NOTE: Since we are not worshipping in-person, we are not printing paper bulletins, and in turn not creating a PDF of the publication. All current announcements are listed below.

Online Worship

• Join us for worship online on Sunday at 10:30am and on Wednesday at 6:15pm, at 1stlu.org/live.

• In-person worship has been canceled for Sunday, Mar. 29 and Wednesday, Apr. 1, along with in-person Sunday School and confirmation. Vision & Leadership will determine how we will worship on a week-by-week basis.

Morning Musings

Where Is God in all this? Who/what shall we pray for today? What are our questions? What is grounding us in a time when everything is shifting? Go to First Lutheran's Facebook page or our Youtube channel where each morning, Monday through Saturday by 8am, Pastor Stanton or Pastor Karyn post a "morning musing". It's a great way to stay connected!

Cancellations

The following events have been cancelled, either all-together or until further notice. For an up-to-date list of online options and cancellations please visit firstlutheranonalaska.org/thisweek.

Newsletter Assembly Cancelled

The newsletter assembly scheduled for Monday, Mar. 30, will be handled by staff, as will the April newsletter assembly. We’ll plan to see everyone in back in May to assembly the June/July newsletter.

Clothes Closet Not Accepting Donations

Due to the current situation, the First Teen Clothes Closet is not accepting clothing donations at this time. Please save your gently-used clothing for when we are again open for business or find another organization that can accept your donation. We appreciate your generosity and your understanding.

Warming Center Needs

The La Crosse Warming Center is in desperate need of volunteers for their new, temporary location, even now during Wisconsin’s Safer-At-Home order. Please sign up online if you are available to work a shift: 1stlu.org/warm. Other needs include: Gatorade, cleaning wipes, healthy snacks in single serve packaging, lunchables, cereal packs, chips in packs, oranges, bananas, string cheese, yogurt, paper towels, toilet paper. Drop off donations in the white bin outside labeled "Drop off donation here.” New location is 1319 Ferry Street and you drop off in the back. Questions? Contact Bridget at bridget@firstlu.org.

Blood Donations Needed

In times of crisis we lift each other up and ensure a safe and caring place for our neighbors. Your neighbors, friends, and loved ones are at an elevated risk during this latest crisis in our nation. The latest virus we are living through is very serious, but more so is the severely declining availability of blood. We are a beacon of hope. Ensuring an adequate blood supply to our communities is not only Versiti’s core mission, but it is our commitment to our hospitals, patients and communities in times of crisis. Versiti Blood Centers will continue to provide its service to the community by accepting donors at all its donor center locations, as well as community blood drives, when possible. They encourages all donors to make an appointment to lessen the amount of people waiting at our donor centers. Appointments for donating blood can be made at 1stlu.org/blooddrive. To learn more about the safety precautions Versiti is taking during this pandemic, click here.

Thrivent Choice Dollars

Eligible members of Thrivent have until March 31 to direct any remaining 2019 Thrivent Choice Dollars. Don’t let these dollars expire, and please consider First Lutheran as your choice. How do you designate your Choice Dollars? Go to 1stlu.org/thrivent.

Community Supported Agriculture

First Lutheran has, once again, offered to be a pick-up site for CSA boxes of produce from Small Family Farm in La Farge. The farm is still planning to provide the CSA, and though deliveries won’t start until June, you can buy a share now. Price increases April 1. For info about products, prices and schedules, go to smallfamilycsa.com.

Virtual OWLs on April 1… No Foolin’

The OWLs are a group at First that welcomes anyone, First Lutheran members or not, who are 55+. OWLs: If you are having technical problems viewing worship services or pastors’ morning musings please call volunteer coordinator, Brian Narveson for help: 608.526.9700. For OWLs already connected with a computer, tablet or smart phone, Brian is going to make a bold leap and hold an OWLs Virtual Potluck via Zoom. Zoom is a two way video conferencing system where you can both see and hear the people you are talking with. This history making event will take place on Wednesday, April 1 at 1pm. Because this home confinement is difficult on everyone we can use this time for each of as to describe how we are coping with these unusual times and to tell a joke. My hope is we will pick up ideas from each other on how to improve our days. For the joke, just tell your favorite joke or story or read one from a book. We can all use an extra laugh. Contact Brian for details on how to connect using Zoom.

