INSIDE: Stewardship Week Kicks Off, $10,000 Intent Card Challenge

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Jan. 30:

• 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, Feb. 2:

• 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 and social distancing

  • 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 and social distance. Registration is currently not required for most services. For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Stewardship Week: Invitation to Change Lives

In response to the core values of Welcome All, Be Community and Serve our Neighbor, the Vision and Leadership team, with your input, set the goal to increase our giving by $40,000 so that we can change lives in these three ways: to get more food to more people by teaming up with the Hunger Task Force, to give hope to the homeless by partnering with the REACH Services and Resource Center and to continue to seek a Youth and Family minister. In 2022, you are invited to consider increasing your giving and to join us as First Lutheran continues to be a church that shows up for each other and for our community as we change lives by providing food, shelter and faith formation ministries.

Simply Giving or other electronic funds transfers help change more lives by allowing you to easily fulfill your intent. You can sign up for Simply Giving at 1stlu.org/giving or alternatively electronic transfers by visiting your bank. If you already participate in Simply Giving, please sign in to increase your contribution in 2021.

Sugar Creek Winter Fun Days!

Sledding, tubing, broom ball, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and all sorts of outdoor winter fun just waiting for you to enjoy on two Sundays, Jan. 30 and Feb. 13. Equipment provided. Gather around the fireplace for chili and a hot dog lunch served between 1-3 pm. Hot chocolate with marshmallows and coffee to warm you up too! Call 608.734.3113 or email office@sgrcreek.org to let us know you will be going! Cost: $10/person, children under 4 free; includes all activities and meal.

The Mountaintop

First Lutheran encourages our members to attend The Mountaintop at the La Crosse Community Theatre, Jan. 28–Feb. 6. On Apr. 3, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious stranger arrives with some surprising news, King is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play, The Mountaintop is a gripping re-imagination of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Info and tickets at 1stlu.org/mtop.

Sugar Creek Summer Reg Now Open!

Your child or grandchild can have an amazing new experience this summer with the caring staff and beautiful creation of Sugar Creek! Now is the time to register, before your desired week fills up. Popular programs fill up fast! More info & reg at www.sgrcreek.org.

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!

Sign Up for Flowers for 2022

The sign-up sheets for the 2022 flowers are on the bulletin board. If you would like to honor the memory of a loved one check the bulletin board and sign up for an open week of your choice. You can also contact the church office (office@firstlu.org / 608.783.2236) to inquire about openings.

Calling all snapshots from 2021! #faithalive365

We’re looking for photos & videos from 2021: weddings, baptisms, Christmas program and ALL OTHER special events and ministries. Help us to collect and remember all the events from this past year! Email them to andy@firstlu.org or post them to our Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram with hashtag #faithalive365. Thanks!

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. 

Sunshine Team

The Sunshine Team meets on the first Thursday of every month. Next meeting: Feb 3, 9:30am. Various jobs: cleaning, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, washing windows and cleaning carpets. Help make First look nice! Refreshments are supplied to replenish your reserves! Dues are free! Questions? Text/call Dave at 608.780.0135.

Nominations For Vision & Leadership

Nominations needed! First Lutheran will elect two new members to the Vision & Leadership Team at the Annual Meeting on Feb. 6. Read the following ‘job’ description and consider who you could nominate for this ministry. Send nominations to karyn@firstlu.org.

POSITION: Member, Visioning and Leadership Team.
POSITION SUMMARY: As a servant to the ministry of First Lutheran Church and working in conjunction with pastoral leadership, is responsible for the development of the congregation’s mission and vision. Develops short and long-term strategies for ensuring the spiritual and physical health and wellness of the congregation. Provides support to staff and congregation members to equip each member with skills to grow in faith and their own personal ministry.

Annual Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 6, 11:45am

All members are invited to attend First’s annual meeting on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 11:45am, in the sanctuary. We will reflect on 2021 and look ahead to 2022, elect two new Vision & Leadership Team members, and complete a variety of other business. Save the date to be a part of the body of church at First!

In advance of First’s Annual Meeting, an abbreviated one-page annual report for 2021 has been mailed to households in your year-end financial statements. A full, more in-depth annual report may picked up at the Welcome Center or downloaded at 1stlu.org/report.

Gundersen Classes for those with Diabetes and Chronic Pain

Two virtual classes being offered by Gundersen Health System. Healthy Living with Diabetes: starts Feb. 16, runs 6 weeks, from 9-11:30am. Healthy Living with Chronic Pain: starts March 30, runs 6 weeks, from 12-2:30pm. Cost: $30. To register call Vicky Jessen, Office of Population Health, Gundersen, (608) 775-6870.

Sugar Creek Events

• Feb. 17-20: Craft Retreat

• Feb. 25-27: High School Youth Retreat

To register for the above events, contact the camp at 608.734.3113 / camp@sgrcreek.org.

“Courage Conversations” via Waking Up White Synod Read during Lent

Sundays: March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 6–7pm, via Zoom. Did you miss First’s study of Waking Up White, or want to revisit it? The Waking Up White synod read invites you to engage in conversations about the dynamics of race in your own life, congregations and community. Members of the Synod Church and Society Committee will lead these Zoom-based conversations on Sunday evenings during Lent. There is no fee to participate. Register by e-mail ( melanie@lacrosseareasynod.org) or by calling the synod office (608.788.5000). More info: 1stlu.org/wakingup.

Upcoming Sugar Creek Bus Trips

• April 6: Fireside Dinner Theater, "Sound of Music"

• May 7-10: Holland Michigan Tulip Festival

• Aug 26-Sept 1: Ark Encounter and Nashville

• November 16: Fireside Dinner Theater, "White Christmas"

Sign up early! Spots fill quickly. Call for info: 608.734.3113.

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.

Needed: Assembly Voting Members

Participate in guiding the future of our synod! The 2022 La Crosse Area Synod Assembly is planned to be in-person June 10-12 (Friday evening through Sunday noon) at UWL, in La Crosse. An elected voting member will need to attend the assembly & various pre-meetings. If you are interested in serving our synod and congregation as one of First Lutheran’s five voting members, contact Pastor Karyn (karyn@firstlu.org) or the church office (office@firstlu.org / 608.783.2236). It’s a great opportunity to be the church!

Sunday School

• Sunday, Jan. 30

  • 9:15am Sunday School

• Sunday, Feb. 6

  • 9:15am Sunday School

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

Confirmation

• Sunday, Jan. 30:

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

• Wednesday, Feb. 2:

  • 6:15pm Confirmation Class - Fireside Rm

  • 7pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

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