INSIDE: Grief Support Group • OWLs Potluck • Teen Back-to-school Shoe Giveaway

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, July 16:

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

• 9am: Summer Art Series in the narthex.

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

Knitters

Prayer shawl knitters meet every Tuesday at 3:30pm in the narthex. Open to all!

OWLs

On Wednesday, July 19, the OWLs (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First, will have their monthly potluck at noon in fellowship hall. Bring your favorite summer dish to pass. As many of you know something called AI (artificial intelligence) has started to work its way into our daily lives. Bob Dean and Brian will give a presentation on how AI affects our lives and its benefits and drawbacks, and they will demonstrate how you can use it free for creative writing and creating art. AI is here now and will continue to enter our daily lives, so come for some education and fun with this new technology. Questions? Contact volunteer coordinator Brian Narveson at owls@firslu.org or 630.816.5917.

Disability Pride Fest

Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 11am–4pm, Copeland Park, La Crosse. In 2023, DAN (Disability Action Network) will host our 2nd annual Disability Pride Fest to promote inclusion and highlight the value of people with disabilities to our community. Lots of people in our community are impacted by accessibility barriers and isolation. At Disability Pride Fest we will actively break down those barriers through socialization presentations, performances, a community art project, sports, children’s activities, and resource booths. Put simply, the event will celebrate disability culture. There will be music, food, art, activities, fun, and resources. All activities will be as accessible as possible including ASL interpreting, accessible restrooms, plain language information, and a sensory break area.

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.

Sugar Creek: Request for Prayers and Letters

We are reaching the midpoint of the summer and the staff at Sugar Creek Bible Camp could sure use some encouragement for the weeks to come. Please pray for the staff and perhaps send them a note of encouragement, appreciation and prayer. Click here for a list of 2023 Summer Staff.

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, July 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.

Special Olympics Volunteers

Special Olympics Wisconsin is hosting its annual District Softball + Bocce Tournament coming up in Onalaska and needs volunteers for this event! Special Olympics Wisconsin is a competitive sports organization, and athletes learn rules and train hard to compete to the best of their ability. It’s extremely important to have passionate volunteers to manage the games to ensure safe and equitable competition. When: Saturday, Aug. 12, 9am-3pm (different time slots available). Signup: https://cerv.is/0392gChjGm7

Vacation Bible School: Operation Restoration

Plan ahead to be here for Vacation Bible School this summer, Sunday, Aug. 13, through Wednesday, Aug. 16. 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 Tuesday, Aug. 15, 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!

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.

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 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.

OASIS Respite Program

OASIS is a weekly program for people in the beginning to mid-stages of dementia, Alzheimer's and other brain-related diagnoses. This respite time provides socialization, brain enrichment and activities while the person's caregiver gets a much-needed four-hour break. The suggested donation is $20 per visit for the activities and a nutritious lunch. OASIS is an outreach program of Causeway Caregivers and can be reached at 608-780-0417.