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!

To watch last Sunday's 9:30 am service from Sunday, August 28th, here is a link to view it.

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 optional but encouraged if people would like to wear them.

GREEN CARD CELEBRATION THIS SUNDAY, September 4th!

Please share in the celebration of Raja Hassan's approved green card status by wearing green on Sunday, September 4th. A light reception will follow both services including sparkling cider for a toast! Both Raja and Kathy would like to thank their New Life Church family for all the prayers and support they have received over the years while enduring the immigration process.

SUNDAY FALL KICKOFF

As schools head back, we also feel the renewal of getting back to a worship habit – so let’s kick it off well! On Sunday, September 11, come for community breakfast served all morning, provided by our Church Council! And then after the 9:30am service, we’ll also have games and fun activities for all ages. Come and join us – invite friends and neighbors to join in too!

WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY GATHERINGS

Come join us on Wednesdays this fall! We will kick things off on September 7 with a church-provided dinner at 5:30 pm! Pastor Heather will then introduce the Adult Faith Formation topic (see more about this in the article on Prayer) at 6:30pm. Please come for both or just for the formation conversation – whatever works best in your schedule. The group gathered for dinner that night will discuss future dinner options (potluck, bring-your-own, or sign ups). Thanks to an anonymous donation, we now have a new air fryer to use if it would make it easier for you to prepare a meal! Come spend time with your New Life family this fall!

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.

COME PRAY WITH NEW LIFE



Beginning this fall, join your fellow faithful companions in an exploration of the most basic aspect of our faith lives: PRAYER. Prayer is actually, surprisingly, pretty much the most important thing in life. When we’re stripped away from everything else, the deepest thing we have in life is prayer – our connection to God and each other. This is the most basic conversation we can have individually and as a community. We’re called to learn and practice this amazing gift and you can choose your course of study:

Prayer 101

On Sundays starting on September 18, Pastor Heather's  focus will be on an aspect of the Lord’s Prayer for us to contemplate together. The hope (and prayer 😊) is that this will be something that enhances or begins your prayer life.

Prayer 201

If you want to go deeper on these aspects of the Lord’s Prayer, come on Wednesday nights starting on September 7 for Adult Faith Formation to invest your time in The Prayer Course. This is a wonderful video-based small group discussion about prayer. This will be offered in-person only unless community health becomes a concern – but switching to online would be easily done. We will begin with an introduction to this nine-week study on Sept. 7 - please sign up by contacting the church office or Pastor Heather directly.

Prayer 301

If you really want to dive into the reading that Pastor Heather has been doing to prepare for this conversation, she invites you to read two books by Pete Greig: “how to pray: a simple guide for normal people” and “how to hear God: a simple guide for normal people.”  They can be ordered here: https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/how-to-pray-book/.

The best gift Jesus gave his disciples was the gift of Prayer – let’s join in this vital conversation and go deeper with our prayer lives.

New Life Kids

Join us during the 9:30 a.m. service for a children’s message.

THANK YOU! To all who participated and volunteered during VBS! It was a wonderful week learning that Jesus Will Always Love Us (He's My Friend!). We had fun during Bible Adventures, Hog Wild Games, Project with a Purpose, Moo-sic & More and Farm Field Trips! 

If you are interested or want more information on any of the activities, feel free to reach out to Jessica Korrison.

MEET NEW LIFE CHURCH'S NEW BOOKKEEPER, MIKE BERCHEM

My name is Mike Berchem. I will be stepping in for Nancy Schmidt in Bookkeeping, assisting Ken Wundrow. 

I am a lifelong resident of Dane County. I have been in the Accounting/Bookkeeping field for more than 20 years, working for various accounting firms and businesses in the area, including my own.  During that same period I have also driven a variety of commercial vehicles on a part time basis, some of which include semi, school bus, and although not a commercial vehicle, Zamboni. Having had enough of office life full time, I now drive full time hauling mail to southwest Wisconsin and will stay active in bookkeeping on a part-time basis. I am among the few whose favorite season is winter, enjoying downhill skiing, watching ice hockey and cooking up something good in the slow cooker. I look forward to helping Ken and hope that I can maintain the excellent work Nancy did for New Life Church.  

