INSIDE: 10am outdoor worship moving indoors, potluck still a go! • Blood Drive on Tues

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, June 25:

• 8am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

• 10am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available. (Outdoor worship moving indoors due to chance of rain) THERE WILL STILL BE A POTLUCK AFTER THE SECOND SERVICE!

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

Elementary MP3 Night

Elementary MP3 Night!

For grades 3–5, on Friday, July 14, 5:30–8pm, in Fellowship Hall. Why? To have fun and build faith-based relationships!!! Wear your most comfy pajamas and bring a sleeping bag and pillow to lounge on if you like. We’ll meet, eat, play a couple of games and settle in for a movie, pizza and popcorn. This event has always been a huge hit and everyone has a great time together!

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 moving indoors due to chance of rain; potluck is still a “go!”

• 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.

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. 

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: Aug. 7. You can sign up at 1stlu.org/next, or contact bridget@firstlu.org.

Vacation Bible School: Operation Restoration

Plan ahead to be here for Vacation Bible School this summer, Sunday, Aug. 13, through Wednesday, 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–Tuesday, Aug. 15

• 5pm dinner in Fellowship Hall

• 6–8pm VBS program

Wednesday, Aug. 16 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!

DATE CHANGE! All are welcome to the closing celebration of VBS, starting at 5pm on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 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!

Middle School MP3 Night!

For grades 6–8, on Friday, Aug. 18, 5:30–8pm, in Fellowship Hall. Why? For the same reason the elementary kids do! To have fun and build faith-based relationships!!! Wear your most comfy pajamas and bring a sleeping bag and pillow to lounge on if you like. We’ll meet, eat, play a couple of games and settle in for a movie, pizza and popcorn. This event is a huge hit and everyone will have a great time together!

Sugar Creek Golf Fundraiser

Join Pastor Stanton’s or Pastor Karyn’s team 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/next.

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.

>> REGISTER NOW <<

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.