Announcements for Palm Sunday, Apr 13, 2025

Announcements
Written By Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Palm Sunday & Palm Sunday Breakfast Fundraiser • Holy Week Schedule

Join us for Palm Sunday worship THIS Sunday, at 8am or 10:30am and for our pancake breakfast fundraiser between services! And then join us for worship every day throughout Holy Week as we prepare our hearts and minds for the good news of Easter Sunday!

Join us for Holy Week!

ASSIST WITH HOLY WEEK: To prepare our hearts for Easter Sunday, we worship every day during Holy Week. Individuals and families can assist with this holy time as readers, ushers, communion servers and more. Or help prep as part of the “stage crew!” Sign up for both at 1stlu.org/next.

The office will be closed at noon on Friday, Apr. 18, and all day Monday, Apr. 21.

Palm Sunday Breakfast Fundraiser

Sunday, Apr. 13: Fundraiser for youth going on a mission trip or to Bible camp. No coffee hour, Sunday School nor confirmation between services. Breakfast will be served between services. Food donations are needed, and youth can raise funds by working at the breakfast; sign up for both at 1stlu.org/next.

Easter Flowers

Your gift of $15 to the Easter Fund will be used to purchase flowers to beautify the sanctuary on Easter Sunday. Remaining contributions go toward purchasing new paraments. Please make your gift by Sunday, Apr. 13. Gifts can be placed at 1stlu.org/next, or use the form in the announcements page and turn into the office.

📚 Exciting News from the Church Bookstore! 📚

We're introducing a rotating selection of new books to inspire and deepen your faith! Each season, we'll feature fresh titles covering a variety of topics, from spiritual growth and parenting, to Christian living, building blocks and current hot topics. Stop by regularly to explore new reads and find the perfect book to enrich your faith journey. Have a suggestion for a book to include? Email Carolyn at carolyn.wodele@gmail.com

OWLs

On Wednesday, Apr. 16, our OWLS (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First, for anyone 55+) will have their monthly potluck at noon in Fellowship Hall. Bridget Crave will talk about her recent trip to India.

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: Apr. 17. Led by Carla Stanton.

More Events @ Sugar Creek

Below are some upcoming events offered by Sugar Creek. For more info or registration, visit sugarcreekbiblecamp.org or call 608.734.3113.

Faith Story Dinner Theater

On Holy Saturday, between the solemness of Good Friday and the good news of Easter Sunday, join us for a Holy Week edition of Faith Story Dinner Theatre, as we read and share some of the Bible stories that God has given us. WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 19, 5:30pm. Reserve your seat at 1stlu.org/next by Wednesday, Apr. 16.

Springfest Donations

Are you a local business owner or artisan? Our First Lutheran Preschool is looking for donations for its Springfest silent auction fundraiser. Sponsors and silent auction gift baskets are needed. Bring donations to the church office by Tuesday, Apr. 22, noting the value of the donation if it’s not obvious. Questions? Contact melissa@firstlu.org.

Springfest, on Sun, Apr. 27, at 3pm, is our preschool’s major fundraiser and provides an opportunity for preschoolers to showcase their singing talents. After the concert, there is an ice cream social and silent auction. For all family members, grandparents, friends and neighbors! All bids support the ministry of First Lutheran Preschool… so consider any bid over face value as a donation to the preschool’s ministry (and a good way to lock in that bid)!

Young Youth Earth Day

Our Young Youth will create recycled bird feeders for members of First to take home. And if time and weather allow, they will also clean up the block around church! DATE: Tuesday, Apr. 22, 4:30-5:30pm. WHERE: Fellowship Hall. In advance of this Earth Day event, we’re asking all members to please save coated paper cartons and bottle caps! Put in the labeled box in the Narthex before April 13. Think egg, juice and milk cartons, etc.

Chicken Dinner!

Tickets are available for sale by youth through Apr. 16, or in the office, M–F, 8am–4pm, through Apr. 23. Meals cost only $12 presale before Apr. 23, Tickets will be $15 at the door while they last. Youth earn money from ticket sales and volunteer for their Bible camp or mission trip. Meals are provided by Premier Catering and will be available for pick-up at First Lutheran on Thursday, Apr. 24, 11am–6pm. FOR YOUTH: Pick up ticket packets at the church office; ticket packets are due back to the church office WITH THE MONEY by 7pm on April 16. Youth and families can sign up for a shift to help with takeouts at 1stlu.org/next.

Lutheran World Relief Support for Myanmar

Your gift to Lutheran World Relief can deliver urgently needed support and care to neighbors affected by earthquakes. Go to Iwr.org/myanmar to donate.

