1021 University Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Phone (608)258-3160
Services, Events and ProgramsEvery Sunday
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
No member of Luther Memorial Church will be excluded from any congregationally-sponsored activity because of lack of funds. Anyone desiring to participate, but for whom costs of an event are excessive, may speak privately and confidentially to the pastor, who will arrange for funds to cover the costs. The Pastor's Discretionary Fund is used for this purpose and for one-time emergency assistance to people in need. Contributions are welcome. Sunday Evening Activities Begin September 14Beginning September 14, Sunday evening at Luther Memorial will be the time for practice for three choirs for young people, dinner and worship for all ages, confirmation classes, youth ministry, and adult study—a time for all to gather in learning, worship, fellowship and song. The schedule is included above. Living a Generous LifeA three-semester education program, "Living a Generous Life," begins at Luther Memorial this fall. The program was developed by Luther Memorial with a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutheran Foundation. Its goal is to deepen understanding of biblical stewardship in today's world. The first semester will focus on understanding stewardship as an act of worship, an expression of faith, and a spiritual discipline. The spring 2009 focus will be on faithful management of our resources, and fall 2009 will explore what it means to leave a legacy. The fall 2008 schedule includes:
Church Members Build HouseLuther Memorial is working with Habitat for Humanity on Saturdays, August 16 and September 20, to build a home in the Twin Oaks subdivision in southeast Madison. This home will receive substantial funding from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. It has been designated as the Madison Habitat for Humanity 2008 Women’s Build, with the goal of encouraging women to become skilled and fully engaged volunteers. We will be helping the Kalisa-Uwamahoro family build their home. Originally from Rwanda, they lost many family members during the genocide in the 1994 war. Evariste and his wife, Clementine, have three sons. They were joined by his mother two years ago and have an adopted 19-year-old daughter. Volunteers may sign up in the Narthex. We are looking for 10 people for each Saturday. No prior construction experience is needed; training will be provided. Youth must be 16 years old to participate in construction and require signed parental permission and adult mentoring. Volunteers should be at the work site at 8:15 to register, and the work day is from 8:30 a.m. to3:30 pm. There will be a morning break and noon lunch. All food is provided. Contact Barb Luedke, (608) 238-0888, for more information. Sunday SchoolRegular Sunday School classes for children age 3 through grade 9 resume September 7 at 9:15 a.m. A new “Confirmation Forum” for 7-9th graders will meet in the “old conference room” near the lectern side of the nave. Matt Sundell, with trumpet blaring, will lead students, teachers and parents in singing “When the Saints go marching in” from the concourse to the third floor wing on Homecoming Sunday. Bruce Bengtson will continue a musical opening to class, this year in the new Training Choir room on the third floor. Visitors are welcome to attend. For more information, ask the church office, (608) 258-3160. Sunday Morning NurseryIf your infant or small child needs care during the worship service, the downstairs nursery is available. The worship service can be heard in the nursery. Simply Giving Form OnlineLuther Memorial Church and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offer Simply Giving®, a system through which pledges to the church may be deducted automatically from a member's checking, savings, or credit card account weekly or once or twice a month. The form for enrolling is available online [PDF, 148KB]. Simply open, print out, and fill out the form and put it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office. The form also can be used to change information such as address, account number, or pledged amount. Space for PrayerSpace for Prayer is an opportunity to gather with others to invoke and receive God's gift of peace and healing for ourselves, our community, and the world. We pray in silence, after a brief period for prayer requests. In the silence we allow God to work in and through us, that we become instruments of God's peace. Requests for prayer are welcome. Get more information from or submit prayer requests to Sandy Bertics or the church office. Program for Homeless Gets New Name, New HomeThe Interfaith Hospitality Network, of which Luther Memorial is a founding member, has a new name and a new office. It is now called the Road Home of Dane County. On July 1 it moved its offices and daytime hospitality center to 128 E. Olin Avenue, Suite 202, Madison. The Road Home provides overnight shelter for homeless families, rotating weekly among LM and 11 other churches. LM is host these weeks:
Guest families are lodged each night at the shelter. A van transports them between the shelter and hospitality center. Other churches provide volunteers to help with meals, homework mentoring, and social activities for children. The Road Home also provides continuing support for families that move from the shelter into housing, With partner organizations, it rents apartments and provides trained mentors for homeless families. For more information, call Janet Zentner, (608) 233-7226, or Steve Rose, (608) 238-4386. Homebound visitation ministryLuther Memorial provides service to about 50 people in private homes, senior housing, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities throughout the Madison area. Luther Memorial members participate in Meals on Wheels by driving a route on Sundays in September, November, March, and April. Drivers pick up meals and detailed directions at Oakwood-West and deliver the meals to people who otherwise might not have a hot meal. Deliveries take about an hour and a half. To volunteer, contact Walt Miner, (608) 236-9812. The church holds four events a year at Oakwood Village West to keep a strong faith connection with Luther Memorial members who live there. "Friendly Visitors" volunteers visit homebound members on a regular basis. They may offer transportation to and from shopping, restaurant lunches, or living room visits over jigsaw puzzles. Home communion deacons serve on a rotating basis distributing the sacrament to homebound members on the third Sunday of each month. Luther Memorial has joined the Prayer Shawl Ministry, in which members knit shawls and pray for people who are ill or need support. Knitters pray for recipients while they are knitting and written prayers accompany the shawls as reminders of God’s healing grace and the faith community's caring attention. In other congregations, he shawls shave been given to people with sickness awaiting a diagnosis, surgery or other treatments; recovering from surgery; in long term rehabilitation; learning to live with a new disability; dying; grieving; or giving care to others and needing support. Participants in the program invite others to knit or crochet the shawls or donate money for yarn and related expenses. The initial participants are Kathy Seifert, Petra Ressler, Chris Hoag, Milana Cox, Doris Marten, Betty Bauhs, and Mona Scott. Several coordinators are needed for these ministries. Pastors will work with coordinators to provide training and direction, and church office staff will help with scheduling, publicity and mailings. New volunteers are always welcome to join these ministries. To volunteer or to request a friendly visitor or home communion, please contact Pastor Craig Jan-McMahon , (608) 258-3160 ext. 13. Office, Building Hours for SummerDuring June through August the building and office will be open fewer hours:
Contact the office, (608) 258-3160, for more information. |