INSIDE: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Worship, One Service on Sunday, Dec. 26 at 9:30am

Worship

Join us for worship!

Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24:

• Noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 11pm: 2pm will live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and all are in-person wearing masks. All will be candlelight, and all will be with Holy Communion. Nursery available. Reservations required: sign-up at 1stlu.org/christmas.

Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25:

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

Sunday, Dec. 26:

• 9:30am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person wearing masks. Nursery available.

Wednesday, Dec. 29:

• 6:15pm: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person wearing masks. Nursery available.

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 all services. Currently we are asking, for the safety of ALL members, that everyone wear a mask during worship. Registration and social distancing are currently not required for most services. For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Christmas Worship Times & Reservations

Christmas Eve worship times will be at noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 11pm on Friday, Dec. 24. All will be candlelight, and all will be with Holy Communion. The 2pm service will be live streamed at 1stlu.org/live. Christmas Day worship will be at 10am on Saturday, Dec. 25, with Holy Communion. COVID precautions for Christmas services:

• All Christmas services will be offered in-person, indoors (not in a parking lot!!!)

• For the safety of ALL members, we ask everyone to wear a mask during worship.

• In order to limit crowd size during Christmas Eve services, reservations are required. Sign up at at 1stlu.org/christmas.

• For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Double Your Gift To Lutheran World Relief

From now until Christmas Day, any gift you make will go twice as far as part of Lutheran World Relief’s 2021 Christmas Matching Gift Challenge until the $215,000 match is met. That means we have an opportunity to raise an impressive $430,000 to provide lifesaving resources and care to our neighbors most in need.

Office Closures

The office will be closed at the following times in the coming weeks…

• At noon on Friday, Dec. 24

• Monday, Dec. 27 (Christmas observed)

• At noon on Friday, Jan. 31

• Monday, Jan. 3 (New Years observed)

Icicle Toes Project

Through Dec. 25. Warm socks for folks who need them! Socks will be collected for donation to New Horizons Shelter and the Warming Center. Socks for children (of all ages), women and men can be put under the tree, unwrapped, by Christmas.

Help Ona Food Basket at Rotary Lights

First Lutheran members have been invited by the Onalaska Regional Food Basket to sign up for "Rotary Lights 2021." They are looking for volunteers to help collect food at Riverside Park. Sign up to help this local food ministry at 1stlu.org/rotary.

Dec. 26, the First Sunday After Christmas

Did you know Christmas isn’t just one day in the church, but a season? Christmas worship continues on Sunday, Dec. 26. There will be only one service that Sunday, however, at 9:30am. Join us as we continue to sing many favorite Christmas hymns!

Meal Train for Lofald Family

Members of First Lutheran have started a Meal Train page for the Lofald family. Help the Lofalds by giving them one less thing to think about, and sign up for a date to make a meal at mealtrain.com/go91wm.

Helping Our Afghan Neighbors

Siblings in Christ, a possible opportunity is arising for us to participate in making La Crosse home for some of our Afghan neighbors. This project is in its infancy, but Bishop Malpica is looking for interest from individuals, congregations and businesses. If you would be willing to help our new neighbors to find a home, a job, a school, the grocery store, and in general help families get established, please let the synod know. Thank you for your consideration and being willing to share God's love with those who are in most need. To show interest, fill out the form at 1stlu.org/afghans.

Make a Big Impact as an OASIS Volunteer

OASIS is held on Thursdays from 11am–3pm (volunteers arrive at 10:30am). Volunteer schedules are set monthly to ensure flexibility. Volunteers interact with participants, sharing laughter, socialization and assistance as needed while enjoying activities that encourage being active, being creative and brain stimulation! Volunteers receive OASIS orientation, training in dementia communication techniques, sit to stand training, and a “Dementia Live” experience to enhance your abilities. Request a volunteer packet: oasisrespite.org/contact • oasisrespiteprogram@gmail.org • 608.780.0471. Questions? Talk to current volunteers Phyllis Bey and Glen Vilim.

Urgent Need: Tornado Response

Lutheran Disaster Response is collaborating with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod and other partners in the area to assess the damage and develop an immediate and a long-term response plan. Your gifts to support these response efforts will empower our partners to meet survivors’ immediate and long-term needs. Given the extent of the damage, recovery will take years as thousands of homes will need to be rebuilt or repaired. With your support, Lutheran Disaster Response can accompany survivors on the long road to recovery. Your gifts to “U.S. Tornadoes” will be used in full (100%) to help people impacted by the tornadoes until the response is complete.

Faith Alive! U: Continuing the Conversation Toward a Reconciling In Christ Congregation

Presented by First’s Reconciling in Christ Team, in-person in the sanctuary, Sunday, Jan. 2 at noon:

In 2019, the Vision and Leadership Team determined that it was time for us to explore the possibility of becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Congregation. A team was formed and all set to dig more deeply into the training and work, and then the pandemic hit. However, the Vision and Leadership team continued to hear God’s call to Welcome All, Build Community and Serve Our Neighbors and so when virtual trainings became available, our RIC team once again took up the task of guiding our congregation on the journey toward becoming an RIC congregation.

