CONGRATS TO THE HANSONS!Jill and Taylor Hanson had their name drawn at random in our “make space and move to the middle” drawing. For their participation they won a gift card. We encourage all members to sit in the middle of the pews to make space for visitors; thanks to the Hansons and others who are willing to make this small gesture.

ASSIST WITH WORSHIP!It takes the church community to help with all the different aspects of worship—making certain worship is welcoming and runs smoothly. TODAY is the best day to sign up for January, so that we have time to prepare our worship calendar and create reminders. Adults and youth are welcome, and can serve in many ways:• Bread bakers• Coffee servers• Communion servers• Reader• Ushers• Puppet volunteers• Treat providers

Sign up today at the Connecting Point and see Kathryn Pedretti, our Director of Servant Ministries, with any questions.

SERVING: Pastor Jason Stanton, Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz Pianist: Bobby Levinger; Nursery Attendant: Crystal Miller; Bread Baker: Ann Nelson; Treat Providers: Lowell & Mary Meier, Jennifer Johnson, Jill Hanson, Carol ChristnovichSUNDAY, DEC. 28, 8:00amCommunion Servers: Glen Vilim & Bridget Crave; Reader: Bridget Crave; Puppet Volunteers: Beth Curtis; Projectionist: Rob Kranig SUNDAY, DEC. 28, 10:30amAcolytes: Jonah Lerberg, Isabel Lerberg; Communion Servers: Todd Lofald; Reader: Judy Johnson; Puppet Volunteers: Linda Green, Kristen Dall-Winther; Projectionist: Doug Shupe WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, 6:30pmNursery Attendant: Crystal Miller; Projectionist: Brian Wittkop

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH410 Main St, Onalaska WI 54601www.FirstLutheranOnalaska.org • office@firstlu.org608.783.2236 • Fax: 608.783.3741Office hours: Monday–Friday 8am–4pmSenior Pastor: Jason Stanton jason@firstlu.org • 608.386.6431Associate Pastor: Karyn Bodenschatz karyn@firstlu.org • 608.433.6002Director of Servant Ministries: Kathryn Pedretti kathryn@firstlu.orgPassing on Faith Coord.: Carla Stanton carla@firstlu.orgSunday School Superintendents: Sheri Betz & Tawni O’Rourke sundayschool@firstlu.orgYoung Youth Coord.: Katie Everson katie@firstlu.orgDirector of Small Group Ministry: Bridget Crave bridget@firstlu.orgCommunications & Marketing Coord.: Andrew Stutesman, andy@firstlu.orgHead Custodian: Mike Peper mike@firstlu.org

READINGS FOR SUNDAY, DEC. 28Luke 1:5-2:40 Pew Bible: p. 830, Spark Bible: p. 1127

FOR WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31Luke 2:1-14 Pew Bible: p. 832, Spark Bible: p. 1130

PRAYERS & CAREHospital: Arlene Foltz (sister to Olin Knudsen), Allen Wittchow, Jan Klein Home: Ruth Dyer (mother to Bev Larson)Celebrations: the birth of Kayla Marie Tutlewski, (daughter of John & Marie Tutlewski)Please contact the office if you have any prayers to be lifted up: office@firstlu.org or 608.783.2236

NURSERY AVAILABLEMembers and visitors: our nursery is available for children newborn through age 4. The nursery is staffed Sunday mornings during and between services, and on Wednesday evenings during service and programming. Please bring your diaper bag. It will also be staffed during some church events and will be advertised as such when available. We hope you take advantage of our services while here at First.

HOSPITAL REMINDERSFor Gundersen: be sure to alert the hospital of your church affiliation when they ask and they will then release your room number to us when we call. For Mayo/Franciscan Healthcare: it is important that you or a family member contact us directly at the church office: 608.783.2236. Mayo no longer gives out information regarding who is hospitalized.

Please make every effort to keep food and beverages in the narthex. Thanks!

Sunday, Dec. 28 & Wednesday, Dec. 31ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLEPlease take time before worship & go to the narthex to write down any prayers

you want to lift up, so we can be certain to include them in worship today!

WELCOME VISITORS & GUESTS!We at First Lutheran are glad you have chosen to worship with us today! We understand that visiting a church can be overwhelming as everything is unfamiliar and unknown. All the baptized are welcome to fully participate in worship, including Holy Communion, and all are welcome to participate in church programs, activities and events. If this is your first time at First, we’d love to have you stop at the Connecting Point table in the narthex entry where you may ask questions, share your contact information and receive a gift from us. We hope worshiping with us today will bless you as much as your visit blesses us!

COMMUNION CARDSCommunion cards are not required to participate in Holy Communion, but

they help us know who is worshiping with us. Please fill one out and hand it to an usher just before Communion, or

place it in an offering plate. Thanks!

Little LEAPsTypically this small group for children birth–3 years old and their parents gets together to sing, dance, play and pray, but this Sunday we will join in the fun at the Birthday Party for Jesus, which is an intergenerational event in the fellowship hall!

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS!THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28Everyone, adults and youth, are invited to attend this birthday party in Fellowship Hall from 9:15 to 10:15.