NEW SPEAKER SERIES THIS FALL

Our Social Purpose Team wants to invite you to a speaker series on the important topics of immigration and refugees. Each conversation will be held after the 9:30 am service on September 18, 25, and October 2. These times will allow an individual to share their unique immigration story as well as offer some time for conversation. Come learn more and spread the word!

HWY BB CONSTRUCTION

Cottage Grove Road is under some construction. The road will not be closed (perhaps temporarily, but traffic will still be allowed through), but expect delays in getting to church. We’ll have a nice new road when it’s done by the end of September! For more info, click on the link below.

https://highway-projects-countyofdane.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cth-bb

FALL CONTEMPLATIVE RETREAT FOR EVERYONE!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 FROM 9a-3p AT HOLY WISDOM

Pastor Heather along with Chris Roberts, local pastor and spiritual director, will be leading a Men's and Women's Retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Come enjoy some personal reflection time along with group conversation about listening for God's voice. Sign up will be available next week. Cost is $45 until Sept. 23rd and includes lunch and program materials.

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

Throughout the pandemic, we have been able to help so many families in the community because of this fund. Most recently, due to inflation especially at the gas pump, we have distributed almost $2000 in much-needed gift cards. 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).

Also, because of these increased needs, 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. Again, thank you for caring and sharing!

BIBLE STUDY GROUP and

NEW LIFE SATURDAY BOOK CLUB

The Bible Study Group that meets on Thursday mornings, led by Betty Sundbakken, will begin again this fall, with their first meeting on Thursday, September 8th, from 9-11 a.m. in Classroom A. All are welcome to participate!

Also, the New Life Book Club that is led by Melanie Stepherson, will meet next in September, on the second Saturday of the month (Sep. 10) from

9-11:30 a.m. in Classroom A. For more info on the topic, contact Melanie.

Stamping Group

Monday, September 12 - 6:30 p.m.

On the second Monday of the month, New Life Church hosts a rubber stamping group in the Community Room. The group will start back up again for the fall season, beginning on September 12th. We make beautifully designed and crafted greeting cards. All are welcome to join in this fun evening of stamping and fellowship. Contact leader Cheryll Steinke if you have any questions.

Please Keep These People in Your Prayers

Donna Butler’s grandson Anthony, Boyd Fleming, Terry Hines (Dave Kolmodin's cousin), Michele Kiefer, Dave Kohlwey's brother Neil, Gail Kriel, Patti Kolmodin, Vicki Landes, Hailey Lennberg, Jeff Lennberg, Joyce Lindquist (Wayne Meyer's sister), Laurie Neuendorf, Alvina Phillips, George & Deb Reed, Vern Richmond, Jeremy Showers, Trish Splettstoesser, Bobby Spridco, Bill Sterud, Russ & Shirley Theel's son-in-law Gil Franco, Carolee Zick, and Barb Zimmerman.

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 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.

This Sunday and Updates for this Week

September 4, 2022

8:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service

(also livestreamed on Facebook Live)

Wear the color GREEN to celebrate Raja!

Upcoming Schedule of Events This Week

Thursday, September 1

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Shawn’s MCF Band practice

Saturday, September 3

9:00-10:00 a.m. — Praise Band rehearsal (Worship Center)

Sunday, September 4

8:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Praise Band Worship Service (also livestreamed on Facebook Live)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 - LABOR DAY (OFFICE CLOSED) 

Wednesday, September 7

5:30 p.m. — Dinner (bring something sweet or savory)

6:30 p.m. — Adult Faith Formation begins   

Thursday, September 8

9:00-11:00 a.m. — Women's Bible Study (led by Betty Sundbakken) (Classroom A) 

6:30-7:30 p.m. — Praise Band Rehearsal (Worship Center) 

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Shawn’s MCF Band practice

Saturday, September 10

9:30-11:30 a.m. — New Life Book Club (led by Melanie Stepherson) (Classroom A)             

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]

Mike Berchem, Bookkeeper

[email protected]

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

[email protected]

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