Inside: First Fest Sunday (COVID edition), Parenting During Virtual Time, Sunday School in a Box

Worship

• Join us for worship online this Sunday at 8am and 10:30am, and on Wednesday at 6:15pm, at 1stlu.org/live.

• Join us for outdoor worship this Sunday at 10:30am (more details below). The forecast for Sunday at 10:30am: Clear and 63º.

COVID-19 Update

• First continues to evaluate when and how to best re-open. For now, we will continue with our previous recommendations:

  • Worship: online & outdoors this Sunday at 10:30am

  • Education: online

  • Small groups: online

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

Sunday Worship Changing Back 

Starting Sunday, Sept. 13, worship times will be as follows: first service at 8am live stream only, and second service at 10:30am, both outdoors and live streamed (pending technology fixes).

Outdoor Worship on Sundays at 10:30am

Members are invited to outdoor worship, on Sundays at 10:30am, weather permitting. Bring 1) your own chair, 2) your own mask, and 3) an open heart as we gather six feet apart on 5th Ave (between First and Pertzsch Elementary). There isn't a lot of shade, so consider 4) a wide brim hat and 5) sunscreen. Park in our lot or side streets as usual and it will be obvious where we're meeting. We will commune, hear good music from Todd and Gabe and pray together in person, while staying masked and distanced. Safety remains our top priority! If rain threatens, pastors will notify members Sunday morning, around 7am, if outdoor worship will be cancelled. More info at 1stlu.org/outdoors. Questions? Connect with kathryn@firstlu.org, tamara@firstlu.org or jason@firstlu.org.  

First Fest: COVID Edition

This year we won’t be able to gather for First Fest like we have before, but we invite everyone to use First Fest Sunday, Sept. 13, to sign-up for ministries and commit to a new spiritual practice! Just a few possibilities include: Sunday School in a Box, Sunday Morning with Coffee small group, First Lutheran Play Days at Sugar Creek (more info below), Bible Readers and the Virtual Hunger Walk Oct. 4–11. Also, make sure to check out this discussion (detailed below), held on First Fest Sunday and lead by Carla Stanton…

Parenting During Virtual Time

First Lutheran is taking many steps to change the way we serve children and families. We know many people are learning to balance work, childcare, home-based teaching, and parenting, in this whole new world. Let’s make time to be together to focus on how we can intentionally parent during worship, confirmation, Sunday School and make it to the other side of this pandemic having grown in faith! Join Carla Stanton to discuss tips, strategies and building up your resources for raising your children in faith on First Fest Sunday, Sept. 13, Sunday at 9:15am. On Sunday click here to join the discussion on Zoom. Questions? Contact Carla Stanton at carlaalbury@hotmail.com.

Register for the Sunday School Creation Box! 

This is First Lutheran’s way of handling the pandemic & Sunday School. Do as much as you can including crafts, games, cooking, music, science, devotionals, verse and video! All you need to do is to register during the designated time and then you will pick up your box on the pick up day! Creation Box registration is open Sept. 13–20; register at 1stlu.org/sundayschool. Box pick up will be Saturday, Sept. 26, with activities running from Sept. 27 through Oct. 25.

Read the Gospel of Luke in 28 days!

The gospels are the story of Jesus, so what is Luke’s take on this story? It is this: the Messiah is good news for ALL people and ALL of creation. Pastor Stanton will be introducing this book to Bible Readers starting Wednesday, Sept. 16. These studies are for ANYone who can read, 3rd graders to our eldest friend; members and acquaintances far far away. Use whatever Bible you’d like! Follow Pastor Stanton’s daily guides on Facebook or YouTube, and if you’d like the daily video guides emailed to you contact Pastor Stanton at jason@firstlu.org.

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 are 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, Sept. 16 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.

Community Conversations: Uncomfortable Conversations about Race and Racism

We invite you to Community Conversations: Uncomfortable Conversations about Race and Racism at noon on Sept. 16 with Diana DiazGranados and Pastor Mark Solyst. This year's conversations will be held virtually until further notice due to COVID-19. These monthly conversations are sponsored by the Interfaith Leaders’ Coalition and hosted by English Lutheran Church. View the conversations at youtube.com/EnglishLutheran.

First Lutheran Play Days @ Sugar Creek, Sept. 18–20

First Lutheran will have Sugar Creek Bible Camp all to ourselves the weekend of Sept. 18–20! All ages and stages are welcome to camp one or two nights, or just come for a day. We’ll use the same precautions that were used at camp all summer so that we can enjoy each other and a beautiful setting while feeling safe and having fun. Creek stomping, disc golf and horse rides by day… camp fires, s’mores and more by night. The weekend concludes with a safe, outdoor worship service Sunday morning. Come for any or all of what may become an annual event! Register online at 1stlu.org/playdays.

Volunteer Needed for the Synod Office

The synod office is in need of a volunteer to oversee our campus facilities and take care of issues that arise with our properties, which include our office and our renter’s spaces. This may involve tasks such as coordinating repairs with plumbers, HVAC or electrical services; maintaining office humidifier; cutting down weeds on property; sweeping up sand from the lot in the spring, etc. This does NOT involve snow removal or shoveling. If interested or aware of someone who may be interested, please reply to office@lacrosseareasynod.org or call Melanie at 608-788-5000 and leave a message with contact info.

Sunday Morning with Coffee Small Group

Sundays 9:15-10:15am starting Sept. 20. We will discuss questions and thoughts from the previous weeks Bible Readers readings. Join us when you can. We will meet virtually via Zoom when we can’t meet in person. Email bridget@firstlu.org to get the Zoom link or get help connecting to Zoom. 

Racism and the Coulee Region: A Community Dialogue Series

Many in our community have committed to engaging more deeply in efforts to prevent, combat and learn about racism. Join FSPA for a Zoom video conferencing series of dialogues with local activists, speakers and artists to explore issues related to race and racism. We look forward to open, honest and respectful conversation and sharing of ideas. This series is co-sponsored by the FSPA Office of Mission Integration and the FSC. Final date for the series: September 22, 1-3pm. Investment: $7. Register at www.FSCenter.org or 608-791-5295. You will be sent a Zoom link after you register.

Coulee Region Hunger Walk / Run / Bike

Coulee Region Hunger Walk/Run/Bike is a virtual event this year. You are encouraged to walk, run or bike between Oct 4-11. This is a fundraiser, with 30% going to The Hunger Task Force, 30% to WAFER Food Pantry and 40% to whatever nonprofit food organization you as the walker choose. That could be Lutheran World Hunger, Onalaska Food Pantry, a school district, etc. You can get pledges from family and friends, or make a donation yourself.
 Pledge forms/registration forms are available at couleeregionhungerwalk.org. If you’d rather just make a donation, you can do that at the website as well.

Synod School Of Theology

Classes being offered via Zoom, at 6pm on Thursdays: The Holy Spirit by Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz, Oct. 29–Dec. 10. Register now: office@lacrosseareasynod.org / 608.788.5000. More info: 1stlu.org/theology.

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.

Pray-ers!

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!