Maundy Thursday Service

Maundy Thursday from the word mandatum or mandate, commandment. Jesus gives us the commandment to love one another as he has loved us and to follow his example.

If you missed the Maundy Thursday service you can view it Here.

Spring Work Day - Saturday, April 11th

9:00 am - 12:00 noon



Pizza will be served for lunch.

Sign up on the Kiosk.

Give Families a Lift-Come Hear the Plan at the services April 11-12.

If the title of our April Community Outreach Collection sounds familiar, that is because it is the next step in our Give Kids a Lift Campaign.

Our Adopt a School partner Kennedy Elementary School has decided to purchase their own van instead of continuing to pay a driver to transport the children living at the family shelter to school. Owning the van and using school staff to do the driving is more economical and will enable the school to meet other needs. There are children who live on other edges of the walkable zone whose transportation is ending this year, families without cars need rides to school events and community resources, and the van will be useful when picking up large donations. 

The goal is to raise $60,000 to get the van on the road on September 1 and to have the first 2 years of gas, insurance and maintenance in the bank. We already have $19,000 from the EHC grant Messiah received last year.  We are joining with the PTA and other community partners to raise the other $41,000.

Bridget Cremin, Kennedy's social worker, will help to preach this weekend. Visit the signup posters in the gathering space or contact Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.com to sponsor a day or days and watch the fabric bus take shape! Choose a day that is meaningful to you like perhaps a birthday or an anniversary. Every time we get to an increment of $1,000, we will add a piece to the bus poster.

Kids having what they need to succeed in school is an equity issue. Family involvement sets kids up for success! Get on the bus and Give Families a Lift!

SCSW - Synod Caring 4 Creation Team Events

Please see the flyer for more information 

and to sign up.

Summer Mini Mission Opportunity for children - July 13 and 14 - 8:00 - noon

We are excited to invite our littlest learners to join us for a summer learning opportunity here at Messiah. Our summer "Mini" Mission is an opportunity for our children to serve others in our community. Children will learn about the importance of serving and the different ways we can serve through stories, discussion, and hands-on experiences. We will work with the YOW group to complete service projects that will help others in our community and we will spend some time playing and eating together. 

The Mission takes place here at Messiah on Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14 from 8:00 AM until 12. Students will have a hot breakfast prepared for them and should bring a sack lunch to eat later in the day.

This opportunity is open to all children currently ages 4 through 4th grade. We hope you can join us!

Goodman Foil Pan Collection Update

Thank you to all who donated funds to purchase foil pans for The Goodman Center’s Thanksgiving Meal Baskets. 

Approximately $7,3271 has been raised as of April 9. 

Although it is early in the year to think about Thanksgiving, collecting funds now helps to spread out our fundraising over the year instead of so many requests in the last few months.  It also fits into the Lenten Season where the church proclaims the season to be for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As it gets closer to November, we will update the membership on this project.

Special Collection for Ukraine

Hi my name is Kelli Lawler. My parents are Phil and Char Lawler, members of Messiah.

Last summer I retired from my job at Meriter and bought myself a ticket to Europe. I volunteered for a week at a hospital in Lviv, Ukraine. The hospitals there are so understaffed/underfunded that doctors will come and treat the patients, but showers, bedding, food, etc., are all up to the family to provide.

While at the hospital, I helped a British and an American marine shower, I washed their laundry and brought them to the PT gym.

I have my ticket purchased to go back for two weeks this June and would like to bring medical supplies with me. We would greatly appreciate ONLY donations of tactical first aid tourniquets, 2x2 or 3x3 gauze pads or rolls of gauze bandages and Neosporin antibiotic ointment. All supplies will be brought to Kyiv by me and they will be delivered to Rachel Jamison, the liaison for the foreign fighting units.

Any monetary donations will be donated to Good Bread bakery in Kyiv which employs adults with disabilities who bake bread for the soldiers on the front. 

There will be a special collection bin in the Collection Area with a Ukrainian Flag on it for you to put your items.

