Briarpatch Staff speaking June 27 - 28

Staff from Briarpatch Youth Services will be speaking at the services June 27-28. Jill Pfeiffer, the executive director, will have representatives Jen Ripp & Jay Kiefer, both program directors, share their mission. 

Briarpatch offers a broad array of services to strengthen the lives of families and their youth who have runaway, are experiencing homelessness, and/or facing other challenges. Each year they serve approximately 2,000 youth.

Although their mission is not explicitly to serve victims of human trafficking, building stronger family and community connections is a preventative measure to help keep youth from being exploited.

Custodial Position Opening

Custodian is a part time position on staff at 10/11 hrs per week and supports the ministry at Messiah by cleaning the interior of the building. The custodian reports directly to the Building Team and the Lead Pastor. Occasional weekend availability may be required under special circumstances.

If you are interested please contact the office (608-222-3833) and Judy can provide you with a full job description and wage information.

"A Day at Holden Experience" - July 25 - 12:00 - 8:00pm

Join Lake Edge Lutheran Church in Madison and Holden Village for a "Day at Holden Experience" featuring new liturgy and guest teaching faculty, Rev. Dr. Niveen Ibrahim Sarras.

Reverend Doctor Niveen Ibrahim Sarras

"The Rev. Dr. Niveen Ibrahim Sarras is the first Palestinian woman ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Her passion for Scripture began at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation and its school in Bethlehem. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago."

The Schedule:

1:00 PM - Welcome

1:30 PM - Worship 

Bless This Night

2:00 PM - Education Session by Rev. Dr. Niveen Ibrahim Sarras

Love in Bloom: Ecology and Desire in the Song of Songs

3:30 PM - Community Sessions

Song Circle or Nature Walk 

4:30 PM - Education Session by Rev. Dr. Niveen Ibrahim Sarras

Love in Bloom: Ecology and Desire in the Song of Songs Part 2

5:30 PM - Holden Update

6:00 PM - Dinner (Free will offering)

7:00 PM - Worship

Holdren Evening Prayer

Young Adult Evening Mixer at Messiah

July 29 - 7:00 pm

Friends Welcome!!!!!

Scan QR code on image or on Kiosk to let Pr. Dan know that you are coming

Light snacks, S’Mores - Connection, Community

Save the Dates for Pride Celebrations

Sun Prairie Pride Festival, June 27th

• Everyone is invited to join members of Messiah. Reach out to Pastor Dan or Tracy Frank at tracyfrank@me.com for more info.

"1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture" - July 14th 5:00 - 7:00

• On July 14th we will have dinner and watch "1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture," a documentary about how the word "homosexual" was inserted into the Bible and how we've addressed it since. Watch for details in the weekly news for the time and how to sign up so we have enough food.

Madison Outreach Magic Pride Festival – August 16th 1:00-6:00 PM

• Messiah’s RIC Team is inviting you to join us at the Madison Outreach Magic Pride Festival. This is a family friendly event to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ siblings and to be a presence of love in the community. Keep an eye out for a sign-up at the end of June to volunteer at our table.

Guest Speaker: Mikah Meyers – August 15th & 16th. 

• Messiah’s RIC team is excited to welcome National Parks Expert Mikah Meyer, a classically trained singer and award-winning filmmaker. Raised as a Lutheran preacher’s kid in Nebraska, Mikah is passionate about exploring the outdoors and helping people of divergent backgrounds find joy and common ground through their shared love of nature. This advocacy is seen through his short film Canyon Chorus. Mikah is the creator of the Outside Safe Space symbol which is sold at park gift shops and recreation stores including REI, and is currently being worn by over 100,000 people in the United States as a non-verbal signifier of LGBTQ+ allies in outdoor, rural, and active space.
  

Bread Breakers – An Adult Fellowship Opportunity for folks over 18 years of age

Barb and Walt Herrod are the organizers of the Bread Breakers Adult Fellowship Group. Here is how it works!

Assigned groups may contain 5 -8 people. You’ll each host the other group members in your home for a meal at least once roughly between fall through early summer. The host provides the main dish and beverages and asks others to provide items to round out the meal. The style of the meal is absolutely your choice when you host – brunch or dinner, cook-out/fancy/casual, on a weekend or weekday. 



