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!

View last Sunday's 9:30 am service from Sunday, December 18 - click here.

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 are featured in the weekly newsletters on Wednesdays. Masks are optional but encouraged if people want to wear them.

WEDNESDAY DINNER AND ADVENT DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

You are invited to join others in the New Life community for dinner tonight , Dec. 21 at 5:30 pm. Thanks to Judy Goke, we will enjoy Chicken noodle soup (gluten free and regular), and Banana muffins (gluten free and regular). Then at 6:30 pm we'll gather in the Worship Center for an Advent Devotional Service, which will include portions of the worship acknowledging the Longest Night. Pastor Heather will lead us in this evening's service. Please make plans to join us if you can.

WE'VE GOT SOME UPCOMING EVENTS - "SAVE THE DATES!"

January has new opportunities coming up!

· December 31 — New Year's Eve - OFFICE CLOSED

· January 1, 2023 — New Year's Day - Worship in PJs

· January 2 — OFFICE CLOSED

· January 4 — Epiphany Party at 5:30 p.m.

· January 5 — Bible Study Group begins new series "Bad Girls of the Bible"

· January 10 — 4-week class "Yoga with Kathryn" begins

· January 11 — Adult Faith Formation begins

· January 16 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - OFFICE CLOSED

· January 29 — Annual Congregational Meeting at 10:30 a.m.

· January 30— American Red Cross Blood Drive here from 11 am - 6:30 pm

HAPPENING IN EARLY JANUARY...

NEW YEAR’S DAY PAJAMA WORSHIP

January 1^st is a Sunday and we will return to our regular worship schedule that morning. And since folks will have likely been up late the night before watching the ball drop let’s come to worship in our pajamas! Let’s start 2023 off with a wonderful morning with our church family. Special treats will be available that morning as well. Make plans to come at 8:15 or 9:30 am!

EPIPHANY PARTY

On Wednesday, January 4^th come join us for a fun night of White Elephant gifts, potluck supper, and helping to take the decorations down. We did this last year and had a blast, so come join in the fun again this year! We’ll gather for dinner at 5:30 pm and jump into undecorating at about 6:00 pm – then we’ll end our time with sharing some silly gifts! All are welcome!

DINNERS AND ADULT FAITH FORMATION IN JANUARY

Pastor Heather is very excited to get started on another Adult Bible Study in the New Year! With winter weather, however, we’ll spend these six weeks doing our study online together (we will also forgo dinner for this period of time). Starting Wednesday Jan. 11 at 6:15 pm we will dive into a wonderful study of the always-intriguing Book of Revelation. If you would like to get a copy of the book Pastor Heather will be using (which she would recommend), please find it HERE for $15. Please register for this class with the office to receive the Zoom link for the class. We hope you’ll plan to dive into this great study in the new year!

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS THE CHURCH DATABASE (Community Church Builder, or "CCB")

Curious about the church's database? Did you know you can enter and update your contact information and view your own giving profile? Follow this link with step-by-step directions provided by our church treasurer Ken.

YEAR-END GIVING

First of all, we are so thankful for all the ways you already financially support the ministry of St. Matthew New Life! We pray that you will continue to give in any way that you can, and potentially consider an additional end of the year gift. As we look forward to 2023 and beyond, we hope that you’ll help New Life end the year on a very strong note! There are also other ways to give: from your IRA (if you're over age 70 ½ ), stock appreciation transfer, or living will or trust giving. If you have questions about any of this, please let the office know and we can give you more information. Please remember that all year-end giving needs to be postmarked by Dec. 31! As always, this ministry only happens in and through you! Thank you!

Don’t forget our online option and automated giving! Just go to our Vanco page where you can log in to your account. Once you’ve logged in, it should take you to your giving detail. If you click “Edit” you can edit amount, frequency, and account. Once you've signed up to give electronically, please let the office know if you no longer need offering envelopes and we can have those discontinued for you.

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.

YOGA CLASSES START IN JANUARY

Daughter of the congregation, Kathryn Wundrow, has recently completed a 200-hour training to become a yoga instructor and would like to share this gift with the New Life community! All are welcome and any amount of experience is fine. There will be no cost, but a suggested donation will be collected and we ask that everyone bring their own yoga mat. Please NOTE: We have received UPDATED information that this will be a FOUR-WEEK CLASS held on Tuesdays from 6-7 pm beginning on JANUARY 10th (not 24th). Please register through the church office. 

