INSIDE: Wear red! • One Worship THIS Sunday • Summer Time Changes

Join us for Worship!

Pentecost Sunday, May 19: REMEMBER TO WEAR RED!

• 9am: live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available.

Wednesday, May 22:

• 6:15pm: Live stream at 1stlu.org/live, and in-person. Nursery available. This will be the last Wednesday service before the summer break; Wednesday worship will resume on Sept. 4.

One Worship, Sunday, May 19

There will be only one service on Sunday, May 19, at 9am. During worship, we will commission our new Peer Ministers. After worship, we’ll have a celebration of the Sunday School and Confirmation year. We will also have a meal after the service; First will provide brats, hot dogs and sides... we encourage members and guests to bring a dessert to share! It’s also Pentecost Sunday, so don’t forget to wear red! See you there!

Peer Ministry Commissioning

Our Peer Ministers from 2024 will be blessed at our 9am worship. Blessing to…

• Adam Amundson

• Addyson Ferguson

• Kai Gallant

• Mia Gallant

• Elizabeth Matz

• Bennett Rieber

• Andrew Stanton

Worship Changes for the Summer

• Wednesday worship will take a summer break Memorial Day through Labor Day; last service is May 22 and resumes Sept. 4

• Sunday, June 9: Worship at 8am will be at First, and worship at 10am will be at Riverside Park with the entire synod (or back at First if there is inclement weather)

• Starting June 16 thru the summer: Sunday worship will be at 8am and 10am

• Three outdoor worship services this summer (weather permitting), followed by potluck: June 23, July 21 and Aug. 18, all at 10am

Knitters

Prayer shawl knitters meet every Tuesday at 3:30pm in the narthex. Open to all!

OWLs

On Saturday, May 25, the OWLs (our Older Wiser Lutherans at First, for anyone 55+) will fly to Rochester, MN, to visit the Mayowood Mansion and have lunch at the 5 West Kitchen and Bar. Leaving the church at 9:30am. COST: $20, lunch is on your own. To experience the beauty of the home and estate, please call or email volunteer Brian Narveson to reserve a spot: 630.816.5917 / owls@firstlu.org.

Faithful Readers

At First, it’s our hope to be able to grow faithful readers from birth through adulthood. To do this, we will feature several books every month in our Resource Center just outside the church office. The reading focus for spring is Growing Faithful Readers. The highlighted books are…

• You're My Little Bookworm, by Nicola Edwards

• How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander

• Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

• The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon

The books are available to look at and order at the Resource Center, outside the church office. They can also be ordered at 1stlu.org/faithfulreaders.

Bible Readers Deep Dive: Psalms

Join Pastor Stanton for an online study of the Psalms! Life consists of 1) seasons of well-being, 2) seasons of hurt and 3) moments of surprise when we are overwhelmed with the new gifts of God. The Psalms—more than any other part of the Bible—are able to accompany us through all the seasons and moments! Each weekday, Pastor Stanton posts a 5-10 minute deep dive into the Psalms. Find it at: FirstLutheranOnalaska.org, facebook.com/1stlu and youtube.com/1stlu.

Sugar Creek Summer Reg Now Open

Sugar Creek Bible Camp offers 17 unique and powerful summer camp programs, plus retreat ministries for youth in elementary school, middle school and high school, and for adults and families. The camp is located on 660 acres in the bluffs and valleys of southwestern Wisconsin. Come learn, relax, encounter Christ and have fun at Sugar Creek Bible Camp. Explore sugarcreekbiblecamp.org for more information.

Summer Events Insert

Lots of summer events happening at First! View and print a PDF of our summer events at 1stlu.org/next.

Foundation Grant Applications Deadline

REMINDER: Grant applications from worthy organizations wishing to request funds from the Foundation Fund are due by June 1. More information about the Foundation Fund and the grant application, can be found at 1stlu.org/foundation.

Faith Webs Deadline

Thank you to everyone who participated in a Faith Web this year! We pray these relationships in your church family continue to grow! A reminder that all donations toward the $300 commitment made at the beginning of the school year are due by June 1.

Fundraising Deadline

A reminder to all youth raising funds for Sugar Creek and other summer ministries, that the final day to turn in funds raised to cover expenses is Sunday, June 2. Thanks!

Baptismal Preparation

The next baptism preparation session will be Saturday, June 1, at 10am, in the narthex for anyone who is considering or has scheduled a baptism. To register or ask questions, call the church office at 608.783.3326 by Sunday, May 26. Min. attendance required: 2 families. 

Water is Life Synod Project

Why is there a well in the narthex? To make a wish for water, raising money for the La Crosse Area Synod Hunger Team safe water project! Safe and abundant water in a community means better health, better crops, better nutrition, and better quality of life. Water is life… water changes everything!

• Globally, 1.8 billion people—1 out of every 4 people—drink from contaminated water sources.

• Unsafe water claims the lives of 840,000 people each year, half are children under five.

• On average, women in Sub-Saharan Africa walk 3.7 miles each day to fetch water. The traditional five-gallon jug they use weighs 40 pounds when full!

Place your donations in the well, or donate online at 1stlu.org/next.

Worship @ Riverside & Synod-Wide Picnic

All synod members (even non-voting members) are welcome and encouraged to participate in morning worship at Riverside Park on Sunday, June 9, at 10am…

• The first worship service will be 8am at First (as it usually is).

• Between services (around 9am) join us for a potluck… Sign up at 1stlu.org/next so we know who is bringing what!

• Around 9:40am hop on the First Lutheran bus or join in the caravan as we head from First to Riverside Park.

• The second worship service will be at 10am at Riverside Park with the La Crosse Area Synod (or back here, at First Lutheran, if there is inclement weather).

