First Lutheran Church

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Announcements for Sunday Feb. 6 2022

Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Annual Meeting THIS Sunday, Feb. 6 at 11:45am, $10,000 Intent Card Challenge Continues

All members are invited to attend First’s annual meeting THIS 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.

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Feb. 6:

  • 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. 9:

  • 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:

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.

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.

Parent Share 

Join Carla Stanton, member of First, certified spiritual director and mom of three, in room 201 every Sunday morning at 9:15am. At Parent Share, we pray and talk about raising our children faithfully. Questions? Click here to contact Carla.

Free Series For Caregivers

The Franciscan Spirituality Center and the Aging and Disability Resource Center have collaborated on a new series designed to support caregivers. “Refresh and Renew: A Caregiver Series” will meet in person, once a month, initially at the FSC’s temporary space at River Crossing Square, 500 Second St. S., Suite 201, and later this fall at 920 Market St. Sessions are free, but registration is required at www.FSCenter.org or 608.791.5295. Participants may attend any or all of the sessions in the series…

  • “Coffee and Conversation,” Feb. 9, with Steve Spilde.

  • “Walking the Labyrinth,” March 9, with Jean Pagliaro.

$10,000 Intent Card Challenge!

To encourage more members at First to complete an intent card, our sister in Christ, JoAnn Wittchow, has graciously agreed to provide a Challenge Gift of $10,000 when the Stewardship Team receives 150 intent cards. Let’s meet the challenge together! Turn in your intent now, or by Sunday, Feb. 13. Intent cards are available in the pews and have also been mailed to households; they can be turned in by mail, dropping them off in the offering plate or in the office, or online at 1stlu.org/intent.

Fourth Grade Faith Building Block: Apostles’ Creed

  • Sundays, Feb. 13 & 27: parents/guardians with children

  • Sunday, Mar. 6: 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.

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 Sunday, 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.

OWLs Events

The OWLs (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First, for anyone 55+) will kick off February with a fabulous potluck on Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the narthex. Then on Friday, Feb. 25, the OWLs fly to UWL to enjoy the Big Band Cabaret performed by the UWL Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. Meet at the church at 4:30pm to car pool to a local restaurant for dinner before the concert. COST: ~$20; dinner on your own. RSVP ASAP to Brian at owls@firstlu.org / 630.816.5917.

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.

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, meeting this month from 9:30–11am, in the narthex, on Saturday, Feb. 19. Contact Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.

Ash Wednesday Worship, Mar. 2

Join us for worship on Ash Wednesday as we begin the season of Lent.

  • 12:15pm in-person worship

  • 6:15pm in-person worship and live stream

All services will include the imposition of ashes.

“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.

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 buy a share now. For info about products, prices and schedules, go to smallfamilycsa.com. Prices typically increase April 1.

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!

Coffee with Pastor Karyn

Coffee with Pastor Karyn is open to all and meets at 6:30am each Wednesday in the narthex. See you there! Questions? Contact karyn@firstlu.org.

Keep Up with Changes: Update Your Contact Info

Make sure the office has your current contact info, including current address, mobile number(s), carrier info (for reminders by text), and email(s). Send to office@firstlu.org.

Sunday School

  • Sunday, Feb. 6

    • 9:15am Sunday School

  • Sunday, Feb. 13

    • 9:15am Gr 4 FBB: Apostle's Creed (1st meeting, parents/guardians with child) - FH

    • 9:15am Sunday School

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

Confirmation

  • Sunday, Feb. 6:

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

  • Wednesday, Feb. 9:

    • 6:15pm Confirmation Class - Fireside Rm

    • 7pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

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