Announcements for Sunday, August 5 2018
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Parent Share
Join Carla Stanton, member of First, certified spiritual director and mom of three, in room 201 every Tuesday morning at 9am. At Parent Share, we pray and talk about raising our children faithfully. Childcare is available during the session.
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 enjoy a breakfast and develop a deeper relationship with one another. We meet on the second Saturday of the month, 9:30-11:30am, with the next one on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Grounded Coffee in downtown La Crosse. Contact our Director of Small Group Ministry, Bridget Crave, for more info: bridget@firstlu.org.
OWLs
On Wednesday, Aug. 15, the OWLs, a group for those 55+, will have their monthly potluck at noon in the narthex. Then on Friday, Aug. 24, the OWLs will fly to the Lanesboro Commonweal Theatre to see the musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Play is $30; dinner before the play will be on your own. The van will leave the church at 4pm. Please RSVP to owls@firstlu.org before Aug. 20. Questions? Contact Brian Narveson at owls@firslu.org.
Confirmation
Come and learn what confirmation this year has in store for your kids.
- Grade 6-7 orientation:
- Sunday, Aug. 19, 9:15am, in Sanctuary
- Grade 8-9 orientation:
- Wednesday, Aug. 22, 7pm, in Sanctuary
- Grade 10 orientation:
- Sunday, Aug. 26, 9:15am, in Sanctuary
Sugar Creek Annual Quilt & Antique Auction
On Saturday, Sept. 8, at 10am come out to Sugar Creek for our annual quilt/antique auction and celebration! There will be a crafts fair and 5K trail run and fun walk starting at 8am.
Blessing of Backpacks
Youths and adults, bring your backpacks, briefcases, messenger bags, purses, etc. to church on Sunday, Aug. 26, so that we may bless the start of your new school year!
Blessing Educational Staff
Thousands of students will return to school next month, and hundreds of teachers, aides and coaches, custodians, groundskeepers and lunchroom workers, office staff and administrators will be there to keep them safe and help them succeed. We invite all staff of our local schools, universities & colleges to join us on Sunday, Aug. 26,
for worship and a special blessing to start off the new academic year.
Sunday School
Sunday, Sept. 9, is the first day of Sunday School! Parents/guardians and kids will gather in the sanctuary at 9:15am to kick off this year’s Sunday School program. Register your children, get more info, meet the teachers, pick up a Sunday School calendar and get the ball rolling! Questions? Contact Sunday School Superintendent, Beth Miller:
beth@firstlu.org.
First Fest
On Sunday, Sept. 9, we invite you to join us to 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! This is also registration day for Sunday school and Frolic! (a small group for parents and their children birth to three).
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 life milestone is for sixth-graders and their parents/guardians as they transition from elementary to middle school, and celebrates that each child is made in the image of God. We spend our time in four weeks talking about being created in the image of God, how God is in the midst of change and ways that we can feel connected with God through spiritual practices. Week one starts Sunday, Sept. 16, 9:15am in the fellowship hall.
Intro Bible Class
Thursday, Sept. 27, 5:30-9pm, at Peace Lutheran in Tomah, sponsored by the La Crosse Area Synod. Learn the Bible story as you follow the narrative from Genesis through the New Testament. Pastor Len Liptack guides the journey with energy, insight and wit! Available to anyone, this evening also meets the expectation for the Bible introduction for School of Theology students. There is no obligation in taking the class. Just come and learn! Registration not required, but an RSVP is helpful. To RSVP, contact Peace at 608.343.7322 (leave a message) or email Pastor Dawn Lindberg at peacepastordawn@gmail.com.
School of Theology in La Crosse
The fall 2018 session of the Synod School of Theology will run from Oct. 4-Nov. 8 (all classes on Thursday evenings, 5:30pm) with Bible Intro class for new students on Sept. 27 (see above). For more info and registration go to 1stlu.org/theology.
Faith Alive Visitations
A group of First Lutheran members have initiated a new Faith Alive mission. Their goal is to keep in touch with our fellow members who are homebound. The visitation team will keep Faith Alive with phone calls, home visits or by mailing notes to remind “at home” members that our church loves and cares about them. Please notify the church office at 608.783.2236 or office@firstlu.org if you’re aware of an individual or caregiver who is either long- or short-term homebound.
Parking Lot Ministry
This new ministry needs warm and friendly faces to greet guests and worshipers who come into the parking lot, giving help if needed at the giving umbrellas to those who need one when it’s raining. Come to the Welcome Center to receive more information and sign up to help.
Companion Ministry
The gift of communion is Christ’s invitation for us all. Homebound members or those in nursing home care cannot make it to church and still would love to also receive that gift. Companion ministers help provide the service of delivering communion to them. They visit these members, usually monthly, give them communion, and have wonderful conversations. Good friendships are formed and the members receiving the communion feel grateful for that gift. If you love visiting with and helping people, consider becoming a companion minister. It is a very fulfilling job. Talk to one of the pastors for more information.
RFL
Dash Park listening to a string band, log rolling competition at Onalaska Waterfront, going to see Mamma Mia 2... these are just a few of the RANDOM ACTIVITIES that have been posted in the RAFL Facebook Group! RAFL is where members of First invite one another on random activities. It’s a great way to get to know others in the congregation better in a social setting, in an informal way. Join the group at 1stlu.org/RAFL.
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, neighbors 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.
NEW-MEMBER SESSIONS
We offer several new-member sessions each year to acquaint new members with First and a small group of other newcomers. People who would like to become members of First Lutheran are invited to a 3-session introduction to the church, presented in a small-group setting. The group will meet in the evening on Sunday, Oct. 14, Sunday, Oct. 21, and Thursday, Oct. 25. To register your family or ask questions please call our church office at 608.783.2236 or email office@firstlu.org.