Remember to Share the Bounty This Spring

Now that spring looks like it has sprung and you begin planning your garden for this year, please remember to plant that extra row or two of produce (beans, carrots, peas, tomatoes, etc) to share with your neighbors, especially those members of the community who may not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

In order to make garden produce available and affordable, the AMOS Food Insecurity Task Force encourages encourages you to bring whatever extra produce you have grown to an assigned collection site. The distribution of that collected produce will be facilitated by the AMOS Food Insecurity Task Force and the Hunger Task Force, which serves several meal sites and the various food pantries in La Crosse such as WAFER. If you’re not a gardener, you still may take part in this project by purchasing produce at the local farmer’s markets (and thus helping the local economy by supporting local farmers) and contributing those items to the program.

For now, however, as you start preparations for tilling the garden, we ask that you think about planting extra seeds or setting out extra plants in order to share the bountiful harvest with others in our community. Help make the Coulee Region a healthier place and help your neighbor at the same time.

If you have questions about AMOS’ Share the Bounty program or how you can participate, please contact Sonja Simonson Schrag or Rod Tisthammer.

CRTHM Chili Supper on March 22

The Coulee Region Transitional Housing Ministry (CRTHM) is having a chili supper on Thursday March 22nd, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (corner of West Avenue and Division Streets). The cost is $6.00 and carry-outs are available.

CRTHM is a volunteer interfaith group with the purpose of raising funds that provide rental assistance to women as they transition from New Horizons Women’s Shelter to independent living. For tickets, contact Debbie Dukatz.

“Souper Bowl” Players Needed For Souper Bowl on Feb 5th

On Sunday, February 5th, 2012, after worship in the Narthex, join our Youth 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.

Last year, 130 cans of soup, 2 packages of crackers, 23 Ramen lunches, 7 soup mixes packets, 1 can of sardines and $232.68 was collected for the Longfellow Food Pantry. It was a winning day!

We are now looking for ‘players’ from the congregation to help this year by filling large soup buckets, in the narthex of the church, with cans of soup and/or dollar bills during Super Bowl Weekend, February 5th, 2012.

Soup suggestions include: cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, chicken noodle, 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.

LICAH Volunteers Needed

Are you thinking of making a New Year’s resolution of volunteering more in 2012? Consider volunteering to be a mentor within the La Crosse Interfaith Collaborate for Affordable Housing (LICAH) Program. No experience is necessary and the commitment involves approximately 2 hours each month. Presently, there is a waiting list of individuals in need of support and encouragement who have applied and been accepted as participants within the LICAH program but cannot move forward until a mentor is available. The role of a mentor is to provide guidance, information and support through monthly visits (made in pairs) to these individuals.

If you are willing to volunteer as a mentor within this worthy program or would like more information, please contact Rod Tisthammer or the Social Ministry Team.

Angel Tree Gifts Due Dec. 11th

The Angel Tree for New Horizon’s is currently set up in the Narthex. There are still a few gift tags available. Please take a tag off the Angel Tree, buy the requested item, wrap your gift and then re-attach the entire tag to the package. Please bring your gift back to the church by Sunday, December 11th, 2011. The Social Ministry Team will deliver them to the New Horizon’s Women’s Shelter for Christmas.

Every year we have requests for children’s clothing, games, dolls, art sets, twin sheet sets, snow pants (sizes 6X – 14), stamps and stationary/journals, cleaning products, pillows and much more. Gas cards, gift cards for hair cuts, disposable cameras with a gift certificate to process the film and movie passes are always big hits at the shelter. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact Rod Tisthammer. Thank you for your support of this great outreach ministry!

Join Youth and Family for Cookie Baking on Dec 18th

You are invited to join the Youth & Family Ministry Team for an afternoon of baking OSLC’s favorite Christmas cookies on Sunday, December 18th, 2011. Each family will go home with a plate of cookies and a handmade card for one of our homebound members and a their own plate of cookie to help celebrate the Christmas season. We will start baking at 3:00pm in the Fellowship Hall kitchen and end with a potluck meal at 5:00pm.

Please RSVP with Jessica Zinniel by Wednesday, December 14th!

Help The Salvation Army Send Kids Back to School

The La Crosse Salvation Army needs help to send needy kids back to school in new clothing. Only 114 of the 325 students who registered for a new outfit have been sponsored. Those donating are asked to provide a shirt, shoes and slacks or jeans for each child.

Donations will be accepted through Aug. 18th. Sponsors will be matched with a child and will learn the student’s first name, age, size and color preferences. For those who don’t like to shop, gift cards and cash donations also are accepted. For more information, call Connie Houdek at (608) 782-6126.

RIC Pride Table Volunteers Needed

In August, Our Savior’s will be one of the exhibitors at the 10th Annual La Crosse Pride Festival held at the Southside Oktoberfest Grounds. La Crosse Pride seeks to educate, celebrate and embrace diversity and talents of ALL people in the Seven Rivers Region. The purpose of this event is to build bridges and develop a community in which ALL individuals are accepted and treated equally.

If you would like to volunteer at the OSLC table and share in this “bridge building”, please contact Rod Tisthammer. Thank you!

ELCA Youth Gathering Kick-Off Meeting May 14th

The next ELCA Youth Gathering is scheduled for July 18-22, 2012. We will have an informational meeting on Saturday, May 14th, at 10:00am, in the Fellowship Hall, for current 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade youth, their parents/guardians, and anyone interested in being an adult chaperone.

Why now? We need to start planning now because congregational leaders will be able to apply for financial assistance ($315 registration fee) on behalf of our young people (who would be unable to attend otherwise) beginning Sunday, May 15. The deadline for financial assistance is July 31, 2011 – or until the funds are depleted and the registration deadline is September 2012. You need the information now to decide if your youth will be participating and we need a head count estimate to start planning for a great trip! Questions, talk to Jessica or Pastor Mark.

Youth Group Collecting Coke Points For Mission Trip

Any Coke drinkers in your family? If so, the Our Saviors youth who are heading on the mission trip this summer would love your extra My Coke Rewards points! My Coke Rewards points can be redeemed for many items that the kids could use on the trip, including gift cards for meals and possibly even theme park tickets. It could be a great way for the youth to save a little money. My Coke Rewards codes can be found on participating Coke products (under caps, inside 12-packs, and on multi-pack wraps), and can be dropped off in the marked box at the Welcome Center. Thank you!

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