Inside: All Saints Sunday, Election Day of Prayer, & First’s 150th Year Begins!

Worship

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

COVID-19 Update

• Pastors and the Vision & Leadership team regularly evaluate when and how the church can be open. These are our current recommendations:

  • Worship: online

  • Education: online

  • Small groups: online

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

Fall Back! (Daylight Savings Ends)

Daylight Savings ends this Saturday night… more precisely, at 2am on Nov. 1. Make certain to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed that night. But don't worry if you forget… you'll just be up before everyone else!

All Saints Sunday & 150th

This Sunday, Nov. 1, we honor the brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before, as well as begin celebrating 150 years of faith alive at First Lutheran! Worship will feature the first episode of This Day in First Lutheran History, the First Lutheran choir singer together virtually, a special prayer to honor our newly baptised and our beloved dead, and a closing message from Bishop Jim Arends.

Preschool Faith Building Block: Praying Together

• Sundays, Nov. 1: parents/guardians with children

• Sunday, Nov. 8: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Throughout the year each age group will have a special “Faith Building Block” session in which parents or special adults are asked to attend class with their child on Sundays at 9:15am, sharing in conversation and growing together in faith. The session lasts for three weeks, and afterwards, children will have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they have learned. Gatherings will meet via Zoom; pastors will send out meeting codes to parents & guardians of youth in each grade before the first meeting.'

Read the Book of 1 Samuel in 9 days!

1 Samuel is the story of how God works on behalf of God’s people; giving barren, faithful Hannah a child… calling the child Samuel to be both priest and prophet and anointing Saul king… gifting Saul with the power of wisdom and the Spirit… guiding little David in victory over Goliath and protecting David from Saul’s rage to succeed him as king. Pastor Stanton will be introducing this book to Bible Readers starting Thursday, Nov. 5. Join at any time! 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.

Election Day of Prayer

This year, on November 3, in answer to the call to fear, love and trust God above all things, and to practice our faith and citizenship together, we at First Lutheran are calling our members to a day of prayer. What does that look like, you may ask? The first thing is that we are inviting people to sign up to pray during each hour of the day starting at 5am and ending at midnight. Click here to sign up for any given hour, but it is not expected that you would pray for the whole hour. The second thing is that we will be live streaming prayer services throughout the day at 6am, noon, 6:15pm and 9:45pm at 1stlu.org/live. These will be, primarily, short prayer services centered around a specific scripture and include some songs and a reflection. The 6:15pm worship service will be Holden Evening Prayer.

Coffee with Pastor Karyn

Coffee with Pastor Karyn is open to all and meets at 7:30am each Wednesday, currently via Zoom. Questions? Contact karyn@firstlu.org.

Peer Ministry Preview / Kick-off

Peer Ministry kicks off with a preview with Renee Thies on Wednesday, Nov. 4 via Zoom. This is for youth only, currently in grade 10. Be ready for a significant faith formation experience! Peer Ministry is a great way for our 10th graders to learn about how to deal with any situation that arises, large or small. It makes handling conflicts simple and equips them to be better listeners and be welcoming to all those around them. Click here for the Zoom link; passcode is 107926.

Habitat for Humanity Auction

The La Crosse Area Habitat for Humanity will have an online fundraising auction from Nov. 6–12. Proceeds from the online auction of gift baskets will support the Faith Build house at 1112 Avon St. in La Crosse for Libby Olson and her two sons. For more information, contact Pam Hartwell at pam@habitatlacrosse.org or 608.797.3513, or go to the Habitat website: habitatlacrosse.org.

Fashion Cornucopia 2020

The Women’s Clothes Closet is excited to announce a new twist on an old tradition—a virtual Fashion Cornucopia on Saturday, Nov. 7. Due to COVID-19, the annual style show fundraiser has been modified to include a live stream, virtual gallery of fall and winter fashions & accessories featuring area businesses, a gourmet “farm to table” carryout meal, and an online silent auction. Tickets must be purchased in advance. All the details are online at fashion.oursaviorslutheranchurch.net. Proceeds will benefit the Women’s Clothes Closet whose mission is to provide free, gently used clothing to women who are entering the workforce, in the workforce, or otherwise in need. Plan now to be with us on this special occasion!