NEWSLETTER ASSEMBLYJoin us for a time of fellowship, treats, coffee… and helping the church mail out our newsletter (bonus!); We will assemble our January newsletter on Tuesday, December 30th at 10am. All are welcome to join us!

CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE: GIFT CARDS STILL AVAILABLETags for gift cards have been added to the tree and can be returned to the church office anytime this month. If you purchase gift cards, please wrap them in a box. Contact Kathryn with questions: 608.783.2236 / kathryn@firstlu.org.

YOUTH PRAISE BAND 2015The Youth Praise Band is re-grouping to start up again in January. We are especially looking for a bass guitarist, rhythm guitarist and two or more singers. All youth 18 or younger are welcome. Experience playing with a group is NOT needed. Rehearsal days and times will be decided in January. For more information contact Dick Daleki: dick@firstlu.org.

THE MARRIAGE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTEDFacilitated by Carla Stanton and her husband, Pastor Stanton, this small group experience gives couples the essential tools they need to improve and enrich their marriage. Each session will include a DVD clip from Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages, followed by conversation and discussion of topics such as: Communication 101, Understanding and Expressing Love, Initiating Positive Change, Making Sex a Mutual Joy and How to Share the Things that Bug You. We’ll meet Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 and February 11 after worship from 7:15 til 8:00pm. Whether you have been married for decades or months, this study will evoke great conversation to grow your marriage. Sign up online at our website, at the Connecting Point table, or give the office a call at 608.783.2236.

TRAVEL TO THE HOLY LANDIn this eye-opening alternative tour of Israel and the West Bank, discover the powerful connection between faith and practice while exploring the land of the Bible. From the glittering gold domes and contested holy sites of Jerusalem to the stark natural beauty of the Negev’s endangered ecosystems, join two guides, one Arab and one Jewish, for a prayerful look at the religious, political and economic issues facing the region. This trip explores the Biblical themes of reconciliation and justice. Share in fellowship with local Christians, meditate on mountaintop outlooks, and build relationships with families from the country’s Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities, in a tour that tackles the difficult questions of faith in a broken world. When: October 8–20, 2015. Approximate cost: $3,500. Informational meeting at First Lutheran on Sunday, January 11, at 9:30am.

The OWLs, a group for those 55+, will gather on Friday, January 16th to have dinner at a local restaurant followed by an intimate concert at the Pump House by Johnsmith who is an Irish folk singer/songwriter. Cost: $21. Meet at the church at 4:30pm. RSVP to Brian Narveson (owls@firstlu.com or 608.526.9700) by Mon., Jan. 12 so tickets can be reserved.

YOUNG YOUTH: THE RETURN OF MP3 NIGHT! (That’s “Movie, Pizza, Pajamas, and Popcorn” BTW). Young Youth, a group for youth in grades 2–5, will meet Friday January 16th, from 5:30-8:30pm in the fellowship hall. Wear comfy pajamas and bring a sleeping bag and pillow to lounge on if you like. We’ll meet, eat, play a couple of games, and settle in for a movie and popcorn. To help us plan, please RSVP to katie@firstlu.org or on the Facebook event page at 2.firstlu.org/YY by January 12th.

WOMEN’S RETREAT: PRACTICING YOUR CALLFebruary 19–22 at the Heartwood Conference Center and Retreat. Get away to a place of peace and beauty for four days of spiritual renewal and growth. To reserve your spot, a deposit of $60 is required. Space is limited so sign up at the Connecting Point today!

THIS WEEK: Dec. 28–Jan. 4December 28–January 4SUN 28 8:00am Worship

9:15am Little Leaps - FH (participating in Birthday Party for Jesus!)

9:15am Parent Share - Upper Rm9:15am Birthday Party for Jesus - FH9:30am Bible Bits - Mary Rm10:30am Worship

MON 29 5:00pm TOPS Group - NX7:00pm AA/AI-Anon - FS

TUES 30 9:00am Quilters - FS9:30am Staff Meeting10:00am Newsletter Assembly - NX5:30pm Bell Choir Rehearsal

WED 31 6:00pm Prayer Shawls6:30pm Worship7:15pm Senior Choir Rehearsal - SN

THUR 1 OFFICE CLOSED6:15pm NarAnon - FS

FRI 2 7:00pm AA/AI-anon - FHSUN 4 8:00am Worship

9:15am Parent Share - Upper Rm9:15am 1st Grade Stepping Stone:

10 Commandments - FH9:15am Sunday School9:30am Bible Bits - Mary Rm10:30am Worship

ROOM KEY:CR = Choir Room FH = Fellowship Hall FS = Fireside Room NX = Narthex SN = Sanctuary TR = Thomas RoomFor more information, visit our website at www.FirstLutheranOnalaska.org

ROOM KEY:CR = Choir Room FS = Fireside Room FH = Fellowship HallNX = Narthex SN = Sanctuary TR = Thomas Room

For more info, visit our website at www.FirstLutheranOnalaska.org

ASSIST WITH WORSHIP! STILL NEEDED FOR JANUARY: Acolytes, Communion Servers, Readers, Puppet Volunteers, Coffee Servers, Treat Providers and Nursery Attendants. For the above opportunities & many others sign up at the Connecting Point

table or on your phone or computer at http://2.firstlu.org/volunteer