INSIDE: Annual Potluck • Warming Center

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Feb. 5:

• 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, Feb. 8:

• 6:15pm: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

Current Precautions

• Masking: masks are welcome and not required, and encouraged for those recently exposed.

• Social distancing: not required, but of course, we ask everyone to respect all who desire social distance.

• Hand sanitizing: stations are available at the entrance and near the welcome center.

• Stay home if you have any symptoms of COVID or had a recent positive diagnosis.

For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Grade 4 Faith Building Block: Apostles’ Creed

• Sunday, Feb. 5: parents/guardians only

• Sundays, Feb. 12 & 19: parents/guardians with children

• Sunday, Feb. 26: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

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.

Annual Potluck, Sunday, Feb. 5, 11:45am

All members are invited to attend First’s annual potluck on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 11:45am. We will reflect on 2022 and look ahead to 2023, 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! The annual report is available to pick up at the church Welcome Center, at the annual meeting, or download at 1stlu.org/areport, and you will receive a 1-page summary with your 2022 contributions statement in the mail.

Sugar Creek Bible Camp Voting Members

Participate in guiding the future of our camp, Sugar Creek! The 2023 Sugar Creek annual meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19, at camp. Voting members are welcome to contribute their stories and perspectives to the conversation amidst reports and planning for the upcoming year. Support your camp by offering your voice and vote.

Nominations for Vision & Leadership

Nominations needed! First Lutheran will elect two new members to the Vision & Leadership Team at the Annual Meeting on Feb. 5. Read the following ‘job’ description and consider who you could nominate for this ministry. Send nominations to jason@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.

Assembly Voting Members

Participate in guiding the future of our synod! The 2023 La Crosse Area Synod Assembly is planned to be in-person June 9-11 (Friday evening through Sunday noon) 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 Stanton (jason@firstlu.org) or the church office (office@firstlu.org / 608.783.2236). It’s a great opportunity to be the church!

Nominations for First Lutheran Foundation Board

Nominations needed! First Lutheran will elect one new member to the Foundation Board at the Annual Meeting on Feb. 5. Read the following ‘job’ description and consider who you could nominate for this ministry. Send nominations to jason@firstlu.org.

POSITION: Member, First Lutheran Foundation Board
POSITION SUMMARY: Members of First Lutheran are eligible to serve up to two, three year terms on its Foundation Board, which meets quarterly to maintain accounts, supervise allocations and, most importantly, decide where Foundation money is granted. Four categories of recipients include: academic scholarships, community outreach, missions of the ELCA and capital improvements of First Lutheran 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.

Friends of the Warming Center   

The Warming Center opened Nov. 1 for unhoused people, and the area ELCA churches have agreed to provide evening meals the 1st and 2nd Friday of each month, November–April. Prepare the meal in your kitchen and drop it off at the Warming Center ready to be served. Other people serve the meal, you just prepare it. You are welcome to use the Hunger Task Force for meal ingredients. Next meal: Friday, Feb. 10. More info and reg at 1stlu.org/warm. Questions? Contact bridget@firstlu.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 on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30–11am, in the narthex, with the next one on Saturday, Feb. 11. Contact Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.

Monday Night Community Meals

For many years, Trinity Lutheran Church on the northside of La Crosse has hosted a meal on Monday nights. First Lutheran has agreed to help with this important community ministry, by preparing a meal, serving the food and cleaning up. We need people to plan and prepare the meal to feed 60-80 people, and folks to serve the meal (5-6pm) and help with cleanup. Meal prep can be done at your convenience. Many times people prepare the main course a week ahead, freeze it and reheat it. Food for the meal can be gotten at no charge from the Hunger Task Force in La Crosse. NEXT DATE: Feb. 13. You can sign up at 1stlu.org/monmeals, or contact bridget@firstlu.org.

OWLs

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the OWLs, a group for those 55+, will have their monthly potluck at noon in Fellowship Hall. The program will be a speaker from Safe Families for Children. This is one of the charities we hope to give $10,000 of increased giving to in 2024. Come and hear about the great things they are doing for families and children in the area.

