Announcements for Sunday Apr. 3, 2022

Announcements
Written By Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Order Easter flowers by this Sunday; Join us for the last Holden Evening Prayer; Chicken dinner tickets going on sale

Join us for our last Holden Evening Prayer during this season of Lent, on Wednesday, Apr. 6, at 6:15pm. And come early to join Pastor Karyn for the last Lenten light dinner on the same date at 5:15pm in the Narthex. This casual gathering is a perfect time to enjoy some food and fellowship before worship. See you there!

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Apr. 3:

  • 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, Apr. 6:

  • 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.

Grade 5 Faith Building Block: Communion

  • 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.

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.

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.

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.

Peer Ministry

Peer Ministry is a great way for our 10th-graders to learn about how to deal with any situation that arises, large or small. It makes handling conflicts simple and equips them to be better listeners and be welcoming to all those around them. Meeting most Sundays from 7-8:30pm in the Mary Rm. Questions? Contact jason@firstlu.org.

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.

SING!

The next choir performance will be for Palm Sunday, and rehearsals continue on Wednesdays 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.

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.

Sunshine Team

The Sunshine Team meets on the first Thursday of every month. Next meeting: April 7, 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.

Interfaith Ukraine Prayer Vigil At First Congregational

The Interfaith Leaders Coalition is planning an interfaith prayer vigil for Ukraine to be held Thursday, April 7, at 7pm. The prayer vigil will be held at First Congregational Church, located at 2503 Main Street, La Crosse.

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 on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30–11am, in the narthex, with the next one on Saturday, Apr. 9. Contact Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.

Palm Sunday Breakfast Fundraiser

Sunday, April 10: Fundraiser for youths going on the mission trip and to Bible camp. No coffee hour, Sunday School nor Confirmation between services. Breakfast will be served 9-10:30am. Youth can raise funds by working at the breakfast; sign up at 1stlu.org/palmsun.

Virtual Multifaith Children’s Pre-Iftar Event

Join Shoulder to Shoulder and children’s book authors Hena Khan and Naaz Khan on Wednesday, Apr. 13, from 5–5:45pm Eastern (4pm Central) for a special Virtual Multifaith Children’s Pre-Iftar Event to connect with families and explore the themes of sharing & belonging this Ramadan. People of all ages and faith backgrounds are welcome and families with children ages 4-8 and 8-12 are especially encouraged to join us. When you register, your household will automatically be entered for a raffle to receive FREE books from Hena Khan and/or Naaz Khan!

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.

  • Monday, Apr. 11, worship at 6:15pm.

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

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

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

  • 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.

  • Saturday, Faith Story Dinner Theater (Holy Week Edition), Apr. 16, worship at 5:30pm.

  • Easter Sunday, Apr. 17, worship at 6:30am (outdoors), 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.

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.

Lutheran Disaster Response 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.

From Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service: The U.S. will now welcome up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. We need to act fast to prepare for these refugees, currently 90% of whom are women and children. There is an urgent need for resources, including emergency medical care, temporary housing, financial support for basic necessities, and much more. Donate at 1stlu.org/LIRS.

You can also designate gifts to Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service at 1stlu.org/give.

Chicken Dinner!

Tickets are now available for sale by youth through Apr. 17, or in the office, M–F, 8am–4pm, through Apr. 28. Meals cost only $10 presale before Apr. 27, Tickets will be $12 at the door while they last. And most importantly, all funds raised go to support youth going on the mission trip and to Sugar Creek Bible Camp! Meals are provided by Premier Catering, and will be available for pick-up at First Lutheran on Thursday, Apr. 28, 11am–7pm. FOR YOUTH: You can pick up ticket packets to sell in the office; Tickets packets are due back to the church office WITH THE MONEY by Sunday, April 17, by noon. Youth and families can sign up for a shift to help with takeouts at 1stlu.org/chixdin.

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! First Lutheran is happy to reimburse the $100 registration fee (contact the office)! Reg and more info online: sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.

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. In the memo line add if you're registering for “YOUTHWORKS” or "WYLDE."

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

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

Confirmation

  • Sunday, Apr. 3:

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

  • Wednesday, Apr. 6:

    • 6:15pm Confirmation Class - FS

    • 7:00pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

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

Andrew Stutesman
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
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