What is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, you may be wondering. A Reconciling in Christ congregation commits to:

1. Explicitly stating a welcome to people of “all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions” or “LGBTQIA+” and names its commitment to “racial equity” or
   “anti-racism” in its welcome statement. 

2. Being open to calling an LGBTQIA+ and Black, Brown, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) Rostered Leader. 

3. Allowing community space/sanctuary to be used for LGBTQIA+ weddings and blessings. 

4. Making a meaningful contribution annually to support the national RIC program.

This holy ministry is about living the journey by creating ongoing milestones to help us deepen and expand our community’s welcome. It is certainly a journey with many steps that will take several years to complete and may not lead to First Lutheran becoming a RIC community. The journey, the work, will help us deepen our faith, put our faith into action and speech and ultimately create a vibrant community that lives into our stated values. This work has already begun but we are still in the early stages, building relationships and seeking understanding.

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. A light lunch will be provided before the presentation.

RIC small groups will meet throughout the month of January… Go to 1stlu.org/RICgroups to choose which small group works best for you!

Sunshine Team

The Sunshine Team meets on the first Thursday of every month. Next meeting: Jan. 6, 9:00am. Help us take down and store the Christmas decorations. Refreshments are supplied to replenish your reserves! Dues are free! Questions? Text/call Dave at 608.780.0135.

Grade 2 Faith Alive Building Block: What’s Fair

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 2-3 weeks, and afterwards, children will have a presence in worship to celebrate the Faith Building Block they have learned.

• Sundays, Jan. 9 & 16, 9:15am: parents/guardians with children

• Sunday, Jan. 23: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Monday Night Community Meals

For many years, Trinity Lutheran Church on the northside of La Crosse has hosted a meal on Monday nights. First Lutheran has agreed to help with this important community ministry, by preparing a meal, serving the food, and cleaning up. We need people to plan and prepare the meal to feed 60-80 people, and folks to serve the meal (5-6pm) and help with cleanup. Meal prep can be done at your convenience. Many times people prepare the main course a week ahead, freeze it and reheat it. Food for the meal can be gotten at no charge from the Hunger Task Force in La Crosse. Our next date is Jan. 10. You can sign up at 1stlu.org/monmeals, or contact bridget@firstlu.org.

Blood Drive

On Tuesday, Jan. 11, 12:30–5:30pm. Every day, ordinary people are saved by some pretty extraordinary people. People who give blood. Your donation could be the most valuable gift you ever give. Just ask anyone who’s ever received. Appointments encouraged, schedule yours at 1stlu.org/blooddrive. Please wear a mask and bring a photo ID.

Synod School of Theology: Introduction to the Old Testament

The winter 2021 term of the Synod School of Theology will run from Jan. 13–Feb. 18 (all classes on Thursday evenings), covering an introduction to the Old Testament, presented by Pastor Mark Jolivette. For more info and registration go to 1stlu.org/theology.

Quilters Need Sheets

First Lutheran's quilters need sheets, sheets & more sheets! They can be cotton, cotton-blend or flannel. They can be any size. They can be used, but please, be sure they're clean. Drop them off at the church office during regular hours or when you're here for church on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings. The quilters say thank you!

YAGM’s are Back for 2022 

ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) will be back in the world, in 9 foreign countries in 2022-23! YAGMs are young adults aged 21–29 and this is the time to reach out to new candidates. Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2022 (priority deadline Jan. 15.) Learn more at elca.org/yagm. 

Summer Camp Job Openings

Both Bible camps in our synod are in the process of hiring summer staff in various positions…

• Luther Park Bible Camp: What are the benefits to working at camp during the summer time? Listen to this video with some of the Luther Park Bible Camp 2021 Summer Staff expressing their favorite moments. Then share with adults young and old in your congregation and community. Find more about summer employment. Positions available for counselors, lifeguards, worship leaders, cooks, nurses, and more.

• Sugar Creek Bible Camp: Apply yourself or recommend others for camp staff positions. Few jobs are as meaningful as the life-changing role of a professionally-trained Bible camp counselor.

Volunteer at the ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis

Wish you could attend and be a part of the fun and excitement of the ELCA Youth Gathering, but you’re no longer a teenager? Then check out the volunteer opportunities! Volunteers make the ministry of the gathering happen, and there’s no registration fee! Sign up at 1stlu.org/ygvolunteer. The ELCA Youth Gathering runs July 24–28, 2022 in Minneapolis.

Stephen Ministry

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

Cancellations Due to Inclement Weather

Did you get the text or email about last week’s cancellation due to the NWS weather warning? If not, make certain to update the office with your current email, as well as cell number AND provider so that we can text you. If bad weather ever makes you wonder whether your group is meeting, you can also check our website and Facebook page. The staff and leadership of First intend to ‘make the call’ by 5pm at the latest so everyone knows what to expect. Be safe this winter!

Sunday School

• Sunday, Dec. 26 & Jan. 2

  • No Sunday School. Classes will resume Jan. 9.

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

Confirmation

• Sunday, Dec. 26 & Jan. 2:

  • No Gr 6 & 7 Confirmation Classes. Classes will resume Jan. 9.

• Wednesday, Dec. 29:

  • No Confirmation Small Groups. Classes will resume Jan. 5.

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