Services, Events and Programs

Every Sunday

• 8 a.m.: Holy Communion with sung liturgy and hymns
• 8 a.m. - noon: Nursery open
• 9:15 a.m.: Adult forum and Sunday Church School
• 10:30 a.m.: Choral Holy Communion

Every Wednesday

• Noon: Organ concert

May 2008

• Thursday, May 1, Ascension Day:
  • 5:30 p.m.: Dinner in the Great Room (pizza with potluck salads and desserts)
  • 6:30 p.m.: Service
• Sunday, May 4, Cantate Sunday, 10:30 a.m.: Service with special music
• Monday, May 26, Memorial Day: Church office closed

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.

Mission Trips to Kentucky and Minnesota Planned

Luther Memorial is planning two mission service trips this summmer.

The first trip will be to Minneapolis, June 22- 28. Our hosting partners in Minneapolis, Urban Immersion Service Retreats, will provide food and lodging and offer training about issues related to social mission work in urban settings. We will then be connected with an area of need recognized by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. After several days of work, our hosts will “debrief us,” helping us to tell the story of our mission experience.

There are 12 spaces available for the Minneapolis trip for those age 15 or older.

Our second trip will be to return to Kentucky July 26-August 3with Sharing with Appalachian People (SWAP), a mission sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee. The long-term commitment churches have made to the rural poor will be met in part through the work of our hands.

There are 15 spaces for the Rural Mission Trip to Kentucky with SWAP. The rural trip is open to people of all ages. Families are encouraged to participate.

To get more information or sign up for either trip, contact Pastor Craig Jan-McMahon, 258-3160, ext. 13.

Sunday School

Regular Sunday School classes are at 9:15 a.m. for children age 3 through grade 8. Visitors are welcome to attend.

For more information, ask the church office, (608) 258-3160.

Sunday Morning Nursery

If 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.

Space for Prayer

Space 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.

Interfaith Hospitality Network

Luther Memorial and 23 other Madison churches have joined together as the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of the Madison Area to create an overnight shelter and daytime hospitality center for homeless families. The shelter rotates weekly among LM and 11 other churches. LM will be host these weeks:

• May 18-25, 2008
• August 10-17, 2008
• November 9-16, 2008

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 average length of stay is about six to eight weeks, while the families find permanent housing.

For more information, call Janet Zentner, (608) 233-7226, or Steve Rose, (608) 238-4386.

Homebound visitation ministry

Luther 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.