Messiah Weekly News
April 14 - April 20, 2025
2025 Saturday worship server schedule
2025 Early Sunday worship server schedule
2025 Late Sunday worship server schedule
New Information or Upcoming Events
Fund Drive for Goodman Center Thanksgiving Baskets
Updated end date is Easter Sunday
Thank you to all who donated to the purchase of foil pans for the Goodman Center’s Thanksgiving Meal Baskets. Approximately $6,400 has been raised as of Good Friday.
The Messiah Community is so very generous and proclaims its mission through its actions!
Messiah's Spring Work Day
Thank you to everyone who came on the Work Day and made our property beautiful (inside and outside) for the summer season.
Karen Dale, Paula Darr, Doug Hennick, Karen Hinickle, Don Imhoff and his grandson, Carol Moore, John Nerad, Dawn Olson, Becky Skibo, Clyde Tunak, Jeff Vanden Heuvel, Paul Vanderbloemen, Kelli Weisinger
Loving Jesus Book Study
The Women's Ministry hosted a book study on Loving Jesus by Mark Allan Powell. 12 people joined our weekly meetings for 6 weeks on Thursdays and 3 people read the book independently. Each week we read a few chapters to be ready to take on a variety of questions. We went off on glorious tangents in conversations facilitated by Renee Kiel, a retired pastor and Messiah member.
In addition to discussing what it means to live as someone who loves Jesus in today’s world, we shared ideas for growing in our faith, we explored various ELCA teachings, we recommended books and devotionals to each other, we ate delicious food and fostered friendships in which we felt comfortable expressing our questions and doubts, joys and worries.
Watch the Weekly News for future opportunities. If you are not already a member of the Women's Ministry group, ask to be added! That is the easiest way to get information.
Navigating Grief
Purpose: to share your grief story; draw on your inner wisdom and that of others in the group; learn how to navigate through grief with resilience and self-compassion. In order to maintain an intimate gathering, group will be capped at 10 participants. Facilitator will contact you by phone prior to the start of group.
Cost:
The cost to hold this program is $40 per person. We invite you to consider what would be a gift for you and the facilitators when making payment for the program. We do not want your ability to pay to be a barrier to participation.
Payment to be received first day of the group or during the intake call via cash, check or Venmo.
Susan Shands and Ann Walsvik are co-facilitators
For information email: kindlesouldelight@gmail.com
Ann is a gentle healing listener with a spiritually grounded presence. She is gifted at creating a warm, welcome space to explore the complexities of one’s life with curiosity, compassion and hope.
As a Spiritual Director, Ann is a listening presence who is intentionally present to your life story and invites attentiveness to the wisdom within for spiritual well-being and wholeness.
Ann has experience as a Spiritual & Grief Counselor in hospice, working with bereaved individually and as a facilitator of grief support groups. She is certified as a Grief Support Companion through the program: Honoring Grief, Intending to Heal.
Ann is a Spiritual Director through the Franciscan Spirituality Center of La crosse, WI. She graduated from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA in 2015 with an MDiv, was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and served one congregational call and as a hospice chaplain. Ann has provided pastoral care and chaplaincy support and is an officiate for celebration of life, memorial burial, and funeral rituals.
Annual Day of Prayer
Every First Thursday in May, all over our country, communities of all faith traditions are invited to pray for all people. It was created in 1952 to unite people from all socio-economic, political, and ethnic backgrounds in prayer.
The Annual Day of Prayer is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens all over the country to humbly come before their God and seek guidance in prayer.
Volunteers in Prayer
At Messiah, we hope to have at least one person here in prayer during the vigil of 6:00 am-10:00 pm.
Please contact Clyde Nyhus at (608) 516-4926, or email music@messiahchurch.com with any questions.
If you would like to sign up but are not able to get to Messiah, please call the church office (beginning on Tuesday, April 8) and Judy will put your name in the time slot you request.
July 26 - 9:00 am
Women’s Self-Defense class opportunity being offered HERE at Messiah!
