Announcements for Sunday, Oct. 24 2021

Announcements
Written By Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Confirmation Sunday, Celebrating 150 Years & Trunk-or-Treat

We give thanks for the gift of baptism and for these people, one with us in the body of Christ, who will publicly affirm their baptism on this Sunday, Oct. 24.

• Brennan Garbers

• Claire Johnson

• Cole Everson

• Cullen O'Rourke

• Drew Symons

• Jada Odegard

• Juliene McDonald

• Katie Johnson

• Kevin Hegland

• Kyla Betz

• McKennah Ferguson

• Nic Hink

• Nick Jacobson

• Sam Bossman

• Samantha Renkas

• Sarah Brewer

• Steve Dombroski

• Taylor Hanson

• Tristan Madsen

• Zach Dahlke

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Oct. 24:

  • 8am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person wearing masks. Nursery available.

  • 10:30am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person wearing masks. Nursery available.

Wednesday, Oct. 27:

COVID-19 Update

  • Pastors and our COVID Advisory Panel gather to evaluate when and how the church can be open. These are our current recommendations:

    • Worship: online & in-person wearing masks

    • Small groups: online & in-person; precautions determined by entire group

Precautions for In-Person Worship

Worship services are offered in-person, indoors at both services. Currently we are asking, for the safety of ALL members, that everyone wear a mask during worship. Outdoor worship will be offered occasionally (about once a month) during the 10:30am service, and if weather permits. Registration and social distancing are currently not required. For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Waking Up White Regional Read, Presentations & Discussions

The Waking Up White Regional Read invites the community to read Waking Up White, attend public presentations, and engage in book chat conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community. Having finished Waking Up White is not a prerequisite for attending the presentations and discussions. More info and reg at laxwakingupwhite.com.

Upcoming presentations (live streamed):

  • ​Dr. Suthakaran Veerasamy "Cultivating Cultural Empathy To Overcome White Supremacy Thinking," Saturday, October 23, 2 pm

  • Shaundel Spivey & Jazzma Holland "Grass-rooting in a Predominantly White Community,"

    Saturday, October 30, 10:30 am

Upcoming discussions (in-person, with precautions):

  • Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 pm, "Mass Incarceration: How Did We Get Here" La Crosse Area Heritage Center Register

Courageous Men’s Group

The Courageous Men’s Group are men of all ages who meet weekly on Wednesdays at 6am in the Fireside Room for a time of fellowship and study. Contact Jim Knutson or the church office for more info: jim@firstlu.org.

Winter Clothing Drive

Many of the people being released from the jail don’t have warm clothes, and the La Crosse jail ministry would like to provide them with just this very thing. We see this as especially important for those who are being released to homelessness. We need clean and gently used men’s coats, boots, shoes, sweatpants and T-shirts. We are going to have a clothing drive this October at Onalaska United Methodist Church at 212 4th Ave N. Drop your donations off from 5–6pm, Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Newsletter Assembly

It’s a relaxing way to volunteer! Thursday, Oct. 28, at 10am, to assemble the November newsletter. See you there! ​

Viewing of Imprisoning a Generation

Thursday, Oct. 28, 6–8pm. Imprisoning a Generation was produced by Zelda Edmunds, follows the stories of four young Palestinians who have been detained and imprisoned under the Israeli military and political systems. Their perspectives, along with the voices of their families, form a lens into the entangled structures of oppression that extend well beyond the prison walls. Following the viewing there will be a CMEP Advocacy Training focused on H.R. 2590, led by CMEP Director of Advocacy, Kyle Cristofolo. Please register with Pastor Kent Johnson: pastorkentj@gmail.com (showing is free). Join Zoom Meeting.: Meeting ID: 828 5454 7373, Passcode: 408864

Celebrating 150 Years!

  • Saturday, Oct. 30 • History Day

    • 10am–3pm: Celebrating the history of First Lutheran with history videos, food from various ethnic groups, worship services throughout the decades, and a history walk.

    • 3–5pm: The celebration continues with a Fall Festival in the parking lot with games, food, trunk-or-treating, and historic costumes!

  • Sunday, Oct. 31 • Reformation Sunday

    • 8 and 10:30am: Join us for a special worship service on Reformation Sunday to hear a message from Bishop Malpica, our new bishop in the La Crosse Area Synod, with a special celebration between services!

Clothes Closet Needs Teen Volunteers

First Teen Clothes Closet is looking for high school-aged volunteers to help out for about 4 hours a month. Volunteers would look at donations to ensure they appeal to teens and put together outfits for display in the clothes closet. You can set your own schedule and volunteer with a friend or two. This is a great opportunity for high schoolers and confirmation students looking for volunteer opportunities. If you are interested, email bridget@firstlu.org.

Clothes Closet Needs

Hello First Lutheran congregation: We are grateful for the many ways you’ve supported First Teen Clothes Closet! We are getting low on guys jeans (especially large and x-large sizes), rings, earrings, necklaces and wallets. Looking good is important to teens! Please carefully consider whether your items are gently used (or new), “in style” for teens, and recently laundered (please no cat or dog hair, stains, deodorant marks). Our clothing donation drop off area is on the right as you enter First Lutheran Church. Thank you so very much!

