Inside: Grad Recognition & Cupcakes THIS Sunday, Blood Drive this Monday, & Virtual Memory Cafe

Online Worship

• Join us for worship online on Sunday at 10:30am and on Wednesday at 6:15pm, at 1stlu.org/live.

Cancellations

• In-person worship will not occur through at least May 26. Other gatherings, including weddings, funerals. Sunday School, confirmation and many small groups are also not gathering at this time. Vision & Leadership will determine how we will begin to gather again.

• For an up-to-date list of online options and cancellations please visit firstlutheranonalaska.org/thisweek.

Blood Drive on Monday, May 18

In times of crisis we lift each other up and ensure a safe and caring place for our neighbors. Your neighbors, friends, and loved ones are at an elevated risk during this latest crisis in our nation. The latest virus we are living through is very serious, but more so is the availability of blood. We are a beacon of hope. Ensuring an adequate blood supply to our communities is not only Versiti’s core mission, but it is our commitment to our hospitals, patients and communities in times of crisis. Versiti Blood Centers will be providing a blood drive on Monday, May 18, from 12:30–4:30pm. They encourages all donors to make an appointment to lessen the amount of people waiting at the blood drive; you can do so at 1stlu.org/blooddrive. To learn more about the safety precautions Versiti is taking during this pandemic, click here.

Virtual Memory Cafe

The ADRC of La Crosse County is excited to share with you this new endeavor to help Memory Cafe participants stay connected: they are offering memory cafés virtually! Let’s stay connected and have fun—we will get through it together! May 19, 10:30am-11:30am join us online, and come ready with your favorite pair of shoes. We will use them for our activity!! Get ready for community, fun and connection! TO REGISTER: Email kflock@lacrossecounty.org for the link to meet online. Use your computer or smartphone to join us! Call Kelsey at 608.785.5780 for help and support in setting this up. We look forward to “seeing” you!

Grief Support Group

Carrying on after the death of a loved one can be difficult and lonely. Join with others who have experienced loss, and listen and care for each other. This group is staying connected via phone calls. In-person gatherings have been cancelled until further notice. Questions? Contact Director of Small Group Ministry, Bridget Crave: bridget@firstlu.org. More info at 1stlu.org/griefsupport.

Tentative Come for Supper

For May, Come for Supper will be offering take-out meals, but is currently not accepting donations, and will not need outside volunteers. Call Gloria Kubiak to sign up and for more details: 608.498.2762.

Our OWLs Be Zoomin’

The OWLs are a group at First that welcomes anyone, First Lutheran members or not, who are 55+. OWLs: If you are having technical problems viewing worship services or pastors’ morning musings please call volunteer coordinator, Brian Narveson for help: 608.526.9700. For those already connected with a computer, tablet or smart phone, or even just a regular phone, the OWLs will be holding “Virtual Potlucks” via Zoom. Zoom is a two way video conferencing system where you can both see and hear the people you are talking with. The next one is Wednesday, May 27 at 1pm. Brian wants the OWLs to know they can participate in these virtual potlucks with just a regular phone. For help with Zoom, feel free to contact Brian: owls@firstlu.org / 608.526.9700.

Help with Pentecost Project

Pentecost is on May 31, and we would like “Come Holy Spirit” recorded in as many languages as possible. Here is what we need from you: contact karyn@firstlu.org, and she’ll send you the name of a country. Do a little research, and find how one would say “Come Holy Spirit” in their language (Google Translate makes it easy). Record a video of you and your family saying “Come Holy Spirit” in the language, and upload to a Google folder. For more details, watch this post by Pastor Karyn.

Bible Bits

A project that we are starting to work on is to send a Bible verse video to Sunday school students. This video and verse from you would fill up the student's Bible with peoples names that are important to them and remember that God loves them and so do we! Each day or every other day Beth would send a video (made by members) with directions to the Sunday school students that would give the opportunity for the youth to highlight the verse and write your name near it. This is a way to stay connected to our Bibles and our congregations' youth during this time. For more information, contact Beth at beth@firstlu.org.

AV Ministry

Our live stream set-up is starting to get into place, and the next phase involves members learning the set-up so we can continue to provide this ministry to everyone at home. We will be in need of two leaders/volunteers each Sunday: 1) to run projection (as we always have) and 2) to direct the live stream. Ideally we’d like a 2 week commitment on both Sundays and Wednesday, the first week to lead projection and the second week to learn the live stream. If you know someone with these gifts, or if you are interested in being a part of this ministry, pass their name or your name to andy@firstlu.org.

Readers!

We are seeking people of all ages who would be willing to be our readers each week. This would mean doing a video of yourself or family reading the assigned text and then uploading it to a google folder. If you are willing to do this, email Pastor Karyn: karyn@firstlu.org.

Prayers!

Pastor Karyn is looking for people who are willing to be our pray-ers. If you are willing to offer up a prayer or let us know a way we can be praying, send me an email to karyn@firstlu.org. Thanks!

Sewing Face Masks

The La Crosse County Health Dept. provides direction on making face masks for healthcare workers: Go to 1stlu.org/sewmasks for info, modifications to the pattern, and drop-off locations.

Help Those in Need

If you are looking for ways to help locally, go to the Ugetconnected site to find a variety of needs, from writing letters or drawing pictures to seniors, to delivering pre-packaged meals or sewing. It's hard to keep track of all the various organizations, so this is a great spot to find out how you can help. Go to 1stlu.org/needs.