New for 2026-27:  If enough people are interested, we’ll create “Snowbird Bread Breakers” groups for those who spend a significant portion of the winter away from Wisconsin. We’ll assign your special group in September, and you can decide together when you’ll start meeting. We’d suggest getting together at least once before the holidays, and resuming when you all return in the spring. The option to be in “Snowbird Bread Breakers” is on the enrollment form.

Enrollment forms are on the Kiosk now. Fill out and return to the specially marked box in the church office by Labor Day.  Include your name and the name of any person who will or may regularly accompany you. We’ll email your group assignment in mid-September.  If you want the enrollment form sent electronically, email us and we’ll send it to you.

Call Barb & Walt Herrod 608-318-2129 (landline), or email bwhfam@gmail.com with any questions.

May was the Annual Mountain of Food Fundraiser

Thank you for supporting the Mountain of Food collection.

Final total - we collected $19,297 to support St. Stephen's and St. Mark's Food Pantries.

As pantry usage and food needs continue to increase, support from our community becomes even more important. Each contribution, no matter the amount, helps to provide for those in need.

Our donations will allow the pantries to support more families with their food needs.

Give Families a Lift--We Did It!

Messiah folks and the Kennedy Family Support Network raised the $41,000 needed to buy the van and have 2 years of gas, maintenance and insurance in the bank. Check out the photo to the left showing even the exhaust from the vehicle in motion!

Here is a video showing it being put together piece by piece: https://vimeo.com/1203904473

If you have pledged but not yet paid, please try to do so in the next few weeks or let us know when you plan to.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your commitment to getting children to school!

Staffed Summer Nursery Hours: from Memorial Day weekend, which is May 24th, through Labor Day weekend, which is September 6th, the nursery will only be open at the late service.

You are always welcome to use the Nursery room and watch the service on the screen in the Nursery.

Our next weeks for preparing meals for Healing House are:

July 19 - 25

Please sign up on the kiosk if you can make a meal.

Ladies Lunch Bunch - July 8th

El Gallo

 6309 Monona Drive  Monona, 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 608-716-4600

In honor of Pride Month, the Ladies Lunch Bunch June Gathering collected $60.00 for Messiah's RIC Mission

Community Outreach Team Meeting - Thursday, September 24th at 10:00am

Community Outreach Team Collections

Please check out the Ongoing Community Outreach Collection webpage to see what Messiah collects to help local organiztions support their clients.

Paper copies of the Collections are available in the Collection Area at Messiah

(between the Gathering Space and the Community Room).

Please see the flyer for more information 

and to sign up.

Summer Mini Mission Opportunity for children - July 13 and 14 - 8:00 - noon

We are excited to invite our littlest learners to join us for a summer learning opportunity here at Messiah. Our summer "Mini" Mission is an opportunity for our children to serve others in our community. Children will learn about the importance of serving and the different ways we can serve through stories, discussion, and hands-on experiences. We will work with the YOW group to complete service projects that will help others in our community and we will spend some time playing and eating together. 

The Mission takes place here at Messiah on Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14 from 8:00 AM until 12. Students will have a hot breakfast prepared for them and should bring a sack lunch to eat later in the day.

This opportunity is open to all children currently ages 4 through 4th grade. We hope you can join us!

WELCA Gathering -  July 16 - 19 - Des Moines, IA

This inspiring event brings together 1,000 to 3,000

Women of the ELCA for four days of:
 
Powerful worship experiences
Inspiring speakers
Engaging workshops and service projects
A 5K run/walk
 
Registration is $525 for the 4-day event (lodging and transportation are not included).

 Messiah is offering  $275 to offset some of the expense, so please don’t let the cost prohibit you from participating.

Please sign up on the Kiosk if you are interested in joining us for this faith-inspiring event!  

Messiah Cook book Update - Submit by July 31st

Sharing food is a timeless tradition of friendship, support and community. We have a great committee working hard to collect, organize, and create this special keepsake of favorite recipes from Messiah members and friends.

