Special Collection for Madison Area Jail Ministry - October 25 - November 11

The Madison Area Jail Ministry has asked Messiah for help to provide some needed items for those being released from jail. 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

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!

Adult Education – Reformation Sunday, October 26 - 9:20-10:20 am

In celebration of Reformation Sunday, join us between services in the Social Hall for a special Adult Education session on “Martin Luther and the Reformation.”

Pastor Renee will offer an engaging overview of Martin Luther’s life and the movement he sparked that reshaped the church in Germany and beyond. Together, we’ll explore questions such as:

• Why do Lutherans sing so many hymns?
• Why do we talk about grace so much?
• What changes did Luther make in worship—and what did he keep the same?
• What were indulgences, and why did Luther oppose them?

Come learn, ask questions, and deepen your appreciation for our Lutheran heritage and faith.

All are welcome—we hope to see you there!

If you are not able to attend, you may want to brush up on your knowledge of Martin Luther, the Reformation and Lutheran beliefs by taking another look at "Moments With Marty".

If you are new to Messiah and/or the Lutheran Church, these little snippets will give you a glimpse into the Lutheran Church and Lutheran Theology.

Dr. Craig L. Nessan is William D. Streng Professor for the Education and Renewal of the Church and Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

Dr. Nessan has served eleven years as a parish pastor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He holds degrees from Michigan State University, Wartburg Theological Seminary, and the University of Munich.

He serves as Co-Editor of the online journal, Currents in Theology and Mission (www.currentsjournal.org ). In addition to other articles, reviews, and books, Dr. Nessan is the author of Free in Deed: The Heart of Lutheran Ethics (2022), Wilhelm Loehe and North America: Historical Perspective and Living Legacy (2020), The Integrity of the Body of Christ: Boundary Keeping as Shared Responsibility (2016—with Arden Mahlberg), Shalom Church: The Body of Christ as Ministering Community (2010), and co-editor of Diaconal Studies: Lived Theology for the Church in North America (2024) and Here We Stand: A Lutheran Response to Child Abuse (2025).

Dr. Nessan has been active in generating a Life of Faith Initiative in the ELCA (www.lifeoffaith.info ) and as a theology advisor for the CaSTLE Project at Wartburg Theological Seminary (https://www.wartburgseminary.edu/the-castle-project/).

Last ride of the season!

Pr. Dan and the motorcycle group will be heading out for the last ride of the season on October 25th.

They will be leaving Messiah at 10:00am and riding to

the Merimmac Ferry and then to Sauk City.

Senior Adult Ministry Hikes

 Friday, October 31 – Owen Conservation Park, 6021 Old Sauk Rd., Madison, WI 53705

10 AM departure time

This park on Madison’s west side has both wooded and prairie trails. We’ll do a wooded loop (and maybe spot deer and turkeys) before we head down the hill onto a trail that encircles a large prairie.

It is about two miles with some hilly areas, but we’ll take it slowly, and there are benches along the way.

Meet in the parking lot, where restrooms are available.

Monday, November 10 - McCarthy Park, 4841 Co Hwy TT, Cottage Grove, WI 53527

10 AM departure time

This is a favorite 2.5 mile walk in woods and along fields with open views and gentle hilled areas.

Note: there are non-flush comfort stations in the parking lot where we will meet for the hike.

Directions from Messiah: Go left on Cottage Grove Road past Metro Market and turn left at the light on Sprecher Road. Continue through the
Milwaukee St. intersection then turn right at the next intersection onto County Rt T. Continue straight when it becomes CO Rt TT. Proceed through the traffic circle and stay on TT.

The park entrance is about a half mile ahead on your left. To see the route mapped out, go here:
   https://goo.gl/maps/kzVCofdQ2sqtZML89

A GPS might try to put you on Pierceville Road, but that will take you past the park entrance and out of the way.

Save the Date

The Craft & Bake Sale will be held on

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025

from 9:00am - 3:00pm

_______________________________

Lunch items will be available

for sale by

Messiah's  YOW Group

from 11:00am - 1:00pm

Please sign up to make Baked Goods for the Bake Sale

at the Craft & Bake Sale.

Sign up is on the easel in the Gathering Space.

Bakers, please drop off

your baked goods on

Friday October 31st from 4 to 6pm or Saturday November 1st starting at 8am. 

