The middle school and high school youth at First Lutheran organize a clothes closet for teenage youth in the area. They accept, sort, and organize clothes. Donations and volunteers are always welcome… learn more on our Clothes Closet page.
Per the Foundation Fund bylaws, 5% of its total assets can be spent each year toward four categories:
Mabel Anderson Scholarships (for graduating high school seniors)
Community Outreach
ELCA Related Missions
Capital Improvements of First Lutheran
If you are interested in more information on how you could start a scholarship fund, or have questions on estate giving, go to our Foundation page.
Youth in grades 6-12 served in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
Middle school served in the Twin Cities of Minnesota
High school went to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana. These youth participated with over 36,000 other high school youth to help get New Orleans back on her feet after Hurricane Katrina.
An age-diverse group of adults and youth served in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota
Middle school youth served in St. Louis, Missouri
High school youth served in Birmingham, Alabama
Middle school youth served in Duluth, MN
High school youth served in Washington D.C.
Middle school youth served in Chicago, IL
High school youth joined ELCA youth from all over the country at the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA
Middle school youth served in Cincinnati, Ohio and our high school youth served in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
Middle school youth served in Louisville, KY
High school youth headed to Detroit for the National Youth Gathering
Middle school youth served in the Quad Cities of Iowa
High school youth served in Cortez, CO and Mingo County in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia
Middle school youth served in Kansas City, MO
High school youth served at the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota
Middle school youth served in Indianapolis
High school youth joined ELCA youth from all over the country at the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX
Middle school youth served in Duluth, MN
High school youth served in San Francisco, CA
Middle and high school youth served in Bayou Le Batre, AL
The First Praise Band has been together for several years. The members of this group play professionally throughout the La Crosse area but gather at First on a regular basis to use their gifts to bring praise to God.
Todd Saner is our Contemporary Music Coordinator, plays guitar, and is our lead vocalist. His enthusiastic spirit permeates the assembly when he leads worship. His arrangements of the Lutheran liturgy are used at First to bind us to our tradition and yet bring freshness to the words we sing.
Brian Renkas plays keyboard in the praise band but his musical talents go far beyond that! As a band director at Logan High School, Brian is able to play a variety of instruments and shares those skills when the music calls for it.
Dick Daleki doesn't just teach guitar. He offers his skill to the praise band to add another musical voice to the mix.
Gabe Hicks, First's organist, also sits in with the praise band when a member is unable to make it. Gabe is versatile as he can play both keyboard and drums. We are blessed to have him!
Jim Knutson directs First Lutheran's Ringers and also shares his gifts on drums for the praise band. His musical knowledge and talent is obvious: all who have ears shall hear!
Troy Birdsong plays string bass for the La Crosse Symphony, but he gets out his bass guitar for the praise band. He lays a sure foundation for the band and all who sing along.
Interested in joining? Have questions about the band? Click here to contact Todd Saner.
Handbells and Chimes praise God at First Lutheran. Chiming and ringing are part of weekly praise!
Ringers meet each week from 5:30–6:30 Tuesday evenings. This group works hard to present music on a regular basis for worship and for public events in the La Crosse area. Once each year they do a worship exchange with an area church—making for much learning and great growth. This group also shares some very fun fellowship. Send a message to director Jim Knutson to find out more.
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!
You will get to know a great group of people and you will provide leadership in worship Sunday mornings as you lead our liturgy, our hymns, our songs, as you back up our contemporary group, as you sing anthems, and as you inspire us to begin anew our lives each week.
The choir is starting a new “festival” rehearsal schedule, where they rehearse for just a couple of weeks for special events throughout the church year, rather than every week all year long; more details below. The Senior Choir is open to all people ages 14 and up. There is no audition and no formal training required, just a desire to enhance worship through the beauty of music! All are welcome!
The La Crosse Area Synod along with the ELCA support many ministries throughout the world. Our synod is blessed to be in a companion relationship with synods in two countries:
Learn more on our synod’s website by clicking the links above.