Saturday, July 26, 2025 starting at 9:00am
Instructors: Brad and Sue Meng. Brad has 40+ years of Martial Arts experience, 25 years of Law Enforcement experience and has been teaching this course, with Sue’s assistance, for almost 20 years.
Please see the Kiosk in the Gathering Space for a flyer and contact Sue at smeng100@hotmail.com with questions and for registration.
Prayer Shawls and Cards Received by Christ the Shepherd
Christ the Shepherd has received the two boxes of prayer shawls and cards from the Messiah community. Thank you to everyone for all for the parts played in providing the encouragement to reach out to this congregation in need. Below is a thank you from Pastor Harrison:
We received the boxes with the prayer shawls and cards. They are beautiful. Thank you so much for all the kind prayers, wishes and thoughtful gifts and cards. We are having the final session of our annual congregational meeting this Sunday after service. We will present these and the cards to the families. I will take a few photos with their permission of course, and share with you.
Habitat for Humanity Information-Make sure you are on the email list!
People who participated with Messiah in a Habitat for Humanity project from 2011-2024 received an email asking if they want to continue to receive information.
If you did not receive an email and want to be included, please reach out to Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.comor call/text 608-235-6910.
As opportunities come up, we will put an email out to this group. There is nothing planned at this point.
Boomerang Bag Group needs Volunteers - You don't have to sew
Can you sew? Would you like to make bags? Join us!
We sew at home instead of bringing our machines to the monthly work party, so nothing heavy to haul.
Can't sew? You can help with some of these tasks instead:
Shop for us!
- Purchase and donate sewing thread (preferably cotton or cotton/poly blend)
- Shop thrift stores and purchase white, ivory and pastel sheets and pillowcases, then launder and iron them for use as pockets
Come to a monthly work party to:
- Cut fabric for bags and pockets. Bring your cutting mat & rotary cutter if you have them, or come anyway and use somebody else's
- Help sort fabric donations, then take them home to launder and iron
- Bring an iron and ironing board and iron whatever needs ironing
Any way you can help will be greatly appreciated!!
Men's Morning Bible Study - The Gospel of John - Wednesdays at 7:00 - 8:00 am - Led by Ray Robinson
Wednesdays - March 12th - May 28th
The bible study will meet on Wednesdays at 7:00am in the Meeting Room. Coffee is served.
Beginning in June the Men's bible study group will be moving on to the Gospel of Matthew. This would be a good time to join the group. There are about 15 men who meet weekly.
Contact Ray if you are interested in joining the group.
Ray Robinson
My name is Ray Robinson and I have been a member of Messiah for about 20 years. I am a retired Southern Baptist minister and recently retired from the field of Education after 45 years.
Over the past year the Lord has laid on my heart that I should facilitate an Adult Men’s Bible Study here at Messiah.
Worship and Prayer Ministry
Some Messiah members participating in a Lenten retreat at Holy Wisdom recommend checking out Barbara Holmes’ book Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church (2nd edition).
The leader of the retreat (Pam Shellberg) felt it was the best book she read for her spiritual guidance program for insight into a different way to pray: the physicality of prayer yielding a divine encounter that emerged out of a unity of experience in Africa and America (slavery, systemic racism).
Worship Schedules are always available!
The schedules are also always posted at the top of the weekly news on the Messiah website. Please check them on April 16th if you do not get an email from Elizabeth by then.
It is possible that your email is starting to see emails from REALM as spam. One solution is to check your spam folder for any REALM emails and slide them into your email so they get delivered. You should also add notifications@onrealmmail.org to your address book.
Please contact Judy in the office for help if you cannot solve it the above way.
Children, Youth and Family Ministry
Sunday, April 27th: First Communion at the 10:30 Service. The Sunday school students will be singing at the beginning of the 10:30 service to help their classmates celebrate! Please have your child in the Community Room at 10:15 for a brief rehearsal. They will be walked into church to sing at the beginning of the service and then you can pick them up in the Community Room immediately following the singing. There is no lesson this day.