Please send your recipes to Shirley Klinkner, Committee Chair: Shirley.messiahcookbook@yahoo.com

Include the recipe name, your name and the recipe category:

         Appetizers & Beverages         Soups & Salads         Vegetables & Side Dishes

         Main Dishes                            Breads & Rolls           Desserts

         Cookies & Candies                 This & That

"Recipes for Two" are welcome and will be included in the appropriate category.

You may also include a brief note with the recipe, 12-14 words.

Example: These cookies are a favorite of my children and vanish within two days. Please do not include brand names in the recipe name. Example: Hershey's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie. All recipes are due by July 31^st.

How to submit a recipe:

· Email to Shirley: Shirley.messiahcookbook@yahoo.com 

· Recipe sheets ate available on the rolling cart at church for you to handwrite your recipe (place completed form in the church office)

· Take a photo of your recipe and email it to Shirley

Cookbooks will be available for purchase beginning November 7^th at the annual Craft & Bake Sale. Thank you for helping make this community collection a joy to give and to receive! 

Annual Backpack Collection - Look out for school supply sales!

The annual Backpack Collection will be held in July where we collect backpacks and school supplies for local schools and organizations.

Stay tuned for details! This year we are going to post a donation signup in the Gathering Space, and monetary donations are also appreciated.

If you see any sales between now and July on notebooks, markers, crayons, folders, etc. feel free to pick them up and save them for the collection!

New Action Circles–Protecting Children from Gun Violence: Imagining a New World

Opportunity from Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, the Guns to Gardens group

Wednesdays on Zoom 

Noon ET, 11:00am CT, 10:00am MT, 9:00am PT 

Bring a bag lunch or brunch!

Summer: July 8 - Aug 5

Register HERE.

This five session series on Zoom will guide you and your congregation in finding your action for protecting children from gun violence. Created by educational and pastoral leaders in the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, this faith-based program covers in one hour a key topic each week:

• Children in the Crossfire: Why is gun violence the top killer of our children?

• Saving Child Lives with Secure Gun Storage

• Seeing Our Children: The mental and spiritual health of children in the crossfire

• Direct Action Options for Real Safety for Children

• Advocacy, Voting and Finding Next Steps for Your Congregation

"At the first session when we learned about the causes of gun violence against children, I was so discouraged. By the final session, I was incredibly hopeful about all the practical things that we can do to protect children from gun violence."

                                                                                                                                                                         --Participant in the Winter Action Circle

Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

A Source for Civic Engagement Materials

The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) is a ministry of the ELCA that engages Lutherans in nonpartisan advocacy for policies that promote peace, justice, and care for all of God’s creation. Working in collaboration with ELCA World Hunger and the six ELCA synods with congregations in Wisconsin, LOPPW represents the coordinated public policy witness of the ELCA in Wisconsin and serves as a bridge of communication between congregations and lawmakers in Madison.

In 2026, we have two upcoming elections – the primary election (Aug. 11 in Wisconsin) and the general election (Nov. 3). Election years are an opportunity for congregations and individuals to coordinate nonpartisan civic engagement activities. The ELCA teaches that civic engagement is both our calling as Christians and a responsibility for residents of the United States.

LOPPW has an Elections 2026 webpage to share information and resources. We are planning two online events this year, will offer an opportunity for youth education leaders to attend a training, and will share resources that can be used by congregations, ministry teams, and individuals. Please visit our elections webpage to learn more: loppw.org/election/

You can also sign up for our mailing list to receive updates at: loppw.org/action/mailing-list/. Contact Kacy Kostiuk, Director, at kacy.kostiuk@elca.org or 608-940-1808 with any questions or if you would like to learn more. 

 Jevon Diming with Pierre Outreach Services Safe House (POSSH) has been awarded a state Violence Prevention Grant enabling her to step forward in securing a permanent space for a Wellness Lab for Women and Girls so they can walk in and receive care without barriers. This space will offer curated healing modalities, culturally responsive support, and resources tailored to the personal and family needs of each woman and girl served, where healing can happen daily, not just in moments of crisis; it is to provide a space where women and girls know they belong, where they can rebuild, restore, and reimagine their lives.  POSSH is actively pursuing additional grant opportunities and partnerships to sustain and expand this vision, ensuring services remain accessible to those who have historically lacked support.

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.

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.