INSIDE: At 10am second service: Faith Webs Thank You Sunday, outdoor worship & potluck

Join us for Worship!

Sunday, August 18:

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

• 10am: outdoor worship, in-person. Current forecast for Sunday morning: Sunny and 72º. If rain threatens, worship will move indoors. NOTE: due to being outdoors, there is no live stream of the second service this weekend.

Summer Events Insert

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

Outdoor Worship and Potlucks

First will attempt to worship outdoors on Fifth Ave for the second service one more time this summer, weather permitting, THIS Sunday, Aug. 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.

Sugar Creek Golf Fundraiser

Join Pastor Stanton’s team on Monday, Aug. 19, at Viroqua Hills Golf Course, to raise money for Sugar Creek. Reg and check-in at 11am. Shotgun at 12:30pm. 18 holes, 4-person best ball! More info: 1stlu.org/next.

Knitters

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

Sing!

Do you like music? Do you enjoy singing, even if it’s in the shower? Do you appreciate the power of music in worship? Then put all of these things together and join the First Lutheran Senior Choir! Practice will be in the sanctuary every Wednesday, at 7:30pm, starting this August 21. Everyone 14 and older are welcome… there is no audition and no formal training required, just a desire to enhance worship through the beauty of music! For more info contact Corissa at corissa@firstlu.org.

Blessing Backpacks & Devices/Students & Staff

Whether you are a student in kindergarten, high school or college or an adult teaching or helping at any of those levels, attending in-person or online, God is with you every day, in every place. And First wants to kick off this school year with a blessing to remind you of just that. So we invite students and staff, K–college, to have your backpacks, briefcases, messenger bags, purses, laptops, tablets, etc. with them for worship on Sunday, Aug. 25, so that we may bless the start of your new school year!

Grade 6–10 Confirmation Orientation

For students in grades 6–10 and their parents/guardians, Sunday, Aug. 25, 9:15am in Fellowship Hall. Come and learn what confirmation this year has in store for your kids.

Sunday School Teacher & Volunteer Orientation

There are opportunities to serve as a Sunday School teacher, a commitment of 1 or 2 weekends a month in which you connect with our congregation's children. It is super easy with the curriculum. If you like to play games or would like to help organize or help in any way, please consider! Contact Pastor Stanton: jason@firstlu.org. Then on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 11:15am, all Sunday School teachers and volunteers will learn what this Sunday School year has in store. In Fellowship Hall; dinner and child care provided (if needed; please let Pastor Stanton know). Thanks for you sharing your gift of time and talents with this ministry!

Nosh with Neighbors: Pertzsch, Preschool & Headstart

As a goodwill gesture towards the community of our church, First Lutheran and Ona UMC are hosting a lunch for our neighborhood schools on Wednesday, Aug 28. Let's bless our friends at Irving Pertzsch Elementary, First Lutheran Preschool, and Headstart (housed at Onalaska UMC) on their upcoming school year. We need volunteers—of ALL ages—to help set up and serve. Sign up to help serve at 1stlu.org/next. If you have any questions, contact kathryn@firstlu.org.

Need: Fleece Blankets

Our Savior’s Lutheran in La Crosse supports a consistent flow of individuals experiencing homelessness, with some attending Come for Supper, others seeking refuge from the rain, and some finding rest near our entrance. Our Savior's offers assistance within their means and capabilities. The most common request they receive is for blankets, and while they have some available, their supply of fleece blankets is dwindling. Therefore, Our Savior's is reaching out for donations of new or gently used fleece blankets. These blankets are primarily needed by adults, so they kindly ask that donations exclude children's blankets or prints. Blankets can be dropped off at Our Savior’s Lutheran, 612 Division St, La Crosse.

OWLs

On Thursday, Aug. 29, the OWLs, a group for those 55+, fly to the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro. This entertaining evening will begin with a beautiful drive along the Root River as we travel to Lanesboro. We will have dinner at a local restaurant followed by the comedy “Rumors” where sharp-edged wit meets madcap farce in this laugh-out-loud comedy from legendary playwright Neil Simon. The fantastic expedition will leave the church at 4pm. You can sign-up at the August potluck or contact Brian Narveson at 630-816-5917 or owls@firstlu.org to reserve a spot. Cost of the theater ticket is $40 and dinner is on your own.

Middle and High School Milestones

Jesus loved to gather with his friends, eat good food and talk about what God was up to. Our pastors, following Jesus' example, will host two events in the coming weeks to eat good food and talk about what God is up to in the lives of our youth as they transition into the next step of their education. The first will be for our youth entering high school and is being held on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6:00pm, and the second is for our youth entering middle school and is being held on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6:15pm. These events are for the student and their parents/guardians. RSVP to Pastor Karyn at karyn@firstlu.org.

Blood Drive

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 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 have ever given. Just ask anyone who’s ever received it. Walk-ins welcome; appointments encouraged, schedule yours at 1stlu.org/blooddrive. Please bring a mask and photo ID.

