Sunday School Christmas Worship
It is a wonderful time of year and a great way for our kids to spread their Christmas joy!
Wednesday Evening Worship
In-person worship on Wednesdays at 6:15pm, and also live streamed.
Wed. Night Study Group
Join Pastor Stanton and Pastor Karyn as for a Wednesday Night Study Group.
Grief Support Group
Join with others who have experienced loss, and receive support from one another. Every third Thursday.
Middle School Christmas Pajama & Movie Night
A cozy, festive night for our middle school youth!
Parent Share
Join Carla Stanton, certified spiritual director and mom of 3, in room 201 every Sunday, 9:15am while the kids are at Sunday School.
Sunday Morning Bible Study
Join Madalyn Olson-Loomis for a year-long discussion of Sunday’s sermon and Narrative readings.
Assist with Story Time
At the 10:30 Sunday service, during the sermon, the non-preaching pastor will lead Story Time in the Choir Room, for all kids aged 4 through 3rd grade, as parents choose.
Story Time is a 10-15 minute mini-lesson about the story being preached in worship. There will likely be a song, a dramatic reading, prayer and definitely an opportunity to move around.
Kids will return to their families during the Hymn of the Day, immediately after the sermon is completed.
You can help:
We need 2 parents each week to accompany this crew as it can be quite large and more than any one pastor can handle alone.
We hope every parent that is likely to make use of this Story Time ministry can spare a week or two over the course of the year so no one has to miss the adult sermon in the sanctuary with any regularity.
Please sign up for at least TWO dates when you can accompany the group with the Pastor to the Choir Room, stay there during the lesson and lead them all back to the sanctuary. It really is just assisting with 'classroom management' kind of stuff.
Blue Christmas
Join us for a worship service including music, prayers, candlelight, & reflection on what God is up to amidst our blue feelings around Christmas.
First Teen Clothes Closet Open Shopping
Help with our First Teen Clothes Closet open shopping on Monday nights!
Virtual Christmas Pageant Rerun
In the spirit of Christmas reruns, rewatch our favorite retelling of the Christmas story… our virtual Christmas pageant: Do Not Be Afraid!
Peer Ministry
Peer Ministry is a great way for our 10th graders to learn about how to deal with any situation.
Sunshine Team
Meeting 1st Thur of every month at 9:30am, to help with odd jobs around First.
Caring Cards Ministry
A ministry of fellowship & service, typically meeting the 2nd Saturday of the month, Sept–Apr.
Faith Building Block: Grade 2—What's Fair
Our 2nd graders learn about God’s love and “What’s Fair” in this Faith Building Block.
Faith Webs Winter Game Day!
Faith Web households are invited to get together, for fun, lunch & company over a couple of games.
Parents' Night Out
An evening of fun for elementary kids and younger, and a relaxing night for the parent(s)!
Faith Building Block: Grade 4—Apostles' Creed
Our 4th graders learn about the Apostles’ Creed in this Faith Building Block.
High School Retreat @ Sugar Creek
Experience how to connect with the living God at Sugar Creek!
Baptismal Preparation
Contact the office to schedule: 608.783.2236 / office@firstlu.org
Confirmation Retreat @ Sugar Creek
Experience how to connect with the living God at Sugar Creek!
Peer Ministry Commissioning
Peer Ministry is a great way for our 10th graders to learn about how to deal with any situation.
Faith Building Block: Grade 5—Communion
Our 5th graders learn about and prepare for the sacrament of communion in this Faith Building Block.
Elementary Retreat @ Sugar Creek
Experience how to connect with the living God at Sugar Creek!
Graduation Milestone & Recognition Dinner
Graduates, you and your parents/guardians are invited to mark the milestone of your graduation at First.
Palm Sunday Breakfast Fundraiser
Between services enjoy a Palm Sun breakfast, a fundraiser for youth participating in summer ministries.
Mabel Anderson Scholarship Deadline
College scholarship for high school graduates who are members of First.
New-Member Social
People who would like to become members of First are invited to this informal gathering, where you will get to know more about First and the staff in a relaxed atmosphere. Click here to reg & learn more.
Faith Building Block: Kindergarten—Lord's Prayer
Our students in Kindergarten learn the Lord’s Prayer in this Faith Building Block.
Volunteer Work Weekend for Spring @ First
Great opportunity to make First look nice!
Faith Webs Spring Game Day!
Faith Web households are invited to get together, for fun, lunch & company over a couple of games.
