NEW LIFE CHURCH ELCA

WEEKLY E-MAIL NEWSLETTER

Sunday Worship Times:

Traditional Praise Worship 8:15 a.m.

Contemporary Praise 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

Join us on Facebook or YouTube / Join our email list here

Website: www.newlifelc.com

WORSHIP

Sunday March 19, 2023

This Week's message is

"The Blind See"

John 9:1-12, 35-41

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 view the service from March 12, 2023 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.

We are exploring the idea of reconciliation throughout the Lenten season on Wednesday evenings. We are excited to come back to sharing dinners together. Please join us tonight, Wednesday, March 15th at 5:30pm for soup, salad and dessert.

Thank you to the Olson and Hayward Families. Please consider providing items for these dinners by signing up! Then at 6:30pm, Pastor Heather will be leading an adult faith formation called “The Difference Course.”

Difference is a course that explores what it means to follow Jesus in a complex and divided world, seeing transformation through everyday encounters. Based on 2 Corinthians 5, we will spend five weeks looking at God’s call to be the kind of people who are a reconciling presence in the midst of a conflicted world. If you would like to join in this conversation, please plan to come any Wednesday during Lent!

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Thursday, April 6

We will again this year gather around a meal on the last night before the cross just as Jesus did with his friends. 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

Friday, April 7

This solemn holy night, we will gather for worship at 6:30pm (also 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

Sunday, April 9

This celebratory morning, you will have three opportunities to worship: 8:15am (traditional), 9:30am (live streamed), and 10:45am. Come celebrate all that God has done for us and lift your voices in song and thanksgiving!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WELCOME TEAM

We always encourage and appreciate volunteers for the Welcome Team to help out with parts of the worship service, such as greeter, welcome table, usher, tellers, coffee server and Communion helpers.

Here is the sign-up sheet for APRIL.

Here is a link to a sign-up genius form for the Communion/Altar Care shifts too.

Anyone is invited to join the Welcome Team at any time!

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 and go to our Vanco page, where you can log in to set up or access 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. Or as always, you can continue receiving envelopes and mail in your donations to New Life.

VANCO(Give Online)

CONNECTIONS

Ministry

Adult Ministry

MEN'S GROUP

The Men's Group will meet this Saturday, March 18th from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Please plan to join us!

WEEKEND SNACK PACK PROGRAM FOR KIDS

We helped pack bags for this wonderful program in the Monona Grove schools last November – and we are doing it again in March! The last session for Food Packing will be this Sunday, March 19th. Sign ups are full, but please feel free to join us to see the process if you would like. Packing events are on Sundays after second service. Thanks again to Nicole Hines and Vicki Schultz for heading up New Life’s involvement in this great program! If you’re unable to help with the packing, consider a gift to the Foundation at www.supportmgef.org Thanks!

WOMEN'S EVENT AT FIRED UP POTTERY!

Come join other women of faith from New Life and Hope Lutheran at a Women's Event coming up! Please join us this Sunday, March 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a fun evening at Fired Up Pottery. Cost will be dependent on what you choose to make, but in the range of $25-40. Contact Pastor Heather to sign up today!

Children & Youth Ministry

Sunday Morning

New Life Kids

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

High School eMerge students

On Sunday March 19th and April 2nd during Faith Formation we will be watching and discussing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Through fantasy this movie dives into family traditions, generational change and the rise and decline of global powers.

New Life Kids let's meet during Lent!

During Adult Faith Formation on Wednesday nights Jessica will be leading an activity for elementary aged kids. This week we are learning about the Good Samaritan.

New Life Church Easter Egg Hunt! Save the date for Saturday, April 8th at 11:00 a.m. Weather permitted it will be in the Labyrinth! If the weather is not cooperating we will move to the ReCreation Center. If you would like to help during the event let Jessica know!

Growing in Faith

Pastor Heather and Jessica 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.

