Announcements for Sunday, Aug 17, 2025
INSIDE: Sugar Creek Golf Fundraiser • Fall Nosh with Neighbors
Help serve a lunch to the teachers of our neighborhood schools as they return for another school year! Wednesday, Aug. 20, with lunch at noon, and servers are needed from 11:30am–1:30pm. More info below…
Join us for worship!
Worship on Sunday, August 17
8am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.
10am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.
Sugar Creek Golf Fundraiser
Join Pastor Stanton’s team on Monday, Aug. 18, at Viroqua Hills Golf Course, to raise money for Sugar Creek. Reg and check-in at 11am. Shotgun at 12:30pm. 18 holes: $85/person, 4-person best ball! More info: 1stlu.org/next.
Volunteer @ Sugar Creek
Tuesday Volunteers
Whether you have a few hours or a full day, individuals or groups are welcome to lend a hand on Tuesdays throughout the year. Bring your gloves, your smile and your servant heart. Contact the camp office at (608)734-3113 or office@sgrcreek.org to let Sugar Creek know you are coming.
Summer Volunteers
There’s always room for more helping hands during the summer camp season! From kitchen helpers to maintenance assistants to nurses and faith leaders, your gifts are needed. Spend a few days or a whole week making memories with summer staff and campers. Contact program@sgrcreek.org or the camp office.
Knitters
Prayer shawl knitters meet every Tuesday at 2pm in the narthex. Open to all!
Fall Nosh with Neighbors
As a goodwill gesture towards the community of our church, First Lutheran and Ona UMC are hosting a lunch for our neighborhood schools, on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Lunch is at noon, servers are needed from 11:30am–1:30pm. Let's bless our friends at Irving Pertzsch Elementary, First Lutheran Preschool, and Headstart (housed at Onalaska UMC) on their upcoming school year. Servers of ALL ages can help set-up and serve. Sign up at 1stlu.org/next.
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: Aug. 21. Led by Carla Stanton.
Blessing Backpacks & Devices/Students & Staff
Whether you are a student in kindergarten, high school, college, or an adult teaching or helping at any of those levels, attending in-person or online, God is with you every day, in every place. And First wants to kick off this school year with a blessing to remind you of just that. So we invite students and staff, K–college, to have your backpacks, briefcases, messenger bags, purses, laptops, tablets, etc. with them for worship on Sunday, Aug. 24, so that we may bless the start of your new school year!
Grade 6–10 Confirmation Orientation
For students in grades 6–10 and their parents/guardians, Sunday, Aug. 24, 9:15am in Fellowship Hall. Come and learn what confirmation this year has in store for your kids.
Faith Webs Thank You Sunday
Our youth have been blessed with summer ministries at Sugar Creek Bible camp, serving in Indianapolis and North Carolina, and blessed that much more with a Faith Web of supporters. We want to gather all Faith Webs together one last time, to bless these relationships and to say thank you. So connect with your Faith Web and plan to worship together at the 10am outdoor worship service on Sunday, Aug. 24, where we’ll do a special blessing for all who participated. And after worship we’ll join the potluck and plan to eat together!
Last Outdoor Worship and Potluck
First will worship outdoors on Fifth Ave for the second service one last time this summer, weather permitting, on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 10am. Bring your own lawn chairs, perhaps a hat to shade your eyes, and a side dish to share at the potluck (though everyone is welcome at the potluck even if you don’t bring anything!). If the weather's bad that day, we'll move inside. NOTE: There is no live stream of the 10am outdoor service.
Lead Sunday School
A Sunday School teacher is a commitment of 1 or 2 weekends a month in which you connect with our congregation's children. It is super easy with the curriculum. If you like to play games or would like to help organize, please consider! Contact Pastor Stanton: jason@firstlu.org.
Sunday School Teacher & Volunteer Orientation
Sunday, Aug. 24, 11:15am. For all Sunday School teachers and volunteers: come and learn what this Sunday School year has in store. And thanks again for you sharing your gift of time and talents with this ministry! In Fellowship Hall; dinner and child care provided (if needed; please let Pastor Stanton know). Questions? Email jason@firstlu.org.
Entering Middle School Milestone
At First Lutheran we are deeply committed to bringing the presence of God into the lives of children everywhere they go. This middle school milestone is for youth and their parents/guardians as they transition from elementary to middle school, and celebrates that each child is made in the image of God. WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 6pm. Dinner is provided. RSVP at 1stlu.org/next.
Entering High School Milestone
Jesus loved to gather with his friends, eat good food and talk about what God was up to. Our pastors, following Jesus' example, will host this milestone, providing time to eat good food and talk about what God is up to in the lives of our youth as they transition into the next step of their education. WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 6pm. Dinner is provided. This event is for the student AND their parents/guardians. RSVP at 1stlu.org/next.
Sing!
Do you like music? Do you enjoy singing, even if it’s in the shower? Do you appreciate the power of music in worship? Then put all of these things together and join the First Lutheran Choir! Practice will be in the choir room, most Wednesdays, at 7:15pm, starting Wednesday, Aug. 27. Everyone 14 and older are welcome… there is no audition and no formal training required, just a desire to enhance worship through the beauty of music! For more info contact Corissa at corissa@firstlu.org.
