Blood Drive Urgent Request - February 20, 2026 - Noon - 5:00pm at Messiah

Messiah Lutheran Church and Gunderson Funeral Home are hosting a winter Blood Drive on February 20th from noon-5 pm at Messiah.

We are looking to fill 60 slots and so far we have less than half filled. Please consider these facts as you debate about whether or not to donate.

• The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, leading to about a 35% drawdown of blood products in the past month. The shortage is especially serious for types O, A negative and B negative blood. 
• Hospitals already feeling the strain of the worst flu season in nearly 20 years are now also forced to triage critical blood products. Without immediate action, patients who count on transfusions — including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth and people with sickle cell disease or cancer — face serious risk. 
• The recent winter storm canceled more than 800 blood drives, resulting in more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected since January 23.
• Individuals are urged to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care. 

CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment.

As a thanks for your donation, you will receive a $20 e-gift card to your choice of merchant.

2026 Girl Scout Cookie Sales at Messiah

Girl Scouts from Messiah's Community will be selling cookies on the following days:

Saturday, February 21 - Ellie Meng - Troop # 7889

Sunday, February 22 - Violet Schmitz - Troop #7848

Saturday & Sunday, February 28 - March 1 - Grace and Haylee Mathews

Here is a link to Ryan's cases website if you would like to see what the organization is doing. 

CASE FOR SMILES

On Saturday, February 14th, this wonderful group of young women and the young at heart created pillowcases to be donated to the American Family Children's Hospital.

We had a great time and I think we have some future seamstresses in our midst.

 In 4 hours we created 10 pillowcases.

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.

Safe Gun Disposal - March 21 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - St. Paul AME Church

Messiah is a partnering organization for this safe gun disposal event at St. Paul AME church.

We need donations for gift cards that are given out for every gun disposed of at the event. Gift cards are in the amounts of $100, $150 or $200. Any amount donated toward a gift card is appreciated! Visit Messiah’s giving page and choose “Guns to Gardens” in the drop down list.  We will also be collecting for the gift cards at the Ash Wednesday service and the first 3 Divine Yoga sessions on Feb 24, March 3 and March 10.

For more information scan the QR Code or speak with Pr. Jeff  Pr. Dan, Elizabeth Crummy, Tracy Frank or Tara Von Dollen.

Passionate About Addressing Gun Violence?

If you were unable to join the When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough book study, but you are still passionate about addressing gun violence, visit the Racial Justice Team webpage and choose from multiple action steps. As we learned, thoughts and prayers are a starting point, not the end point.

Lenten Devotional

Writers from the Messiah community have teamed up to bring us a Lenten Devotional. Forty-six days of thoughts, challenges and reflections for this sacred season. Pick up a copy/copies of the devotional on the round table by the office window in the Gathering Space.

Click 2026 Messiah Lenten Devotional  to access an online version.

Daily reflections will also be posted to Messiah's Facebook page.

Ash Wednesday  - February 18

Soup Supper - 6:00 pm in the Social Hall                          

Service with Imposition of Ashes - 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Speaker - Pastor Greg Armstrong - St. Paul AME Church

If you are able to provide soup and/or setup-serve-cleanup the meals, sign up on the Kiosk or contact Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.com.

Mid-Week Soup Supper and Holden Evening Prayer - March 11 & March 25

We will hold two Midweek Lenten Soup Suppers on March 11th and March 25th.

After supper we will pray Holden Evening Prayer in the Sanctuary.

Soup Supper at 6:00 pm - in the Social Hall

Evening Prayer at 7:00 pm. - in the Sanctuary

If you are able to provide soup and/or setup-serve-cleanup the meals, sign up on the Kiosk or contact Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.com.

Divine Yoga Lenten Series - February 24 - March 31 - 6:00 - 7:15 pm

Grab your yoga mat or towel and join us from 6-7:15 PM on Tuesdays during lent from February 24 through March 31 in the community room (upper level opposite end of the building from the sanctuary.)Divine Yoga sessions are open to all of Messiah and their friends.

The yoga sessions are free with an optional free-will offering to benefit a charity selected by the group.

On February 24, March 3 and March 10 we will be collecting donations for the gift cards being offered at the Guns to Gardens Safe Gun Disposal Event happening at St. Paul’s AME on March 21.

Monetary Lenten Collection - Foil Pans for Goodman Thanksgiving Baskets

Lent is a time of giving to the poor (alms) and following Christ’s teachings more faithfully. In following these teachings, we moved the monetary collection for Thanksgiving baskets to the season of Lent. 

