INSIDE: Financial Peace • Volunteer Appreciation Party • Parents’ Night Out

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Jan. 21:

• 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, Jan. 24:

• 6:15pm: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

Invitation to Change Lives with the First Lutheran Foundation

At First Lutheran, we can change lives with Hope Restores, providing transportation for those in need, and with the First Lutheran Foundation. We invite you to join us in prayerfully considering an increase to your giving in 2024, so these life-giving ministries may continue. Join us by providing your Statement of Intent by Stewardship Sunday, Jan. 28, in these ways: 1) filling out the intent form at 1stlu.org/next, or 2) mailing in/dropping off the intent card (in the pews and coming soon in the mail) at the church office no later than Feb. 18, 2024.

Parent Share 

Join Carla Stanton, member of First, certified spiritual director and mom of three, in room 201 every Sunday morning at 9:15am. At Parent Share, we pray and talk about raising our children faithfully. Questions? Click here to contact Carla.

Volunteer Appreciation Party

THIS Sunday, Jan. 21, 11:45am. A warm thank you for everyone who brings Faith Alive at First Lutheran! RSVP at 1stlu.org/next. Questions? Contact kathryn@firstlu.org.

New Class Starting THIS Sunday: 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 THIS Sun., Jan. 21. Sign up today at 1stlu.org/next.

Synod Volunteer(s) Needed

The synod office is getting a facelift in one of the conference rooms used especially by W-ELCA and is looking for volunteers to install 300 ceiling tiles in the space. Please contact sara@LaCrosseAreaSynod.org if you are available to get this project done.

Knitters

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

Attention! Seeking Nominations!

First is seeking leaders for the following positions, to be elected at our next annual meeting, Sunday, Feb. 11. If you or a member you know is interested in serving, please talk to/email Pastor Stanton at jason@firstlu.org. The Vision & Leadership Team will compile a list of all nominations at their Jan. 23 meeting. That list will then be presented along with the annual report on January 28. No more nominations will be received after Jan. 23.

• Vision & Leadership: The Vision & Leadership Team will be electing leaders at the annual meeting. Two current members are willing to serve a second term, while a third has reached their term limit. A V&L job description is available upon request in the church office. 

• Sugar Creek Bible Camp Voting Members: Participate in guiding the future of our camp, Sugar Creek! The 2024 Sugar Creek annual meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18, at camp. Voting members are welcome to contribute their own stories and perspectives to the conversation amidst reports and planning for the upcoming year. Support your camp by offering your voice and vote.

• Assembly Voting Members: Participate in guiding the future of our synod! The 2024 La Crosse Area Synod Assembly is planned to be in-person June 7-9 (Friday evening through Sunday noon) in Warrens, WI. An elected voting member will need to attend the assembly & various pre-meetings. It’s a great opportunity to be the church!

Parents’ Night Out

Bring your children for an evening of fun with the middle and high school youth groups’ fundraiser. WHERE: at First Lutheran, NEXT: Friday, Jan. 26, FOR: Birth–12 are welcome (Birth–3 will be in the nursery, ages 4 and up in Fellowship Hall)

• Registration from 4:45pm-5:30pm

• Followed by dinner and activities till 8pm (parents can pick up early if needed)

COST: Monetary donations will assist the middle and high school students with 2023 Sugar Creek Bible Camp and potential mission trip. RSVP your child or sign up to volunteer at 1stlu.org/nightout, by Wednesday, Jan. 24.

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, Jan. 26. 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.

Faith Web Ideas for January

Here’s an idea for what you can do to strengthen the bond of your Faith Web this January: Volunteer together; one idea… make a meal together for the 4th Friday at the Warming Center (more info at 1stlu.org/warm). Even more ideas & caring conversation questions in handout at the Faith Webs table and to download at 1stlu.org/webs.

You can still join a web! Stop by the Faith Webs table in the narthex after any worship service, and learn more at 1stlu.org/webs.

Sign Up for Flowers for 2024

The sign-up sheets for the 2024 altar flowers are on the bulletin board. If you would like to honor the memory of a loved one or mark a special occasion, check the bulletin board and sign up for an open week of your choice. You can also contact the church office (office@firstlu.org / 608.783.2236) to inquire about openings.

Calling all snapshots from 2023!

We’re looking for photos & videos from 2023: weddings, baptisms, Christmas program and ALL OTHER special events and ministries. Help us to collect and remember all the events from this past year! Email them to andy@firstlu.org. Thanks!

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. 

Annual Tailgate! Sunday, Feb. 11, 11:45am

All members are invited to attend First’s annual potluck on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 11:45am. We will reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024, elect new Vision & Leadership Team members, and complete a variety of other business. Save the date to be a part of the body of church at First! The annual report will be available to pick up and download on Sunday, Jan. 28.

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: Feb. 19. You can sign up at 1stlu.org/monmeals, or contact bridget@firstlu.org.

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! Explore sugarcreekbiblecamp.org for more information about next summer.

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 Festival, Kwik Trip, Target, Walmart and Woodman's cards. We now accept credit cards as a payment method (transaction fees are added to the face value of the scrip card). 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.

Sunday School

Sunday, Jan. 21

• 9:15am Sunday School

Sunday, Jan. 28

• 9:15am Sunday School

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

Grade 2 Faith Building Block: What’s Fair

Throughout the year each age group will have a special “Faith Building Block” session in which parents or special adults are asked to attend class with their child on Sundays at 9:15am (in Fellowship Hall), sharing in conversation and growing together in faith. Most sessions last for three weeks, and afterward, children will have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they learned about.

• Sundays, Jan. 21 & 28: parents/guardians with children

• Sunday, Feb. 4: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Confirmation

Sunday:

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

Wednesday:

• 5:30pm Confirmation Dinner - Fellowship Hall

• 7:00pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups

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