Announcements for Sunday, August 4, 2019
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Confirmation
Grade 6 Orientation & Milestone: Sunday, Aug. 18, 3-6pm, Fellowship Hall
Grade 7 Orientation: Sunday, Aug. 18, 9:15am, Fellowship Hall
Grade 8 & 9 Orientation: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7pm, Fellowship Hall
Grade 10 Orientation: Sunday, Aug. 25, 11am, Fellowship Hall
OWLs Potluck and Theatre in Lanesboro
On Wednesday, Aug. 21, the OWLs, a group for those 55+, will have their monthly potluck at noon in the narthex. On Monday, Aug. 26, the OWLs will fly to Lanesboro, MN, to see the play “Boeing Boeing” at the Commonweal Theatre. Leaving church at 3:45pm. Cost: $35, dinner on your own. RSVP to Brian at owls@firstlu.org or 630.816.5917 by Aug. 23.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School begins THIS Sunday, Aug. 4, through Thursday, Aug. 8, 6-8pm each night. For 4K through 5th grade in the fall (3-year olds may attend in the nursery).
“Lap-tivity” Quilts
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, 9am-1pm, The Peer Caregiver Support Program of Causeway is creating “lap-tivity” quilts for staff at health, veteran and care facilities to give to caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia. We are looking for volunteers to help create these lap-sized quilts. Volunteers can bring their own sewig machine or can help in other ways if they don’t sew. Refreshments will be served. Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, La Crosse. To participate, call Causeway at 608.775.9999
Sunshine Boys & Girls
The Sunshine Boys & Girls serve at First on the second Thursday of each month; the next meeting will be Thursday, Aug. 8,
at 9am. The Sunshine Boys & Girls are an informal group that performs a variety of tasks around the church; such as grounds clean-up, minor repairs, and other small jobs. Rolls and coffee are supplied to replenish your reserves! Dues are free! Contact Mike, our custodian, with any questions: mike@firstlu.org.
Drawing from the Well
This group is for women of First and the greater La Crosse area seeking to support one another in their spiritual growth. We gather to enjoy a breakfast and develop a deeper relationship with one another. We meet on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30-11am, with the next one on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the house. Contact Director of Small Group Ministry Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.
Back-To-School Shoes
The First Teen Clothes Closet is again partnering with the Children’s Clothes Closet at Trinity Lutheran Church to provide back-to-school shoes for children and teens during Trinity’s annual block party in August. For the past two years, we have provided approximately 130 pairs of new athletic shoes in adult sizes 7 through 13 to help ensure teens have the shoes they need for school (including PE classes). If you would like to support this effort, you can purchase NEW athletic shoes, men’s or women’s, in the sizes mentioned, or make a monetary donation to the effort. The block party and shoe distribution will be Monday, Aug. 12.
Confirmation Guides
You don’t need to know the Bible backwards & forwards & you don’t need a seminary degree. Just a heart for the youth of our church and an hour each week to spend with our confirmation youth. Parents, grandparents, godparents or any faith-mature adult is welcome to facilitate conversation and build relationships between our confirmands on Wednesday nights. Contact Pastor Stanton to nominate someone: jason@firstlu.org.
Summer Book Discussion: More Than a Rock
Pastor Karyn invites you to join her in reading this summer. Selections have been taken from the long list of “books I want to read” that she has. Join her at her home (4710 Southfield Green, La Crosse) from 9-11am on Saturday, Aug. 24, to discuss More Than a Rock by Guy Tal.
RSVP to karyn@firstlu.org.
Blessing of Backpacks & School/Ed Staff
Youths and adults, bring your backpacks, briefcases, messenger bags, purses, etc. to church on Sunday, Aug. 25, so that we may bless the start of your new school year! We also invite all staff of our local schools, universities & colleges to join us for worship and a special blessing to start off the new academic year.
Lead Sunday School
A Sunday School teacher is a 1-2 weekend a month commitment in which you connect with our congregation’s children! It is super easy with the curriculum! Contact Beth Miller: beth@firstlu.org.
Donate a Bike
Everybody Bikes is looking for bicycles in quality condition. To donate a bicycle, please call Lori Lunney (608.769.6790) or Bridget Christen (608.797.1050) for more info. Everybody Bikes is a local nonprofit organization that gives bikes and equipment (helmet, light, basket) and bicycle instruction to people in need of transportation who can’t afford a bicycle. More info: 1stlu.org/eb
Time to look for Back-To-School Deals!
Once again this summer First is collecting school supplies for Lutheran World Relief school kits, which we will assemble as part of the ELCA’s God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday and First Fest on Sept. 8. Our goal is to donate 500 kits, so bring the following up to the altar during the month of August: 2,000 70-page notebooks, 500 of: crayons (either 16 or 24/box), ruler with centimeters, pencil sharpeners, blunt scissors, 2½” erasers, 2,500 pencils and 2,500 pens.
Paint for World Hunger
Have a fun afternoon of painting on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 1–3pm, in Fellowship Hall at First. Instruction will be provided on how to create the painting. This is an inter-generational, instructor-led event. For ages 6–106. Those ages 6–10 will need an adult with them. (If an adult accompanying a child chooses not to paint, sign up just the child.) $15 per person; proceeds go to buy an animal through ELCA Good Gifts (elca.org/goodgifts). Attendees will select the animal the evening of the event. Costs of this event are being covered by a Thrivent grant. A limited number of Thrivent T-shirts will be available. If you are interested in a shirt, indicate the size in the “comment” of the sign-up. View the art and sign-up at 1stlu.org/paint by Tuesday, Sept. 17. Min. attendance required: 10. Max attendance possible: 20
Parking Lot Ministry
This ministry needs warm and friendly faces to greet guests and worshipers who come into the parking lot, giving help if needed at the giving umbrellas to those who need one when it’s raining. Come to the Welcome Center to receive more information and sign up to help.
Companion Ministry
The gift of communion is Christ’s invitation for us all. Homebound members or those in nursing home care cannot make it to church and still would love to also receive that gift. Companion ministers help provide the service of delivering communion to them. They visit these members, usually monthly, give them communion, and have wonderful conversations. Good friendships are formed and the members receiving the communion feel grateful for that gift. If you love visiting with and helping people, consider becoming a companion minister. It is a very fulfilling job. Talk to one of the pastors for more information
Sugar Creek 5K
On Saturday, Sept. 7. 8am reg, 9am start.
Sugar Creek Annual Quilt & Antique Auction
On Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10am come out to Sugar Creek for our annual quilt/antique auction and celebration!
First day of Sunday School!
Sunday, Sept. 8, is the first day of Sunday School! Parents/guardians and kids will gather in the sanctuary at 9:15am to kick off this year’s Sunday School program. Register your children, get more info, meet the teachers, pick up a Sunday School calendar and get the ball rolling! Questions? Contact Sunday School Superintendent, Beth Miller: beth@firstlu.org.
First Fest!
On Sunday, Sept. 8, we invite you to join us to relax, catch up with friends, introduce yourself to visitors or members you’ve yet to meet, listen to great music, have lunch and have some fun!
Prayer Shawl Knitters meeting during the summer
The prayer shawl knitters will continue their ministry through the summer, but on Sunday mornings between services rather than on Wednesday evenings. All knitters are welcome. The yarn and pattern are provided; knitting needles are provided, too, if you need them.
