Set on a rise along Cottage Grove Road on the east side of Madison, Wisconsin, New Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) has built a reputation as one of the friendliest congregations in the area. Members and visitors alike describe it as open, accepting, and grounded in the simple conviction that "hospitality" is more than a word here. Officially known as St. Matthew's New Life Lutheran Church, the congregation carries more than seven decades of history while continuing to grow into its current home, a 20-acre property where worship, music, formation, and outdoor prayer all have room to breathe.
From Gardner Bakery to Cottage Grove Road: The Story of St. Matthew's New Life
The congregation's story begins in 1955, when Pastor Howard A. Rice was called to survey eastern Madison and plant a new church of the Lutheran Church in America and the National Lutheran Council. The first service was held on January 15, 1956 in the Community Room of the Gardner Bakery on East Washington Avenue, and the church was officially organized on June 17, 1956 with 39 charter families. Within months, a House Chapel was added next to the bakery, and a Sunday school soon followed.
By the late 1950s, growth prompted the purchase of land on Dempsey Road, but it took a full decade for the new building to become reality: groundbreaking came on May 11, 1969, and the first worship service in the Dempsey Road location was held on January 18, 1970. An expansion for education space followed in 1987.
When the congregation outgrew that building and felt called toward a new mission focus, members purchased 10 acres on the edge of the city on Cottage Grove Road, then received an unexpected second gift of 10 acres from the sellers, Ron and Trudy Hermsmeier. Groundbreaking on the new site came in 2002, and the first worship service in the present building was celebrated on January 19, 2003, almost exactly 33 years after the Dempsey Road opening. Along with the new location, the congregation adopted the name "New Life," deliberately keeping the historical tie to its St. Matthew's identity.
Two Sunday Worship Services, One Welcoming Spirit
New Life offers two Sunday morning services in English, both designed to be accessible and warm.
- Traditional Praise Service at 8:00 a.m., geared toward those who prefer a traditional Lutheran worship experience.
- Contemporary Praise Service at 9:45 a.m., a casual, energetic gathering led by a full praise band with electric guitars and drums.
The 9:45 a.m. service is live-streamed on Facebook Live each week, and recordings of past services are available on the church's YouTube channel. Children are always welcome in worship, and a children's message is typically part of the service. The congregation practices open Communion, and the welcome extends to everyone at the table, regardless of background.
What New Life Believes
New Life is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and follows the beliefs of that denomination to the best of its ability. The church distills its life together around five core convictions, each paired with scripture:
- Loving God - encouraged into a profound experience of God's love (Matthew 22:37).
- Loving People - sharing the love God has shown (1 John 4:7, 12).
- Building Christian Community - functioning as a unified body for the glory of God (Romans 15:5-6).
- Growing Spiritually - being transformed as we deepen our relationship with the Lord (Colossians 3:15-16).
- Sharing Jesus - living as witnesses through word and action (Matthew 28:19-20).
A Welcome Statement, unanimously adopted on January 30, 2022, frames the church's public identity. New Life affirms that everyone is created in the image of God as beloved children, and explicitly welcomes diversity in age, race, nation of origin, citizenship status, gender identity, sexual orientation, social and economic status, judicial history, political view, background, ability, and marital status. The statement commits the congregation to anti-racism work and the building of non-oppressive systems, acknowledging that growth is a journey and perfection is not the goal.
The church also opens its worship with a Land Acknowledgment that honors the Ho-Chunk (Hoocąk) peoples on whose traditional land the congregation meets, names its gratitude for their ongoing care of the land, and explicitly rejects the Doctrine of Discovery and the systems of oppression it has underwritten.
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
Children's and youth ministry at New Life is led by Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator Ashley Reinke. Highlights of the year include Vacation Bible School each summer for children in 4K through 5th grade, summer camp at Pine Lake in Waupaca for youth currently in 6th through 8th grade, and an annual mission trip for older youth in partnership with Praying Pelican Missions. Recent trip destinations have included Paducah, Kentucky and Chicago, Illinois.
The church also hosts family-friendly seasonal events. A long-running favorite is "Breakfast with Santa," where children share Christmas wishes with Santa over a community breakfast. Other recurring events include the Halloween "Field of Dreams" gathering, the Mad City Funk concert (led by New Life member Shawn Peters), and "Concerts on the Hill" featuring food from Holy Cow and live music on the church's hilltop property.
Adult Formation and Small Groups
Adult Faith Formation meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. during the program year (September through May), with classes led by Pastor Heather and lay leaders. A Women's Bible Study gathers on Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., September through June. Both groups pause for the summer and resume in the fall.
Smaller ongoing ministries include the Worship Band, which functions as a small group that rehearses contemporary Christian music, prays together, and grows in faith alongside its Sunday morning work; the Care Team, which reaches out through cards, meals, and hands-on support during illness, surgery, or bereavement; and the Prayer Team, which supports Pastor Heather's prayer ministry across the congregation.
Outdoor Prayer Spaces on the 20-Acre Property
Few things set New Life apart more than its outdoor prayer offerings, all situated on the wide property around the building.
- Prayer Labyrinth - a serene space just off the parking lot, with information about the practice available at the entry.
- Prayer Path - a longer route through the upper prairie, designed for a slower, more extended walk.
- Prayer Garden - a rock garden behind the Re-Creation Center, intended for quiet contemplation.
Indoors, the building also offers a dedicated Prayer Room with Bibles and devotionals, alongside the main Worship Center and the Re-Creation Center, both of which are open for prayer throughout the week. Parking-lot worship is another well-loved tradition, an outdoor service that has taken place even in September.
Joining the Work: Community Partnership and Teams
New Life does not use the word "membership"; instead, newcomers are invited to become "community partners" in the gospel. The path begins with a casual conversation with Pastor Heather, followed by recognition at a Sunday Welcome Celebration held in the spring and fall.
Volunteers keep the congregation running through several active teams:
- Welcome Team - greeters, ushers, coffee servers, and offering counters.
- Property Team - oversees twice-yearly all-church clean-ups and assists the Property Manager.
- Care Team - extends Christ's love through cards, meals, and personal support.
- Prayer Team - supplements the congregation's prayer life and assists with prayer ministries.
- Social Purpose Team - advances conversations about equity and justice, and oversees the Social Purpose Fund that helps people in need in the wider community.
The People Who Lead New Life
Pastor Heather Hayward began her ministry at St. Matthew's New Life in January 2020, after 12 years at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Middleton and 6 years at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse. A vocalist by training (her bachelor's degree is in Vocal Performance), she is known for creative worship, interactive sermons, and family-friendly ministry. She lives in Cottage Grove with her husband David, her daughter Emma, a cat named Mia, and a dog named Ray.
Supporting Pastor Heather are Ashley Reinke (Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator), Sarah S. (Office Manager and former New Life youth-group participant who returned to the staff after teaching music and technology), Shakia "Queen" Turner (Property Manager with deep roots in Madison and a long record of volunteer ministry), and Jim M. (Bookkeeper). The lay council is led by President Jillene Fisch, with Linda Sime as Vice President, Uriah Reppert as Secretary, and Ken Wundrow as Treasurer, alongside a wider council of elected members.
Staying Connected
New Life publishes a weekly email newsletter, with archives going back several years. Giving is available online through a secure giving page, and the church maintains both a Facebook page (where services are live-streamed) and a YouTube channel (where recorded services are posted). The church office can be reached at 608-223-9337 or newlifelc@newlifelc.com, and visitors are warmly invited to stop in at 7564 Cottage Grove Road on Madison's east side.