Common Threads

Ginny Olson and Gail Kriel lead knitters and crocheters in the Common Threads group, to 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. To sign up and for info, email Ginny.

The group's next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 27th from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. at Ginny's studio.



Free prayer shawls are available at the church for anyone who would like one.

MISSION TRIP 2023 - Sarasota, FL

Trip Dates: Sunday, July 9th - Friday, July 14th

We will be spending the week in Sarasota Florida to bring relief and restoration to the victims of Hurricane Ian.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the informational meeting! The majority agreed that they would rather fly. I will continue to look into flights and as of the right now we still plan on the cost being around $300 - $500.

There are only 15 spots available for youth and chaperones. A $100 deposit is due at sign up.

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

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.

Other ways you and your family can partner: support black-owned businesses (click here for a list and for other ways you can help).

Again, thank you for caring and sharing!

One More Idea for the Holiday Gift Giving...you could donate towards the social purpose fund with a $50 Woodman's gift card and bring it to the church office.

COLLECTING COATS

New Life will be collecting coats in January to benefit the communities served by the Madison Area Jail Ministry and River Food Pantry. They are looking for winter coats of all sizes, especially men’s size large and extra large.

Look for a bin in the narthex on January 8th. We will be collecting through January 29th.

Thank you in advance for your donation!

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE JANUARY 30TH

New Life Church will be the venue for a Blood Drive of the American Red Cross on Monday, January 30, 2023. Mark your calendar to save the date! Times will be from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room.

The Red Cross North Central Blood Services Division of Sheboygan Ave. in Madison is hoping for about 20-25 blood donations. All donation appointments will be made through their website:

redcross.org/local/wisconsin/about-us/locations/southwest-chapter.html.

Please Keep These People in Your Prayers

Donna Butler’s grandson Anthony, Shaq Brown, the friends and family of Carolyn Dawson, Boyd Fleming, Terry Hines (Dave Kolmodin's cousin), Michele Kiefer, Dave Kohlwey's brother Neil, Gail Kriel, Patti Kolmodin, Vicki Landes, Hailey Lennberg, Annie O'Kane, Kathy Nelson's brother LaVerne, Stephanie Peck's grandfathers, Alvina Phillips, Trish Splettstoesser, Bobby Spridco, Cheryll & Bill Steinke, Bill Sterud, Russ & Shirley Theel's son-in-law Gil Franco, Grace Volkman, Jan Wilson's sister Pat, 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.

Christmas Services and Updates for this Week



CHRISTMAS EVE - Saturday, December 24

5 pm – a family-friendly worship with an impromptu Christmas Pageant and candlelight (glowsticks also available for children)

7 pm – a classic Christmas service with favorite songs and candlelight.

CHRISTMAS DAY is a Sunday, but we believe we will all want to be with our families that day, so please tune in to Facebook Live at 9:30 am for a special devotional message from Pastor Heather. (There will be no in-person worship at the church).

Schedule of Events This Week

Wednesday, December 21

5:30 p.m. — Dinner in Community Room

6:30 p.m. — Mini Advent Service "The Longest Night"

Thursday, December 22

9:00-11:00 a.m. - Bible Study Group (at Betty Sundbakken's house)

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Shawn's MCF Band practice (ReCreation Center)

Saturday, December 24 — CHRISTMAS EVE

3:00-4:30 p.m. — Contemporary Praise Worship Band Rehearsal (Worship Center)

5:00 p.m. — Family-Friendly Christmas Service with impromptu pageant

7:00 p.m. — Classic Candlelight Christmas Service

Sunday, December 25 — CHRISTMAS DAY

NO in-person worship - watch/listen to a Facebook Live Christmas Message from Pastor Heather at 9:30 a.m. on our Facebook Live page

Monday, December 26 — OFFICE CLOSED

Tuesday, December 27

9:30-11:30 a.m. — Common Threads (Ginny & Gail lead) at Ginny's studio

6:00-7:00 p.m. — Shawn & Jeff's "Shine" band practice (ReCreation Center)

Wednesday, December 28 — PASTOR HEATHER HAYWARD'S BIRTHDAY

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

Jessica Korrison, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

youtheducator@newlifelc.com

Kathy Scholl, Office Assistant/Newsletter

newlifelc@newlifelc.com

Mike Berchem, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@newlifelc.com

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

shakiamturner@yahoo.com

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