Divine Yoga outside the Sanctuary

All Messiah folks and their friends are invited to attend on Tuesdays from 6-7:15 pm in the community room.

Bring your own mat.

Fall Sessions: November 3 (will be held outside the Sanctuary)

Divine Yoga donations go to support snacks and winter gear for the walking school bus at Ada Deer (Elvehjem) Elementary School.

The November Love, Laughter, Libations will be held on the first Saturday instead of the second to correspond with Stewardship Weekend. See you on the 7th! 

Stewardship Weekend - November 7 - 8, 2026

2027 Stewardship - “G-I-F-T Growing in Faith Together”

All members of Messiah should be receiving a letter in the mail from Pastor Jeff, and a commitment form for 2027.

We ask that you give this commitment some thoughtful prayer and return the completed form on or before the weekend of November 7^th & 8^th.

The church council will use these commitments to prepare the budget for 2027 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 Friday, October 30^th, contact the office at 608-222-3833 or ourchurch@messiahchurch.com.

Last day for accepting Books for the Book Nook is November 1

Messiah Fall Craft Fair & Bake Sale

Saturday, November 7 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

All proceeds will benefit Briarpatch, Friends of State Street Family, and Madison Street Medicine

It’s Time to Shop!!!

Craft Fair: 40 craft vendors will be selling in the Community Room and Social Hall. We have a dozen new vendors. Check out the selection.

Bake Sale: We have abundant donations coming to fill the 6 rounds in the Gathering Space. Click below for baked goods drop off and packaging information.  

Messiah Cookbook: The new cookbook will be on sale for $20 in the Gatheribng Space next to the Bake Sale. Make sure to get your copy. Great gift!!

Book Nook:   Browse a fine collection of gently used books for children, teens and adults. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $3/Book or 2 for $5   1 p.m. to 3 p.m. $1/Book.   

The Gift Shoppe:  We have variety of 35 gift baskets to start your holiday shopping. Check out the Shoppe inventory which includes wood bowls, night lites, afghans, turtles, and more. 

Take a Chance on a Quilt! $10/Chance on handmade Quilt by Gretchann Dalgaard. Est. Value $350

Boomerang Bags: Pick up your bag on your way through the main entrance

Lunch by YOW: Lunch in the Social Hall 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  YOW fundraiser!

We hope everyone will take the opportunity to enjoy the Messiah Craft Fair & Bake Sale!

Take a Chance on a Quilt! $10/Chance on a handmade Quilt by Gretchann Dalgaard. On Sale before and after services Oct31/Nov 1 weekend.

Craft Fair & Bake Sale - Gift Baskets

Drop offs for the basket contents that need to be wrapped and tagged starts Saturday when Messiah opens up for the 5 p.m. service and continues during office hours until October 30.

Please remember to include your name and the Basket Contents form completely filled out so we can properly tag your basket.

For all the other baskets which have been completed, drop off will start at the 5 p.m. service on October 31 and continue during office hours until November 5. The completed baskets also must include the Basket Contents form. We are anticipating a great sale and want to thank everyone who is making donations to our sale!



Please keep checking the Weekly News for additional photos of baskets AND some of the items which will be for sale in the Gift Shop.

Karen Verhagen is the contact person for questions: verhagen@charter.net  or  608-335-6304.

Messiah's New Cookbook

on sale beginning November 8 - Cost is $20

Through the diligent work of our Cookbook committee, this 643-page gem is ready!

As the holidays approach, find inspiration for your gatherings in this collection of favorite recipes from our members:

· Appetizers & Beverages

· Soups & Salads

· Vegetables & Side Dishes

· Main Dishes

· Breads & Rolls

· Desserts

· Cookies & Candies

· This & That



Also included are pages about our faith community, what we believe, the history of Messiah, our community outreach and services, and a collection of prayers written by our members – truly a keepsake cookbook!

This hard cover, high-quality ring binder book also makes a great gift for Christmas. Cookbooks are $20 and will be available at the November 7 Craft and Bake Sale. Beginning on Sunday, November 8, you may purchase these before and after worship services.

Special thanks to our Committee: Shirley Klinkner, Chair, Jessica Arnold, Susan Ashley, Elizabeth Crummy, Gretchann Dalgaard, Annette Durkin, Annya Fahey, Gloria Hehenberger, Sue Lux, Pastor Dan O’Brien and Annette Salm.

The cook books are here!!!

Thanksgiving Eve Service



Wednesday, November 25

5:00 pm

Save the Date

Men's Ministry Retreat at Lutherdale

April 16, 17, 18, 2027

Cost: $100.00

More information to follow

Community Outreach Team Collections

We will start collecting for Virtual Pies on November 1st

for "Share Your Holidays" (Second Harvest Food Bank)

Virtual Pie forms are available on the Kiosk.

St. Stephen's Food Pantry Item for November - Canned cranberries, pumpkin

If  you like to support the food pantry, they are requesting specific items monthly along with the other items that you give so generously to support the pantry.

If you would like to see what they will be collecting in the months ahead, there are lists on the Kiosk, above the St. Stephen's Food Pantry Collection Bin in the Collection Area, and it will be in the Column Newsletter.

Ladies Lunch Bunch - November 11th - 11:15 am

Daly's Bar & Grill

  1086 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI

Please sign up on the Kiosk. There will be space for 25 women this month.

Please be there by 11:15 am - 1:15 pm.    Orders will be taken at 11:30.

 For questions call Claire at 920-319-6731 or Mary at 262-716-4600

The Ladies Lunch Bunch October Gathering collected $80.00 for the Virtual Pie Collection.