Thank you so much for a wonderful year! Please reach out to
cfm@messiahchurch.com if you have any questions or are interested in joining our teaching or music teams next year!
Nursery Hours - 8:00 - 9:20am and 10:15 - 11:35am
Every Sunday unless specified. If nursery is cancelled for any reason there will be a sign on the church door.
No nursery Mother’s Day May 11
No nursery June 29
If the nursery is not open, you may still use the space during services. The service can be streamed on the screen in the nursery room. Please wash any toys that become soiled-there are wipes in the cabinet. Thank you!
Adult Ministry
Martin Luther, The Reformation, and Lutheran Heritage
Dates: April 27, May 18
Time: 9:20 - 10:20 in the Social Hall
April 27 - Session 3: Information is coming
Adult Education Webpage
Click on the button "Adult Education more information" to get to the Adult Education Webpage. There is information about the Liturgical Year and information about Martin Luther and the Reformation under the "Formation", "Adult Education" dropdown on the website.
Contact Person - Rich Valenta - richfsi@gmail.com and
Pastor Dan - pastordan@messiahchurch.com
Women's Ministry
Below are opportunities to gather with other Messiah women and their friends.
These opportunities are sponsored by the Women's Ministry.
At our April Ladies Lunch Bunch
we collected $145.00
for Bernie Hartwig's Clothes for Kids
Ladies Lunch Bunch
Wednesday, May 14th at 11:30
at Norske Nook
100 E Holum St, DeForest, WI
If you have any questions please contact Claire Gensch at (920) 319-6731 or
Mary Kedzie at 608-716-4600
Michelle Jolly
Women's Wellness Retreat - God's Wellness Plan
Saturday April, 26th - 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Presenter - Michelle Jolly, Healthy Horizons Health Coaching
Deadline for registration on the Kiosk or to Elizabeth is extended to April 19th.
Women often feel overwhelmed with life and get discouraged about self and ability, which makes it hard to prioritize connecting with God and fitting in all the healthy habits we know we “should” have in our life.
God's Wellness Plan empowers us to integrate healthy habits and Christian faith into daily life through multiple areas of wellness for mind, body and soul.
This morning retreat will help you find at least one or two new ways to bring health and wellness into your life.
There will be learning, community building and activity time with a healthy snack and optional light movement. A short assessment in the beginning will give you ideas of what you want to work on at the retreat and after.
Sign up on the kiosk or contact Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.com or 608-235-6910 to register for the event.
The event is free. We will ask for an optional free-will donation. All women of Messiah and their friends are welcome!
Michelle is looking for a few volunteers to follow some recipes and make some healthy treats.
Senior Adult Ministry
Wednesday, April 30th
Michael Hecht will present “A Gentle Talk about Alzheimer’s” giving 1-15 practical suggestions for caregivers, friends and family. Michael Hecht is a 25 years and ongoing Skaalen Retirement Dementia Specialist.
Wednesday, May 28th
Speaker - Susannah Peterson, Executive Director, Badger Childhood Cancer Network
Join SAM in a new outreach activity as we volunteer at the Badger Childhood Cancer Network’s Picnic on June 14, 2025, at Little Amerricka in Marshall, Wisconsin.
This is a one-day event that honors the children (and their families!) who are battling cancer. Our mission is to staff a variety of stations and make this day extra special for the cancer warriors and their families. The stations include check-in, food service, games, arts and crafts (who is good at face painting?), and floater/helper. There is a morning shift from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm and an afternoon shift from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. To volunteer, send an email to SAM@messiahchurch.com and indicate your top two choices and preferred shift. Little Amerricka is a 1950s-style amusement park with restored classic rides, a wooden coaster, steam and diesel trains, ferris wheel, monorail, bumper cars, bumper boats, go carts, and a whole lot more. The park will take you back to your childhood days!
SAM Hike Season begins soon! Get your hiking boots ready.
