January is Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Slavery and human trafficking might seem like problems that could never happen close to home. It’s easy to think of them as things that happened in the past, or on different continents, but certainly not in a place like Wisconsin, right?

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified more than 218,000 victims of human trafficking in the country since 2007, when the hotline first began operating, with 111 cases of human trafficking identified in Wisconsin in 2024.

Read the entire article here: 9 WI orgs to support during Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

For more information visit the Human Trafficking Awareness Team webpage on our website.

High School Sunday Suppers - January 25 - 6:30 - 7:30 pm

FOOD, FAITH, FUN Valentine  & Cookies

SAM Potluck and Presentation - Wednesday, January 28th - 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm

“Riders on the Storm - A Little Media History” by Steve Cheramy.

All potlucks are held in Social Hall, located beneath the Sanctuary.

We start at 12:00 pm and finish by 1:30 pm.

Registration for the potlucks is NOT required. All you need to do is bring

non-perishable food items and your favorite dish to share with serving utensil.

Lunch is from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm. The program begins at 12:30 pm and is finished by 1:30 pm. 

Our next dates for preparing meals for Healing House are:

February 1 - 7, 2026 

March 1 - 7, 2026

Check the Kiosk for Sign Ups.

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

SYNOD LEAD EVENT - February 7, 2026 - 9:00 am - 3:30 pm - at Messiah

Registration will close January 26, 2026

The 2026 LEAD Conference for rostered and lay leaders is:

Our keynote speaker is Grace Pomroy, Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program at Luther Seminary and author of the excellent book, Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry.

LEAD Workshops are being finalized but will include: Grace Pomroy, a chance to dive in deeper with her and her book. Former Governor, Marty Schrieber, will be helping guide congregations and caregivers forward when it comes to the rising rates of dementia. Racial Equity Ministry Team, Queer Justice Ministry Team, Guns to Garden Tools, Constitutional Updates, and others will be present with us as well. Look for more information in the coming weeks. Register now!

LEAD is the SCSW's annual conference for both rostered and lay leaders, offering an opportunity to come together for learning, worship, fellowship, and more.  Many more details are yet to come, including the line-up of workshop opportunities. Stay tuned!

Online Church Directory Photos - Saturday Feb. 7 and Sunday Feb. 8

We are trying to get every member of Messiah to have a picture in the directory and we need your help!

On Saturday, February 7 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, and Sunday February 8 from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM we will have members of Messiah taking individual pictures for our photo directory.

These photos are only accessible to staff and members of Messiah and they very much helps everyone get to know other members of the congregation.

If you are not able to come to have your picture taken you can:

1. send a photo to the church office at ourchurch@messiahchurch.com
2. add your own photo to your profile page yourself
   

Ladies Valentine Lunch Bunch - February 11th - at Messiah

Please sign up on the Kiosk for the Ladies Valentine Lunch Bunch gathering to be held at Messiah. 

There is no number limit for this event.

Catered Lunch Menu: 

Hot Shredded Chicken Sandwich

Calico Beans, Pasta Salad, Potato Chips,

Crackers & Cheese, Relishes, Lemon Bars

punch, wine, water

$15.00

If paying on Messiah's website, click on "Giving", choose "Events" from the fund dropdown.

If paying by cash or check, put your money in an envelope and place in the LLB box in the office.

The Ladies Lunch Bunch January Gathering collected $115.00 for Badger Childhood Cancer Network.

Community Outreach Meeting - Thursday, February 12 - 2:00 pm

The next Community Outreach meeting is  Thursday, Feb. 12, at 2:00 in the downstairs meeting room, Entrance C. 

Please see the Community Outreach Team webpage for a listing of the 2026 monthly collections. Collections might be added or changed after our team meeting. 

Lenten Collection

Our First Collection for 2026: Fund Drive for Goodman Center 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. 

The Goodman Center has sponsored Thanksgiving Baskets for many years, last year giving away over 4,000 meals!  A complete meal, including a turkey and all the trimmings, is provided to those in need who have registered. Goodman historically had to buy foil roasting pans as donations were low. It was decided to step in to purchase as many as we could.  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!

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

CASE FOR SMILES

Mardi   Gras   Celebration - Sunday, February 15 at 11:30 am

Messiah's Family Ministry team invites you to our Mardi Gras Party.

We will enjoy a pizza lunch, crafts, and a concert with Ken Lonnquist, the same performer who brought us Old Befana last year.

Please sign up so we know how much pizza to order. The signup will be on the Kiosk, or you can email Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.com.

Even if you don’t sign up, please come, we always have extra!

February 20, 2026 Blood Drive - 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.

Our goal is to collect 46 units of blood.

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.

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.



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

Women’s Book Study - now through Thursday, January 29th

We  meet every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room (downstairs near the nursery) to discuss What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey.

This book offers a thoughtful exploration of God’s radical, life-changing grace. Yancey contrasts grace with the judgmentalism and “un-grace” often present in modern church life, inviting us to rediscover grace as the heartbeat of Jesus’ ministry—grace that welcomes prodigals, forgives enemies, and heals broken lives.

We will meet for approximately 90 minutes, allowing time for fellowship, prayer, snacks, and perhaps a song or two.

Books may be picked up from Judy in the church office during office hours, or I can distribute them on Sunday mornings.

There is no charge for the book, though donations are welcome to help offset the cost.  All are welcome!

For more information about What's So Amazing About Grace? go to the Adult Education webpage.

Adult Education / Racial Justice Book Study - Gun Violence - January 25 (last session)

Beyond Thoughts and Prayers: Addressing Gun Violence

The When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough book study concludes Sunday, January 25th  9:20-10:20 AM in the Social Hall. You are welcome to come join the conversation even if you have not yet read the book.

Visit the Racial Justice Section of the website to learn good news about some recent nationwide reductions in gun violence as well as efforts to reduce gun violence. This news comes from Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, the organization providing the training for our Safe Disposal Event in March. You will also see an opportunity for a 5 week zoom session on protecting children from gun violence.

As a follow up to the learning we did during Lent 2025 with Focused Interruption and Guns to Gardens, there will be a Safe Guns Disposal Event on March 21, 2026 from 9-noon at St. Paul AME. Trained volunteers will be needed, more details to come. The disposal will be followed noon - 1 PM with a forging demonstration where gun pieces turned into tools–all are welcome to the forging.

If you cannot come to the sessions in person, here is a zoom link 

For more information about Gun Violence Prevention go to the Racial Justice Team webpage.

Dates and Topics for Upcoming Adult Education Offerings

January 18     Racial Justice Book Study

January 25     Racial Justice Book Study

February 1     Speaker - Jennifer Ginsburg from Safe Harbor

February 8     Speaker - Jeff Wild from Guns to Gardens

February 15   No Adult Education (Sacred Circle for Visitation Ministry)

February 22   TBD

More information on the Adult Education webpage.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study - Book of Daniel

Wednesdays, January 21 - February 25 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.

Check out the  Family Ministry Webpage to learn more about:

Mardi Gras  - February 15, 2026

Breadbreakers

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