Adult Education November

November 1 – Break – No Adult Ed.

November 8, 15, 29 – Soteriology (the study of Salvation)

Why did Jesus Die on the Cross? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – Pastor Renee

November 22 - Lutheran Social Service Presentation

Divine Yoga Advent Sessions

All Messiah folks and their friends are invited to attend on Tuesdays from 6-7:15 pm in the community room.

Bring your own mat.

Advent Series: December 1,8, 15, 22

Divine Yoga donations go to support snacks and winter gear for the walking school bus at  Ada Deer (Elvehjem) Elementary School.

Children's Christmas Program

 Sunday, December 6

 12:00 noon

Longest Night Service

December 21

6:30 pm

Christmas Services

Christmas Eve

Thursday, December 24

4:00 pm

7:00 pm

Christmas Day

Friday, December 25

10:00 am

Christmas Brunch

Friday, December 25

after the

Christmas Day service

at 11:00 am.

Staffed Nursery is available from 8:00 - 9:20 am and 10:15 - 11:35 am

November 1, only 10:15-11:35.

You are always welcome to be in the nursery with your children and watch the stream on the TV.

Also consider using the activity bags located near the coat rack in the Gathering Space.

Sunday School Started Sunday, September 27th

Your child can still join!

Please use this LINK to register for Sunday School

Click HERE for the Sunday School Schedule

YOW - (Youth on Wednesday Nights)

We continue October 14 with an Online Lesson

In General:

• In-person time is 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
• Online times are:     Preconfirmation 6-6:45 p.m.
                                     Confirmation 7-7:45 p.m.

Click HERE for the schedule for the year

Click  HERE to Register for 2026-2027-Cost is $40.00.

The YOW retreat is November 14-15 at Bethel Horizons.

Registration QR Code

YOW Confirmation retreat -Saturday November 14-15

at Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville.

The YOW Retreat is the weekend of Saturday, November 14-Sunday, November 15 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 including a high ropes course.

Women’s Conversation Group - will resume after the book study ends.

All are welcome to gather on the 3rd Thursday from 10:30 am to noon for prayerful conversation and fellowship.

Morning Bible Study Wednesdays 7 AM in the downstairs Meeting Room 

The Gospel of Luke invites readers to explore the story of Jesus as God's Chosen One (Messiah)

From the joyous account of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the images of his crucifixion at Golgtha, to the "eye-opening" meal at Emmaus, we are invited into a remarkable story. 

Contact person – Ray Robinson rayerobinson13@gmail.com    608-695-5591

The next Healing House week is:

December 27 - January 2.

Please sign up on the kiosk if you are interested in preparing a meal. Contact Elizabeth at volunteer@messiahchurch.com for more information.

Justice for a New Day Shareout from October 19th Class

Specific challenges faced by women, the aging and LGBTQIA+ people

The prison system was designed for small numbers of young, cis-gendered men. It is not designed for large numbers of people and not those who are women, older people and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Women

If society wants a better outcome for people returning home, we have to understand and address the circumstances that lead to their being incarcerated in the first place. 

Women who have been told they don’t matter before they enter prison, also are told they don’t matter after they return without access to resources to overcome challenges in mental health, addiction and the trauma caused by unstable housing, domestic violence and poverty.

Women with children face unique challenges before, during and after their incarceration: who will care for them, how will they maintain and rebuild those relationships, how will they parent and re-build trust, and complete the requirements of probation which might include a 30-day program?

Aging Population

Over ⅔ of the prison population is over age 50 and prison accelerates biological aging due to stress, interrupted sleep, over-crowding, small spaces for movement, walking in cuffs, and standing for extended periods for medication administration and meals. 

Geriatric indicators like being at risk for falls, hearing loss, etc. are so much greater in prison that an incarcerated 59 year old has the same risk factors as a non-incarcerated 75 year old. 

Healthcare is expensive. Co-pays for pregnancy care, vaccinations and anything beyond a yearly physical can cost more than an inmate earns in a week. For example, a $7.50 co-pay in prison is equivalent to $650 for someone making minimum wage outside prison.

LGBTQIA+ People

They are over-represented in every level of the prison system. Lesbian and gay people are 3 times more likely to be incarcerated. 16% of transgender people have been incarcerated, versus. 2.7% of cisgender people. This is due to factors such as targeted legal prosecution, higher rates of substance use, higher rates of homelessness and poverty due to job discrimination.

For example, 40% of homeless youth identify as LQBTQIA+. They have been rejected from home so they engage in criminalized behaviors like theft, drug sales and sex work in order to survive.

LQBTQIA+ people are much more likely to be assaulted by staff and other incarcerated people and more likely to end up in solitary confinement under the guise that it is for their protection.

What to do?

• Enact drug policy and sentencing reforms which could result in older people, who have the lowest rates of recidivism, being released. Many are incarcerated because longer sentences are being ordered, truth-in-sentencing requirements reduce the opportunity for parole, and many were swept into prison during the war on drugs. 
• Invest in prevention with better access to treatment for mental health, addiction and trauma related issues.
• Invest in those services again after release, since those do not necessarily get resolved during incarceration, coupled with peer support and help to find housing, jobs and family services.
• Increase support for LGBTQIA+ youth through programs like Briarpatch's Teens Like Us and end the criminalization of sex work.
• Eliminate discrimination in housing and employment for those returning from incarceration.

We can’t tell people to do better without a realistic opportunity for them to actually do better.