Announcements for Sunday June 5, 2022
INSIDE: Upcoming worship changes • Synod Assembly for All
Worship
Join us for worship!
Sunday, June 5: Pentecost Sunday! Don’t forget to wear red!
8am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.
Summer Fun! For kids: Snacks and supervised play outdoors (gather at the Welcome Center). For adults: fellowship hour and Parent Share in the Upper Room.
10:30am: 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 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. As of May 27, 2022, masks are welcome and optional. For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.
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.
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.
Upcoming Worship Changes
Wednesday worship will take a summer break; last service was Jun. 1, worship will resume Sept. 7
Sunday, June 12:
Worship at 8am will be at First
Worship at 10am will be at Riverside Park with the synod (or at UWL Student Union if there is inclement weather)
Starting June 19 thru the summer: Sunday worship will be at 8am and 10am
Volunteers Wanted for Synod Assembly
The synod is looking for folks to serve as red-vested volunteers at this year's assembly. Volunteers serve very important functions: hospitality in all ways, assisting with the collection of offerings, handing out and retrieving ballots, dispersing handouts, helping at the registration table, guiding attendees to meeting spaces outside of plenary hall, etc. If interested contact the synod office (608.788.5000 / office@lacrosseareasynod.org) and they’ll put you in touch with Betty, the volunteer coordinator. You will attend the assembly at no cost.
Synod Assembly for All
Please know that ALL are welcome to these events of the synod assembly (you do not need to be a registered delegate)…
Friday, June 10, 7pm: for opening worship at Good Shepherd Lutheran, 4141 Mormon Coulee Rd, La Crosse.
Saturday afternoon, June 11: at the UW-La Crosse Student Union for 2 workshop sessions at 2:15pm and 3:30pm. COST: $10. Contact the synod office to register: melanie@lacrosseareasynod.org. Workshop topics are…
Role of Summer Camp in Developing Leaders for the Church
Let Us Play to the Lord - children and their experience of God belong in worship
Creating Cultures of Honor - on anti-racism
Workshop with our ELCA Representative - description pending
How to Do Advocacy - Lutheran Office of Public Policy-Wisconsin
From the Boxing Ring to the Baptismal Font - discuss politics and act for justice with the gentle compassion and courageous boldness of Jesus
Faith, Imagination & Proclamation - on preaching
Rural Ministry / Shared Ministry
Workshop with our assembly musician
Doing Hybrid Ministry
Sunday, June 12, 10am: for worship at Riverside Park, downtown La Crosse, followed by a picnic lunch (at the UW-La Crosse Student Union if there is inclement weather)
Sock and Underwear Drive at Assembly: On Sunday, June 12, when we meet at the Riverside Park bandshell for worship, we are asking congregations to bring donations of new socks and underwear along. These items will be sorted by one of the afternoon service project groups and then shared with area clothes closets.
See ALL Sunday afternoon Service Projects here that synod members can join. Sign up for the various service projects at lacrosseareasynod.org.
Confirmation Camp For Youth Going Into Grade 8
Our upcoming confirmation students get a chance to start their confirmation journey in the beautiful valley of Sugar Creek, the week of Sunday, June 12, through Friday, June 17. We will learn in faith together while we do Bible study, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, campfires, and so much more! This summer confirmation camp is for youth going into grade 8. Questions? Contact Pastor Karyn at karyn@firstlu.org.
OWLs Events
The OWLs (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First Lutheran, for anyone 55+) will have their 10th Anniversary Potluck on June 15 at noon. On June 22 the OWLs will fly to Circus World in Baraboo, WI (leaving the church at 9am). RSVP to Brian, the volunteer coordinator, at owls@firstlu.org.
A reminder to all members that First Lutheran is a latex- and nut-free campus. Please do not bring food containing nuts or nut butters/oils/extracts of any kind onto the church campus. This is for the safety of all of our members. Thanks!
Juneteenth Celebration
La Crosse’s annual Juneteenth celebration! Uniting all members of the community in celebration of Black Americans!! Fun, food, entertainment, history, education and connection. At Riverside Park on Saturday, June 18, noon–8pm.
Outdoor Worship This Summer
First will continue to do outdoor worship services once a month during the summer…
June 26, 10am
July 24, 10am
August 28, 10am
September 25, 10:30am
Bring your own lawn chairs, and perhaps a hat to shade your eyes. If the weather's bad that day, we'll move inside.
First Teen Clothes Closet Needs
Athletic shorts Large, XL, XXL Men and Women
Athletic pants (sweatpants or joggers) Large and XL, XXL men and womens
Teen style NEW flip flop and sandals.
Girls summer tops in Large and X large
REMINDER: all donated clothes should be freshly laundered and free of stains and tears (unless made that way).
Volunteer for Special Olympics
The Special Olympics Wisconsin is in need of volunteers for their annual Softball and Bocce tournament in Onalaska on Saturday, July 9! Sign up at 1stlu.org/specialo.
Sugar Creek Family camp
Sugar Creek is offering three sections of Family Camp this summer: July 5-8, August 7-10 and August 11-14. Housing options include: Koinonia Lodge, Modern Log Cabins, Retreat Center, Manna Center, Wagons, Seeker or Frontier Town Villages. Or you can bring your own camper or tent. Take part in campfire worship, horse riding, bible study, creek stomping and so much more. More info and reg at sgrcreek.org.
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
Sunday, July 17, from 11:45am-1:15pm at the first shelter in Rowe Park, for all volunteers who make Faith Alive! happen at First Lutheran. Bring your lawn chairs and come to play! Mark the date so that we may celebrate those among us who give their time and energy to Christ’s mission! RSVP by July 10 at 1stlu.org/vapicnic.
Lead Sunday School & VBS
There are opportunities to serve as a Sunday School teacher and a leader in VBS. A Sunday School teacher is a commitment of 1 or 2 weekends a month in which you connect with our congregation's children! It is super easy with the curriculum! VBS is another way to connect, this is so fun and is high energy! If you like to play games or would like to help organize or help in any way, please consider! Contact Pastor Stanton: jason@firstlu.org.
Vacation Bible School
Plan ahead to be here for Vacation Bible School this summer, Sunday, July 31—Thursday, Aug. 4. Invite your neighbors! For 4K through Grade 5 in the fall (3 year olds are welcome to attend in the nursery). Register online at 1stlu.org/VBS.
Upcoming Sugar Creek Bus Trips
Aug 26-Sept 1: Ark Encounter and Nashville: There are many stops along the way. The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY, will awe you with a full-size ark. Tour the Lexington, KY, area with its many horse farms. Opryland Hotel will be your home base in Nashville. You will see the Country Music Hall of Fame, Legends, Lunch & Lyrics, a guided tour that will take you down Music Row, the Capitol and Parthenon. A backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry and the General Jackson Showboat Luncheon Cruise will cap off your stay. On the bus ride home, you will stop in Springfield, IL, to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as well as Lincoln's Home. Register soon!
November 16: Fireside Dinner Theater, "White Christmas"
Sign up early! Spots fill quickly. Call for info: 608.734.3113.
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.