Announcements for Sunday, June 18, 2023
INSIDE: Sunday Worship changes to 8am & 10am • Juneteenth Celebration @ Riverside Park
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 Sunday, June 18, noon–8pm.
Worship
Join us for worship!
Sunday, June 18:
8am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.
10am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.
Kane Street Community Garden Open House
The Kane St. Community Garden is throwing a party to show off the garden, this Saturday, 10am–1pm! Get to know how the garden is laid out and the cool features for children and adults of all ages and capabilities.
Scavenger hunt - complete and enter drawing for a prize
Refreshments
Perennials available for suggested donation of $5-$10
Produce distribution 11:30-1:00
Worship Changes for the Summer
Starting June 18 thru the summer: Sunday worship will be at 8am and 10am
Outdoor worship at 10am three times this summer (weather permitting): June 25, July 23 and August 27.
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 Sunday, June 18, noon–8pm.
The celebration needs volunteers. Find an area and time where you can volunteer at bit.ly/LAXJuneteenth23. Sign up for as many slots as you like.
Knitters
Prayer shawl knitters meet every Tuesday at 3:30pm in the narthex. Open to all!
Grief Support Group
Carrying on after the death of a loved one can be difficult and lonely. Join with others who listen and care for each other. Every third Wednesday: 10am in the Upper Room. NEXT: June 21. Led by Carla Stanton.
Clothes Closet Needs
The First Teen Clothes Closet is now taking donations for summer attire. Please donate CLEAN, new or gently-used, teen-style clothing and accessories. The donation bins are in between the front doors of our church. Donations can also be dropped off at Trinity Lutheran Church in La Crosse on Mondays from 4-6pm. Call the church office if you have questions: 608.783.2236. We truly appreciate your donations!!!
Current needs include:
Swimsuits
Hoodies (size XL, XXL and XXXL)
Summer dresses (XL, XXL & XXXL)
Summer skirts (size L, XL, and XXL)
Men's athletic shorts (size XS, S, M, L, XXL, XXXL)
Men's & ladies sweatpants (XS, XL, XXXL, and XXXXL)
Ladies leggings (XXL & XXXXL)
Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, bodywash, and lotion
Jewelry & make up
Outdoor Worship This Summer
First will worship outdoors on Fifth Ave, once a month during the summer, on the fourth Sunday, weather permitting…
June 25, 10am
July 23, 10am
August 27, 10am
Bring your own lawn chairs, and perhaps a hat to shade your eyes. If the weather's bad that day, we'll move inside.
Blood Drive
Tuesday, June 27, 12:30-5:30pm. Every day, ordinary people are saved by some pretty extraordinary people. People who give blood. Your donation could be the most valuable gift you ever give. Just ask anyone who’s ever received. Walk-ins welcome; appointments encouraged, schedule yours at 1stlu.org/blooddrive. Please bring a photo ID and mask.
Jail Ministry Needs
The La Crosse Jail Ministry is in need of the following items for people when they are getting out of jail (used and clean, or new; all sizes but especially medium, large and extra large):
Men’s sweatpants
Men’s T-shirts
Men’s rain jackets
Men’s shoes (all sizes)
Backpacks
If you can provide any of these items, please drop them off at Coulee Life Church in Onalaska next to Sand Lake Elementary School. There is a drop off location inside the door on a bench. The doors are open from 9am–6pm, Monday–Friday. If you would like to make a donation to the La Crosse Jail Ministry, click here.
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.
LWR Summer Matching Challenge
When you make a donation to Lutheran World Relief by June 30, your gift will be matched — dollar for dollar — to reach our poorest neighbors suffering from hunger and malnutrition right now.
Baptismal Preparation
The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, Aug. 5, 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, Jul. 30. Min. attendance required: 2 families.
Vacation Bible School: Operation Restoration
Plan ahead to be here for Vacation Bible School this summer, Sunday, Aug. 13, through Thursday, Aug. 17. Invite your neighbors! For 4K through grade 5 in the fall (3-year-olds are welcome to attend in the nursery). Register at 1stlu.org/VBS.
Sunday, Aug. 13–Wednesday, Aug. 16
5pm dinner in Fellowship Hall
6–8pm VBS program
Thursday, Aug. 17 only…
5pm all-church picnic at Van Riper Park
~6pm swimming at Onalaska Aquatic Center!
Also: 1) Help in the kitchen! Many hands will make light work. Claim ONE night between Sunday, Aug. 13, through Thursday, Aug. 17, to prep, serve and clean up the meal all VBS families will enjoy together. Food will already be purchased. Menus are decided. We just need a couple hours of your time. 2) Bake/make bars/cookies, too! That's how dessert gets done. Email jason@firstlu.org if you can take a kitchen shift or bake.
All-Church Picnic And Waterslide!
All are welcome to the closing celebration of VBS, starting at 5pm on Thursday, Aug. 17, at Van Riper Park. We’ll eat together outdoors (First will provide the main course; bring desserts/treats to share) and then close with water fun at the Onalaska Aquatic Center!
Sugar Creek Golf Fundraiser
Join Pastor Stanton on Monday, Aug. 21, at Viroqua Hills Golf Course, to raise money for Sugar Creek. Reg and check-in at 11am. Shotgun at 12:30pm. 18 holes: $85/person, 4-person best ball! More info: 1stlu.org/scbcgolf.
15th Annual First Fest!
On Sunday, Sept. 10, we invite you to join us for worship at 8am or 10:30am, and after the second service relax, catch up with friends, introduce yourself to visitors or members you’ve yet to meet, listen to great music, have lunch and have some fun! FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, so INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
RECLAIM: A Gathering for People of African Descent
RECLAIM is a gathering for people of African descent, brought to you by African Descent Ministries. Participants will build a tool kit for ministry as we move through a pandemic, climate change and an era of preserving healers' spiritual and emotional wellness. The church needs healthy and whole preachers, teachers, professionals and young adults, all well-equipped with culturally relevant approaches to the word. Grounded in Scripture, RECLAIM will help participants feel embodied, emboldened and liberated in their identities.
WHEN: Sept. 14-17, 2023
WHERE: Minneapolis, MN
FOR: People of African descent of all ages and gender identities
DEADLINES: Standard registration and young adult registration end June 30. Late registration ends August 15.
Participants will engage in workshops, shared meals, praise and worship that will enable us to build community, learn new skills, share resources and rejuvenate weary souls. A Men in Mission cohort will meet alongside the RECLAIM gathering. Facilitated by the Rev. Jonathan Hemphill of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, this is an opportunity for collegiality, community and connection for Black men. Candidates for ministry, first-call pastors, and lay, African-descent men in ministry are invited into this intentional space. For more info about the gathering, visit ELCA.org/ReclaimGathering.
New Members
By choosing to become a member, individuals and families commit to being part of a shared mission. Please let us know if you are interested in membership. One of our pastors will connect with you to find out how we may best be church together in the months and years to come. Call our office for more information at 608.783.2236 or email office@firstlu.org.
Fundraising to Support Our Youth
Your weekly groceries, gas and shopping money can support youth ministry! Scrip cards are often sold in the narthex on Sundays between services, and are also available in the church office M–F, during office hours. 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.
Donations For Ukraine
Lutheran World Relief has committed $7 million to respond to the crisis in Ukraine, and expects to increase this amount as they receive additional support. With millions of individuals displaced in Ukraine and with citizens continuing to flee Ukraine each day, the needs grow daily. Donate at LWR.org.
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 elca.org/LDR.
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 LIRS.org.
