First Lutheran Church

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Announcements for Sunday, Mar. 21 2021

Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Small Group with Precautions, In-Person Worship continues, Preschool Registration

Preschool registration opens 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.

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 & in-person with precautions

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

    • Small groups: online & in-person with precautions (more below)

Sunday Worship: In-Person

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.

Grade 5 Faith Building Block: Communion

  • Sunday, Mar. 21: parents/guardians with children

  • TENTATIVE: Wednesday, Mar. 31, 4-5pm: child only, baking communion bread in Fellowship Hall kitchen

  • Thursday, Apr. 1: Faith Building Block lifted up during Maundy Thursday worship, 6:30pm

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.

Small Groups May Consider Being In-Person

First Lutheran small groups may gather in-person with precautions:

  1. Capacity of gathering spaces will be capped at 25%.

  2. Masks will be expected to be worn at all times, in all places.

  3. There will be no food or beverages at this time.

  4. Distances of 6 feet will be kept between small group participants.

  5. Hugging, handshakes and other physical contact are discouraged.

For full guidelines, see our one-page document: Small Group Expectations During a Pandemic. Small group leaders should do the following:

  1. Connect with Bridget Crave for details.

  2. Connect with Tamara Schonsberg regarding room usage.

  3. Connect with Andy Stutesman regarding promotions.

Wednesday Worship: Drive-in, Holden Evening Under the Stars

First Lutheran will have one last night of Holden Evening Prayer under the stars. Weather permitting, the 6:15pm service 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.

Knitters & Crocheters

The knitters and crocheters are meeting via Zoom every other Monday, 1-3:30pm. The next meeting is Monday, Mar. 22. Contact Katy Wood to join, or ask questions.

OWLs Watch Party: The King and I

After having a fantastic trip to the South Pacific in February, we are now preparing for an amazing leap across the globe to the kingdom of Siam. We will visit Siam through the visual and musical masterpiece The King and I. This escape to paradise will be the next edition of “Our Night Out at Home,” which will take place on Thursday, Mar. 25, cocktails and conversation start at 6:30pm on Zoom with the movie starting about 7pm. The Zoom connect information will be sent out before the event. If you would like to attend but are not on the OWLs email list, contact Brian Narveson or call 630.816.5917.

Women’s Ministry: Dorcas Circle

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

Sugar Creek Brunch and Egg Hunt

On Saturday, Apr. 3, 9am, meet at Sugar Creek to celebrate our risen Lord with good food and holy play! Cost for activities: $5/child. Brunch: $10/person (children 4 and under eat free). More details and registration online at sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.

Holy Week Schedule

As of right now, we are planning on offering the worship services below, a mix of in-person, live streamed and outdoors, depending on the time. Indoor services will depend on local recommendations and outdoor services will depend on weather; so these services may be subject to change as time draws closer.

  • Palm Sunday, Mar. 28:

  • Monday, Mar. 29, through Wednesday, Mar. 31:

    • 6:30pm live stream only

  • Maundy Thursday, Apr. 1:

  • Good Friday, Apr. 2:

  • Saturday Sacred Storytelling Worship, April 3:

  • Easter Sunday, Apr. 4:

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

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.

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.

Faith Alive! U: Who Are the Hungry?

Executive Director Shelly Fortner from The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse will help us understand the issue of hunger locally, including how Foodshare (SNAP) helps families, and why there is still a need for food pantries. She will also discuss the unique circumstances of the past year. Join in-person in the sanctuary, or via Zoom, on Sunday, Apr. 11 at 6pm. 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.

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.

Baptismal Preparation


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

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.