Changes in Worship Times

With summer drawing to a close, worship times will be changing once again, and will be as follows…

• Wednesday, Sept. 4

  • 6:15pm, Wednesday evening worship resumes

• Sunday, Sept. 8

  • Sunday worship changes back to 8am & 10:30am

16th Annual First Fest!

On Sunday, Sept. 8, we invite you to join us for worship at 8am or 10:30am, and after the second service, relax, catch up with friends, introduce yourself to visitors or members you’ve yet to meet, listen to great music, have lunch and have some fun! FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, so INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!

High School Gathering

Come to First Fest on Sunday, Sept. 8 where we will have a dunk tank, and an inflatable miniature golf course. Teams will be created. Winners will win prizes. Then… We’ll do some ‘extra’ fun events, too. Ideas include: a bonfire in October, a shopping excursion in Rochester, bowling in January, a board game tournament in March (madness!), an excursion to the Dells in April and lots of summer ideas like canoeing, hiking, golfing and more. We know high school is a FULL time job with sports, jobs, romantic lives, academics and more. We are not suggesting anyone must come to ALL the things we’re proposing. But we also know ‘church’ is the group where we remember who we really are. Come when you can, for yourself and for each other!

Donation Drive for Non-food Items

The Onalaska-Holmen Food Basket provides lots of food to lots of people... people who also often struggle to buy non-food essentials. To help meet that need, First Lutheran will collect non-food items for the food basket for 2 weeks in September. You can start bringing donations to the church on Monday, Sept. 9, and we'll wrap up the drive on Sunday, Sept. 22. The food basket prefers items in small or medium sizes so that they can provide supplies to more families. For example, think about donating two small or medium size jugs of laundry detergent instead of one megasize jug. Here are some ideas for what to donate:

• Cleaners

• Dish soap

• All-purpose cleaners

• Toilet bowl cleaners

• Laundry detergent

• Personal care items

• Shampoo & conditioner

• Soap

• Body lotion

• Deodorant

• Paper items

• Paper towels

• Tissues

• Toilet paper

• Diapers sizes 4,5&6

• Adult diapers

Monday Meal @ Trinity

For many years, Trinity Lutheran Church on the north side 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. We need people to plan and prepare the meal to feed 150-200 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, freeze it and reheat it. Food for the meal can be gotten at no charge from the Hunger Task Force in La Crosse. NEXT DATE: Sept. 9. Sign up at 1stlu.org/next.

Confirmation Guides

You don’t need to know the Bible backwards & forwards, & you don’t need a seminary degree. Just a heart for the youth of our church & an hour each week to spend with our confirmation youth. Parents, grandparents, godparents or any  faith-mature adult is welcome to facilitate conversation and build relationships between our confirmands on Wednesday nights. Contact Pastor Stanton to nominate someone:  jason@firstlu.org/608.783.2236.

RING!

Are you open to trying something new? Join the fun—ring bells! We welcome widely varied musical backgrounds. No experience necessary! We’ll begin with the basics and learn to work together. Musical ability is a skill that can be taught. Do you want to be involved? The bells rehearse Tuesdays at 5pm in the choir room, starting Sept. 10.  For more info, contact Jim Knutson at jim@firstlu.org. Ring ‘dem bells!

Sugar Creek 5K

Registration for the Sugar Creek Bible Camp 5K Trail Fun Run/Walk is now open! Being held Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9am, at Sugar Creek Bible Camp, the course makes its way through each of the villages and prominent places on camp. Stick around after the run for the annual camp auction, the presentation of medals, and drawings for door prizes. Register at 1stlu.org/scbc5k.

Sugar Creek Fall Festival

Saturday, Sept. 14. Beginning at 9am: 5K Trail Run and Fun Walk (more info above). At 10am: craft fair, country store, silent auction, and BBQ pork lunch.

Wednesday Night Study Group

This fall, Pastor Stanton and Pastor Karyn will lead a 10-week class that takes a look at Luther’s Small Catechism, examining this foundational document and how it can help us live more fully and more deeply into what it means to be a Jesus follower who identifies as Lutheran. We hope you join us, starting on Sept. 18 at 7pm, and meeting in Fellowship Hall. There is no better time than now to return to the roots of our identity as Lutherans.

Sugar Creek Youth Retreats 2024-25

Retreats are one of the best ways to build relationships among youth, adult leaders and the 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)

New-Member Social

By choosing to become a member, individuals and families commit to being part of a shared mission. People who would like to become members of First Lutheran are invited to a social at David Reay’s on Thursday, Oct. 17, 6pm, where you will get to know more about First and the staff in a relaxed atmosphere. To register your family or ask questions, call our church office at 608.783.2236 or email office@firstlu.org.

Website Under Construction

The church’s website is under reconstruction for the summer as we upgrade to the latest version offered by our web developer. If you have suggestions for the website, now is a good time to offer them. Send suggestions to andy@firstlu.org.

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.

Free Clean Fill

Approximately 20–30 yards of sand and pea gravel, available behind the church house. Take as much as you like. Must pick up. Questions? Contact our building and grounds manager, Dan, at dan@firstlu.org or by calling the office at 608.783.2236.

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.