Tuesday, April 29 - Governor Nelson State Park, 5140 Co Hwy M, Waunakee, WI
We’ll walk the Woodland Trail. There are a couple of short hilly spots on the trail but overall it requires moderate exertion. Maybe we’ll see spring flowers. There’s a vehicle admission fee to the park. The day use fee is $3 per car (age 65 and older), $13 under age 65. If you have a 2024 state park pass ($13 per vehicle for age 65+) there is no additional charge. Meet at the beach parking lot at 10 AM (it’s the 2nd turn off the main park road - if you
miss that turn you’ll end up in the boat launch parking lot). Call or text Barb’s cell 518-567-6816 or email
bwhfam@gmail.com. Leave your phone number so we can notify you of last minute changes or cancellations.
SAVE THE DATE for additional hikes to familiar places and maybe to someplace new:
Tuesday, May 6 – Owen Conservation Park, 6021 Old Sauk Rd., Madison, WI 53705.
Wednesday, May 21 - Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 Co Hwy M, Middleton, WI 53562 Wednesday, June 4 – Hike and Picnic! CamRock County Park, 68 County Hwy B, Cambridge, WI 53523
Social Justice Ministry
Social Justice Ministry is the umbrella for several teams working together to promote the work of justice through acts of charity and advocacy. For example, we need to feed people when they are hungry, while we simultaneously need to address the root causes of their hunger. The teams that make up the Social Justice Ministry are: Reconciling in Christ (RIC), The Green Team, Human Trafficking Awareness, Racial Justice Team.
We encourage the congregation to explore this section of the column to find opportunities to educate, affiliate and donate.
Educate - learn about justice issues facing our community and their root causes.
Affiliate - with Messiah members and local and ELCA partners to advance the work of justice.
Donate - your time, talents and resources
Social Justice Highlight - May 3 - 4 - Local Food Pantries
Mountain of Food Collection - Local Food Pantries
The weekend of May 3-4, Mark Taylor, Food Pantry Coordinator at St. Mark’s, will join the services to tell us about what they do and answer any questions you may have.
As you consider donating to our annual Mountain of Food collection in May, here are some amounts that specific items cost. Perhaps you might consider sponsoring one of these items:
- 3 cans of coffee costs $33
- 60 (soda sized) bottles of laundry detergent costs $40
- 1 dozen eggs costs $6 (the pantries need 2-3 dozen every day which is $15-$18)
- 1 bottle of milk costs $1.70 (the pantries need 20 every day which is $34)
- 1 stick of butter costs $1 (the pantries need 10 per day which is $10)
Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender Action Circles
This opportunity is a follow up to information we learned during our Lenten series from presenter Jeff Wild of Guns of Gardens. Volunteers are wanted for training for Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender Events in the Dane Co area.
Participants will learn how to organize components of a Safe Surrender event: collect guns safely, dismantle guns safely and provide care to those who surrender guns. These action circles will meet virtually for 5 weeks on Thursdays April 24th- May 22nd (Daytime 11 am OR Evening 6:30 pm)
Contact Tracy Frank jtracyfrank@me.com or 608-220-7999 by April 18th if you are interested.
Messiah Lutheran Church has currently not made any commitments to supporting any events, but will likely be discussing this more at the church council level and with St Paul AME & other partners in the future.
The exhibit's 14 pull-up banners and will be displayed in 12 libraries, starting with Monona Library to coincide with Black History.
The subsequent events are as follows:
- Waunakee Public Library - April 2025 (reception 6:30 pm, 4/17)
- Cross Plains Public Library - May 2025 (reception 1 pm, 5/3)
- Marshall Public Library - June 2025 (reception 1 pm, 6/21)
- Mt. Horeb Public Library - July 2024 (reception 6:30 pm, 7/21)
- Bookmobile - August 2025 (reception Tuesday August 5 in Cottage Grove, Monday, August 11 in Shorewood Hills, and Tuesday August 19 in Maple Bluff. 7:00)
- Verona Public Library - Sept. 2025 (reception 1:30 pm, 9/20)
- Sequoya Library, Madison - Oct. 2025 (time TBA, 10/6)
- Mazomanie Library - November 2025
- Oregon Public Library - December 2025 (reception 1 pm, 12/13)
- Middleton Public Library - January 2026 (reception 6 pm, 1/22)
Please Help Make Messiah's "Prairie Hill"
a Reality!