OWLs Fly to Lanesboro
On Thursday, Aug. 28, the OWLs will fly to Lanesboro to see Lonestar Spirits, a small-town comedy with hairpin turns that takes a hilarious and sympathetic look at family, spirituality, those who stay and those who leave their hometowns. This enjoyable expedition will leave the church at 4pm. You can sign-up by contacting Brian Narveson at 630-816-5917 or owls@firstlu.org. Cost of the theater ticket is $40, dinner expense on your own. Money will be collected the day of the outing. Brian will buy tickets as people sign up. To make sure you get a ticket, please email owls@firstlu.org by Tuesday night, Aug. 26.
Changes in Worship Times
With summer drawing to a close, worship times will change, and will be as follows…
Wednesday, Sept. 3
6:15pm, Wednesday evening worship resumes
Sunday, Sept. 7 (First Fest Sunday)
Sunday worship changes back to 8am & 10:30am
First Fest Dinner Theater!
You are invited to a night of Dinner Theater fun and intrigue, Sept. 6, at 5pm. This event is an interactive mystery event, where you can be a specific character (we give you all the info you need) or be a non-character participant. All will be involved in figuring out who kidnapped Louisiana Governor Marshal Inglewood. Come hungry because we have First Lutheran's first ever "Gumbo Bar" planned. There will be something for everyone! Have questions? See us at the Dinner Theater table on the Sundays in August. Cost is $10 to offset expense of food and props. You can pay on a Sunday, the night of, or online at 1stlu.org/next.
17th Annual First Fest!
On Sunday, Sept. 7, we invite you to join us for worship at 8am or 10:30am, and after the second service relax, catch up with friends, introduce yourself to visitors or members you’ve yet to meet, listen to great music, have lunch and have some fun! FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, so INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
Blood Drive
Monday, Sept. 8, 12:30-5:30pm. Every day ordinary people are saved by some pretty extraordinary people. People who give blood. Your donation could be the most valuable gift you have ever given. Just ask anyone who’s ever received it. Walk-ins welcome; appointments encouraged, schedule yours at 1stlu.org/next. Please bring a mask and photo ID.
Confirmation Guides
You don’t need to know the Bible backwards & forwards & you don’t need a seminary degree. Just a heart for the youth of our church & an hour each week to spend with our confirmation youth. Parents, grandparents, godparents or any faith-mature adult is welcome to facilitate conversation and build relationships between our confirmands on Wednesday nights. Contact Pastor Stanton to nominate someone: jason@firstlu.org/608.783.2236.
Fall Festival & Quilt Auction @ Sugar Creek
Saturday, Sept. 13. Beginning at 9am: 5K Trail Run and Fun Walk. At 10am: craft fair, country store, silent auction, and BBQ pork lunch. Your presence and generosity at this cherished event supports Sugar Creek’s Christ-centered summer camps and retreats, making unforgettable faith experiences possible for children, youth, and families. Enjoy a full day of fun, fellowship, and fall festivities! More info at sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.
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 125-150 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: Sept. 29. Sign up at 1stlu.org/next.
Calling All Bakers! Cookies for LuMin!
Fall is almost here... and with that, the return of students! Five hundred (about 42 dozen!) cookies are needed each week, and First has signed up to provide 500 cookies for early October! Cookies need to be delivered to our office by Monday, Sept. 29, at 3pm. Thank you! Sign up to bake a batch of cookies at 1stlu.org/next!
First Teen Clothes Closet Needs for Fall
Summer clothes donations no longer needed. The First Teen Clothes Closest is looking for the following that are all teen-style, clean, new/gently used (donations can be placed in the baskets inside the main entryway):
graphic t-shirts, sizes XL-XXXL
athletic shorts & pants, especially XL-XXXXL
wallets
sunglasses (no scratches, please)
teen styled jewelry
Baptismal Preparation
The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, Oct. 11, 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, MON @. 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 on Thursday, Oct. 16, 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 Youth Retreats 2025-26
Retreats are one of the best ways to build relationships among youth, adult leaders and the wider community. Sugar Creek retreats allow you to show up and be with your age group, knowing that you can enjoy all of the fun and activities. Save these dates for your calendar now! Learn more at sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.
November 1, 2025: Pretzels and Prayers – Twisting Our Hearts Toward God,
Elementary Retreat (Grades 1-5)
November 7-8, 2025: Pizza and Identity – Discovering Who You Are, Slice by Slice,
Middle School & High School Retreat (Grades 6-12)
February 6-7, 2026: Bagels and Belonging – Exploring Community and Inclusion,
High School Retreat (Grades 9-12)
March 6-7, 2026: Cookies and Covenant – God’s promises and our response,
Confirmation Retreat (Grades 6-10)
March 21, 2026: Subs and Service – Stacked High with Ways to Serve,
Elementary Retreat (Grades 1-5)
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, 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 Supporting Ukraine
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.
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.
Regarding Hospital Visits
For Emplify & Mayo: Our goal is to visit each member at the hospital. It is important that you or a family member contact us directly at the church office: 608.783.2236. Neither hospital gives out information regarding who is hospitalized.