Our goal for 2024 and 2025 was to provide ALL 4,000 pans and Messiah met that goal and more! 

Please consider donating to this cause during Lent so we can reach our goal and be ready to purchase the pans at the best price we can find (roughly $5500). If using a check, please put “Thanksgiving basket” in the memo line so it is put in the correct account. Online, please use the Thanksgiving basket button. This collection will end at Easter. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

For more information about this collection, please visit the Community Outreach Team Webpage.

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter’s On Its Way! Easter Collection February 14 - March 1st.

We are asking the Messiah community to donate chocolate eggs, jellybeans, individually wrapped nut-free candies, fruit snacks, lollipops, crayons, gum, pens, small notebooks, deodorant and lotion, decks of cards, adult word searches and coloring books.

In order to ensure we have what we need, please visit the easel outside the office and choose the items you will purchase. You can also reach Elizabeth at   volunteer@messiahchurch.com   or call the office to get added to the list, or make a donation by bringing cash or bringing/mailing a check to the office and writing “Easter Baskets” on the envelope and/or in the memo line. 

Please bring all cash/checks to the office and donations to the Easter-themed box in the gathering space by March 1st. We will be packing and delivering that week.

For more information about this collection, please visit the Community Outreach Team Webpage.

Thank you for supporting our Lenten Outreach project.

Ladies Lunch Bunch - March 11th - at Olive Garden

  4320 East Towne Blvd, Madison, WI

Please sign up on the Kiosk.

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 February Gathering collected $130.00 for Goodman Center foil pan collection.

Our next dates for preparing meals for Healing House are to be determined.

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

April 6, 2026

 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.

Adult Education

Join us from 9:20 am to 10:20 am, between the services, for Adult Education Forums happening this month! 

More information on the Adult Education webpage.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study - Book of Daniel

Wednesdays, January 21 - March 11 at 7:00 am

Ray Robinson is leading a new study on the book of Daniel.

The study-guides are in the church office and available for pick-up. 

We will begin our first session on Wednesday, January 21st at 7 am in the Meeting Room downstairs.  All are welcome!

More information on the Adult Education webpage.

Breadbreakers Group

Messiah’s Bread Breakers is an adult fellowship opportunity. Whether you’re single, young, senior, partners, can’t drive, have a small living area, are going south for the winter – no problem – there is flexibility. It’s a fun way to get acquainted with fellow Messiah members.

More information on the Breadbreakers webpage on our website.

Divine Yoga

Divine Yoga is held three times a year.

The late winter or early spring series is held in February and March.

Divine Yoga sessions are open to all members of Messiah. The yoga sessions are free with an optional free-will offering to benefit a charity selected by the group.

More information on the Divine Yoga webpage of our website.

Ladies Lunch Bunch

Ladies meet on the second Wednesday of each month at a local restaurant to enjoy a meal and each others company.

They usually have a collection for one of Messiah's Social Ministries.

More information and the location of the next gathering on the Ladies Lunch Bunch webpage of our website.

Love, Laughter & Libations

On the second Saturday of each month, members gather after the 5:00 pm service and share each other's company while enjoying cheese and crackers; soda and wine.

More information on the Love, Laughter & Libations page of our website.

Women's Conversation Group

Meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday from 10:30-12:00

This is an informal conversation opportunity to discuss practical ways we live out our faith. Sometimes we have a topic chosen ahead of time such as an article or podcast to discuss, and sometimes we just open the floor to thoughts and discussion. The group is open to all women of Messiah and their friends.

Contact Pastor Renee Kiel if you would like to receive email reminders of when the group meets, or to be added to the group.

For more information visit the Women's Conversation Group webpage.

Check out the  Family Ministry Webpage to learn more about:

Mardi Gras  - February 15, 2026

Boundary Waters Canoe Trips

Family Camp

Summer Camp

Some past events including Trunk or Treat, Old Befana.

Check out the  Senior Adult Ministry Webpage to learn more about:

7th Annual Virtual Pie Sale

SAM Hikes

Volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank

SAM Pot lucks

SAM Trips

Check out the Women's Winter Retreat Webpage to see some amazing photo from the recent retreat at

The Inn at Fort Wilderness Resort in Rhinelander, WI.

The weekend was full of activities (crafts, down-hill tubing, horseback riding, sleigh rides, XC skiing, snowshoeing, puzzles, a nature center, prayer-walks, etc.)