We are ONLY collecting

Tactical Tourniquets

2x2 inch gauze pads

3x3 inch gauze pads

rolls of gauze

Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment

May is the Annual Mountain of Food Fundraiser

This fundraiser supports St. Stephen's and St. Mark's Food Pantries. As pantry usage and food needs continue to increase, support from our community becomes even more important. Each contribution, no matter the amount, helps to provide for those in need. Food costs continue to increase which impacts the average cost of providing for a family as shown in these estimates:

• $230-$350 can feed a family of 4 for a week
• $300-$450 can feed a family of 6 for a week

We know everyone has been impacted by the increase in food prices. Indeed, the above estimates are twice what we had listed in the column and weekly news last year.

However, as prices increase, so do the number of clients in need. Our donations will allow the pantries to support more families with their food needs.

Messiah Day of Prayer - Thursday, May 7th - 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Messiah will join in celebrating the National Day of Prayer by holding a prayer vigil on

Beginning April 1^st, there will be a sign-up sheet on the Kiosk in the Gathering Space.

Please come and spend some time in quiet reflection in our beautiful Sanctuary.

Please contact Clyde Nyhus at (608) 516-4926, or email music@messiahchurch.com with any questions. 

Messiah Cook Book Returns

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." John 21:17

Food is often the heart of hospitality. As we share meals, we bond in fellowship and community. Messiah would like to revive our tradition of offering a cookbook, "Feed My Sheep." Favorite recipes shared among members and friends as we gather at tables together and apart. We are fed and blessed in so many ways at Messiah.

The team for this project is forming. We will begin meeting in June with the goal of completing the cookbook by the Craft Fair, Nov. 7 and having it available for holiday gifting. Your help is needed! There will be many specific tasks to smoothly organize and complete the project. Contact Shirley Klinkner, sjklink1@gmail.com or Pastor Dan, pastordanmessiah@gmail.com to find out more and to volunteer.

Life Is Saying Goodbye, Life Is Saying Hello
A Six-Week Grief Support Gathering at Messiah

April 9, 16, 30  - May 14, 21, 28

4:30pm - 5:30 pm

Loss touches every life. Sometimes it comes through the death of someone we love; other times through changes in health, relationships, work, or life’s many transitions. Because grief is not something we are meant to carry alone.

Our hope is simple: to create a gentle and supportive space where we can learn to grieve well.

Over six weeks we will reflect using Life Is Saying Goodbye, Life Is Saying Hello by Alla Renée Bozarth.

If you—or someone you know—are walking through loss, you are warmly invited to join us for this time of shared reflection, compassion, and care.

This group is limited to 15 people, sign up on the Kiosk in the Gathering Space.

Mark Petersen, Facilitator

Sunday morning Adult Education

April 12^th we will begin a new Adult Education series exploring The Easter Lectionary.

Join us as we read and discuss the Sunday morning texts, discovering how they relate to the Easter season, each other, and our daily lives as Easter people!

All are welcome to join us as we gather in the Social Hall at 9:20 am between the services. Bring your Bible and cup of coffee!

Calling all men of Messiah! 

You are invited to come and gather for fellowship where we meet for breakfast, worship and prayer to strengthen our faith and build brotherhood.

NO sign up needed.

When:  Every Monday at 9:00 am
Location:  Denny’s on E. Broadway in Monona, next to Menards.

Contact Person: Ray Robinson  rayerobinson13@gmail.com or 608-695-5591

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

The Gospel of Mark

Now through May 20

7:00 am - 8:00 am

by Richard Carlson (Author) …

The Gospel of Mark is not just good news about Jesus. It reveals, sometimes in surprising and scandalous ways, how Jesus is God's good news to us. This 8-session study takes big questions based on Mark and challenges participants to explore them thoughtfully together. 

Ladies Lunch Bunch - May 13th

Bridges Golf Course

   2702 Shopko Dr, Madison, WI 53704

Please sign up on the Kiosk. There will be space for 30 women this month.

Please be there by 11:15 am     Orders will be taken at 11:30.

 For questions call Claire at 920-319-6731 or Mary at 608-716-4600

The Ladies Lunch Bunch April Gathering collected $70.00 for Give Families a Lift.

Women’s Thursday Morning Book Study - April 9 - May 21

Beginning April 9, the Women’s Thursday Morning Book Study will begin a 7-week discussion of Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton.

This thoughtful and accessible book explores spiritual practices that help us encounter God in everyday life, including silence and solitude, prayer, Sabbath, discernment, and spiritual direction. Each chapter encourages meaningful conversation and invites participants to experiment with spiritual practices throughout the week.

