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 [email protected] or (608) 223-9337
Join us on Facebook or YouTube / Join our email list here
Website: www.newlifelc.com
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This Sunday's Sermon on the scripture of
"The Prodigal Son" - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
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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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If you missed last week's service from March 20th, here is a link to view it. | |
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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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As we come closer to the cross and empty tomb, please make plans to join us for that journey! There are many ways for you to go deeper with God in this season:
Prayer Spaces – we continue to encourage you to utilize the prayer spaces we have available – outdoor labyrinth, indoor labyrinth (in the ReCreation Center), the Prayer Room, and the Worship Center.
Lending Libraries – there are many books available and awaiting you! Take a look at the tables and bookshelves in the Community Room for your faith growth!
Wednesdays – come join us for a FREE community meal at 5:30pm, a brief devotional worship focused on the Biblical characters response to God of ‘Here I Am’ at 6:15pm, and Faith Formation for both youth and adults at 6:45pm.
All are welcome!
Sundays – our focus for messages on Sunday in this season is on everyday objects that God can use to remind us throughout the week of Jesus, God’s providing, and the Spirit’s power in our lives.
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MAUNDY THURSDAY
As Jesus gathered with his friends around a meal on the last night before the cross, so too will we! We will serve a free meal at 5:30pm, and then worship at 6:30pm will also take place around the Community Room tables. We will talk more about Communion – especially for our young people for whom this is a new experience! – serve each other and walk with Jesus to those final moments before his arrest. This will be a powerful, community-focused worship time – come join us!
GOOD FRIDAY
This solemn holy night, we will gather for worship at 6:30pm (it will also be live streamed on Facebook). As Jesus is betrayed and sent to the cross, we remember and thank God for the gift of forgiveness that is offered in this. Come sing, pray, and worship with us as we prepare for Easter morning.
EASTER
This celebratory morning, you will have three opportunities to worship: 8:15am (traditional), 9:30am (live streamed as well), and 10:45am. Come celebrate all that God has done for us and lift your voices in song and thanksgiving!
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Do You Like Breakfast?
(How about Wednesday Dinner?)
We're again serving "First Sunday" breakfasts, as well as Wednesday dinners before Faith Formation, which are from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Tonight's dinner will be hosted by Jean and Vickey Hoover. Thanks to folks who have signed up to serve meals. 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.
Enjoy food and fellowship together!
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COVID POLICY UPDATES
With Dane County’s mask mandate lifted, we want to let you know that we will still encourage masks, especially as we sing and come forward for Communion in worship. We want to encourage young families and the immunocompromised to feel safe in our building, so please consider that as you make your choice on mask-wearing.
As always, please be aware of your own symptoms – if you’re experiencing ones that are COVID related, we ask that you do not come into the building. And when you come worship, please fill out the white visitor card in order to contact trace as well as for attendance. Thanks!
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WELCOME TEAM VOLUNTEERS
MARCH
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 or on the graphic above to open the signup sheet for APRIL. 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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Information Sessions and Welcome Sunday
We will be welcoming new Community Partners on Sunday, April 3rd. If you or someone you know would like to know more about St. Matthew New Life Church, we will also have some Information Sessions on either Thursday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. OR Saturday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. Come to hear more about our ministries, events, and why we call you a partner and not a "member." On April 3, there will also be breakfast hosted by Rick & Trish Krueger and Lynn Wunderlin, so it would be a great day to invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to worship! Let's make it a fantastic celebratory day!
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Spring Women's Retreat
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
HOLY WISDOM MONASTERY
Pastor Heather is joining forces with a few other churches to offer this day away for women. As Mother’s Day approaches we want to acknowledge that that can be a complicated day – joy, yes…but also other emotions.
For more information and to register, please click here. Cost is $40 before April 1st ($50 after that).. All are welcome!
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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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Last Sunday our middle and high schoolers spent time at the Elizabeth House. We enjoyed lunch with the moms and children and then helped organize baby clothes in their care market. It was a great afternoon spent together! (View scenes below) | |
Sign up now for the Boundary Waters Canoe Trip! It is Sunday, July 17-Friday, July 22. For more information click here. | |
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)
Join us for farmin’ fun as we explore one simple Bible truth: Jesus will always love us! This year's Vacation Bible School will be Monday, Aug. 15 – Thursday, Aug. 18.
If you are interested in helping with VBS, please let Jessica know!
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GROWING IN FAITH
Pastor Heather and I are planning communion instructions during the Maundy Thursday service. This will be a great opportunity for those younger and newer to communion to join us.
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On May 22nd we will be celebrating Affirmation of Baptism. If there are any older high schoolers who are interested in becoming confirmed this year, let Jessica know. We will be gathering as a group three times before May 22nd. The first meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 3rd.
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LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE TO EASTERN EUROPEAN CRISIS
Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying our companions in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as such ecumenical partners as Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to the crisis. These partners provide refugees with support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits. See more information, including how to make a donation, at: community.elca.org/eastern-europe-crisis-response.
