INSIDE: Coulee Region Hunger Walk, Choir Starts Wed. Oct. 13, Clothes Closet Needs

Worship

Join us for worship!

Sunday, Oct. 10:

• 8am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person wearing masks. Nursery available.

• 10:30am: outdoor worship, in-person. Current forecast for Sunday morning: Overcast and 63º. If rain threatens, worship will move indoors.

Wednesday, Oct. 13:

• 6:15pm: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person wearing masks

COVID-19 Update

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

  • Worship: online & in-person wearing masks

  • Small groups: online & in-person; precautions determined by entire group

Precautions for In-Person Worship

Worship services are offered in-person, indoors at both services. Currently we are asking, for the safety of ALL members, that everyone wear a mask during worship. Outdoor worship will be offered occasionally (about once a month) during the 10:30am service, and if weather permits. Registration and social distancing are currently not required. For a full description of current precautions, visit 1stlu.org/precaution.

Sunday Morning (with Coffee?)

This small group meets each Sunday at 9:15am, in the Thomas Room. Viewing short videos and discussing with others. Join in every week, or whenever you can. All are welcome!

Coulee Region Hunger Walk

The Coulee Region Hunger Walk/Run/Bike is a nonprofit dedicated to raise funds, raise awareness and end hunger among our neighbors. This year's event will be Oct. 10, starting at 1:30pm at Myrick Park. Come early, play some yard games, and get lunch from a food truck. Then walk, run or bike with family and friends. We hope that First Lutheran will have at least 70 walkers. If you prefer, you can participate virtually, just remember to register online. This is a fund raiser with 30% going to the Hunger Task Force, 30% to Wafer, and 40% to your preferred food nonprofit. You are encouraged to get sponsors, or form a team for some friendly competition. Register at couleeregionhungerwalk.org or in person the day of the event.

Waking Up White Regional Read, Presentations & Discussions

The Waking Up White Regional Read invites the community to read Waking Up White, attend public presentations, and engage in book chat conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community. Having finished Waking Up White is not a prerequisite for attending the presentations and discussions. More info and reg at laxwakingupwhite.com.

Upcoming presentations (live streamed):

• Dr. Bee Lo & Lynette Prieur Lo: ​"Waking Up White - Through The Eyes Of An Interracial Couple," Saturday, Oct. 9, 4pm, via Zoom.

• Dr. Roger Kuhn: "Returning To Ourselves," Monday, October 11, 7 pm, via Zoom

Upcoming discussions (in-person, with precautions):

• Saturday, Oct. 9 at 2 pm. "An Ilustration of How Racism Shows Itself in Schools" Western Technical College Lunda Center

• Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 pm. "White Fragility" La Crescent Library

• Saturday, Oct. 16 at 2 pm. "The Cost of Racism to Black, Indigenous, & People of Color" Community Connections Center, La Crosse

Class: The Value of Core Values

As we create a new normal, many people are thinking about what they want that new normal to look like. Knowing the things that we value most and how to use these core values to make decisions helps us create a life for ourselves that makes sense and feels good. Join Pastor Karyn for a four week class on Monday evenings in October, to explore how we can discover and use our core values to create a life worth living. Due to illness, Pastor Karyn wasn’t able to start this class last Monday, it will start fresh THIS Monday, Oct. 11, at 7pm. Register online at 1stlu.org/values.

Community Conversations: Black Lives Matter

October Community Conversation, noon, Wed., October 13 via Zoom. with Wale Elegbede, Dir. of Strategy Management Services, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Elegbede grew up witnessing the appalling effects of prejudice and bias under autocratic rule in Nigeria and Togo. He is a “strategist and change maker who believes good, ethical leaders have a responsibility to bring positive change to their communities, organizations and families.”

Free Series For Caregivers

The Franciscan Spirituality Center and the Aging and Disability Resource Center have collaborated on a new series designed to support caregivers. “Refresh and Renew: A Caregiver Series” will meet in person, once a month, initially at the FSC’s temporary space at River Crossing Square, 500 Second St. S., Suite 201, and later this fall at 920 Market St. Sessions are free, but registration is required at www.FSCenter.org or 608.791.5295. Participants may attend any or all of the sessions in the series…

• “Restorative Yoga,” Oct. 13, with Bernice Olson-Pollack.