• A picnic provided by the synod will follow the service; a free-will offering will be collected to help cover the cost of the picnic.

Consider bringing to Riverside Park…

• Lawn chairs (if seats in the main area become filled up)

• Sunscreen or wide-brim hat to shade you from the sun

• Cash for free-will donation to help with picnic

Mandala Painting

On Thursday, June 13, at 6:30pm join Pastor Karyn in Fellowship Hall for an evening of creativity, relaxation and fellowship as we paint wooden Celtic mandalas. We will use two techniques to paint our wooden mandalas, each person receiving four Celtic mandalas to work with. Bring an appetizer or snack to share. Cost for materials: $25, paid at event. Sign up at 1stlu.org/next.

Confirmation Camp… For Youth Going Into Grade 8

Our upcoming confirmation students get a chance to start their confirmation journey in the beautiful valley of Sugar Creek, the week of Sunday, June 16, through Friday, June 21. We will learn in faith together while we do Bible study, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, campfires, and so much more! For youth going into 8th grade. Questions? Contact Pastor Stanton at jason@firstlu.org.

Juneteenth Celebration

La Crosse’s annual Juneteenth celebration! Uniting all members of the community in celebration of Black Americans!! Fun, food, entertainment, history, education and connection. At Riverside Park on Saturday, June 22, noon–7pm.

Outdoor Worship and Potlucks

First will worship outdoors on Fifth Ave for the second service once a month during the summer, on the following Sundays, weather permitting…

• June 23, 10am

• July 21, 10am

• August 18, 10am

Bring your own lawn chairs, perhaps a hat to shade your eyes, and a side dish to share at the potluck (though everyone is welcome at the potluck even if you don’t bring anything!). If the weather's bad that day, we'll move inside. NOTE: There is no live stream of the 10am outdoor service.

Blood Drive

Tuesday, July 2, 12:30-5:30pm. Every day ordinary people are saved by some pretty extraordinary people. People who give blood. Your donation could be the most valuable gift you ever give. Just ask anyone who’s ever received. Walk-ins welcome; appointments encouraged, schedule yours at 1stlu.org/next. Please bring a photo ID.

Vacation Bible School: Start the Party!

Plan to be here for Vacation Bible School this summer, Sunday, Aug. 4, through Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Invite your neighbors! For 4K through Grade 5 in the fall (3 year olds are welcome to attend in the nursery). Register at 1stlu.org/next.

Sugar Creek Youth Retreats 2024-25

Retreats are one of the best ways to build relationships among youth, adult leaders, and wider community. Sugar Creek retreats allow you to show up and be with your age-group, knowing that you can enjoy all of the fun and activities. Save these dates for your calendar now!

• September 27–28: Pray This Way Middle & High School Retreat (Grades 6-12)

• November 2: Hallowed Be Your Name Elementary Retreat (Grades 1-5)

• February 7–8: Your Kingdom Come High School Retreat (Grades 9-12)

• March 7–8: As it is in Heaven Confirmation Retreat (Grades 6-10)

• April 26: Daily Bread Elementary Retreat (Grades 1-5)

Fundraising to Support Our Youth

Your weekly groceries, gas and shopping money can support youth ministry! Scrip cards are often sold in the narthex on Sundays between services, and are also available in the church office M–F, during office hours. We have Festival, Kwik Trip, Target, Walmart and Woodman's cards. We now accept credit cards as a payment method (transaction fees are added to the face value of the scrip card). To find out what's currently available and when you can buy them, call the church office at 608.783.2236 or send email to office@firstlu.org.

Donations For Ukraine

Lutheran World Relief has committed $7 million to respond to the crisis in Ukraine, and expects to increase this amount as they receive additional support. With millions of individuals displaced in Ukraine and with citizens continuing to flee Ukraine each day, the needs grow daily. Donate at LWR.org.

Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying companion churches and ecumenical partners in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to respond to the crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Gifts to “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by the crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Donate at elca.org/LDR.

From Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service: The U.S. will now welcome up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. We need to act fast to prepare for these refugees, currently 90% of whom are women and children. There is an urgent need for resources, including emergency medical care, temporary housing, financial support for basic necessities, and much more. Donate at LIRS.org.

OASIS Respite Program

OASIS is a weekly program for people in the beginning to mid-stages of dementia, Alzheimer's and other brain-related diagnoses. This respite time provides socialization, brain enrichment and activities while the person's caregiver gets a much-needed four-hour break. The suggested donation is $20 per visit for the activities and a nutritious lunch. OASIS is an outreach program of Causeway Caregivers and can be reached at 608-780-0417.

Call for Summer Services Volunteers at Catholic Charities Warming Center

Catholic Charities is calling for volunteers at the Warming Center for their Summer Services of showers, laundry, and haircuts for our unsheltered neighbors. They need volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, throughout the off season, (May-October). Shifts are 8-10am and 1:30-3:30pm.

Sunday School

Sunday, May 19

• Sunday School Celebration! One worship at 9am, celebration follows after!

August 4–8

• Vacation Bible School: reg at 1stlu.org/next

More info and online registration: 1stlu.org/sunschool.

4K Faith Building Block: The Keys

Throughout the year, each age group has 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. Most sessions last for three weeks, and afterward, children will have a presence in worship in celebration of the Faith Building Block they learned about.

• Sunday, May 19: Faith Building Block lifted up in worship

Confirmation

Sunday:

• 10:15am Confirmation Celebration! One worship at 9am, celebration follows after!

Sunday, June 16 – Friday, June 21

• Confirmation Camp for youth going into grade 8 this fall.

More info and online registration: 1stlu.org/confirm.