Chicken Dinner Fundraiser
Fundraiser for youth ministries, and an easy meal for your home!
Blessing Graduates
We invite our graduates and their families to worship, for a special blessing in celebration of this milestone.
Faith Building Block: 4K—The Keys
Our students in 4K learn about “the keys” of confession & forgiveness in this Faith Building Block.
Faith Webs Commitment Deadline!
A reminder that all donations toward the commitment made at the beginning of the school year are due.
One Worship & Celebration
Only one worship service on this Sunday, for everyone to celebrate together the ministries of Sunday School, Confirmation and Faith Webs.
Confirmation Camp @ Sugar Creek
Confirmation Camp, for youth entering grade 8 in the fall.
Sending Sunday
Help send off our middle school, high school and all-ages service trips as they begin their summer ministries.
All-Ages Service Trip @ Duluth, MN
Serving in Duluth, MN, from July 8–12, for ALL AGES!
Middle School Service Trip @ Milwaukee
Serving in Milwaukee, from July 12–17, for youth currently in grades 6–8
High School Service Trip @ Hazlet, NJ
Serving in Hazelt, NJ, from July 19–25, for youth currently in grades 9–12.
Vacation Bible School
Plan ahead to be here for Vacation Bible School this summer!
All-Church Picnic & Waterslide!
Church-wide picnic at Van Riper Park! Food and fellowship for all, and water-park fun for kids!
ELCA Youth Gathering 2027 @ Minneaplis
The next gathering will be June 28–July 2 in Minneapolis!
OWLs Christmas Potluck
The social event of the season is the World-Famous OWLs Christmas Party!
Knitters & Prayer Shawls
Gathering together for fellowship and to create prayer shawls.
Christmas Caroling
Hop on a bus and take a ride around Onalaska to visit and carol to those who need extra Christmas cheer!
Christmas Cookie Decorating
Decorating Christmas cookies together, in the Fellowship Hall.
Christmas Flowers
Christmas Flowers
If you would like to give a rose in honor or memory of loved ones to decorate for our Christmas Eve services, you may do so at here.
Cost is $5 per rose.
Christmas Giving Tree Gifts Due
Please return gifts for the Christmas Giving Tree by this date.
Bethlehem Event @ English
Experience the sights & sounds of Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth, at English Lutheran.
Funeral for Richard "Odie" Odemoe
We lift in prayer the family and friends of Richard "Odie" Odemoe.
OWLs Fly to Viterbo Christmas
OWLs fly to Viterbo Theatre for musical, with dinner beforehand.
Road to Bethlehem @ Sugar Creek
Journey through the Advent story by visiting this live nativity at Sugar Creek.
Advent Around the Table
Join us for this intergenerational event, to grow in our faith as we begin the Advent season.
Onalaska Community Thanksgiving Dinner @ The Armory
Enjoy a meal, and/or help serve, 11am–2pm on Thanksgiving Day, at the Armory. Go to www.octd.org to volunteer!
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Worship @ Onalaska United Methodist
Ecumenical worship service at Onalaska United Methodist on Thanksgiving Eve.
Baskets of Belonging Ingathering
On Wednesday, Nov 19, from 2-6, churches from across La Crosse county will be bringing the items they have been collecting for the past six weeks, for those who will be newly housed, to Trinity Lutheran Church on the Northside. We could use your help! This is going to be a big task and so I am asking folks from our congregation to help out as they can. If you would like to help out, you can meet me here at First at 3:15 and drive us over (leaving there around 5:00 or so) or you can go directly to Trinity when it works for you. This is a great volunteer opportunity for those of you looking for volunteer hours for NHS.
There will also be help needed on Thursday to help organize everything, but when that is happening I don't have all the details. Email or text Pastor Karyn if this interests you (608.433.6002).
If you plan on helping on Wednesday and need a ride, let me know.
Thanks for all the ways you make our community better!
Questions? Connect with karyn@firstlu.org.
MAP Report Summit
Learn about the results from First’s recent Missional Assessment Profile.
Connecting with the Gospel of John
Connect with the Gospel of John in this short overview led by Pastor Karyn.
Community Leader Gathering
Hearing from local voices about unmet needs in the greater La Crosse area; all are welcome!
OWLs Fly to Heart of La Crosse @ Pump House
The OWLs (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First Lutheran, for anyone 55+) will fly to the Pumphouse to see the Heart of La Crosse.
Middle School Service Trip Info Meeting
Learn more about the 2026 Middle School service trip to Milwaukee.

