It’s been a month and a half since I returned from sabbatical, and while December was filled with all the things Advent and Christmas are full of, I continue to reflect on my time away. Over and over again, I remember the stories of how human beings are born to be in community.
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This past year, we awarded the following community groups grant money which they applied for on our First Lutheran Church website…
Read MoreSometime during the past year, I had a conversation with someone who didn’t go up for communion. I asked if she would like us to bring communion to her; she declined, telling me why. I was delighted that she told me, and I told her it was perfectly fine and was so glad she was here with her husband. This couple later joined our church.
Read MoreOn First Fest Sunday, back in September, First Lutheran tried something new (to us). The idea was to invite every kid and every adult into a Faith Web. On poster paper, we drew five lines. On the top went the name of a child who, in 2024, plans to experience a faith formation event by attending a Christian camp, our middle school mission trip to Rapid City, SD, or the ELCA Youth Gathering to New Orleans. On the next line down goes the name of the child’s family. That family is “supporting household #1” for that child. There is space under that first supporting household for three more. Each supporting household commits to connecting with that child in whatever way(s) they choose. It could be as simple as getting to know each other’s name, keeping the child in prayer and perhaps receiving a note of thanks at some point after the faith formation experience. The ‘thanks’ is for the other big commitment made by each supporting household: $300 toward their faith formation experience…
Read MoreEmbracing the Wilderness. This is the “theme” of my sabbatical this year. I am so thankful for this time away to spend intentional time in the “wilderness” (literal and figurative) to more deeply connect to my self and my passions so that I can navigate the next five years with integrity, joy and strength.
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The Foundation Committee awarded 12 scholarships to area high school seniors for the 2022-23 school year.
Read MoreThere is no space like that of a hospital room—all is quite literally stripped away and we are at our most vulnerable. News of a life-altering or life-ending diagnosis, a sense of loss after surgery, chronic or extreme pain, an emergency that will change things forever: the hospital is a place of the unexpected and inevitably a place of suffering. And it is most certainly a place where God’s presence is most poignant.
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The First Lutheran Foundation Fund Committee is excited to begin their season of giving!
Read MoreSt. Augustine once said, “Solvitur ambulando.”
Solvitur ambulando: “It is solved by walking.”
I am positive that Augustine didn’t know all the brain science behind why walking helps our body think better, but he knew there was something there.
Read MoreELCA Lutherans are spiritual descendants of reformers. From Martin Luther in the 1500’s calling for the church to stop selling indulgences, to our own grandparents calling for the ordination of women in the 1960s, our ancestors in faith have practiced ongoing discernment regarding how the fruit of God’s Spirit is feeding the Church for its work in the world today. In 2023, First Lutheran lives more fully into this reforming tradition by seeking to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation, for the sake of the world.
Read MoreRegarding financial stewardship and meeting ministry goals at First Lutheran, 2022 was the best of times and the worst of times. Compared to 2021, our congregation increased giving to the general fund by more than 5%. This allowed us to not only meet our obligations, like keeping the lights on, paying staff and clearing snow from the parking lot, but also two of our dreams. We cut a $10,000 check to the Hunger Task Force and another $10,000 check to REACH as they know how to address homelessness in our communities.
Read MoreI love Disney. Almost as much as I love Jesus…
Read MoreGreetings and peace to you in the name of Love!
I wanted to give you a brief introduction to myself and my involvement at First Lutheran. My name is Kathryn Thompson and I am a seminary at Wart burg Theological Seminary. I am in the ordination process for Word and Sacrament ministry to become a pastor in the ELCA. I have completed two years of seminary and this year is my internship year. The bulk of my internship is being done as a Chaplain Resident with Gundersen Health System. However, I also have some congregational touch points that I will complete with you at First Lutheran. I was grateful for the opportunity to help lead and preach at the Thanksgiving Eve service. I have been able to meet some of you as my family attends worship and I look forward to meeting more of you as I help with other worship services and events throughout the year.
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In 2022 the First Lutheran Foundation Committee ELCA Ministries was able to help fund the Teen Clothes Closet and the Helping Hands Fund with monetary donations to help with their missions. We were also able to contribute money to the Quilters who make the beautiful quilts and also to the group of members who knit the Prayer Shawls. Since First Lutheran was in need of either updating or purchasing new computers, the Foundation was able to help support with some funds to fulfill this need too.
Read MoreThe holidays can be so stressful as we try so hard to make it picture-perfect inside and outside of our homes. I know I tried that picture-perfect look, especially when my girls were young. The pressure to do it all and have it all affects most of us. I have had to cut back on doing a lot of things that I did when my girls were young, but one of the things I will not give up is an advent study, wreath and/or calendar. It helps me remember what the season is all about.
Read MoreWider Welcome, Deeper Love
What does this mean? This is a question that I have gotten a lot in the last couple of months. So often we want solutions…
Read MoreSince First Lutheran’s Call Committee formed in May of 2021, we have been excited, disappointed, surprised and anxious to name just a few of the feelings we’ve processed together. It’s been a while since we’ve provided an update on our search for a Youth & Family minister, so I thought I’d share our current status. It is familiar territory for the Call Committee, at this point.
Read MoreYou’re lucky. Let me tell you a story about why.
Read MoreAs I consider the upcoming program year being a “Year of Welcome”, I have been tasked with considering how this theme (and core value) can be carried out in worship and in our Caring Ministries.
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The Mabel Anderson Scholarship is awarded by First Lutheran’s Foundation Committee. The committee awarded seven scholarships to area high school seniors for the 2021-22 school year. These students from West Salem High School are Skylar Ferguson, McKenna Everson and Allison Harman. Onalaska High School recipients are Zoey Sander, Jasmine Odegard, Devyn Schmeling and Ashley Dahlke.
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