Thank you to everyone who helped support our Prairie Hill!
We funded over 90% of the project through your generous help!
Keep an eye out for a planting day this spring!
Community Outreach Opportunities - All are invited!!!
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at 2:00 pm
Contact Person - Karen Verhagen - verhagen@charter.net
Contact Person - Elizabeth Crummy - volunteer@messiahchurch.com
Community Outreach Groups and Leaders
Adopt a School "Kennedy Elementary School" - Paula Darr
Blood Drive - Elizabeth Crummy
Community Meals - Scott DeBroux and Elizabeth Crummy
Craft and Bake Sale
Craft Sale - Dawn Olson
Bake Sale - Louise Fosdick
Kris Kringle Shoppe - Louise Uttech
Gift Baskets - Karen Verhagen
Dignity Project - June Nyhus
Habitat for Humanity - Jim Stolzenberg
Prayer Shawl Ministry - Kathy Digman
St. Stephen's Food Pantry - Dee Schwoegler
Community Outreach Collections
February/March - Goodman Thanksgiving Baskets (foil pans) & Easter Baskets
May - Mountain of Food
June - Zeteo Community
July - Backpacks for Schools
August - Give Kids a Lift
September -
October/November - virtual pies for "Share Your Holidays" (Second Harvest Food Bank)
November - Craft/Bake sale
November/December - Road Home (Christmas Fund), YWCA, Triangle Ministry, East Side Community/Truax
Thank you to the following people who sponsored
"Give Kids Another Lift
Week of April 21 - April 25
Dan & Nancy Battist, Debra Bougie
Eunice Eide, Bridget Cremin & Stoni Hawkins
Scott & Ann DeBroux, Don & Sandi Hendrikse
Two requests from Kennedy
We are still collecting gently used winter clothing, specifically all sizes of snow pants, boots, coats, waterproof mittens and gloves .
We also need smaller sized sweatpants/ pull on pants for when kids get wet in the snow (sizes 5-8)
- Please donate new or gently used winter gear:
- Smaller sized sweat pants sizes 5-8
- underwear all sizes
- Please no adult sized clothes
- NO PERSONAL CARE ITEMS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Friday - May 16 - Kennedy Fun Run!
This is the school’s biggest event (and biggest fundraiser) of the whole year, and it takes a LOT of volunteers to make this event a success.
If you are able to help, please contact Elizabeth at
volunteer@messiahchurch.com for more information.
In addition to volunteers at the actual event, they need help ahead of time sizing students for t-shirts, sourcing snacks and supplies, and soliciting sponsors.
Rain date May 23.
Teacher Appreciation
Messiah is providing cookies for a teacher appreciation lunch in May.
Volunteering for Next Year
If you want to volunteer at Kennedy next year, you must register yearly through MMSD. If you are thinking of volunteering again next year, or getting started for the first time, consider registering now to speed up getting started in the fall!
Scan the QR code to Register
Annual Blood Drive - Tuesday, May 13th
Our goal is to schedule 63 appointments and we currently have 14. We have openings every 15 minutes from 1:15 to 5:45 PM.
Register by using this QR code (under photo) or
CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment. You can also contact Elizabeth at
volunteer@messiahchurch.com.
May is Trauma Awareness Month. Accidents can happen at any moment. Don’t wait; schedule your donation appointment now to keep blood readily available for patients when seconds count. Types O negative and O positive blood are especially important for trauma patients.
Save time with RapidPass®. Complete your pre-donation reading and health history at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or with the Red Cross Blood Donor App before your appointment.
- Eligibility questions? Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org.
MAY DONOR PROMOTION:
Give blood May 1-18 and get a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of your choice. PLUS, get a chance to win a U.S. trip of choice for you and a guest! Terms apply:
rcblood.org/may
Opportunities to provide meals to those in need in our community
Triangle Community Ministry - April 21
Thank you, we have enough volunteers.
