INSIDE: Register NOW for Middle & High School Mission Trip & WYLDE; Sing in Choir for Palm Sunday; Foundation Estate Planning Dinner; Parents’ Night Out

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Mar. 20:

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

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

Wednesday, Mar. 23:

• 5:15pm: Dinner with Pastor Karyn

• 6:15pm: Holden Evening Prayer live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. 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

  • 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. As of Feb. 16, 2022, masks are welcome, optional, and encouraged for those not vaccinated. For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Kindergarten Faith Building Block: Lord's Prayer

• No Meeting on Mar. 20

• Sunday, Mar. 27: 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. The session lasts for three weeks, and afterwards, the Faith Building Block will be lifted up in worship.

Full to the Brim Small Group

This small group will be discussing the devotions in Sanctified Art’s Full to the Brim Lenten devotional, and may include Pastor Stanton’s and Pastor Karyn’s reflections on the devotional, posted to both Facebook and YouTube during their Morning Musings. Meeting Sunday mornings at 9:15am in the Thomas Room through Lent. Open to all and led by Bridget Crave. The Full to the Brim devotional is available to be picked up at the Welcome Center in the church narthex/lobby.

Middle and High School Gathering Alternatives

• Youthworks mission trip to Bayou Le Batre, Alabama, for youth entering grades 7–12 in fall of 2022. Trip dates: July 23–31. More info: 1stlu.org/mshsmissiontrip.

• Boundless WYLDE @ Sugar Creek, for youth entering grades 9–12 in fall of 2022. Dates: July 24-29. More info: 1stlu.org/wylde.

Please register by…

1. Sending Pastor Stanton an email at jason@firstlu.org to alert him of your interest

2. Deliver a $150 check made out to First Lutheran NO LATER THAN SUNDAY MARCH 20. In the memo line add if you're registering for “YOUTHWORKS” or "WYLDE."

Plenty of spots are available for now, but we want to solidify our plans no later than March 20, as March 21 brings more deadlines for youth ministry plans.

Sugar Creek Summer Reg Now Open!

Summer camp registration at Sugar Creek is open, and campers are signing up! Our new program, Art Camp, promises to help campers grow in their creative gifts and encourage them in sharing the joy of expression through guitar, dance, painting, photography, wood-crafts or writing. We can’t wait to celebrate each of their unique talents with them. We are also pleased to bring back our popular new programs from 2021: Elevated, Night Camp and Rangers. Spots for these programs are filling up quickly, so make sure you don’t miss out. Do you know about our early-registration giveaway! Every camper who registers by March 21 will receive a $50 clothing store/snack shop credit. And First Lutheran is happy to reimburse the $100 registration fee (contact the office)! Reg and more info online: sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.

Knitters

Prayer shawl knitters meet every Tuesday at 3:30pm in the upper room. Open to all!

Dinner with Pastor Karyn

This Lent, join Pastor Karyn for a light dinner each Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in the Narthex. This casual gathering is a perfect time to enjoy some food and fellowship before worship. See you there!

Holden Evening Prayer

Join us for Holden Evening Prayer during our Lent worship, on Wednesdays at 6:15pm.

Preschool Registration

Registration for the 2022-23 school year at our First Lutheran Preschool opens Monday, March 21, from 9:30am–noon for church members, and 10:30am–noon for the community. To register, stop into the First Lutheran Preschool during the registration times above, or call the preschool at 608.779.4504.

SING!

The next performance will be for Palm Sunday, and rehearsals start up fresh on Wednesday, March 23, at 7pm in the sanctuary. Open to people ages 12 and up. No audition and no formal training required, just a desire to enhance worship through the beauty of music! Full schedule and sign up at 1stlu.org/choir. For more info contact Todd Saner at todd@firstlu.org.

Foundation Estate Planning Dinner

Sponsored by the Foundation Fund Committee, this special event takes place Thursday, Mar. 24, at 6pm in Fellowship Hall, and will focus on thoughtful estate planning and giving. Cindy Halverson, our Regional Gift Planner from the ELCA Foundation, will lead the presentation and discussion on how each of us can make informed decisions that will bless our loved ones and our church. Joining her will be a local financial planner and estate lawyer.

If you are considering an estate plan, reviewing/updating a plan, or would simply like to know more about thoughtful estate planning that will consider your heirs and your church, this session is important for you!  The presentation will include:

• the role of a will in planning your estate

• tax-wise giving tips

• how to get the best assets to the right beneficiaries

• why 70% of estate plans fail to pay out the way the donor intended

• how to express your values through your estate planning

• resources to accomplish your goals

Questions?  Contact karyn@firstlu.org. RSVP with the church office at office@firstlu.org / 608.783.2236.

Parents’ Night Out

Bring your children for an evening of fun with the middle and high school youth groups’ fundraiser! WHERE: at First Lutheran, NEXT: Friday, Mar. 25, FOR: Birth–12 are welcome (Birth–3 will be in the nursery, ages 4 and up in Fellowship Hall)

• Registration from 4:45pm-5:30pm

• Followed by dinner and activities till 8:30pm (parents can pick up early if needed)

COST: Monetary donations will assist the middle and high school students with 2022 Sugar Creek Bible Camp and potential mission trip. RSVP your child or sign up to volunteer at 1stlu.org/nightout.

Grade 5 Faith Building Block: Communion

• Sunday, Mar. 27: parents/guardians only

• Sunday, Apr. 3: parents/guardians only with child

• Wednesday, Apr. 13, 4-5pm: child only, baking communion bread in Fellowship Hall kitchen

• Thursday, Apr. 14: Faith Building Block lifted up during the evening Maundy Thursday worship service

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. The session lasts for three weeks, and afterwards, the Faith Building Block will be lifted up in worship.

