The winter cold did not keep the OWLs at home in February. A lively group of 21 ventured to the Outback for a delicious dinner followed by grooving at a Simon and Garfunkel tribute band concert at the Heider Center. A good time was had by all!

March promises to be another month of good food and good times. We will start the month with our Potluck on Wednesday, March 14. That is one week earlier than usual due to Brian and Mary’s travel schedule. Since our potluck is in Lent, we will once again provide lunch for the morning worshipers. Please bring a little extra to share. Our program will be by a loved and familiar couple. Pastor Ron Nowland and Frieda will present a program on “SALT.” Do you know how many times salt is mentioned in the Bible? How about how salt is used as a spiritual reference? Ron and Frieda always provide a fun and interesting program. On March 15th we will meet in the Narthex for lunch after worship, and then head to Fellowship Hall so Ron can use the projector and mic. Don’t miss this inspiring program.

Our March outing will be a trip back in space and time. We will travel to Sparta to visit the Monroe County History Museum and the Deke Slayton Space and Bicycle Museum, which happen to be in the same building. The Monroe County Museum offers history exhibits and special programs. Permanent exhibits and changing displays illustrate past lives and experiences of Monroe County people, pioneer history, agriculture, military history, industry, business and the home. The Deke Slayton Museum is a “Progression of Transportation” with artifacts ranging from bicycles to planes to space memorabilia. Sparta is the bicycling capital of America. The museum has over 100 bicycles on display that span the history of bicycling throughout the centuries. They also have dozens of model planes, including a model of the Wright Brothers’ first plane and a real 1932 Pietenpol airplane hanging from the ceiling of the museum gallery. The collection of space memorabilia includes artifacts (even a moon rock) from Sparta native Deke Slayton who was one of America’s first astronauts. The history museum is on the ground floor and the Deke Slayton is up one flight of stairs. We will have a guided tour of the Deke Slayton Museum. After the museums, we will have scrumptious lunch at a local restaurant. We will leave the church at 9:30am on Monday, March 19. Cost of the Deke Slayton Museum is $5, lunch is on your own. We will be back at the church before 3pm. Please contact Brian Narveson at owls@firstlu.org or 608-526-9700 by noon Sunday, March 18, if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in March.

The OWLs are a group at First that welcomes anyone, First Lutheran members or not, who are 55+. For information or to ask questions, contact Brian Narveson at owls@firstlu.org.