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

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
   

Adult Education

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

February 8th - Jeff Wild, with Guns to Gardens, will speak with us about his work to bring an end to gun violence in the Dane County area. Jeff Wild spoke with us last Lent and has been working with a team from Messiah, St. Paul AME, and Focused Intervention to host a Safe Gun Disposal event this spring. During his time with us, we will also have space to write letters to our elected officials in support of stronger gun laws here in Wisconsin. 

Adult Ed Session: How to Contact State and Federal Representatives

Do you want to express your opinion about social justice issues to Wisconsin’s state reps as well as our reps in Washington, DC but don’t know what words or tech to use to get started? 

Join members of the Racial Justice Team this Sunday February 8th from 9:20-10:20 AM between the services in the social hall. We will show you how to get started with several options including writing postcards, using the Call 5 App and emailing. We will brainstorm what to say about topics like gun violence, ICE, etc. Once you know how to do this, you can contact them about any topic that is important to you.

More information on the Adult Education webpage.

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 theCommunity Outreach Teamwebpage for a listing of the 2026 monthly collections. Collections might be added or changed after our team meeting. 

New Members are Welcome!!! 

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!

For more information on other events visit the Family Ministry webpage. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

CASE FOR SMILES

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 - 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.

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.

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.)