Announcements for Sunday, Feb. 21 2021
INSIDE: Grade 4 Faith Building Block, Faith Alive! U: Teen Mental Health, Drive-in Worship: Holden Evening Under the Stars
Faith Alive! U on Teen Mental Health, led by Sarah Hennessey, FSPA, THIS SUNDAY, February 21 at 6pm. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
Worship
Join us for worship!
Sunday:
8am at 1stlu.org/live.
10:30am at 1stlu.org/live.
Wednesday:
6:15pm Holden Evening under the stars (drive-in worship, weather permitting). Sign-up required.
6:15pm Premiering a pre-recorded service of Holden Evening Prayer on Facebook and YouTube.
COVID-19 Update
Pastors and the COVID Advisory Panel regularly evaluate when and how the church can be open. These are our current recommendations:
Worship: online & drive-in
Education: online
Small groups: online
For an up-to-date list of online options and cancellations please visit firstlutheranonalaska.org/thisweek.
Fourth Grade Faith Building Block: Apostles’ Creed
Sundays, Feb. 21: parents/guardians with children
Sunday, Feb. 28: 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. This session lasts for one week, and afterwards, the Faith Building Block will be lifted up in worship in celebration of what the students 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.
La Crosse “Waking Up White” Event
Part I & II - Amplifying the Voices of Black Youth and their Parents in the La Crosse Area
WHEN: Sunday, February 21st, 2-5 pm
WHERE: This is a public free online event.
This event will facilitate discussion and understanding of a film intended to amplify the voices of the Black youth and their parents in La Crosse, to engage our community in necessary conversations about bias, racism, and privilege. We challenge our community to ACTION by changing the environment, policies, and practices that disproportionately impact black youth and their families.
Faith Alive! U: Teen Mental Health
Mental health issues are increasing for all of us right now, especially teens. What are some practical ways that we can do in our daily lives that will increase resilience and decrease distress? We will explore mindfulness and self-care through breath exercises, affirmations, and meditation, focusing on practices accessible to teens. Join us for a Zoom meeting on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 6pm with Sarah Hennessey, FSPA, a Franciscan sister and a spiritual director at the Franciscan Spirituality Center. A former junior high teacher, she is an active member of Depressed Anonymous and lives in recovery with mental health issues.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.
Knitters & Crocheters
The knitters and crocheters are meeting via Zoom every other Monday, 1-3:30pm. The next meeting is Monday, Feb. 22. Contact Katy Wood to join, or ask questions.
Drive-in Worship: Holden Evening Under the Stars
Starting this Wednesday, Feb. 24, and going through all of Lent, join us for Holden Evening Prayer under the stars. Weather permitting, the 6:15pm services during Lent will be a drive-in worship service, so we can gather together (even if we are in our cars) and give praise to our God! Worship will include communion. Reservations required; to reserve a spot for your vehicle at this service, sign up at 1stlu.org/lentin. Trouble with SignupGenius? Contact the office and we can take care of it for you: office@firsltu.org / 608.783.2236.
Worship assistants make these worship services happen! Help in the parking lot, signing families in, handing out worship bags, and with directing and parking cars. Sign up at 1stlu.org/servin.
In addition to the drive-in worship service, we will also premiere a pre-recorded service of Holden Evening Prayer, also at 6:15pm, at 1stlu.org/live.
Drive-In Worship: Sundays at 10:30am, Starting Feb. 28
Weather permitting, starting Sunday, Feb. 28, the Sunday 10:30am worship services will be a drive-in worship service, so we can gather together (even if we are in our cars) and give praise to our God! Worship will include communion. Reservations required; to reserve a spot for your vehicle at this service, sign up at 1stlu.org/SunDrive. Trouble with SignupGenius? Contact the office and we can take care of it for you: office@firsltu.org / 608.783.2236.
Worship assistants make these worship services happen! Help in the parking lot, signing families in, handing out worship bags, and with directing and parking cars. Sign up at 1stlu.org/servin.
Crossing Guards
The Onalaska Police Department has immediate openings for permanent and on-call school crossing guards. Shifts usually are 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. For information about the job and the pay, contact Sgt. Tim Berg: 608-392-0284 or tberg@onalaskawi.gov.
Women’s Ministry: Dorcas Circle
The Dorcas Circle is meeting from 1-3:30pm every other Tuesday. Next meeting: Tuesday, Mar. 2, 1:30pm. They are meeting via Zoom, and are reading and discussing the book, Women of Easter, by Liz Curtis Higgs. If you are interested in joining, please contact Katy Wood.
Community Supported Agriculture
First Lutheran has, once again, offered to be a pick-up site for CSA boxes of produce from Small Family Farm in La Farge. Though deliveries won’t start until June, you can purchase a share now. For info about products, prices and schedules, go to smallfamilycsa.com. Prices typically increase April 1.
Baptismal Preparation
The pastors are considering baptisms on an individual basis. The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, Apr. 3, at 10am. To register or ask questions contact the church office at 608.783.3326 / office@firstlu.org.
Mabel Anderson Scholarship
Applications are now available. Completed applications are due no later than 3pm on Thursday, April 15. Students may apply if they will graduate from high school in the spring and have plans to pursue post-secondary education. The application includes writing an essay and completing a worksheet that reflects the student’s involvement in church activities. Application forms are available at 1stlu.org/scholarship.
Sugar Creek Summer Camp 2021
Back in the saddle again! Sugar Creek is excited to be back with world-class summer camp programs for youth this coming summer! As vaccines are delivered nationwide, safety practices are honed, medical knowledge increases, and the camp program and facilities are adapted, the camp is confident in moving forward with plans for summer Bible camp. By the very nature of all their programs at Sugar Creek, the camp is, in many ways, even safer than schools during a pandemic since we keep youth in small groups and run camp activities in the open, fresh, outdoor air. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, youth desperately need real connections in life and in faith. Kids need to be lifted up in ways that only happen in safe, small-group adventures at Bible camp. Leadership, life-long faith, healthy relationships, self-confidence – these are gifts you give your children and grandchildren with time at Sugar Creek. Sugar Creek hopes you will join them for wonderful, safe outdoor adventures in real Christian community. Registration is now open at sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.
Happy Birthday!!
If you have received a birthday postcard from First in the last several months and still have it, bring it into church Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm and pick up a small gift. Remember to ring the doorbell on the left side of the doors and Tamara will be happy to help you.
New Members
By choosing to become a member, individuals and families commit to being part of a shared mission. People who would like to become members of First Lutheran are typically invited to a social at Red Pines where you would get to know more about First and the staff in a relaxed atmosphere. When gathering in such a way is safe, we will celebrate our new members in this way. For now, please let us know if you are interested in membership. One of our pastors will connect with you to find out how we may best be church together in the months and years to come. Call our office for more information at 608.783.2236 or email office@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.
Scrip Cards Are Still Available
Scrip cards are still available from the church office even though the building is closed. We have Kwik Trip, Woodman's, Target and Festival cards. To find out what's currently available and when you can buy them, call the church office at 608.783.2236 or send email to office@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.
