INSIDE: Summer Art Series continues this Sunday • Office Closures for Independence Day • Popcorn Day on July 5

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, July 2:

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

• 9am: Summer Art Series in the narthex. Click here for a sneak peek!

• 10am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

Upcoming Office Closures

The office will be closed at the following times this coming week…

• Monday, July 3rd, at noon

• All day Tuesday, July 4th

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.

Popcorn Day!

Here’s to a poppin’ good day! Stop in on Wednesday, July 5, from noon–1pm for a free box of popcorn!

Elementary MP3 Night!

For grades K–5, on Friday, July 14, 4:30–8pm, 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! RSVP at 1stlu.org/next.

OWLs

On Wednesday, July 19, the OWLs, a group for those 55+, will have their monthly potluck at noon in the narthex. Questions? Contact volunteer coordinator Brian Narveson at owls@firslu.org or 630.816.5917.

Outdoor Worship This Summer

First will worship outdoors on Fifth Ave, once a month during the summer, on the fourth Sunday, weather permitting…

• 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.

Teen Back-to-school Shoe Giveaway

Teens want to feel good about how they look, and a big part of that is the shoes they wear to school. You can support the First Teen Clothes Closet's back-to-school shoe giveaway and purchase a new pair of athletic-style shoes. A shoe Giving Tree will be in the narthex during most of July. Take a tag from the tree and buy the pair of shoes described on the tag. The tag will have brand and size wanted. There also will be tags with a dollar amount for a donation if you would rather support the closet with a cash donation, and we'll buy the shoes. Last year we handed out over 120 pairs of shoes during the one-day shoe giveaway. Your support is appreciated. The shoe giveaway is part of Trinity Lutheran Church's neighborhood block party. We participate because the teen closet is located at Trinity. This is a great way to meet, get to know and serve our neighbor. If you are interested in helping on the day of the event (August 14) you can sign up at 1stlu.org/next.

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.

NEW! FLY Booster Club!

"FLY" is the name our kids have chosen for their "First Lutheran Youth" group. "Boosters" is the name a few of us adults have chosen to describe how we plan to move forward with Faith Formation at First. Much like a sports, show choir or band booster club meets to dream about how to support our kids in their activities (and then shows up to actually support the activities), we want parents to do the same as we shape the faith formation of our kids. There will be monthly FLY Booster meetings where adults at First come together to plan youth opportunities, from Sugar Creek middle school retreats, to Advent Around the Table, to whatever new ideas come to mind. If every parent takes one or two pieces of the whole, our kids will have more opportunities to grow in their faith! Please make every effort to attend the first meeting (the only time it will NOT be a 2nd Wednesday) on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 5:30–7pm at First. Food and child care will be provided. Following meetings will be on the 2nd Wednesday every month, starting with Sept 13 and Oct 11. 

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, 4:30–8pm, 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! RSVP at 1stlu.org/next.

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 visit ELCA.org/ReclaimGathering.

Prostate Cancer Support

Navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment(s), and after-effects is tough and worthy of peer support. Recently, a non-medical First Lutheran member found himself on this path and would like to make himself available for e-mail, phone or in-person conversations with anyone interested in having a friendly ear to listen and provide mutual support. Email awh051230@gmail.com or call the church office who will provide a phone number. 

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.