• “Creating Moments of Joy,” Nov. 10, with Rose Elsbernd, FSPA.

• “A Singing Bowls Experience,” Dec. 8, with Tom Roberts.

• “Art as Prayer,” Jan. 12, with Mary Thompson.

• “Coffee and Conversation,” Feb. 9, with Steve Spilde.

• “Walking the Labyrinth,” March 9, with Jean Pagliaro.

Winter Clothing Drive

Many of the people being released from the jail don’t have warm clothes to wear, and the La Crosse jail ministry would like to provide them with just this very thing. We see this as especially important for those who are being released to homelessness.  

We are in need of clean and gently used men’s coats, boots, shoes, sweat pants and T-shirts. We are going to have a clothing drive this October at Onalaska United Methodist Church at 212 4th Ave N. Drop your donations off on these nights from 5–6pm:

• Wednesday, October 13

• Wednesday, October 20

• Wednesday, October 27

Knitters

Prayer shawl knitters meet every Wednesdays at 5:30pm in the narthex. Open to all!

SING!

The choir is starting a new “festival” rehearsal schedule. The next performance will be for the 150th Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 31, and rehearsals start up fresh on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7pm in the sanctuary. (promos stating it started Oct. 6 were incorrect). The Senior Choir is open to all people ages 12 and up. There is no audition and no formal training required, just a desire to enhance worship through the beauty of music! Full schedule and sign up at 1stlu.org/choir. For more info contact Todd Saner at todd@firstlu.org.

Monday Night Community Meals

For many years, Trinity Lutheran Church on the northside of La Crosse has hosted a meal on Monday nights. First Lutheran has agreed to help with this important community ministry, by preparing a meal, serving the food, and cleaning up for three Mondays starting in August. We need people to plan and prepare the meal to feed 60-80 people, and folks to serve the meal (5-6pm) and help with cleanup. Meal prep can be done at your convenience. Many times people prepare the main course a week ahead and freeze it, and reheat it. Food for the meal can be gotten at no charge from the Hunger Task Force in La Crosse. Our dates are Oct. 18 and Dec. 13. You can sign up at 1stlu.org/monmeals, or contact bridget@firstlu.org.

Grief Support Group

The Grief Support Group meets at First on the third Thursday of the month. NEXT: Oct. 21 at 10am. The group offers support and information to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Questions? Call the church office (608.783.2236), Katie Smith-Ohm (608.797.7915) or Gloria Kubiak (608.498.2762)

Parents’ Night Out

Bring your children for an evening of fun with the middle and high school youth groups’ fundraiser! WHERE: at First Lutheran, NEXT: Friday, Oct. 22, FOR: Birth–12 are welcome (Birth–3 will be in the nursery, ages 4 and up in Fellowship Hall)

• Registration from 4:45pm-5:30pm

• Followed by dinner and activities till 8:30pm (parents can pick up early if needed)

COST: Donations will assist the middle and high school students with 2022 Sugar Creek Bible camp, mission trip and ELCA Youth Gathering.

Celebrating 150 Years!

• Saturday, Oct. 30 • History Day

  • 10am–3pm: Celebrating the history of First Lutheran with history videos, food from various ethnic groups, worship services throughout the decades, and a history walk.

  • 3–5pm: The celebration continues with a Fall Festival in the parking lot with games, food, trunk-or-treating, and historic costumes!

• Sunday, Oct. 31 • Reformation Sunday

  • 8 and 10:30am: Join us for a special worship service on Reformation Sunday to hear a message from Bishop Malpica, our new bishop in the La Crosse Area Synod, with a special celebration between services!