If you have questions, please contact Karen Verhagen

(608-335-6304 or verhagen@charter.net)



Cash & Carry Gift Baskets for Craft & Bake Sale

The baskets were a big hit last year and we are asking for donations for our 2025 sale.  Here are the details:

• Decide on a theme: some suggestions - coffee, date night, Mexican meal, Italian meal, chocolate, kid’s activities, coffee, pet, garden, kitchen, spa, store gift cards, etc.
• Sign up on sheet on the kiosk (will be posted September 13)
• Value of the basket needs to be at least $30 
• Include a list of all items with the basket
• Wrap (use clear plastic wrap or get premade basket wrappers (at Dollar Store)
• Deliver to church between October 19 and 26 (we cannot take baskets before the 19th)

Last year we sold 18  baskets x $30 = $540

x Gundlach Family Fund match = $1080!

Let’s see if we can sell more!

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 Sunday School Year

All children ages 3 through 4th grade are welcome!

Sunday School meets from 9:20 to 10:15 and the schedule is linked above. 



Please use the link below to register and reach out to Brittany at cfm@messiahchurch.com with any questions you may have!

Register Now for 2025-2026

Youth on Wednesday Nights (YOW)

YOW is the religious education and faith formation program for youth in grades 5-9 and encompasses both Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation.

Pre-Confirmation -two-year program for students in 5^th and 6^th grades -  6-6:45 p.m.
Confirmation - three-year program for students in 7^th-9^th grades -   7-7:45 p.m.

Building relationships and connecting with the youth is key to encouraging faith formation and exploration. We have had much success with a hybrid model of zoom lessons (Zoom invite info will be provided) along with in-person activity nights and community field trips. The times for online lessons are:

ALL YOUTH ARE WELCOME.

For more information, please contact Teresa at   youth@messiahchurch.com

Faith, Food and Fun! 

The next Waffle Wednesday, October 29 to paint or carve pumpkins. There will be waffles with toppings, sausage, and bacon along with a faith discussion. We had a great turnout for the first event in September, so we hope your youth can join us in October!

The time is roughly 6:30-7:30 or 8:00 p.m. We will let the youth gage how late they can stay.

Please RSVP in order to have enough materials and food available.

The next event is going to be on Sunday November 30 for a Friendsgiving event at 6:30 p.m. 

At our October Ladies Lunch Bunch

we collected $105.00

for the SAM Virtual Pie Collection.

Book of Revelation

The Men's bible study continues Wednesday mornings from

October 22 - November 19

at 7:00 am

This 8-session course explores selected passages from Revelation.

1. Revealing Revelation (Revelation 1:1-20)
2. Life and Faith in Pergamum and Laodicea (Revelation 2:12-17, 3:14-22)
3. Visions of God and the Lamb (Revelation 4:1-6a, 5:1-10)
4. Destruction and Protection (Revelation 6:15-7:17)
5. The Great “Battle”(Revelation 12:1-17)
6. The Fall of a Great and Powerful Empire (Revelation 18:1-24)
7. Our New Home is Here But Not Here (Revelation 21:1-8)
8. Jesus Is Coming, Soon (Revelation 22:8-21)

SAM Pot Lucks



Join your SAM friends on Wednesday, October 29, to kick off SAM’s 7^th Annual Virtual Pie Sale.

You will hear the history of the apple pie sale from 2016 to the present. Then Ted Jun, Director of Communications and Marketing at Second Harvest Food Bank, will address the funding cuts and the impact on SHFB and over three hundred pantries in 16 south central Wisconsin Counties. Barbara McKinney, Madison Alder District 20 and Mike’s Mom, and Leigh Mills, NBC15 anchor, will have a discussion that looks back at how Mike first started the food drive and how far it has come today. Note the special time of 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm.

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.

Clothes for Kennedy

Message from Bridget, the social worker

We are in desperate need of clothing for kiddos, both to stock our health office as well as to have clothing to send home to families in need.  Items we are most in need of:

Underwear--Youth size XS-XL

Socks--Youth size XS-XL

Sweatpants--Youth size XS-XL

Leggings--Youth size XS-XL

T-Shirts--Youth size XS-XL

Sweatshirts--Youth size XS-XL

We will also take adult and little kid clothing as well as we have families reaching out for those sizes as well.

Messiah Lutheran Church Land Acknowledgement

As we gather with friends, allies, and those we may not yet know, we acknowledge that the land traditionally known as De Jope, which means four lakes, is part of who we are and reflects our history. Wisconsin is the homeland of 12 First Nations, including the Ho-Chunk people, who have lived in the Madison area for thousands of years, contributing in many ways to our region. 

As Christian European immigrants, we acknowledge our part in the history of systematic destruction and displacement of Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge the ongoing systems of harm, toward our indigenous siblings and toward the land, that are perpetuated throughout our neighborhood, our state, and the world today. We, Messiah Lutheran Church, are committed to protecting and honoring the history and people of this area, working toward healing and justice with our local indigenous communities, and living as stewards and caregivers for the land and water.

Contact Person - Nancy Battist - battistnancy@gmail.com

Bingo Cards are due on November 1st