Announcements for Sunday, Oct. 4 2020
Inside: Coulee Region Hunger Walk / Run / Bike, Faith Alive! U
The Coulee Region Hunger Walk / Run / Bike is virtual this year, and runs THIS Sunday, Oct. 4 through Oct. 11. More details below…
Worship
Join us for worship online this Sunday at 8am & 10:30am, and on Wednesday at 6:15pm, at 1stlu.org/live.
COVID-19 Update
Pastors and the Vision & Leadership team regularly evaluate when and how the church can be open. These are our current recommendations:
Worship: online
Education: online
Small groups: online
For an up-to-date list of online options and cancellations please visit firstlutheranonalaska.org/thisweek.
Coulee Region Hunger Walk / Run / Bike
Coulee Region Hunger Walk/Run/Bike is a virtual event this year. You are encouraged to walk, run or bike between Oct 4-11. This is a fundraiser, with 30% going to The Hunger Task Force, 30% to WAFER Food Pantry and 40% to whatever nonprofit food organization you as the walker choose. That could be Lutheran World Hunger, Onalaska Food Pantry, a school district, etc. You can get pledges from family and friends, or make a donation yourself. Pledge forms/registration forms are available at couleeregionhungerwalk.org. If you’d rather just make a donation, you can do that at the website as well. And check out (staff member) Andy’s run on Oct. 10 to highlight various food relief agencies along his route.
Grade 3 Faith Building Block: Bibles
Sunday, Sept. 27: parents/guardians only
Sundays, Oct. 4: parents/guardians with children
Sundays, Oct.. 11: parents/guardians with children
Sunday, Oct.. 18: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship
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, sharing in conversation and growing together in faith. The session lasts for three weeks, and afterwards, children will have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they have learned. Gatherings will meet via Zoom; pastors will send out meeting codes to parents & guardians of youth in each grade before the first meeting.
Above & Beyond
The “Our Church + Our Time” capital campaign has raised over $1 million! The BIG announcement: as families meet their original pledges through the end of this year, we can pay off the mortgage! Thank you to the 225+ families who have made this happen! There’s just a few final pieces we want to complete before entering our 151st year in 2021. We are so close to building a new sign on Main St, buying a 15 passenger vehicle for fellowship events off campus (remember outings?), abating asbestos in the education wing and getting fully equipped to provide a livestream worship experience from now on. To meet these final four opportunities, all of First Lutheran is invited to offer an Above & Beyond gift to the capital campaign. So far, 33 families have already pledged $118,000 toward a total goal of $230,000. We’re more than halfway there! Join us. We hope to have all 225+ families come together in one last push to complete what we began three years ago. The church has sent more information through the mail and we hope to gather pledge cards by October 1 so that we can move forward into ministry in 2021!
Coffee with Pastor Karyn
Coffee with Pastor Karyn is open to all and meets at 7:30am each Wednesday, currently via Zoom. Questions? Contact karyn@firstlu.org.
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. We meet on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30–11am via Zoom, with the next one on Saturday, Oct. 10. Contact our Bridget Crave for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.
Faith Alive! U: Lutherans’ Civic Responsibility and Voting
Why does the ELCA encourage us to vote? What does public policy have to do with being Lutheran? Even if you aren’t old enough to vote yet, you can be involved. Attend to find out how. Presented by Cindy Crane, Director of Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW), on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 6pm. This online format will be 20 minutes of presentation and 20 minutes of question and answer. This event is intended for confirmation students, high schoolers and all adults.
2020 U.S. Wildfires
Fueled by a heat wave and unfavorable winds, devastating wildfires continue across California, Oregon, Washington and other western states. At least 20 people have died, hundreds of thousands of people are under evacuation orders and more than 3.5 million acres have burned across the three states. Some evacuees face the difficult decision of whether to stay in a shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lutheran Disaster Response is engaging with at least three Lutheran social services agencies and five synods to assess the situation and determine the best ways to respond. We expect immediate needs may include food and other necessities, as well as emotional and spiritual care for those who have been traumatized. Your gifts will support wildfire survivors. Gifts to "U.S. wildfires" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires until the response is complete. Even as we face multiple crises, together we can reflect Christ’s light and hope to our neighbors in their time of need.
Read the Book of Joshua in 7 days!
Having wandered long in the wilderness, the book of Joshua describes the entry of God’s people into the promised land. Pastor Stanton will be introducing this book to Bible Readers starting Thursday, Oct. 15. Join at any time! These studies are for ANYone who can read, 3rd graders to our eldest friend; members and acquaintances far far away. Use whatever Bible you’d like! Follow Pastor Stanton’s daily guides on Facebook or YouTube, and if you’d like the daily video guides emailed to you contact Pastor Stanton at jason@firstlu.org.
Blessing Health Care Workers
We invite all staff of our area clinics and hospitals to join us on Sunday, Oct. 18, for worship and a special blessing for all of the care you provide to our community, especially during this pandemic.
Warming Center
First Lutheran is again joining with other area ELCA congregations to support the Warming Center this winter. The Warming Center is a local shelter in downtown La Crosse. ELCA area churches have committed to providing volunteers and meals the first two Fridays of each month, November–April. Volunteers are needed to greet and sign in guests, put away their personal items, get them assigned to a spot in the sleeping room, help in the kitchen and visit with the guests, be on hand overnight to do some cleaning or visit with folks who aren’t sleeping. The Warming Center will provide training for all interested volunteers. Each shift will have an experienced lead person. Bridget is the volunteer coordinator, and encourages you to attend the training if you are the least bit interested, so let her know at bridget@firstlu.org or call the church and ask to be put on the mailing. Training is October 20 or 22 at 6pm. Learn more at 1stlu.org/warmcenter.
Our OWLs Be Zoomin’
The OWLs are a group at First that welcomes anyone, First Lutheran members or not, who are 55+. OWLs: If you are having technical problems viewing worship services or pastors’ morning musings please call volunteer coordinator, Brian Narveson for help: 608.526.9700. The October virtual potluck will be on Wednesday, October 21, at noon. This is an hour earlier than usual so please mark your calendar. Brian and Mary will show photos from there fall color trip to Colorado, and we will play a game. Don’t miss the fantastic opportunity to socialize safely. The connection details for the meeting will be sent the Monday before (Oct. 19). If you are not on the OWLs mailing list and would like to attend, please contact Brian Narveson at 630-816-5917 or owls@firstlu.org. Also please contact Brian if you need assistance with the technology to join the meeting. You can join the meeting with a basic phone.
Synod School Of Theology
Classes being offered via Zoom, at 6pm on Thursdays: The Holy Spirit by Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz, Oct. 29–Dec. 10. Register now: office@lacrosseareasynod.org / 608.788.5000. More info: 1stlu.org/theology.
Family Photos: a Cloud of Witnesses
All Saint’s Day has long been a day when the church gives thanks for all the saints, the beloved, who have died, especially in the past year. In a typical year, we would be asking for photographs of your beloved dead so that we can be surrounded by their witness on All Saint’s Day, Sunday, Nov. 1. However, this year, since we are not completely sure if we will be able to meet in person on November 1, we are asking that you gather together photos of your beloved dead in preparation for All Saints celebration in your home. More details will be offered in the coming weeks. If your loved one was a member of our congregation and died this past year, you will receive a letter with a special request. All Saint’s Day isn’t only about those who have died but also about those who have been newly baptized. If your child was baptized this past year, you also will receive a special request.