INSIDE: Christmas Giving Tree gifts due on Sunday, Dec. 10 • Cookie Decorating • Warming Center

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Dec. 10:

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

• 10:30am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

Wednesday, Dec. 13:

• 6:30pm: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

Drawing from the Well

This group is for women of First and the greater La Crosse area seeking to support one another in their spiritual growth. We gather to develop a deeper relationship with one another, meeting on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30–11am, in the narthex. NEXT: Saturday, Dec. 9. Contact Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.

Bible Matters

Are you looking for the connection between scripture and everyday life? Or maybe a way to dig deeper into the gospel of Matthew? If so, join Pastor Karyn for a year-long journey through the lectionary (our schedule of readings) Monday evenings, 7–8pm, meeting in the narthex. Our yearly readings just “rebooted” with the start of Advent, so now is a great time to join this study! Cost of this class is $20 for the devotional study book we will use. Questions? Contact karyn@firstlu.org.

ELCA Good Gifts

Wondering how to make a positive impact in the world right now? With ELCA Good Gifts, you can choose from more than 50 charitable gifts to give in honor of friends and loved ones. Each of these gifts makes a real impact in the world, sharing the love of Christ one goat, water filter or school uniform at a time. Start your holiday shopping now and order free, customized cards for each gift you give. Please give by Dec. 9 to ensure that your cards arrive in time for Christmas. Print-at-home and online cards are also instantly available at any time. Shop now at goodgifts.elca.org.

FLY Flight Crew

"FLY" is the name our kids have chosen for their "First Lutheran Youth" group. And FLY "Flight Crew" is the name our 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. Meeting the second Wednesday of the month; NEXT: Dec. 13, 5:30pm. Food and child care provided.

Sing for Christmas!

The next event the choir will rehearse for is Christmas Eve. Practice continues on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7pm in the sanctuary. All are welcome… there is no audition and no formal training required, just a desire to enhance worship through the beauty of music! And the time commitment is just for the one performance (not the entire year). Full schedule and sign-up at 1stlu.org/choir. If needed, child care will be made available (just indicate this need on the sign-up form). For more info contact Todd Saner at todd@firstlu.org.

Cookie Decorating

Everyone is invited to decorate Christmas cookies together this Friday, Dec. 15, 4pm in Fellowship Hall. Cookies will be shared during caroling, the Christmas program… and may even be snuck during the decorating! Parents are asked to supervise and help their children decorate. See you there!

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 3rd and 4th Friday of each month, through April. NEXT: Friday, Dec. 15. 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. More info and reg at 1stlu.org/warm.

Community Mural: For Unto Us a Child is Born

This 12x5-foot mural is a paint-by-number scene created by artist Paul Oman of Drawn to the Word. The theme is “For Unto Us a Child is Born.” As we reflect on St. Francis setting up the first Nativity scene 800 years ago, the Franciscan Spirituality Center will create their own vibrant version of this profound biblical event, featuring Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus, surrounded by shepherds, wise men, angels and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. People of all skill levels and ages are invited to participate. Groups are welcome to come and paint together. All supplies will be provided. Registration is not required; please attend as you can. Through Dec. 15, Mon.–Fri., 8:30am–4pm and Mondays & Thursdays 5pm–7pm.

Christmas Caroling

Hop on a bus to take a short ride around Onalaska to visit and carol to those who would love some extra Christmas cheer! Sunday, Dec. 17: NEW START TIME! 4:30pm warm-up, 5pm caroling, 6pm return to church for potluck feast!

Christmas Flowers for the Sanctuary

If you would like to give a rose in honor or memory of loved ones to decorate for our Christmas Eve services, you may do so at 1stlu.org/nextsteps. Cost is $5 per rose. Order deadline is Sunday, Dec. 17.

Red Kettle Bell Ringing

It’s Red Kettle season! The Salvation Army is in need of bell-ringers and relies on the support and love given from many groups in the community, and they’d love for you to join them again this year! Sign up at RegistertoRing.com.

Christmas Events Insert

The Christmas events insert that was included in the November newsletter can be downloaded at 1stlu.org/nextsteps.

OWLs Christmas Potluck

The not be missed, always exciting, highly regarded “social event of the season” will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 22. at noon in the Narthex. This, of course, is the almost world-famous OWLs Christmas Party and Potluck. There will be fantastic food, a gift exchange, singing and some very fun games. Our gift exchange theme will be “Bell(s).” It can be an ornament, a small figurine, a coat pin or anything bell related. If you bring a gift, you will get a gift. Maximum value is $10. It’s ok if you don’t want to participate and just want to watch the fun. Wear your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, the more outrageous the better. The annual “Who is most ready for Christmas” contest will be held with an interesting prize. No need to sign up, just come if you can, bring a dish to pass, a few Christmas goodies and your holiday spirit. Great fun will be had by all. Bring a friend, all are welcome. REMINDER: no nuts in the food or goodies for the potluck.

Sunday School Christmas Program & Worship

It is a wonderful time of year and a great way for our kids to share their Christmas joy! Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 6:15pm worship.

