First Lutheran Church

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Announcements for Sunday, Mar. 14 2021

Andrew Stutesman

INSIDE: Daylight Savings, In-Person Worship & Faith Alive! U: Creativity

Worship assistants make worship services happen! Help with ushering, check-in, handing out communion cups and leading projection. Sign up at 1stlu.org/suninserv.

Worship

Join us for worship!

COVID-19 Update

  • Pastors and the COVID Advisory Panel regularly evaluate when and how the church can be open. These are our current recommendations:

    • Worship: online & in-person with precautions

    • Education: Peer Ministry and confirmation small groups in-person with limits & precautions, all others online

    • Small groups: online

Spring Ahead!

Daylight Savings begins THIS SATURDAY NIGHT so make certain to set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed Saturday night, or you’ll be late for our return to in-person worship on Sunday morning!

In-Person Worship Starting Sunday, Mar. 14

Starting Sunday, Mar. 14, the Sunday 8am & 10:30am worship services will be offered in-person as local conditions allow and with precautions in place. Space is limited, so reservations are required: sign up at 1stlu.org/SunInReg. Trouble with SignupGenius? Contact the office and we can take care of it for you: office@firsltu.org / 608.783.2236. More details at 1stlu.org/SunIn. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable worshipping in-person, know that you are still invited to join us for worship at 1stlu.org/live! We will be live streaming all services. Worship assistants make these worship services happen! Assisting once a month will keep Faith Alive! Sign up at 1stlu.org/SunInServ.

Kindergarten Faith Building Block: Lord’s Prayer

  • Sunday, Mar. 14: parents/guardians with children

  • Sunday, Mar. 21: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Throughout the year each age group will have a special “Faith Building Block” session in which parents or special adults are asked to attend class with their child on Sundays at 9:15am, sharing in conversation and growing together in faith. This session lasts for one week, and afterwards, the Faith Building Block will be lifted up in worship in celebration of what the students have learned. Gatherings will meet via Zoom; pastors will send out meeting codes to parents & guardians of youth in each grade before the first meeting.

Faith Alive! U: Creativity

Being created in the image of God is a phrase that we Christians say a lot, but what does that mean, really? Join Pastor Karyn on Sunday, Mar. 14 at 6pm, as we explore creativity as an innate gift from our creator using theology and brain science and paint. There will be supplies provided for this Faith Alive! U so send an email to bridget@firstlu.org if you intend to attend. This event is intended for confirmation students, high schoolers and all adults. To join the Zoom meeting go to the event page at 1stlu.org/FAUzoom.

Women’s Ministry: Dorcas Circle

The Dorcas Circle is meeting from 1-3:30pm every other Tuesday. Next meeting: Tuesday, Mar. 16, 1:30pm. They are meeting via Zoom, and are reading and discussing the book, Women of Easter, by Liz Curtis Higgs. If you are interested in joining, please contact Katy Wood.

OWLs Virtual Potluck

Getting bored at home, looking for a way to challenge the brain and have some spirited competition with friends? Look no further than the OWLs March Virtual Potluck. After our usual fellowship, we will have another rousing game of “What’s That?” We had great fun the last time we played, and this time will be new categories. Put on your thinking cap, rev up that memory and come prepared for fun and conversations. The virtual potluck will be on Wednesday, Mar. 17, at 1pm on Zoom. Information for the Zoom meeting will be sent out before the event. If you need help connecting to Zoom, contact Brian Narveson at 630.816.5917 or owls@firstlu.org.

Drive-in Worship: Holden Evening Under the Stars

Through all of Lent join us for Holden Evening Prayer under the stars. Weather permitting, the 6:15pm services during Lent will be a drive-in worship service. Worship will include communion. Reservations required: to reserve a spot for your vehicle at this service, sign up at 1stlu.org/lentin. Trouble with SignupGenius? Contact the office and we can take care of it for you: office@firsltu.org / 608.783.2236.

In addition to the drive-in worship service, we will also premiere a pre-recorded service of Holden Evening Prayer, also at 6:15pm, on Facebook and YouTube.

Preschool Open House Tours

Last week of preschool tours! Join us for open house tours through Mar. 19. Come meet the teachers, see the classrooms, get class options and registration info for the 2021–2022 school year. We accept children ages 2 and up who are potty trained. Call or email to sign-up for a tour: 608.779.4504 / preschool@firstlu.org.

Also, a reminder: Preschool registration is Monday, Mar. 22, 2021, from 9:30am–noon for church members, and 10:30am–noon for the community. To register call the preschool at 608.779.4504.

Knitters & Crocheters

The knitters and crocheters are meeting via Zoom every other Monday, 1-3:30pm. The next meeting is Monday, Mar. 22. Contact Katy Wood to join, or ask questions.

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. Though deliveries won’t start until June, you can purchase a share now. For info about products, prices and schedules, go to smallfamilycsa.com. Prices typically increase April 1.

Holy Week Schedule

As of right now, we are planning on offering the worship services below, a mix of in-person, live streamed and outdoors, depending on the time. Indoor services will depend on local recommendations and outdoor services will depend on weather; so these services may be subject to change as time draws closer.

  • Palm Sunday, Mar. 28:

  • Monday, Mar. 29, through Wednesday, Mar. 31:

    • 6:30pm live stream only

  • Maundy Thursday, Apr. 1, and Good Friday, Apr. 2:

  • Saturday Sacred Storytelling Worship, April 3:

  • Easter Sunday, Apr. 4:

The office will close at noon on Friday, April 2, & all day Monday, April 5.

Mabel Anderson Scholarship

Applications are now available. Completed applications are due no later than 3pm on Thursday, April 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. Application forms are available at 1stlu.org/scholarship.

Sugar Creek Summer Camp 2021

Back in the saddle again! Sugar Creek is excited to be back with world-class summer camp programs for youth this coming summer! As vaccines are delivered nationwide, safety practices are honed, medical knowledge increases, and the camp program and facilities are adapted, the camp is confident in moving forward with plans for summer Bible camp. By the very nature of all their programs at Sugar Creek, the camp is, in many ways, even safer than schools during a pandemic since we keep youth in small groups and run camp activities in the open, fresh, outdoor air. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, youth desperately need real connections in life and in faith. Kids need to be lifted up in ways that only happen in safe, small-group adventures at Bible camp. Leadership, life-long faith, healthy relationships, self-confidence – these are gifts you give your children and grandchildren with time at Sugar Creek. Sugar Creek hopes you will join them for wonderful, safe outdoor adventures in real Christian community. Registration is now open at sugarcreekbiblecamp.org.

Baptismal Preparation


The pastors are considering baptisms on an individual basis. The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, Jun. 5, at 10am. To register or ask questions contact the church office at 608.783.3326 / office@firstlu.org.