Graduation Milestone & Recognition Dinner

Graduates: You and your parents/guardians are cordially invited to mark the milestone of your graduation at First Lutheran’s High School Graduation Recognition Dinner on Sunday, March 27 (NEW DATE), from 6–8pm at the church. Let us take this opportunity to honor you and your accomplishments as you prepare to become a 2022 graduate. RSVP to the church office by March 23. 608.783.2236 / office@firstlu.org.

Invitation to Anti-Racism 2022 Event   

Tuesday, March 29, 8:30am–noon at Holmen Lutheran. Fee: $35. The Professional Care and Service Committee as part of its ongoing commitment to anti-racism training for our rostered leaders has invited Hope Restores to present two short films titled "Amplifying Black Voices." Registration at 8:30am w/ refreshments. Both films, which are true stories of black students and their parents who live in La Crosse, will be viewed w/ discussion time between. If you have seen these videos before we would invite you to still attend so that we can learn and listen together with different people. Please register with the synod office by emailing melanie@lacrosseareasynod.org.

OWLs

The OWLs (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First, for anyone 55+) will fly to see “The Duke” on $5 Tuesday, March 29. Viewing times have not been released yet but plan on meeting at the church around 3:30pm. Exact times and details will be sent out as soon as the theater provides show times. We will have dinner locally after the movie. So Brian can buy tickets and make a dinner reservation ahead of time, please email or call him (owls@firstlu.org or 630.816.5917) by Sunday night, March 27 if you plan to attend.

Mabel Anderson Scholarship

The Mabel Anderson scholarship application is now available online at 1stlu.org/scholarship. Completed applications are due on Friday, April 1. 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.

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.

Baptismal Preparation


The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, April 2, at 10am in the narthex for anyone who is considering or has scheduled a baptism. To register or ask questions call the church office at 608.783.3326 by Sunday, March 27. Min. attendance required: 2 families. 

Easter Flowers

Your gift of $15 to the Easter Fund will be used to purchase flowers to beautify the sanctuary on Easter Sunday. Remaining contributions go towards purchasing new paraments. Please make your gift by Sunday, April 3. Gifts can be placed at 1stlu.org/give, or forms can be picked up at the usher stand and turned into the office.

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.

Sugar Creek Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch

Saturday, Apr. 16, at Sugar Creek’s Manna Center. Programming starts at 9:45 with brunch and egg hunt following. There also will be pony rides, egg painting and games. Activities: $5/child, Brunch: $10 (5 and up) and free for 4 and younger. RSVP to Sugar Creek at 608.734.3113 / camp@sgrcreek.org.

Holy Week Schedule

Holy week is the week leading up to Easter Sunday on April 17, starting with Palm Sunday on April 10. Join us for worship every day of Holy Week…

• Palm Sunday, Apr. 10, worship at 8:00am & 10:30am.

  • Palm Sunday breakfast in Fellowship Hall.

  • No Sunday School nor Confirmation classes.

• Monday, Apr. 11, worship at 6:15pm.

• Tuesday, Apr. 12, worship at 6:15pm.

• Wednesday, Apr. 13, worship at 6:15pm.

  • Gr. 5 Faith Building Block, bread baking, 4pm.

• Maundy Thursday, Apr. 14, worship at 12:15pm & 6:15pm.

  • Gr. 5 Faith Building Block lifted up at 6:15pm worship.

• Good Friday, Apr. 15, worship at 12:15pm & 6:15pm.

• Sacred Storytelling Worship, Apr. 16, worship at 5:30pm.

• Easter Sunday, Apr. 17, worship at 6:30am, 8:00am, and 9:45am.

  • No Sunday School nor Confirmation on Easter Sunday.

ASSIST WITH HOLY WEEK: To prepare our hearts for Easter Sunday, we worship every day
during Holy Week. Individuals and families can assist with this holy time as readers, ushers, communion servers and more. Sign up at 1stlu.org/assistHW.

The office will be closed at noon on Friday, Apr. 15, and all day Monday, Apr. 18.

New-Member Social

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, or who have become members in the past two years during COVID precautions, are invited to a social on Thursday, Apr. 21, at 6pm, where you will get to know more about First and the staff in a relaxed atmosphere. To register your family or ask questions, call our church office at 608.783.2236 or email office@firstlu.org.

Matching Donations For Ukraine

Lutheran World Relief received tremendous news this week: Nelsonville Lutheran Church in Wisconsin will double all gifts from congregations – up to $100,000 – for our neighbors suffering in the Ukraine crisis. Our teams are working with partners in and around Ukraine so your gifts will deliver urgent support and care, like: food, shelter and other critically needed items; Mission Quilts and Kits for families who fled their homes; and medicine and supplies for clinics. Gifts will be matched through Apr. 25. You can give at 1stlu.org/LWR or by mail to LWR, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061. Please write “Ukraine Match” in the memo line.

You can also donate to support Ukraine through Lutheran Disaster Response, which is accompanying companion churches and ecumenical partners in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to respond to the crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Gifts to “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by the crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Donate at 1stlu.org/LDR. And thanks to a generous donor, every gift to LDR’s Eastern Europe Crisis Response will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, to support people impacted by the war in Ukraine.

You can also donate to both Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response at 1stlu.org/give.

Scrip Cards

Your weekly groceries, gas and shopping money can help raise funds for youth ministry! Scrip cards are available from the church office. We have Kwik Trip, Woodman's, Target, Walmart 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.

Sunday School

• Sunday, Mar. 20

  • 9:15am Sunday School

• Sunday, Mar. 27

  • 9:15am Sunday School

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

Confirmation

• Sunday, Mar. 20:

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

• Wednesday, Mar. 23:

  • 6:15pm Confirmation Class - FS

  • 7:00pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

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