And just one more way to support efforts for Ukraine:
Support Ukraine Fundraiser
Shawn Peters' band, Mad City Funk, will donate 100% of all proceeds from their portion of the ticket sales to Razom for Ukraine (a Ukraine Crisis Fund).
Come and get your Funk on and help us tell Russia to:
GET THE FUNK OUT OF UKRAINE!
When: March 26, 2022
Where: The Bur Oak
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket Price: $15 at the door or $12 advanced ticket sale.
Wear Blue and Yellow or a Sun Flower to show Solidarity to Ukraine.
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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. We will highlight ways that you can personally and with your family grow this partnership alongside what we're doing as a congregation.
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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ORDER EASTER FLOWERS
We are offering the opportunity for you to order a flower for Easter that will help decorate the altar stage for Easter services.
We'll be placing one master order with Felly's Flowers, to be delivered to the church at the same time a couple of days before Easter.
For $14 you can choose either a single Lily plant or a bulb plant (which will be selected at random). The deadline for you to submit your order and get payment to us will be Sunday, March 27th.
There are a few ways for you to order: 1) Click here or on the graphic above for the Google.doc sign-up form; 2) Contact the church office; or, 3) Sign up on the hard copy sheet on the Welcome Table. You can either write a check for $14 to New Life Church or go to the Vanco page and complete the form.
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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, is in a Lenten Study this Thursday, meeting for discussions of a study on the book “He Chose the Nails” by Max Lucado. This session of the group will run through April 21st (off on Maundy Thursday). All are welcome to participate.
Also, the New Life Book Club that is led by Melanie Stepherson, will meet next in April, on the second Saturday of the month now (which in April will be the 9th) from 9-11:30 a.m. in the Community Room. The book that the group will be discussing is "Woman of Flames" by Kim Stokely.
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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.
Please NOTE: the session from March 22nd has been rescheduled for the 29th instead, at the same time Tuesday evening (6:30-8:30 p.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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NEW LIFE CHURCH GOLFERS
Beginning Thursday, May 19th Door Creek Golf Course has agreed to give us a standard tee time of Thursdays at 5:36 pm. The weekly reservation runs through August 25th. We have four golfers who have committed, and we also have a list of names of others who are interested when one of us cannot make it. Anyone is welcome to join in. This year, Verne will be scheduling the foursomes two weeks in advance to ensure we can keep our tee time a full foursome. If you are interested in playing golf please let the church office and Verne Scholl or David Hayward know, and you will receive timely communication on golfing opportunities that come up. We use no formalized selection, other than send the interested group email request out, and the first one to respond with a “yes” is in for that week.
This year, the golfing fees are: Walking $19.00, Riding $29.00 (based on a double occupancy cart) Any players requesting a single rider cart for Covid reasons will be charged an additional $15.00.
Hopefully again this year, Door Creek will allow us to rotate between nines, so we are not seeing the same holes every week.
With that said – we are not a league. We are a community of faith and play for enjoyment, realizing the game of golf can be enjoyable no matter what skill levels we possess.
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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, Trish Krueger, Vicki Landes, Hailey Lennberg, Laurie Neuendorf, Ginny Olson, Alvina Phillips, Vern Richmond, Jeremy Showers, Bobby Spridco, Bill Sterud, Darrick Thompson, 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
March 27, 2022
8:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service
9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service
9:30 a.m. New Life Kids
10:30 a.m. Youth team leaders meeting
Upcoming Schedule of Events This Week
Wednesday, March 23
5:30-6:15 p.m. Dinner (Community Room), hosted by Jean and Vickey Hoover
6:15-6:45 p.m. Worship Service (Worship Center)
6:45-8:00 p.m. Youth Faith Formation (Classroom A)
and Adult Faith Formation (Community Room)
Thursday, March 24
9:00-11:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study (5-week Lenten Study), led by Betty Sundbakken
6:30-7:30 p.m. Information Session for new Community Partners (Community Room)
7:00-8:30 p.m. Shawn Peters MCF Band (corner of ReCreation Center)
Saturday, March 25
9:00-10:00 a.m. Praise Band Rehearsal (Worship Center)
10:30-11:30 a.m. Information Session for new Community Partners (Community Room)
Tuesday, March 29
9:30-11:00 a.m. Common Threads (as rescheduled from 3/22) (Ginny's Studio)
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Office hours are Monday through Thursday. Please feel free to contact staff members of New Life by email at [email protected] or by calling the office at 608-223-9337. Contacts are listed here.
New Life Staff:
Rev. Heather Hayward, Pastor
[email protected]
Jessica Korrison, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator
[email protected]
Kathy Scholl, Office Assistant/Newsletter
[email protected]
Nancy Schmidt, Bookkeeper
[email protected]
Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager
[email protected]
Shane Peters, Custodian
ELCA South-Central Wisconsin Synod website:
https://scsw-elca.org/
New Life Church Council:
Iris Christenson, Secretary
Brian Coel, Vice-President
Jim DePass
Rick Krueger
Joe Milanese
Janice Newell, President
Tom Olson
Shawn Peters
Linda Sime
MacKenzie Swanson
Jan Wilson
Ken Wundrow, Treasurer
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