All women are warmly invited to join us Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in the downstairs classroom at church.

Please sign up on the Kiosk in the Gathering Space.

Community Outreach Team Collections

Please check out the Ongoing Community Outreach Collection webpage to see what Messiah collects to help local organiztions support their clients.



Paper copies of the Collections are available in the Collection Area at Messiah (between the Gathering Space and the Community Room).

Our next weeks for preparing meals for Healing House are:

Thank you to those who provided the meals for March 1-7. 

April 26 - May 2

June 7 - 13

Please sign up on the kiosk if you can make a meal.

Our next dates for preparing/serving meals for Triangle Community Ministry are:

April 6, 2026 - The Easter treat bags were a hit with the TCM residents at the Easter Monday meal that Messiah served. There a few bags left that Peder will keep in his office for those who were not able to attend the event. 

Again, thank you for all that donated, decorated and filled the bags.

Also the meal provided by Messiah was delicious; there were lots of positive comments!

 July 6, 2026 

October 5, 2026

Check the Kiosk for Sign Ups.

For more specific information about preparing meals, check out the Community Outreach Team Webpage under Community Meals.

Jennifer Ginsburg, Director of Safe Harbor spoke between the services on February 1 about human trafficking awareness at Safe Harbor. They have seen deep impacts because of the work they do in helping victims and their families, along with continued counseling support. We had a great conversation. Learning is always educational and opens up our eyes and hearts.

Victims and their families are referred to Safe Harbor from law enforcement and the courts and each year they help 400 families from over a dozen counties.  As they work with children and teenagers who have been victims of abuse and crimes, they go through lots of snacks and art supplies. We asked Jennifer to compile a list of these needs-stay tuned for an opportunity to help fill those needs.

Thank you to Messiah member Steve Lyons for sharing information about recent legislation related to human trafficking.

On February 4th there was a PUBLIC - SENATE HEARING at the State Capitol from the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on bills related to Human Trafficking. The bills listed below are bipartisan–it is so great to have our politicians agreeing to these. Nancy Battist went to these hearings and found it quite an educational experience. 

See the Human Trafficking Awareness Webpage for more details.

The Racial Justice Team hosted an Adult Education session on Sunday February 8 on how to contact state and federal representatives. This was a direct follow-up to the book study When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough and an opportunity to speak up about gun violence, but these strategies can be used to express your opinion about any issues that are important to you. 

Here is a link to the google slideshow we used. There are many ways to get messages to our representatives and make our voices heard, and one is bound to fit your preferred method of communication because you can call, fax, email, or write a letter or a postcard. One of the easiest methods to use is the 5Calls app/website at 5calls.org. You set your location, select an issue from the sidebar and then the names and contact information of your elected officials pops up along with a suggested script which you can use verbatim or as a starting point. You can work your way through all of them or skip and select who you want to contact. 

Calling your representative is the best way to make your voice heard before they take a public stance because congressional staffers tally phone calls right away.

Other kinds of messages take longer.

• Emails have to be manually read and sorted.
• Faxes have to be digitized and emailed.
• Letters and postcards take time to arrive and get processed.

You’re Invited: Briarpatch Youth Services Open House

April 16, 2026 9-11 AM 2720 Rimrock Road in Madison

Briarpatch offers a broad array of services to youth who have runaway, are experiencing homelessness, and/or facing other challenges. Each year they serve approximately 2,000 youth. 

Briarpatch will open its doors to the community for a special open house designed to bring together parents/caregivers, service providers, educators, and community members who are invested in the well-being of youth.

This event is an opportunity to connect directly with staff from all of Briarpatch’s programs in one place at one time. Whether you are a school professional, social worker, mental health/healthcare provider, youth advocate, or a community member wanting to better understand available resources, this open house offers space to ask questions, build relationships, and learn how our programs support young people and families across Dane County.

Guests will have the chance to:

Meet program staff and leadership

Learn about referral processes and eligibility

Explore collaboration opportunities

Ask questions about services and community partnerships

Coffee, juice, pastries will be served as we gather in community and conversation.

RSVP by April 9th to help us plan accordingly. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing more about how Briarpatch continues to strengthen the lives of youth and families.