Sunday April 27, 2025

This Week's Message is:

"We are Witnesses"

John 20:19-31

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 Sundays Service click here.

Here is a link to our Good Friday service

Here is a link to the 10:45am Easter Service

SPIRITUAL RESOURCE TEAM WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

This team is charged with inspiring this community to give our whole selves - time, talent, and treasure - to the work of God's Kingdom. In planning for our financial future, we want to hear your dreams for St. Matthew's New Life - what does this community look like in 5 years...10 years? In worship on May 4, we will ponder these questions and then members of this team will be in the Community Room to talk further after both worship services. Come lend your voice and opinion to this discussion!

SPRING CLEAN UP

We have scheduled the Spring Clean Up Day for Saturday, April 26th from 9am-noon. Please contact Micah Zielke or sign up at the welcome table if you are able to participate in the work day. Many hands make light work, and these events help build relationships while honoring our property with good stewardship. Thanks for all the ways you help us care for what God has given!

NEW ADULT FAITH FORMATION AFTER EASTER

Join us on April 27th and May 4th in the classroom at 11am for a two-part workshop focused on improving communication through a Christ-centered approach. Led by Heather Strand a mindset fitness coach, these sessions will provide practical tools to help us listen with grace, speak with love, and build stronger relationships within our families, church, and daily lives. Let’s grow together in faith and understanding!

SUPER SALE

Super Sale is only 3 months away! If you have any interest in this phenomenal event, join our initial planning meeting on Sunday April 27 at 9am, in Classroom A. Bring questions, suggestions, and a willing heart. The sale is July 24-26. Watch for drop-off dates starting in June! 

WELCOME SUNDAY

At both services on Sunday May 4, we will be welcoming new community partners. If you would like to know more about New Life and being a part of this community, please contact Pastor Heather. She will also host two information sessions about this community and our ministries on Thursday May 1 at 6:30pm or Saturday May 3 at 10:30am. You can come to either session. Please let us know your interest! Shepherds will be needed for these new families – let Pastor Heather know you’d like to serve as a Shepherd for this group of new people!

WOMEN'S GROUP SERVICE EVENT

On Monday May 5th, 9:00-12:00, the New Life Women's Group will be volunteering at Babies & Beyond (1922 S Stoughton Road). The work involves sorting and organizing donations of clothing and diapers. Hope to reward ourselves with lunch afterwards. We have seven signed up so far - plenty of room for more. Contact Kathy Michaelis ksmichaelis@gmail.com

SABBATICAL UPDATE

Pastor Heather and the Sabbatical team chose to split up her sabbatical into two six-week leaves instead of one three-month leave. So her next time on sabbatical is coming up - May 19 through June 30. During this time we will have wonderful preachers, Sabbath activities as a community, and be praying for her experience in Paris with her mother and daughter. She will also be visiting Taize, the worship community that inspired our Lenten Wednesday worship. And stay tuned for some fun plans when Pastor Heather returns as well! Keep those Sabbath practices pictures coming too!

GOLF GROUP

NLC Golf begins on Thursday, May 22nd with the last week of play on Thursday, August 21. There will be no scheduled play on Thusday, July 3rd for the holiday celebration. Tee Times are 5:20 PM & 5:28 PM each week, rotating between the front and back nine.  I schedule two weeks out to ensure we know who is playing, so all can be prepared.We currently have room for one more full-time golfer and could always add more to the sub list, to cover for vacations and travels for the regulars. If anyone is interested they can reach out to Verne Scholl, David Hayward, or the church office.

OFFICE HELP NEEDED

Liz, our Office Manager, will be on vacation on July 2nd-3rd and 7th-8th and she is looking for some help in the office from the hours of 8:30am to noon on those dates. We'd ask you to answer phones, collect mail from the mailbox and check for urgent emails. Please email Liz if you are available and can help; she will train you and give you all the information you'd need.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - MAY 18!

Please celebrate with us:

Senior Send-off and Affirmation of Faith!

Baptisms!

Last day of New Life Kids!

If you have a senior who would like to affirm their faith or you are interested in knowing more about baptism, please reach out to Ashley Reinke or Pastor Heather.

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 know and take a look at the sign up sheet.

NEW LIFE TEENS!

We are hoping to get the middle and high school programming up and running as soon as possible! Please complete this survey if you have a middle or high schooler

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! This week, they will be learning about the life of Jesus through the movie "The Miracle Maker"

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.

CARE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS?

If you have been wondering what you can do to show your support for immigrants and their loved ones, you may want to join others who are planning to participate in a rally organized by VOCES de la Frontera which is being held in Madison on May 2^{nd at 3pm}. The rally will be an opportunity to show your support and learn about the current struggles faced by our immigrant neighbors. If you have questions about the rally, contact Iris Christenson via text 608-239-6060. 

CARE PORTAL

Calling all those volunteers that are interested in our new ministry, CarePortal!

What: CarePortal + New Life Church

When: May 7, 6:30-7:30pm

Where: New Life Church

Join Nick Ertz, Madison CarePortal Coordinator, for a more in-depth conversation about what CarePortal is, ways to be involved, get your questions answered, and be part of the conversation about how this ministry will work at New Life Church. Also mark your calendars for May 28 from 6:30-8:30 at New Life Church for those CarePortal volunteers that would like the opportunity to interact directly with recipients of our ministry work. We'll complete a required training together. Remember, this training is only required for those that want to be recipient-facing. 

ST MARK'S FOOD PANTRY

The generosity of our congregation continues. Ed and I have been making deliveries to St Mark’s food pantry every 3 to 4 weeks since last fall. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry. Although any donations of shelf stable food are welcome, with the anticipated warmer temperatures, the requests for condiments, especially ketchup, mustard, hot sauce and barbecue sauce, increase. Donations can be placed on the table in the community room. Their need for plastic, paper and reusable bags is ongoing and they too 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 keep confidential to her and our financial officers (treasurer and bookkeeper).

Prayers needed for

Hospitalized, Injured, Ill or Medical Prayers



Jean Krebs, Ann Krebs Byrne's mother

Shirley Theel

Arielle and her family

Terry Phillips

Jean and Vickie Hoover

Don Skaar

Every Day Prayers

Connie Losse

Russ Theel

Barb Zimmerman

Condolences

Terry and Wayne Phillips- Passing of Stan Phillips

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

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

Linda Sime, Vice President

Tom Olson, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Brian Coel

Shannon Erb

Deb Kohlwey

Louise Miller

Shawn Peters

Uriah Reppert

Russell Theel