Tired and Retired Potluck on February 18th

WELCA’s Tired and Retired Potluck will be Thursday, February 18th at noon. Please bring a dish to pass. Utensils and beverage will be furnished.

Our entertainment will be Janice Fortney from Viroqua. Hope to see you all there!

WELCA Board

Give to Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

The La Crosse Area Synod has this information for Haiti relief, also designated as a memorial for Ben Larson by his parents and wife. Thrivent members can have a $1 match for each $2 gift through the Thrivent website. Checks can also be sent through the synod office, with a notation in the memo line for “Haiti.”

• From the ELCA: ELCA website or call 800-638-3522
• From LWR (Lutheran World Relief) : On the LWR website, or by mailing a check or money order to: Lutheran World Relief Haiti Earthquake Relief, P.O. Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

Ben Larson’s Memorial Service was held at Luther College this past Friday. There is no La Crosse memorial planned. We grieve greatly for our friends and our Church which lost a tremendous voice and future pastor. Our former bishop’s family has released this statement:

“As an infant Benjamin Judd Ulring Splichal Larson was wrapped in the arms of God in the waters of baptism, and from those waters, his life was an outpouring of love and joy, laughter and play, in response to God first loving Ben. Ben’s love of God, walking in accompaniment, passionately loving others, listening and learning from those who are poor across the globe, drove his serving. We give thanks to God for the incredible joy of knowing Ben. His laughter, playfulness, passionate heart for those who are hurting was manifest in his daily life. He delighted in the privilege of serving and knowing God, laying out his life in joy.

We are blessed by still being able to hear Ben‘s music. His father Judd says, ‘If you want to know Ben, go to his music.’ In his tender music remains some of the treasure that is Ben: what he believes, what he cares about, his deepest soul. Most of the people who died in this deadly earthquake in Haiti are the poorest of the poor in this hemisphere. Ben went to Haiti to teach theology and scripture in the new Lutheran Church of Haiti; but more deeply to learn from these people loved by God. In his young death his life joins the bodies of the poor. In the Haitian rubble Ben’s life joins these dear beloved people of God: all those parents crying for their children; young widows calling out for their husbands; new orphans searching for their parents. God have mercy on us.”

Contact information for the Larsons is as follows:

6030 E Superior St #308
Duluth MN 55804-2567

Join Us For a Chocolate Extravaganza on February 14th

We are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Chocolate Extravaganza! Please bring your favorite chocolate dessert to church on February 14th for a Valentine’s Day-themed coffee fellowship. Just how creative can you be with your chocolate concoction? We will have chocolate for dipping fruit and candy treats on the tables. Once everyone’s chocolate cravings are satisfied, you can select your own plate of chocolate goodies to take with you with a donation to the Women’s Clothes Closet.

This event is sponsored by the Membership Committee. All are welcome!

Equal Exchange Coffee on Sale

Dan Lintin will be taking orders for Equal Exchange Coffee on Jan. 31st and Feb. 7th, 2010.

If you want to order less than 6 packages, your choices of coffee are:

• Whole Bean Organic Mind, Body and Soul—Medium Roast—$5.65/bag
• Whole Bean Organic Decaf—$6.65/bag
• Drip Grind Tanzanian Jubilee $5.15/bag
• Drip Grind Decaf Columbian—$6.15/bag

February’s Book Club Selection: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

The OSLC January book club selection is Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. This is a true story of author Mitch Albom, having been asked to write a eulogy for an elderly rabbi, begins a relationship with the man in order to get to know him better, and, in the process, also becomes involved with the plight of a local pastor whose church is falling down around him, leading Mitch to better understand the importance of faith.

We have a wonderful group of members who enjoy reading and then coming together for a discussion of ‘the book of the month’. Talking about books is another way to learn some thing new about our friends and ourselves as we travel our faith journey together. We look forward to seeing you!

Laptop Computer Needed

Our Savior’s is looking for a laptop loaded with Windows XP (or newer Operating System), with a docking station for Pastor Mark to use  regularly. Combined with speakers and a projector, this laptop would  enrich our meeting presentations and our educational endeavors.

Please contact the church office if you can help out. Thank you!

Church Council Looking For Key Leadership in 2010

As OSLC  approaches its annual meeting on January 31st, three positions need the right persons to fill them: congregational treasurer, stewardship committee chair, and Christian education chairperson.

• Congregational Treasurer: Our hired bookkeeper does check writing and reconciliations, so the treasurer signs checks and stays on top of our financial reports and transactions.

• Stewardship Committee Chairperson: This position is backed by a multiple of stewardship materials available for monthly usage from our ELCA, so we are looking forward to having someone able to access this material on line, and lead our public discussions throughout the year on how we use God’s gifts among us.

• Christian Education Chairperson:  This position not only involves Sunday School, but youth and adult life-long learning.

Anyone interested, please contact  Becky Grapes or Rod Tisthammer. Thank you!

Souper Bowl Players Needed for the Souper Bowl of Caring

Join our Souper Bowl Team!

This winter our Youth will be presenting the congregation with the opportunity to join in the fight against hunger in our community and our world. We are looking for ‘players’ from the congregation to help the youth fill large soup buckets in the narthex of the church with cans of soup and/or dollar bills during Super Bowl Weekend, February 7th, 2010.

Soup suggestions include: cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, chicken noodIe, chicken with rice, beef noodle, vegetable beef, packets of ramen noodles and any of the” chunky” style soups. The winners of the Souper Bowl are the many families served by WAFER and each of you who follow the teaching of Jesus to help feed those who are hungry. Thank you!

January’s Book Club Selection: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

The OSLC January book club selection is “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie. This book is categorized as a ‘young adult’ novel and is appropriate for anyone in Grade 7 or above. Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, the novel is a semi-autobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, a.k.a. Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, “I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.” …The teen’s determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. (School Library Journal)

Please see or call Sandra Hansen if you would like to purchase this $8.00 paperback book. We have a wonderful group of members who enjoy reading and then coming together for a discussion of ‘the book of the month’. Talking about books is another way to learn some thing new about our friends and ourselves as we travel our faith journey together. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, January 28th at 6:30. We look forward to seeing you!

AMOS Volunteers Needed

AMOS (Advocating-Mobilizing-Organizing in Solidarity) is an interfaith congregation-based coalition working for justice in the La Crosse area. AMOS has formed four task forces to address issues here in La Crosse. The task forces are: Healthcare, Hmong Issues, Restorative Justice and Food Insecurity in La Crosse.

Volunteers are needed to develop a “core team” here at OSLC and/or join one of the task forces. Task forces are made up of people committed to doing justice in their parish and in the La Crosse area. AMOS is endorsed by the synod Church in Society Committee.

Questions or concerns may be directed to the Social Ministry Team. Thank you!

« Previous Page — Next Page »