Messiah Weekly News
November 1 - November 8, 2025
2025 Saturday worship server schedule
2025 Early Sunday worship server schedule
2025 Late Sunday worship server schedule
This Week at Messiah
Friday , November 7
Pr. Dan’s Day Off
Pr. Paul Drees VIP Event 6:30 pm
Pr. Paul Drees Main Event 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 8
Stewardship Weekend
Carol Paulson Funeral 12:30pm
CO - Dignity Project Workshop 9:30 am
Worship Service 5:00 pm
Tuesday, November 11
GT - Boomerang Bag Group 10:00am
NewBridge Senior Meal 11:30am
Messiah Council Meeting 6:45am
Thursday, November 13
Pewkeepers 9:00am
NewBridge Senior Meal 11:30am
Senior Choir Practice 7:30pm
Friday, November 14
Pr. Dan’s Day Off
New Information or Upcoming Events
Pastor Paul Drees Event -November 7, 2025
6:30 pm VIP Event - $30
8:00 - 9:00 Main Event - Free
Digital evangelism, Christian Nationalism and a Theological Q&A
About Our Guest Pastor Paul Drees serves in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
A graduate of St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary, he combines parish ministry in Wisconsin with a bold online presence that challenges Christians to live faithfully, love radically, and resist injustice.
Sunday Morning Adult Education
We offer Adult Education on Sundays from 9:20–10:20 a.m. (between services), on Sunday morning except for the fourth Sunday of the month.
Then, beginning on November 9, we will begin a five-part series on “Exploring the Lectionary.” During these sessions we will explore such questions as, “What is the Lectionary?” “How was it put together?” “Why do Lutherans use a Lectionary in worship?” “How do the lessons relate to each other?” During these sessions, we will read together parts of the Sunday morning lessons and discuss them as a group, using ancient and modern techniques to explore the texts and apply them to our lives.
Click to go to the Adult Education Webpage for information about other topics.
Stewardship Weekend - November 8 - 9 - Stewardship "Mission in Action"
All members of Messiah should have received a letter from Pastor Jeff, and a commitment form for 2026.
We ask that you give this commitment some thoughtful prayer and return the completed form on or before the weekend of November 8th & 9th.
The church council will use these commitments to prepare the budget for 2026 and to continue the mission of Messiah Lutheran Church. This year’s commitment form contains only one line to pledge; the General Fund, for the day-to-day operations of the church. Examples are salaries, mission support, utilities, Christian education, fellowship and evangelism.
The form also contains a section for how you would like to make your contributions; weekly, monthly, none or electronically, please choose one.
If you do not receive a stewardship mailing by Wednesday, November 5th, contact the office at 608-222-3833 or ourchurch@messiahchurch.com.
We will celebrate with Love, Laughter & Libations on Saturday evening and cake on Sunday morning.
YOW Retreat - November 15-16, 2025 at Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville
The YOW Retreat is next weekend, November 15 - Sunday, November 16 at Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville.
Please be at Messiah by 9:00 a.m. We will return by 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
This is a really important opportunity for the youth to grow as a community. We have some wonderful activities planned.
I NEED TO KNOW IF YOUR YOUTH IS ATTENDING ASAP so that we have enough materials, food, and beds.
We also need drivers. Please let me know if you can assist.
Packing List:
· Sleeping bag & pillow (they provide beds)
· Water bottle
· Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste , etc.)
· Pajamas
· Change of clothes
· Jacket and weather appropriate outdoor gear
· Closed-toe shoes
· Bible
· Snack to share (We will have a community snack table. Please no items with nuts as we have some allergies)
Targeted Food Collection - Now-November 26
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are not being released due to the federal government shutdown. This has a direct impact on people and organizations that Messiah supports such as Triangle Ministry where 1/3 of the residents will not receive their November SNAP food benefits. They are collecting the following items to give people access to emergency food.
Canned items in glass jars or with pull-tab-to-open lids (people don’t have can openers):
- Canned meat: Spam, chicken, salmon & tuna (also in pouches)
- Canned meals: chili, ravioli, spaghetti, stew, baked beans, pasta sauce
- Canned veggies: red beans, black beans, corn, green beans, etc
- Canned fruit: applesauce, pineapple, pears, peaches, etc
- Canned soup – any kind
Dry goods (not hamburger helper, as there is no hamburger):
- Rice-a-Roni
- pasta
- Ramen
- peanut butter
- jam/jelly
- crackers
- granola bars
- protein bars
No refrigerated or frozen items, please.
We are asking you to consider bringing 1-2 items each time you come to church from now until Wednesday 11/26, the night before Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for, so let's share that with Triangle residents.
Thank you for supporting TCM in its ministry to some of our country’s most vulnerable people.
2026 Flower Chart
Last year we returned to the use of our flower chart. Please sign up on the chart for flowers for 2026.