Healing House
May 11-17April 21
Thank you,
we have enough volunteers.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet Monday, April 28th, at 1:00 pm
Most of us see the work of the prayer shawl ministry at baptisms, but the ministry's reach extends beyond that. They provide shawls for high school seniors, for those visited by the visitation ministry and for various places outside Messiah so people know that our community cares and prays for them. See the webpage for more details and how to get involved.
Contact Person - Kathy Digman
The Dignity Project Group
will meet Saturday, May 10, at 9:30 am
We will meet in the last education room on the right. Anyone is welcome to come to see how easy it is to help. You do not need to own a sewing machine or be able to use one to help with the project. Enter on the lower level of church at door C and follow the sign upon entering the building.
We have been able to send 4,284 pads and 1,058 panties this year to Little Dresses For Africa where they are distributed to help girls remain in school to finish their education. Thank you for your part in providing these girls with dignity.
Anyone seeking information on the project contact June Nyhus at 608-516-4364 05 at
jnyhus1@yahoo.com
Boomerang Bag Group will next gather to sew Boomerang Bags on
Tuesday, May 20th from
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
in the Social Hall.
We are looking for clean cloth or other type of material bags that we can transform into grocery type bags for St. Stephen’s Food Pantry.
There will be a collection bin in the collection area for these items.
Contact Person - Karen Dilley
In the past few weeks during Lent, we have shared a wonderful partnership between our sister parish St. Paul's A.M.E. and Messiah Lutheran Church. With sharing in soup suppers we have bonded with each other. Our Racial Justice and Human Trafficking Awareness Teams have worked together inviting speakers who are informing and helping to find solutions with today's issues. Thank you to our speakers: Jeff Wild with Guns to Gardens, Jevon Diming with Pierre Outreach Services Safe House and Anthony Cooper with Focused Interruption. It is important for each of us to ask ourselves - how can I be a part of the solution?
I have received articles to share with you from a few of our members and have attached them below:
- Mary Jo Feeney Gebhardt shared an article on how religious sisters have been actively working with Human Trafficking Awareness (HTA) for years and even paid for a bus wrap in the City of Madison last summer to circle in the campus area.
- Dick Verhagen shared disturbing articles on sextortion from USA Today and the Appleton Post-Crescent newspaper. With smartphones today, students in middle school, high school and college and young adults need to be aware of this. Sextortion is devastating and tech companies are taking advantage of this. Sadly many of those who are caught up in this have committed suicide as a way out.
It is so important we embrace each other with understanding and compassion. With supporting each other we can then outreach to others who are in need of our support. Messiah Lutheran Church has been a refuge to all of us in seeking God's love of kindness, acceptance, thankfulness and peace.
Kindly,
Nancy Battist
Human Trafficking - A Crime Against All
USA Today - Article on Sextortion
Contact Person - Tracy Frank -
jtracyfrank@me.com
Contact Person - Tara Von Dollen -
tlvondollen@gmail.com
Contact Person - Elizabeth Crummy - volunteer@messiahchurch.com
Bingo Cards are due on November 1st
Racial Justice Information updated April 11th
Taking a Breath Before Action
The Messiah Racial Justice has been very busy over the last few years, but we are in a rare slow period as we pause after the Lenten series.
Before we spring into action alongside the first blooms of the season, we thought it would be a good idea to reflect on our racial justice work. It starts with remembering (or learning) about what it means to be an ally. As we commit to being allies we must also make time to care for ourselves.
Here is a resource from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Learn & Unlearn: an Anti-racism Resource Guide. It has helpful tools, articles and information about every facet of anti-racism work. Under the Wellness section there is a page all about Radical Self-care, which includes definitions, book & podcast suggestions, Ted Talk videos and reflection questions.
See the Racial Justice Webpage for details on the following:
How to be a better ally
How to care for yourself while advocating for others
Prioritizing Self-Care
Stress Management and Well-being
Physical Health