Then on Saturday, Feb. 18, the OWLs will fly to the LaCroix Black Box Theatre at Viterbo to see the romantic comedy Significant Other. They’ll meet at the church at 4:30pm and go to dinner before the play. Cost of the play: $20; dinner costs on your own. Tickets will be bought as people sign up. Please contact Brian Narveson (owls@firstlu.org) by Friday, Feb. 17, if you would like to attend. You can pay Brian the night of the performance for the tickets.

Questions? Contact volunteer coordinator Brian Narveson at owls@firslu.org or 630.816.5917.

Global Missions Variety Show for the La Crosse Area Synod

Sun., Feb. 19, 3pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill St., La Crosse, WI 54603. Come see some incredible talent in our area. Join the La Crosse Area Synod in a fundraiser for our companion synod, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB). All money raised will go toward assisting their mission to help Ukraine refugees.

Meal Train for Payne Family

A meal train has been created to support the Payne family over the next few months, following the death of their daughter. To sign up for a meal, go to 1stlu.org/next.

Ash Wednesday Worship

Join us for worship on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, 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. Lent small groups will start that day, and will study Beyond Question, a Lenten Journey. More info on Lent small groups coming soon at 1stlu.org/lentdevo.

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, Feb. 24, 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 8pm (parents can pick up early if needed)

COST: Monetary donations will assist the middle and high school students with 2023 Sugar Creek Bible Camp and potential mission trip. RSVP your child or sign up to volunteer at 1stlu.org/nightout, by Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Synod Study for Lent: “Church & State”  

Sunday evenings during Lent, Feb. 26–Mar. 26, 6:30–7:30pm via Zoom. Join Pr. Joanne Richmond of the synod Church in Society Committee in this study regarding the relationship between faith and nation, church and state, which exists in each of us while simultaneously being lived “out” in our daily lives.The purpose of this study: to engage in conversations about citizenship in the context of Lutheran thought, most specifically a Lutheran understanding of baptism, with the hope of relieving any confusion we experience as we live as baptized children of God. Registration required for ZOOM link and for ongoing preparatory info. For reg email office@lacrosseareasynod.org or call 608.788.5000. COST: Free.

Bible Readers Deep Dive: Revelation

Join Pastor Stanton online for 10-15 minutes per weekday for a study of Revelation. He will read the Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing's excellent book, The Rapture Exposed, as well as the Rev. Dr. Craig Koester's commentary, in addition to M. Eugene Boring's commentary… so you don't have to! Revelation is the source of so much controversy. What if it could be a primary source of HOPE for the church in 2023? Find the posts each weekday by 5am on First Lutheran's Facebook page or YouTube channel.

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, or ask for a flier in the office. Prices typically increase March 1.

Volunteer Appreciation Party

Sunday, Mar. 5, 11:45am. A warm thank you for everyone who brings Faith Alive at First Lutheran! RSVP at 1stlu.org/vaparty. Questions? Contact kathryn@firstlu.org.

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 are invited to a social at David Reay’s on Thursday, Apr. 20, 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.

Sugar Creek Events

• February 9-12 – Craft Retreat

• March 15 – EARLY Enrollment Deadline for Summer Camp

• March 17-19 – Middle School Retreat

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

Sugar Creek Summer Reg Now Open!

More children, youth, families and leaders are putting “first things first” with a retreat at Sugar Creek. Why? Because fun, safe, meaningful adventures in the great outdoors make the difference! Reserve your adventures and encourage practical leadership skills and a deep sense of purpose rooted in God’s love. Sign up today at www.sgrcreek.org (no risk; refundable deposit before June 1).

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). Members can make these changes on their own at our online directory: 1stlu.org/directory. Or you can send them to office@firstlu.org.

Sunday School

• Sunday, Feb. 5

  • 9:15am Sunday School

• Sunday, Feb. 12

  • 9:15am Sunday School

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

Confirmation

• Sunday:

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

• Wednesday:

  • 5:30pm Confirmation Dinner - Fellowship Hall

  • 7:00pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

Questions about Confirmation? Visit 1stlu.org/confirm.