The chart will be placed on an easel in the Gathering Space on November 1st for people to begin to sign up.
We will only have slots for 2 bouquets each week. Please put only your name on the chart.
Cost of flowers is $35.00 which can be paid by check or online
The office will email/call those signed up the month prior to find out the bulletin message but you are welcome to contact the office at any time to let us know 608-222-3833
ourchurch@messiahchurch.com
Human Trafficking Awareness Speaker - November 22 & 23
Jennifer Ginsburg, Director of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center, will speak at all the services on November 22 & 23, 2025. Jennifer will also have a chat session Sunday, 11/23 from 9:20am-10:20am in the Community Room.
The mission of Safe Harbor is to reduce trauma and promote healing for children and adults with intellectual disabilities who are victims of or witnesses to crime. Safe Harbor provides a trauma-informed, safe, child-friendly environment for best practice forensic interviews; immediate and ongoing advocacy for affected children and families; coordination and support of multi-disciplinary investigations and responses.
Christmas Collections
Special Request Collection for Madison Area Jail Ministry - October 25 - November 11
The Madison Area Jail Ministry has asked Messiah for help with items needed by people re-entering their communities without the proper clothing, etc., for the winter months. We know that there are many other collections happening at Messiah this time of year, so this one will be for targeted items and of short duration. If you can help by donating something from this list, the Jail Ministry will be so appreciative:
Blankets – new or CLEAN, GENTLY USED, "throw type" NOT BED-SIZED blankets
New and in original packaging – socks, men’s and women’s underwear, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs and shampoo.
The Road Home collection bin will be temporarily repurposed for this collection. Please drop off your items no later than November 11.
Thank you for your donations to help people transition back to the community!
Bath Towel and Wash Cloth Collection
for Triangle Ministry
Items being collected for residents are:
Bath towels & wash cloths
(light weight and dark colors)
Waterproof Glove and Mitten Collection
The Community Outreach Team will be collecting ONLY waterproof gloves and mittens for several elementary schools in Madison.
If you would prefer, you could make a donation to "Mitten Collection" and we will shop for the gloves and mittens.
Pudding Collection
The Community Outreach Team will be collecting LARGE boxes of INSTANT pudding (all flavors) to be included in the Christmas food boxes for the East Madison Community Center.
Our goal this year is
200 boxes.
Road Home Christmas Collection
now through November 30
The Community Outreach Team will again collect money to provide gift cards to individuals through the Road Home.
Whether they choose a gift card from Woodman's, Walmart, Kohl’s, etc., this may be one of the few gifts these individuals receive for the holidays. You may donate online at Messiah by using the Christmas Fund button or by check with “The Road Home Christmas” in the notation line so it gets to the appropriate place.
This collection will run through the month and end on November 30.
Thank you for your continued generosity to The Road Home!
Karen Verhagen – Project coordinator
Urgent request from St. Stephen's Food Pantry
We are in need of laundry soap again this year!
LARGE, UNSENTED laundry detergent is best.
Your donations last year were so helpful and so appreciated!
Place your donations in the St. Stephen's Food Pantry rolling cart in the Collection Area.
Printed copies are available on the rolling counter by the Care Notes
Messiah Lutheran Church supports St. Stephen’s Food Pantry.
There are several volunteers already, but more are needed to cover “open spots.”
With the rise in grocery prices and the need for increased food for those who are food insecure, we expect the pantry to get extra-extra busy these next couple months. Beth would like to get more volunteers signed up and ready to help. Job descriptions are listed below–some need people NOW, others just need subs to fill in as needed.
High Needs Right Now:
- Daily Client Volunteers - some spots needed now and at the start of the year
- Sub Client Volunteers - as needed
- Sub Food Pickups - as needed
Virtual Apple Pie Sale - Now through November 30
Check out the SAM Webpage for more information about the Virtual Apple Pie Sale.
The total so far for the Virtual Apple Pie Sale is $13,576. The sale runs until November 30.
The proceeds of this sale will be matched by the Gundlach Fund and then that total will be matched by NBC15's corporate sponsors at the Share Your Holidays Grand Finale in early December.
Each $1.00 you donate will become $4.00.
Craft & Bake Sale
The Craft & Bake Sale made $5,606.75. This total will be matched by the Gundlach Fund and the proceeds divided three ways.
The proceeds go to Babies & Beyond, Briarpatch and Movin' Out.
Bake Sale - $2,163
Gift Baskets - $830
Kris Kringle - $1,018
Craft Vendor table rental - $1,500
Misc.- $95.75
Trunk or Treat - A Huge Success
Trunk or Treat was a success! We served Ian’s pizza to 145 people. We had 16 trunks and treat stations outside, 4 tables inside and lots of pans of treats in the hallway.
Thanks to everyone for their creative decorations and costumes and making this a fun and memorable fun event!
