First Lutheran Church

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Announcements for Sunday, Mar. 7 2021

Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Drive-In and In-Person Worship

In-person worship will begin on Sunday, Mar. 14, with limited capacity, so reservations are required. More details below…

Worship

Join us for worship!

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 (with in-person worship beginning Mar. 14)

    • Education: Peer Ministry in-person with limits & precautions, all others online

    • Small groups: online

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

Drive-In Worship this Sunday at 10:30am

Weather permitting, this Sunday, Mar. 7, the 10:30am service 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. Upcoming Sundays will be in-person; more details below…

Drive-in Worship: Holden Evening Under the Stars

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. 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.

In addition to the drive-in worship service, we will also premiere a pre-recorded service of Holden Evening Prayer, also at 6:15pm, on Facebook and YouTube.

Make Worship Happen!

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.

Kindergarten Faith Building Block: Lord’s Prayer

  • Sunday, Mar. 7: parents/guardians with children

  • Sunday, Mar. 14: parents/guardians with children

  • Sunday, Mar. 21: 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.

Knitters & Crocheters

The knitters and crocheters are meeting via Zoom every other Monday, 1-3:30pm. The next meeting is Monday, Mar. 8. Contact Katy Wood to join, or ask questions.

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.

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, Mar. 13. Contact our Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.

Spring Ahead!

Daylight Savings begins next weekend, so make certain to set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed Saturday night, or you’ll be late for our return to in-person worship on Sunday morning!

In-Person Worship Starting Sunday, Mar. 14

Starting Sunday, Mar. 14, the Sunday 8am & 10:30am worship services will be offered in-person as local conditions allow and with precautions in place. Space is limited, so reservations are required: sign up at 1stlu.org/SunInReg. Trouble with SignupGenius? Contact the office and we can take care of it for you: office@firsltu.org / 608.783.2236. More details at 1stlu.org/SunIn. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable worshipping in-person, know that you are still invited to join us for worship at 1stlu.org/live! We will be live streaming all services. Worship assistants make these worship services happen! Assisting once a month will keep Faith Alive! Sign up at 1stlu.org/SunInServ.

Faith Alive! U: Creativity

Being created in the image of God is a phrase that we Christians say a lot, but what does that mean, really? Join Pastor Karyn on Sunday, Mar. 14 at 6pm, as we explore creativity as an innate gift from our creator using theology and brain science and paint. There will be supplies provided for this Faith Alive! U so send an email to bridget@firstlu.org if you intend to attend. 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.

Women’s Ministry: Dorcas Circle

The Dorcas Circle is meeting from 1-3:30pm every other Tuesday. Next meeting: Tuesday, Mar. 16, 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.

OWLs Virtual Potluck

Getting bored at home, looking for a way to challenge the brain and have some spirited competition with friends? Look no further than the OWLs March Virtual Potluck. After our usual fellowship, we will have another rousing game of “What’s That?” We had great fun the last time we played, and this time will be new categories. Put on your thinking cap, rev up that memory and come prepared for fun and conversations. The virtual potluck will be on Wednesday, Mar. 17, at 1pm on Zoom. Information for the Zoom meeting will be sent out before the event. If you need help connecting to Zoom, contact Brian Narveson at 630.816.5917 or owls@firstlu.org.

Preschool Open House Tours

Join us for open house tours being offered now through Mar. 19. Come meet the teachers, see the classrooms, get class options and registration info for the 2021–2022 school year. We accept children ages 2 and up who are potty trained. Call or email to sign-up for a tour: 608.779.4504 / preschool@firstlu.org.

Also, a reminder: Preschool registration is Monday, Mar. 22, 2021, from 9:30am–noon for church members, and 10:30am–noon for the community. To register call the preschool at 608.779.4504.

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.

Holy Week Schedule

As of right now, we are planning on offering the worship services below both in-person and live streamed. It is possible that some of these will be outside; this will be decided at a later date.

  • Palm Sunday, Mar. 28, worship at 8am & 10:30am

  • Monday, Mar. 29, through Wednesday, Mar. 31, worship at 6:30pm

  • Maundy Thursday, Apr. 1, and Good Friday, Apr. 2, worship at 6:30pm

  • Saturday Sacred Storytelling Worship, April 3, worship at 6:30pm

  • Easter Sunday, Apr. 4, worship times TBD

The office will close at noon on Friday, April 2, & all day Monday, April 5.

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.