Clothes Closet Needs Teen Volunteers

First Teen Clothes Closet is looking for high school-aged volunteers to help out for about 4 hours a month. Volunteers would look at donations to ensure they appeal to teens and put together outfits for displaying throughout the clothes closet. You can set your own schedule and volunteer with a friend or two. This is a great opportunity for high schoolers and confirmation students looking for volunteer opportunities. If you are interested, email bridget@firstlu.org.

Clothes Closet Needs

Hello First Lutheran congregation: We are grateful for the many ways you’ve supported First Teen Clothes Closet! Items we are getting low on are guys jeans (especially large and x-large sizes), rings, earrings, necklaces, and wallets. Looking good is important to teens! Please carefully consider whether your items are gently used (or new), “in style” for teens, and recently laundered (please no cat or dog hair, stains, deodorant marks). Our clothing donation drop off area is on the right as you enter First Lutheran Church. Thank you so very much!

Lyle Griner: Church is About Relationships

Hey… Sunday School teachers! Lenten small group leaders! Confirmation guides! Peer Ministers! Stephen Ministers!… and ANY leader of ANY ministry at First Lutheran!...

Lyle Griner, author of Peer Ministry and dozens of other youth & family ministry resources, will be in Onalaska at First Lutheran for an IN PERSON leadership enrichment course on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 8:30am–4:30pm. Lyle is the best there is at getting leaders to not just 'think' about how to facilitate a ministry, but to experience ministry together through RELATIONSHIPS. We will use lessons from Peer Ministry to broaden and deepen the skills of all our leaders at First. Join us! To RSVP: sign up at 1stlu.org/lyle, or call the office at 608.783.2236. First Lutheran is covering all costs including snacks, beverages and lunch.

Cloud of Witnesses: All Saints Sunday

All Saints Day has long been a day when the church gives thanks for all the saints, the beloved, who have died, especially in the past year. In the coming weeks, we will be asking for photographs of your beloved dead so that we can be surrounded by their witness on All Saints Sunday, Nov. 7. These pictures can be sent electronically (karyn@firstlu.org) or brought in. They will be printed as 4X6, so resolution should be such that they can be printed well from what you submitted. If your loved one was a member of our congregation and died this past year, you will receive a letter with a special request. 

All Saints Day isn’t only about those who have died but also about those who have been newly baptized. If your child was baptized this past year, you also will receive a special request.

Please note, we will continue to use the photos submitted last year, so no need to resend those photos.

Class: Bible Matters

Are you looking for the connection between scripture and everyday life? Or maybe a way to dig deeper into the gospel of Luke? If so, join Pastor Karyn for a year-long journey through the lectionary (our schedule of readings) starting Monday evening, Nov. 8. Cost of this class is $20 for the devotional study book we will be using. Online registration will be available soon at 1stlu.org/matters.

2022 ELCA Youth Gathering

The ELCA Youth Gathering is less than a year away! July 24–28, 2022… in our very own backyard of Minneapolis! The gathering is open to all youth entering grades 9–12 in the fall of 2022, plus 2022 graduates. Early bird registration due by Nov. 21, 2021! More info: 1stlu.org/gathering.

410 Prayers

Join Kathryn for a time of prayer, every Monday–Friday, at 4:10pm. Kathryn is posting prayers on both Facebook and Twitter.

Sunday School

• Sunday, October 10

• 9:15am Gr 3 FBB: Bibles (3rd meeting, parents/guardians & child) - FH

• 9:15am Sunday School

Questions regarding Sunday School? Visit 1stlu.org/SSreg.

Grade 3 Faith Alive Building Block: The Bible

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 (in Fellowship Hall), sharing in conversation and growing together in faith. The session lasts for three weeks, and afterwards, children will have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they have learned.

• Sundays, Oct.. 10: parents/guardians with children

• Sunday, Oct.. 17: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Confirmation

• Sunday, October 10:

• 9:15am Gr 6 & 7 Confirmation Classes - FS

• Wednesday, October 13:

• 6:15pm Confirmation Class: Bible Story - FS

• 7:00pm Gr 10 Confirmation

• 7:00pm Gr 8 & 9 Small Groups