meets at Ginny Olson's studio to crochet, knit, or whatever fiber crafting you like! We make blankets to donate to the church, or you can work on your own project! The next gathering is Tuesday, March 24th at 9:30 am. The studio address is 2454 Gaston Rd, Cottage Grove, WI. 

NEW GALLERY INSTALLATION

We've enjoyed Gregg Schieve's photography for the first installation in our new gallery down the center hallway for several months - it's time for a new show! Come check out Iris Christenson's fabric art! Here's what she has to say about this show:

I’ve been a quilter and a photographer most of my life. In 2018, I discovered I could combine my love of photography and my love of fabric art to create hand-stitched art quilt paintings. Highlighting the beauty I see in the natural world is how I heal myself and communicate with others. A close-up photo of an orchid or a distant wide-angle image of a sunset provides me with all the inspiration I need to “paint” with thread, yarn, and beads. -- Iris Christenson

Contact me if you wish to purchase one of my art quilts with the matching photo: 608-239-6060

CARE TEAM RENEWAL

Thank you to those who were able to join in the conversation about renewing this Team last Sunday! If you would like to be a part of how we care for our partners who are in need through cards, visits, prayers, meals, or other needed services please be in touch with Pastor Heather. We've increased our office manager, Sarah's hours to assist this Team with their efforts. If you or someone you know is in need of any help, please let her know!

A NEW EARTH BOOK STUDY

Continuing this Sunday 3/22 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. Discover more about following Jesus! If you would like the video of March 8th's conversation, please reach out to the church office.

There is also an opportunity to discuss this material outside of Sunday mornings at church. This group will be meeting at church on Tuesday evenings at 6 pm. Feel free to bring your dinner with you!

UPDATE TO PRAYER ROOM SPACE

Did you know that we have a Prayer Room? We do! Down the hallway just before you go into the ReCreation Center. It exists for your personal prayer, for spiritual directors in the community, but also will be a new space for our Prayer Team to meet. We will be expanding into the other room, which means our bookkeeper's office will move into the front office to make room. By the end of March, please come and check out the new spaces our Prayer Team is creating! Thank you!

PRAYER ROOM OPEN HOUSE DURING HOLY WEEK

Along with this re-do of these spaces, we'd like to invite you during Holy Week to make a special effort to pray in this new space. Jean Hoover, the lead of our Prayer Team, will be available during the times listed below to share this new space with you, but also to pray with and for you. Come make this Holy Week centered in prayer! Come pray anytime within these hours:

Monday March 30^th  8:30 to 1 pm

Tuesday March 31^st   9:30 to 2 pm

Thursday April 2^nd  8:30 am to 6 pm

Friday April 3^rd      Noon to 6 pm

BRAT FEST Volunteer-Sign Up

The Volunteer sign up goes live April 4th at 10am. Sign up by going to: www.Bratfest.com.  This year we will receive $12 for every hour we volunteer. Shifts are available from May 18th to May 25th. Be sure to select St Matthew’s New Life as your charity. This year absolutely everyone has to sign up online with their own email address. If you want to volunteer but do not have an email contact Judy at 608.348.9057 or Sarah in the church office and we can help you. There are information sheets on the Sign Up table describing rules, shifts, parking, etc. This year the money we raise will go towards the Smiley Face Project!

NEW LIFE KIDS meets each Sunday at 8:50a in the ReCreation Center. This week, we will learn about Jesus's miracles through games!

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

SUMMER 2026 MISSION TRIP to Paducah, Kentucky

There is still space in the van to join us on our mission trip! We have 9 people already signed up to go! Come join us!

June 27-July 2

$300/person (transportation, lodging, and food included)

CarePortal UPDATE

New Life Church continues to support families in our community through the CarePortal ministry. Last week, we were able to fund gas and grocery gift cards in response to a request from Lighthouse Christian School. This support will make a meaningful difference for a single mother of four as she works hard to provide a stable home and care for her children.

If you’d like to learn more about CarePortal or are interested in joining the CarePortal team, please contact Nicole Hines at nicole.j.hines@gmail.com.

AZAD FAMILY FUNDRASING

Please consider helping Najib Azad reunite with his family members who are still trapped in Afghanistan and in danger because they worked with the US military for many years before the Taliban took over the country in 2021. His family members have approved Special Immigrant Visas but need help covering their costs to leave Afghanistan and travel to the US. The purpose of this fundraiser is to cover expenses for at least 6 family members.

Donations can be made by writing a check. The check should be made payable to: Focus Development Organization, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) and mailed or delivered to Iris Christenson at the following address: 5 Kiowa Ct., Madison, WI 53713. If you have any questions, call or text Iris: 1-608-239-6060. We know this family well since Najib and his wife, Sarwat, have given educational programs at New Life and Iris and her husband (Gregg) are their US sponsors.

ST MARK'S FOOD PANTRY

Thank you to all who have brought in donations for St Mark’s food pantry. Food insecurity continues in the Madison area. In a recent conversation with Mark Taylor, the pantry coordinator, he shared the number of individuals/families they helped from 2024 to 2025 doubled. Unfortunately, he sees this trend continuing in 2026. Although any donations of shelf stable food and personal items are welcome, these are the pantry's biggest needs: canned soups (especially chicken noodle),  diced tomatoes, canned fruits, canned vegetables (especially peas and peas/carrots), and pasta. Reusable, paper and plastic bags are also a continuing need. All donations can be placed on the table in the Community Room. 

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

Pam St. John

Cindy Cary

Lindsey Weber

Russ Theel

Shawn Peters

Micah Zielke

Don Skaar

Every Day Prayers

Shane Peters

Ken Wundrow

Barb Zimmerman

Dawn & Jim Melka

Condolences

The Family of Evelyn Jones (Kathy Statz's Sister-in-Law)

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

Uriah Reppert, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Shannon Erb

Jackie Jensen

Jeff Meicher

Louise Miller

Tom Olson

Shawn Peters

Derek Schuette