First Teen Clothes Closet Inventory Needs

Clean, new or gently used teen styled clothing in these sizes only:

  • 3x and 4x hoodies

  • Wallets

Teen Guys:

  • Dress and casual shirts

  • (XS, small, 2x1, 3xl & 4xl)

  • 2xl casual shorts

Teen Ladies:

  • Casual shorts (size 14, 16, 18, 20+)

  • Tank tops (1x, 2x, 3x, 4x)

  • Dress pants (size 9/10)

  • Shirts and tops (4x)

Donations may be placed in the baskets in the entry way.

Faith Web Ideas for April

Here’s an idea for what you can do to strengthen the bond of your Faith Web this April: worship together during Holy Week! Even more ideas & caring conversation questions can be found in the handout at the Faith Webs table and to download at 1stlu.org/webs.

Friends of the Warming Center   

The Warming Center provides shelter for the unhoused from November through April. There are many ways to serve, from taking a shift in the shelter to providing a meal. Learn more and sign up at 1stlu.org/next.

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, May 1, 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.

Blessing Graduates

First Lutheran will bless graduates in worship on Wednesday, May 7, and Sunday, May 11. Join us on those days for a special blessing to celebrate this milestone. Graduates will receive more details about this service in the coming days.

Spring Nosh with Neighbors

First Lutheran and Onalaska United Methodist Church are hosting a lunch for the city of Onalaska employees on Thursday, May 8. We would like to thank our city hall workers, police officers and fire department for keeping the city of Onalaska safe and running smoothly. Donations should be brought to First Lutheran by 10am on Thursday, May 8, and day-of volunteers should arrive at First Lutheran Church by 10:45am. Show appreciation to our city workers and signup to donate and serve at 1stlu.org/next. Questions? Contact kathryn@firstlu.org.

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, May 16, 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 2025 Sugar Creek Bible Camp and mission trips. RSVP your child or sign up to volunteer at 1stlu.org/nightout.

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 helps 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 150-200 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: May 19. Sign up at 1stlu.org/next.

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.

Baptismal Preparation

The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, June 14, 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, June 1. Min. attendance required: 2 families. 

Synod Night Out at the Loggers

Save the date! Sunday, June 15, 5pm for a night of baseball fun at Loggers Field on Copeland Ave. Learn more and get tickets at 1stlu.org/next.

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.

Want to Volunteer? Need help?

Causeway Caregivers serves elderly and disabled adults in La Crosse County by providing volunteer services, without charge, to those in need. Tasks include raking leaves, grocery shopping, doing errands and helping after a snowfall. Would you like to be a Causeway Caregivers volunteer? Do you need a volunteer? Contact Causeway Caregivers at 608-775-9999.

Keep Up with Changes: Update Your Contact Info

With the new format for our member directory we can easily make updates and changes… so it is once again that time of year where we’ll be reminding you to update your member info and to submit a family photo if that information has changed in the past year…

Update your contact info!

  • The easiest way to do this is through our online directory; simply log in at 1stlu.org/directory. Need to set up an account? Email a request to andy@firstlu.org.

  • You can also send updated contact info to andy@firstlu.org, with the following updates: address, phone numbers and emails, AND if you want them included or excluded from the directory

Provide a household photo!

  • The easiest way to do this is to send a household snapshot to andy@firstlu.org.

  • You can also get an informal snapshot taken between services at our “photo booth” to the right of the Welcome Center. Andy and other volunteer photographers will help take the photo. This is nothing formal! We just want to be able to connect faces with names! We plan to offer this opportunity on the following Sundays: Apr. 13 (Palm Sunday), and Apr. 20 (Easter Sunday).

Questions about the online or print directory? Email andy@firstlu.org.

Sunday School

  • Sunday, Apr. 13

  • Sunday, Apr. 20

    • No Sunday School, Easter Sunday

  • Sunday, Apr. 27

    • Sunday School resumes

More info and registration: 1stlu.org/sunschool

Grade 5 Faith Building Block: Communion

Throughout the year, each age group has 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 have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they learned about.

  • Wednesday, Apr. 16, 4-5pm: child only, baking communion bread in Fellowship Hall kitchen

  • Thursday, Apr. 17: Faith Building Block lifted up during the evening Maundy Thursday worship service

Confirmation

  • Sunday:

    • No Gr 6 & 7 Confirmation Class; resumes Apr. 27

  • Wednesday:

    • 5:30pm Lent Supper - Fellowship Hall

    • 6:15pm Holy Week worship service

    • No Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups; resumes Apr. 23

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

Andrew Stutesman
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
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