First Grade Faith Building Block: Ten Commandments

• Sunday, Nov. 8: parents/guardians only

• Sundays, Nov. 15: parents/guardians with children

• Sundays, Nov. 22: parents/guardians with children

• Sunday, Nov. 29: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Throughout the year each age group will have a special “Faith Building Block” session in which parents or special adults are asked to attend class with their child on Sundays at 9:15am, sharing in conversation and growing together in faith. The session lasts for three weeks, and afterwards, children will have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they have learned. Gatherings will meet via Zoom; pastors will send out meeting codes to parents & guardians of youth in each grade before the first meeting.

Faith Alive! U: The Year of Mark

When Hamilton, the musical, came out, it took the world by storm partly because of how strange it was. It combines history, show tunes and RAP! It’s just different. That’s what the gospel of Mark was like almost 2,000 years ago. There had never been anything quite like it. Good news, grounded in God’s love for everyone… meant to be heard by EVERYONE! Starting with Advent 1 on November 29 and throughout the next year, most Sunday sermons will be rooted in a reading from Mark. What is the message? What is the story? And how has Mark changed the world? Attend our next Faith Alive! U course on Nov. 8 at 6pm when Pastor Jason Stanton surveys the gospel itself while Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz describes the ways Mark has shaped the Christian imagination through art, music and more. It will be 30 minutes of Bible WOW followed by 30 minutes of beauty and expression with a few minutes at the end for questions and comments.This event is intended for confirmation students, high schoolers and all adults. To join the Zoom meeting go to the event page at 1stlu.org/FAUzoom.

Butter Braids Fundraiser

The Butter Braid Fundraiser has started and runs through Sunday, Nov. 8. Youth raising funds for youth ministries will need to create an online account. Members wanting to purchase Butter Braids should try to find a youth member who has set-up a fundraising account; they can send you a link where you can order from them online. If you don’t know of anyone to purchase from but would still like to place an order, please call the church office at 608.783.2236. All orders must be placed and paid for by Nov. 8. Orders will be delivered by the youth you placed the order through on Wednesday, Nov. 18. If you ordered through the church you can pick them up at the church on or after that date. More detailed info at 1stlu.org/bbraids. Questions? Contact Pastor Stanton at jason@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 develop a deeper relationship with one another. We meet on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30–11am via Zoom, with the next one on Saturday, Nov. 14. Contact our Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.

Thanksgiving Sunday

On Sunday, Nov. 22, worship will include LOTS of cowbells ringing in celebration as we burn the mortgage! There may or may not be lots of noisemakers, a confetti cannon, and a cake in your own kitchen (that part will be up to you). Join us at 8am or 10:30am at 1stlu.org/live for the BIG event.

Baptismal Preparation


The pastors are considering baptisms on an individual basis. The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, Dec. 5, at 10am. To register or ask questions contact the church office at 608.783.3326 / office@firstlu.org.

Christmas Giving Tree

Help make Christmas special for area kids and families by buying NEW items for them. We are again partnering with La Crosse County Human Services, and have a list of people and items they or their social worker have requested. Instead of taking a tag from the tree in the church narthex, please go to 1stlu.org/givingtree, and "take a tag" by signing up for one of the gifts. In order to maintain confidentiality, each recipient is assigned a code. Please purchase the item requested, wrap it, and put a tag on the outside of the gift with the code that is on the SignUp.  Gifts should all be turned in to First Lutheran by Sunday, Dec. 13. Questions? email bridget@firstlu.org.

Warming Center

The La Crosse Warming Center is open through April 30. The Warming Center provides a place for individuals who are living in homelessness to have a warm place to sleep overnight, shower, do laundry, and get a meal. As was done last year, the first two Fridays of each month are "Lutheran Night." A number of local ELCA churches are working together to staff those two Friday nights, and provide food for dinner. Orientation and training is provided. Click here for more information. Questions? Contact bridget@firstlu.org.