Announcements for Sunday, November 22
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Thankful Sunday Food Drive
We are all blessed with God’s graces. Let us spend this month doing our best to pass on God’s grace to those in need. Please join in collecting as many items as possible this month for the Onalaska Food Pantry. Bring food items with you anytime you visit this month and put them at the display in the narthex or at the altar during offering. On Sunday, November 29, our youth will spend the Sunday school hour packaging these items. We could use lots of adult and high school volunteers at this intergenerational event! If you are able to help, contact sundayschool@firstlu.org or call the church office and leave a message.
Advent Around the Table
Advent is a season full of rich traditions for both home and church. This year, as a part of our Come to the Table year, we invite all members of First Lutheran to join us on Sunday, November 22, at 9:15am for our first Advent Around the Table event. We will create advent wreaths for our homes, chrismons for our trees, peace cranes for our sanctuary and advent calendars. Along the way, we will learn more about this season, have great fellowship and grow in our faith as we kick off the Advent season.
Flowers in the sanctuary are in memory of Deb Koenig’s mother, Delores Poeschel,
from Deb & Mark Koenig and family
Thank you blood donors & volunteers!
We had another successful blood drive at First Lutheran on Monday, Nov. 2. We collected 39 units of whole blood and 4 double red donations. Up to 125 people in our community will benefit from your generous giving. Our next blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2016, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Caring Connections
Be part of this wonderful ministry, which offers support and friendship to our young adult members. Simply select a manila envelope for one of our young adults; available for pick-up in the narthex. More info at firstlu.org/caringconnections.
Young adults: It’s not too late to be included in Caring Connections! Whether you are college-bound or not, stop in the church office or email grads@firstlu.org your new address so that we can keep you connected in our Caring Connections Ministry!
Sunday School Update
- Sunday, November 22
- 9:15am: Advent Around the Table: Intergenerational Event - Fellowship Hall
- Sunday, November 22
- 9:15am: Students assembling food for food drive
New registrations welcome any time of the year. Contact Sunday School superintendents Sheri Betz and Tawni O’Rourke at sundayschool@firstlu.org or stop in the Sunday School office in room 206.
COME FOR SUPPER
First Lutheran is assisting with Come for Supper on Tuesday, November 24, at Our Savior’s in La Crosse. First Lutheran will help with food donations and volunteering to serve and clean up. The sign-up sheets are on the Connecting Point table. Call Gloria Kubiak if you have questions, 608.498.2762.
NEWSLETTER ASSEMBLY
It’s a relaxing way to volunteer! Wednesday, November 25, at 9am, to assemble the December newsletter. See you there!
Worship on Thanksgiving Eve
Members are invited to a special ecumenical worship service at First Lutheran on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 25, at 6:30pm.
Onalaska Community Thanksgiving Dinner
November 26, from 11am–3pm at the Onalaska Armory.
Go to www.octd.org/volunteers to find out ways to volunteer, or speak with Tom Brewer.
Baptismal preparation
A baptism preparation session will be Sat., Dec. 5, at 10am in the narthex for anyone who is considering or has scheduled a baptism. To register or ask questions, contact the church office: 608.783.2236, office@firstlu.org.
HOLY COMMUNION INSTRUCTION
Holy Communion instruction is the 5th grade milestone, but all the baptized (of any age) are welcome to commune. If your child is baptized but younger than 5th grade and you wish to allow your child to commune, please attend a special instruction time as a family on Sunday, December 13, at 9:30am in the Fellowship Hall.
Clothes Closet Needs
Needs include sweatshirts and hoodies (teens prefer these over coats) and lightweight knit gloves and mittens, and monetary donations to purchase toiletries, undergarments, pajamas and healthy snacks to have available for our clients and their families. Volunteers are also needed to help host appointments with clients; contact Bridget Crave: bridget@firstlu.org.
Can you help the quilters?
Our quilters need supplies, especially sheets and lightweight blankets. Worn sheets are used as liners, and gently used sheets are used for quilt backs. Fabric is always welcome and even spools of thread, any color. Thanks!
NEW MEMBER SESSIONS
We offer several new member sessions each year to acquaint new members with First and a small group of other newcomers. The next new member session will be Sunday, January 17, 2015 from 11:45am–2:30pm, with New Member Sunday on January 24. The nursery is available for use, but children are also welcome to be present. To register your family or ask questions please call our church office at 608.783.2236 or email office@firstlu.org.
Snow Birds
If you will be leaving town for the winter, we want to make sure you still get the monthly newsletter and other mailings. Please provide us with your winter address, and the dates you will leave and come back, so that we can keep our mailing information for your household up to date. You can mail us the information, or email it to us (office@firstlu.org), or call us (608.783.2236).
Cancellations due to inclement weather
If the weather ever makes you wonder whether your group is meeting for their ministry, check our website, Facebook page, or update the office with your cell # and provider so that we can text you. We’ll also notify WXOW.com, news8000.com and the La Crosse Radio Group stations: 106.3, 104.9, 102.7, 100.1, and 1490 AM. The staff and leadership of First intend to ‘make the call’ by 5:00 PM at the latest so everyone knows what to expect. Be safe this winter!