Inside: Family Getaway at Sugar Creek Bible Camp & communion begins in July.

Online Worship

• Join us for worship online this Sunday at 9:15am and on Wednesday at 6:15pm, at 1stlu.org/live.

COVID-19 Update

• Compass status for La Crosse County this week is at high risk:

  • Worship: online

  • Education: online

  • Small groups: online

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

Sugar Creek Family Getaway Camps

Sugar Creek has cancelled overnight summer youth programs for 2020. In place of the 4 weeks of youth camps, you are invited to any of the 8 NEW sessions of "Family Getaway" camps, July 10–August 8! With safe practices in a beautiful getaway setting, you can still get a fun and meaningful faith-filled outdoor adventure this summer—together as a family. Over 15 separate family spaces available for each session. Be safely physically distanced in outdoor group times, and explore tons of new activities for youth and adults. All shapes and sizes of families are welcome. This can still become a joyful summer camp season to remember for your whole family! Click here to learn more.

Online: Steering Into the Skid: A One-Act Dementia Play

Monday, July 13, 10:30am–12:30pm. In 12 short scenes, all taking place in Tim and Amanda's SUV, the audience comes to know this loving couple as they navigate the early progression of dementia. As months pass, the audience sees the subtle changes and adjustments the couple is forced to make on this journey together. To register, visit: www.bit.ly/steering713 or call the Alzheimer's Association at 800.272.3900.

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, July 15 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.

Town Halls to Minimize Bias in the Lutheran Church

Join in a series of Town Hall webinars that prioritize the voices of intersectional Lutherans. While this conversation is organized by folk within the Sierra Pacific Synod - ELCA, these conversation are open to all who are interested in learning from our past, access the present and strategizing our future. Times: July 17, July 24, and July 31… all at 4pm.

Bread Baking Classes

Families will provide the bread and wine and the vessels needed for communion. Pastor Karyn will have two online “lessons” for those who would like to learn how to bake communion bread. They will be on July 21 at 7pm and July 25 at 8am. Pastor Karyn will have a sign up ready to go in the coming days. A Zoom link will be sent to you the week of, so make sure to sign up. 

Communion

In July we will begin to commune, virtually. To do this well, we will need each single person/family who expects to participate to designate at least one confirmed Christian who will act as the ‘assisting minister’ in their household. Maybe family members rotate week-by-week. All designated assisting ministers are required to attend a virtual training date lead by Pastor Karyn and Pastor Stanton on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:15pm, Thursday, July 23 at 7:15pm and Sunday, July 26 at 8am (before worship at 9:15am, when we will commune this way for the first time). Sign up for a training date at 1stlu.org/training. We believe God meets us where we are at… so we will celebrate God meeting us online.

Sugar Creek Golf Tournament Fundraiser

Mon, Aug. 17, at Viroqua Hills Golf Course. $75 for 18 holes. Click here for tournament flyer and more details.

Back-To-School Shoe Drive

While we may not know yet what school will look like in the fall, we do know that teens will need new shoes. First Teen Clothes Closet is committed to continuing to provide new back-to-school shoes, suitable for gym classes, to our guests later this summer. If you would like to contribute to this effort, donations may be sent to First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, 410 Main St. Onalaska, WI 54650.

Sugar Creek Annual Quilt and Antique Auction

Sat, Sept. 12. Events beginning at 8am: 5K Trail Run and Fun Walk, country store, craft fair, quilt and antique auction. Click here to view flyer for more details.

410 Prayers

Join Kathryn for a time of prayer, every Monday–Friday, at 4:10pm. Kathryn is posting prayers on both Facebook and Twitter.

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 Wednesdays, 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.

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! Beth will 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.

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.

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!