Sunshine Team

The Sunshine Team meets on the first Thursday of every month. Next meeting: Nov. 4, 9:30am. Various jobs: outside raking, trimming bushes, sweeping, cleaning, pulling weeds. Help make First Lutheran look nice! Refreshments are supplied to replenish your reserves! Dues are free! Questions? Text/call Dave at 608.780.0135.

Lyle Griner: Church is About Relationships

Hey… Sunday School teachers! Lenten small group leaders! Confirmation guides! Peer Ministers! Stephen Ministers!… and ANY leader of ANY ministry at First Lutheran!...

Lyle Griner, author of Peer Ministry and dozens of other youth & family ministry resources, will be in Onalaska at First Lutheran for an IN PERSON leadership enrichment course on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 8:30am–4:30pm. Lyle is the best there is at getting leaders to not just 'think' about how to facilitate a ministry, but to experience ministry together through RELATIONSHIPS. We will use lessons from Peer Ministry to broaden and deepen the skills of all our leaders at First. Join us! To RSVP: sign up at 1stlu.org/lyle, or call the office at 608.783.2236. First Lutheran is covering all costs including snacks, beverages and lunch.

Family Photos: A Cloud of Witnesses

All Saints Day has long been a day when the church gives thanks for all the saints, the beloved, who have died, especially in the past year. In the coming weeks, we will be asking for photographs of your beloved dead so that we can be surrounded by their witness on All Saints Sunday, Nov. 7. These pictures can be sent electronically (karyn@firstlu.org) or brought in. They will be printed as 4X6, so resolution should be such that they can be printed well from what you submitted. If your loved one was a member of our congregation and died this past year, you will receive a letter with a special request. 

All Saints Day isn’t only about those who have died but also about those who have been newly baptized. If your child was baptized this past year, you also will receive a special request.

Please note, we will continue to use the photos submitted last year, so no need to resend those photos.

Faith Alive! U: Causeway Caregivers

On Sunday, Nov. 7, at noon, presented in-person in the sanctuary, Sara Wrobel with Causeway Caregivers (causewaycaregivers.org) will talk about how they meet the needs of those in our community, including outreach missions like OASIS, Before the After, and Laptivity Quilts. This event is intended for confirmation students, high schoolers and all adults. Childcare will be available in the nursery for kids not yet in grade school.

Butter Braids Fundraiser

The Butter Braids are on sale now and through Sunday, Nov. 7. Youth raising money for youth ministries have two options: 1) go to 1stlu.org/bbraids to setup an online account and receive a link to share with fam & friends to raise money, or 2) pick up an order form, from the church office, to raise funds in-person. Members wanting to purchase Butter Braids should try to find a youth member raising funds; If you can’t find one call the church office at 608.783.2236 to place an order. All orders, both online and on paper, must be placed/turned into the church office by Sunday, Nov. 7 at 11:30am, WITH MONEY. Orders will be delivered by the youth you placed the order through on Wednesday, Nov. 17. 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.

Bible Matters

Are you looking for the connection between scripture and everyday life? Or maybe a way to dig deeper into the gospel of Luke? If so, join Pastor Karyn for a year-long journey through the lectionary (our schedule of readings) starting Monday, Nov. 8, 7-8pm, meeting in the narthex. Cost of this class is $20 for the devotional study book we will use. Register online at 1stlu.org/bmatters.

2022 ELCA Youth Gathering

The ELCA Youth Gathering is less than a year away! July 24–28, 2022… in our very own backyard of Minneapolis! The gathering is open to all youth entering grades 9–12 in the fall of 2022, plus 2022 graduates. Early bird registration due by Nov. 21, 2021! More info: 1stlu.org/gathering.

Stephen Ministry

If you know of someone who needs a caregiver, please speak with Pastor Karyn, or call the church office: 608.783.2236.

Sunday School

  • Sunday, October 24

    • 9:15am Preschool FBB: Praying Together (1st meeting, parents/guardians & child) - Fellowship Hall

    • 9:15am Sunday School

  • Sunday, October 31

    • 9:15am Gr 1-3 Class w/ Pastor Karyn

    • 9:15am Preschool FBB: Praying Together (2nd meeting, parents/guardians & child) - Fellowship Hall

    • 9:15am Sunday School

Questions regarding Sunday School? Visit 1stlu.org/sunschool.

Preschool Faith Alive Building Block: Praying Together

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 (in Fellowship Hall), 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.

  • Sundays, Oct. 24 & 31: parents/guardians with children

  • Sunday, Nov. 7: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Confirmation

  • Sunday, October 24:

    • 9:15am Gr 6 & 7 Confirmation Classes - Fireside Rm

    • 1:30pm Affirmation of Baptism / Confirmation Worship

  • Wednesday, October 27:

    • 6:15pm Confirmation Class: Intro to Buddhism - Fireside Rm

    • 7:00pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

Questions regarding confirmation? Visit 1stlu.org/confirm.

Andrew Stutesman
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
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