Palm Sunday Breakfast

Our next Mission Trip Fundraiser will be serving breakfast on Palm Sunday. We are looking for families to donate savory and sweet bakes such as egg and French toast. Sides and drinks are needed as well! Let Jessica know if you can donate or help serve that morning.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE Wednesday, April 12

MISSION TRIP 2023 - Sarasota, FL

Who: Youth currently in grades 8-12

What: Partnering with Luther Springs and Lutheran Disaster

Response, we will work alongside those impacted by

Hurricane Ian, helping to clean up, repair and rebuild.

Where: Based out of Faith Lutheran Church, Sarasota, FL

When: Sunday, July 9th - Friday, July 14th, 2023

Registration can be completed here and the $100 deposits can be made by check or online. We are asking that the next payment of $200 be made by February 26th and the remaining balance due on April 30th.

Save the Date for Vacation Bible School!

Monday, August 14– Thurs., August 17 9am – 12pm

Preschool – 5^th grade kids will have a great week with their crew moving through the stations!
Middle & High School youth are invited to help lead groups or stations. Stations include music, drama, crafts, and games.

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

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

Throughout the pandemic, we have been able to help so many families in the community because of this fund. By the end of 2022, we have distributed close to $12,000 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!

DISCUSSIONS ON LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Join Pastor Heather – and some guest speakers! – for this discussion after second service in the Classroom on Sundays March 19, 26 and April 2. Along with our focus on the Stewardship of Space this year, we will also be learning more about the gift of this land. How do we recognize that God owns this land (and we don’t!) and that others have lived on this land for millions of years before we were here?

Sleep in Heavenly Peace-Madison

In our community, too many kids sleep on couches, blankets, with parents and even on floors. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a group of volunteers dedicated to building, assembling, and delivering bunk beds to these families. The Madison Chapter needs help: if you have strong computer skills, compassion for others, and/or a love of working with wood this is for you! The urgent need is for someone to send emails, release of liability forms, etc. to volunteers. They also need a Build Manager to order and keep track of lumber. Feel free to contact the Church Office or Judy Goke if you can help. If you are interested in participating in a 2-hour build, watch for upcoming dates announcements. But we will also be collecting Sheets & Pillows until the end of April! Please bring sets of plain colored (NO WHITE) twin bed sheets and standard size pillows to New Life. There will be a box in the entry way for these donations. For more information, please check out SHP’s website HERE

Please Keep These People in Your Prayers

Maggie Andres' daughter Kelli (medical treatments), Donna Butler’s grandson Anthony, Shaq Brown, Boyd Fleming, Jodi Franco and her daughter-in-law (medical issues), Raja Hassan's father (medical treatments), 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, the family of Stan's sister-in-law Melva Phillips, the family of Steve Rayments (friend of Jeff Lennberg), Trish Splettstoesser, Bobby Spridco, the family of Bob Schenk, Cheryll & Bill Steinke, Bill Sterud, Russ & Shirley Theel's son-in-law Gil Franco, family of 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.

This Sunday and Updates for this Week

March 19, 2023

8:15 a.m. Traditional Praise Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Contemporary Praise Worship Service

(also livestreamed on Facebook Live)

9:30 a.m. New Life Kids

10:30 a.m. Youth Faith Formation (Community Room)

5:00-7:00 p.m. Women's Event (with Hope Lutheran) Fired Up Pottery!

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 15

5:30-6:15 p.m. - Dinner (Soup, Salad & Dessert)

Thank you to the Olson and Hayward families!

6:30 p.m. - LENT "The Difference Course" - Adult Faith Formation

Thursday, March 16

9:00-11:00 a.m. - Bible Study Group (led by Betty Sundbakken) (Classroom A)

6:30-7:30 p.m. - Band Practice (WC)

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

Saturday, March 18

8:00-9:00 a.m. Men's Group (CA)

CONTACT

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

Pamela Durden, Office Manager/Newsletter

newlifelc@newlifelc.com

Mike Berchem, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@newlifelc.com

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

shakiamturner@yahoo.com

ELCA South-Central Wisconsin Synod website: