Announcements for Palm Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023

Announcements
Written By Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Palm Sunday • Food Drive Concludes • Holy Week Worship • First Teen Clothes Closet Art Show

Holy week begins! Holy week is the week leading up to Easter Sunday on April 9, starting with Palm Sunday THIS April 2. Join us for worship every day of Holy Week!

Join us for Holy Week!

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. 7, and all day Monday, Apr. 10.

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.

Mabel Anderson Scholarship

The Mabel Anderson scholarship application is available online at 1stlu.org/scholarship. Completed applications are due on Saturday, Apr. 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. Contact the office with any questions: office@firstlu.org / 608.783.2236.

Lent Food Drive Concludes

First will conclude our food drive for the Onalaska Food Basket, THIS Sunday, Apr. 2. Needed items:

  • boxed cereal

  • peanut butter

  • canned meats & stews

  • canned soups

  • pasta & spaghetti sauce

  • macaroni & cheese

  • soap & deodorant

  • toothpaste

  • shampoo & conditioner

  • laundry products

  • household cleaning products

  • toilet paper & paper towels

  • diapers

  • menstruation products

  • pet food & cash

Bring donations to church altar during the offering.

Palm Sunday Breakfast Fundraiser

Sunday, Apr. 2: Fundraiser for youth going on mission trip and to Bible camp. No coffee hour, Sunday School nor confirmation between services. Breakfast will be served between services. Youth can raise funds by working at the breakfast; sign up for both at 1stlu.org/palmsunbreakfast.

First Teen Clothes Closet's High School Art Show

Sunday, Apr. 2, 1–3:30pm, at the First Teen Clothes Closet in Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill St., La Crosse (park on Charles St. and enter south door). Our clothes closet is partnering with art students and teachers at Onalaska and Logan High Schools to bring teen art to our walls! We would love to have you come and see what they've created, while also touring our clothes closet! Light refreshments will be served.

OWLs

On Monday, Apr. 3, the OWLs fly to Sugar Creek Bible camp for Yesterday’s Youth. The program will be Traveling with Dick and Chuck: Dick Iverson (former Sugar Creek director) and Chuck Malayter will give a presentation about traveling and hiking in Spain. Followed by lunch with musical entertainment. Leaving church parking lot at 8:15am, back by 3pm. COST: $15/person. RSVP to Brian Narveson at 630.816.5917.

Sugar Creek Events

  • April 3: Yesterday’s Youth

  • April 8: Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch

  • April 10: Deadline for LEAD application

  • April 29-30: Elementary School Retreat

  • May 6: Spring Volunteer Work Weekend

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

Grade 5 Faith Building Block: Communion

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

  • Thursday, Apr. 6: 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 is lifted up in worship.

Sing for Easter Sunday!

After Palm Sunday, our choir will prepare to sing on Easter Sunday, and rehearsals continue on Wednesday, Apr. 5, at 7pm in the sanctuary. Open to all people ages 12 and older. 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.

Sunshine Team

The Sunshine Team usually meets on the first Thursday of every month, but April’s meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 13, 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? Contact Dan at dan@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, Apr. 7. More info and reg at 1stlu.org/warm. Questions? Contact bridget@firstlu.org.

Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt @ Sugar Creek

Come celebrate Easter at Sugar Creek with a fun day of games, activities and food! WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 8, 10am. The whole family, friends and neighbors are invited. RSVP by Friday, Mar. 31 at 608.734.3113 / office@sgrcreek.org.

Faith Story Dinner Theater

On this Holy Saturday between the solemness of Good Friday and the good news of Easter Sunday join us for a Holy Week edition of Faith Story Dinner Theatre, as we read and share some of the Bible stories that God has given us. WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 8, 5:30pm. Reserve your seat at 1stlu.org/sacredsat by Wednesday, Apr. 5.

Household Photos & Upcoming Member Directory

This summer First plans to print new directories for members. But unlike previous years, which involved scheduling a sitting and enduring a sales pitch, this year we will create them ourselves and print them in-house. The new print directory will necessitate up-to-date info for members in our database, so we are asking the following of all members…

  1. Update your contact info!

    • The easiest way to do this is through our online directory; simply log in at 1stlu.org/directory. Need to set up an account? Email a request to andy@firstlu.org.

    • NOTE: Lots of fields for both families and individuals can be included or excluded from the directory. They are included by default, so any field you want to “exclude from directory” needs to be checked.

    • You can also send updated contact info to andy@firstlu.org, with the following updates: address, phone numbers and emails, AND if you want them included or excluded from the directory

  2. Provide a family photo!

    1. The easiest way to do this is to get an informal snapshot taken between services at our “photo booth” to the right of the Welcome Center. Volunteer photographers have offered their time and talents to help take the photo. This is nothing formal! We just want to be able to add faces to the names in our database!

    2. You can also email a family snapshot to andy@firstlu.org.

Questions about the online or print directory? Email andy@firstlu.org.

School of Theology Spring Classes

Thursdays, April 13–May 18: Leadership in Christian Community with Pastor Anna Sorenson at 5:30pm; Theology I with Pastor Chris Hallemeier at 7:30pm. More info at 1stlu.org/theology. RSVP to office@lacrosseareasynod.org.

Preschool Springfest

Springfest, on Sun, Apr. 30, at 3pm, is our preschool’s major fundraiser and provides an opportunity for preschoolers to showcase their singing talents. After the concert there is an ice cream social and silent auction. For all family members, grandparents, friends and neighbors! All bids will support the ministry of First Lutheran Preschool… so consider any bid over face value as a donation to the preschool’s ministry (and a good way to lock-in that bid)!

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.

Donations for Rummage Sale to Support Alzheimer’s

OWLs member Sharon Zimmer and her husband, Chuck, have been married for almost 40 years. Chuck was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 60, along with PPA dementia (same kind as Bruce Willis). Sharon has a huge goal of raising $5,000 for EndAlz and Alzheimer’s locally. To do so, she is having a rummage sale in mid-June and is asking for donations of all sorts: clothes, furniture, working appliances, toys, sports gear in good condition, etc. (Please no household paint, tires, cribs or outdated electronics that are costly to dispose of.) If you have something you would like to donate, she can be reached at 608.783.6757 / zimmers725@gmail.com. The money raised for Alzheimer’s will go to research and local education.

Sunday School

  • Sundays, Apr. 2 & 9

    • No Sunday School; enjoy the Palm Sunday breakfast and Easter worship!

  • Sunday, Apr. 16

    • Sunday School resumes

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

Confirmation

  • Sunday:

    • No Gr 6 & 7 Confirmation Classes - Enjoy Palm Sunday breakfast!

  • Wednesday:

    • No Confirmation Small Groups

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

Andrew Stutesman
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
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