Keep Up with Cancellations: Update Your Contact Info

Make sure the office has your current contact info, including current address, mobile number(s), carrier info (for reminders by text), and email(s). Send to office@firstlu.org.

Online Directory

During this time of “social distancing,” it would be good to remind members that you can access on online directory on our website. Just head to 1stlu.org/directory to request access. Keep in mind our director of communications, Andy Stutesman, will need to create an account for you, so please allow time for turning that around.

Baptismal Preparation Postponed

The April event will be rescheduled; date to be determined. To register or ask questions call the church office at 608.783.3326.

Grade 5 Faith Building Block

The fifth grade Faith Building Block is taking place online. Contact Pastor Stanton with questions.

Palm Sunday Prayer Walk

This Palm Sunday we will still have palms. We encourage members who are able to come pick up your palms from the church on Friday or Saturday before April 5. We will have them in buckets on the benches outside the door. 

Then, during this Palm Sunday of social isolation, we invite families to pray for neighborhoods, schools, playgrounds, businesses and our whole community. On Palm Sunday, take a walk, bringing your palms with, for half an hour to an hour to pray for your neighborhood before 10:30 worship. Then join us online for worship, palms at the ready. Make it a special event for your family and maybe even your neighbors, enjoying each other’s company even while social distancing by 6 feet. We are called to pray for everyone, as I Timothy 2:1 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone.” A prayer booklet will be available on our website and social media pages to help with ideas to pray for specific needs and cares of the neighborhood. A children’s sheet will be available with prayer ideas also. If you have trouble walking, pray in your car for certain areas that are not conducive to walking but still need our prayers. Make this a special time with family and friends. We encourage you to join us in our prayer walk and watch the power of God work in our community. If you have any questions or any ideas you would like to share about the prayer walk, please let Kathryn know.

Online: Faith Alive! U: Holy Week… What Does it Mean?

First will be holding this event online on Sunday, Apr. 5, possibly on Zoom; more details to come. Why is Holy Week a big deal at First Lutheran? Why worship every night? And what does Maundy mean, anyway? Join Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz to consider the ways Holy Week makes sense of God's story and all our stories. Come find out why investing a little time in worship every night for one week a year could transform every other week in your year!

Holy Week Schedule

It has yet to be decided if Holy Week services will be in-person or only live streamed. The following is the planned schedule:

• Palm Sunday Prayer Walk, more details above

• Palm Sunday, April 5, worship at 10:30am

• Monday, April 6, through Wednesday, April 8, worship at 6:30pm

• Maundy Thursday, April 9, and Good Friday, April 10, worship at 12:15pm & 6:30pm

• Saturday Sacred Storytelling Worship, April 11, worship at 6:30pm

• Easter Sunday, April 12, worship at 7:30am, 9am, & 10:45am
  No Sunday School nor Confirmation

The office will close at noon on Friday, April 10, & all day Monday, April 13.

Mabel Anderson Scholarship 

Applications are available online. Completed applications are due no later than 3pm on Wednesday, Apr. 15. Students may apply if they will graduate from high school in the spring and have plans to pursue post-secondary education. The application includes writing an essay and completing a worksheet that reflects the student’s involvement in church activities. Applicants are encouraged to submit completed applications via email.

New-Member Social

This social, originally scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 16, 6pm, will be rescheduled for a later date, TBD.

Parent Date Night in April

This fundraiser has been cancelled.

Sugar Creek Summer Reg Now Open!

Your child or grandchild can have an amazing new experience this summer with the caring staff and beautiful creation of Sugar Creek! Now is the time to register, before your desired week fills up. Popular programs fill up fast! More info & reg at www.sgrcreek.org.