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 Thursday: 10am in the Upper Room. NEXT: Dec. 21. Led by Carla Stanton.

Blue Christmas

Thursday, Dec. 21, 6:15pm. Please join us at First Lutheran for an hour of worship including music, prayers, candlelight and reflection on what God is up to amidst our blue feelings around Christmas. There will be a light meal and conversation beforehand, starting at 5:30pm.

Christmas at First

Christmas Eve worship times: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 11pm (there will be no morning worship services that Sunday). All will be candlelight, and all will be with Holy Communion. Christmas Day worship time: 10am, with Holy Communion. 

Office Closures

The office will be closed at the following times in the coming months…

• Closed Christmas day, Monday, Dec. 25

• Closed New Years day, Monday, Jan. 1 

• Closed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 15

Faith Web Ideas for December

Here’s an idea for what you can do to strengthen the bond of your Faith Web this December: Attend the Nativity Experience together, at the Franciscan Spiritual Center, Saturday, Dec. 16. Even more ideas & caring conversation questions in handout at the Faith Webs table and to download at 1stlu.org/webs.

There’s STILL TIME to join a web, and there are 60 spots to fill! Stop by the Faith Webs table in the narthex after any worship service, and learn more at 1stlu.org/webs.

Winter Items for Teen Clothes Closet

In October we had 58 shoppers! Over 796 items taken. FTCC needs: teen style winter coats (L/XL/2XL/3XL), winter boots, hoodies (L/XL/2XL/3XL) and athletic pants (L/XL/2XL/3XL). Other than those items, the teen clothes closet is full and is not accepting donations of other items right now.  

Last but not least: Our First Teen Clothes Closet has been chosen for Altra's Impact Award! Thank you to Altra Federal Credit Union for the $7,500 award, and a big thank you to all that work to bring this impactful ministry to our neighbors!

LWR Gifts Doubled

For a limited time, your gifts to Lutheran World Relief will DOUBLE to reach a child in dire need with lifesaving food, clean water, health care and more. Your gift today will reach God's most vulnerable children in hard-to-reach communities who urgently need your help this Christmas.

Diaper Drive @ Trinity Lutheran

Trinity Lutheran Church in La Crosse (where First Lutheran operates the teen clothes closet) is having a diaper drive through the end of the year, to collect diapers and wipes for The Parenting Place in La Crosse, which distributes them free to families that need them. All sizes are needed, especially 5 & 6. If you would like to donate diapers, drop them off at Trinity, 1010 Sill St. Office hours there are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mon-Thurs.

What the Hell? 

Join Rev. Libby Howe for an exploration of hell: what it is and isn’t, how it is talked about in the Bible, as well as the spectrum of how Lutherans think about it. We will also explore historical, literary and religious thought that informs our contemporary conceptions of it, and hell’s social function related to the human need for justice for un-righted wrongs and unhealed wounds. Online Zoom class, 7pm-8:20pm, Thursday evenings, Jan 18–Feb 8. Register by emailing office@lacrosseareasynod.org.

New Class Starting in Jan: Financial Peace University

Start the New Year off right, and resolve to change your future by joining the Financial Peace University class at First. Learn to pay off debt fast, save more money, and build lasting wealth. Class starts on Sun., Jan. 21. Sign up today at 1stlu.org/next.

Baptismal Preparation

The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, Feb. 3, 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, Jan. 28. Min. attendance required: 2 families. 

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. 18, 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.

Sugar Creek Summer Reg Now Open

Sugar Creek Bible Camp offers 17 unique and powerful summer camp programs, plus retreat ministries for youth in elementary school, middle school, and high school – and adults and families! The camp is located on 660 acres in the bluffs and valleys of southwestern Wisconsin. Come learn, relax, encounter Christ and have fun at Sugar Creek Bible Camp! Enrollment opened Dec. 4! Explore sugarcreekbiblecamp.org for more information about next summer.

Make Worship Happen!

Worship assistants make worship happen! Usher, read, bake bread, serve communion, lead projection and more. To assist with Sunday worship sign up at 1stlu.org/assistSUN.

Calling All Bakers! Cookies for LuMin!

#CookiesOnCampus is back with LuMin Campus Ministries! Interim Pastor Paul Drees will continue the tradition of bringing hundreds of cookies to UW-La Crosse each week. Five hundred cookies are needed each week. (That’s about 42 dozen!) Our synod congregations have lovingly provided home-baked goodies so students can have a little taste of home. Find more information and sign up here, or contact Jen (admin@luminlax.org) to sign up!

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.

Sunday School

Sunday, Dec. 10

• 9:15am Sunday School Christmas Program Run Through

Sunday, Dec. 17

• 9:15am Sunday School Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal

More info and online registration: 1stlu.org/sunschool.

Confirmation

Sunday:

• 9:15am Gr 6 & 7 Confirmation Classes - Fireside Rm

Wednesday:

• 5:30pm Confirmation Dinner

• 7:00pm Gr 8-10 Small Groups

More info and online registration: 1stlu.org/confirm.