The Re-Opening Team met on May 11. The CDC is currently designating La Crosse County as medium COVID risk. At this time, we are not changing any church-wide safety recommendations.

Those serving or preparing food, working in the nursery, and serving communion at worship should continue to mask. These positions are more vulnerable to passing germs because of close proximity to others, food handling, and interacting with children under 5.

As we enter the season for wildfires and flooding, there are unprecedented fires happening in the U.S. In December, a fire spread through Boulder, CO. Currently, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona have wildfires. It's also tornado season, and in December, communities in six states suffered from an early tornado outbreak with 70 people killed in Kentucky alone. Most recently an F3 tornado left a trail of devastation in Kansas. Lutheran Disaster Response is there, partnering with the local synods and helping people with immediate needs. LDR also stays to assist in the long term recovery of the regions.  Please pray for all those affected by these disasters. In addition, a portion of your regular offering goes to assist LDR. Additional gifts to U.S. tornadoes and U.S. wildfires will be used entirely (100%) to assist those affected by the disasters until the response is complete. To read more about the stories of how LDR assists, click here.

To close our 2021-2022 study year, Seekers has a power-packed trifecta of presenters who will present a 3-part series called The Church Universal. They are our very own Pastor Mark Kvale, Assisant to the Bishop Dione Stepanek, and Bishop Felix Malpica.

On Thursday, May 26, Bishop Malpica finishes up, talking about Where Are We Going, Where Should We Be Going, and How Do We Get There: Moving ahead in the twenty-first century, what will be the struggles and rewards in churches locally, in America, and the church worldwide? Possible topics include the shortage of pastors and the challenges of more lay leadership, the impact of the ongoing pandemic, the challenges of technical outreach, declining membership, and general economic and social fabric insecurity. This is our last meeting for the year.

Vacation Bible School registration is open! VBS for ages 2yo-6th Grade will be the week of June 20. Registration forms are available at the Welcome Center or online. Join us for a fun week learning about God, and invite your friends and family to come along!

There are opportunities coming up in our community in conjunction with Older Americans Month. You can register for any of these events via email or by calling 785-5700. Visit the ADRC website for more info as well.

The Aging & Disability Resource Center, along with Causeway Caregivers, is hosting "Before the After" on May 23 from 10am-12pm at Black River Beach Neighborhood Center. Click here for more information.

"Powerful Tools for Caregivers" classes help caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for a friend or relative. This class will be held on Tuesdays this summer at 1:00pm at Community Connections Center, 1407 St. Andrews St. Click here for more information.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us for an "Anxiety in our COVID World" presentation on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00pm in our Fellowship Hall. This is a free and open to the public discussion by Pastor Mark Shaw, LCSW. Pastor Shaw will discuss anxiety signs/symptoms, how COVID has impacted us, and methods of coping. Educational and self-help materials, refreshments, and a Q & A session are all included. No RSVP necessary.

Boxes are needed for quilts! If you have boxes at home that are large enough to hold 3-4 quilts for packing and sending to LWR, our Quilters could use them. Drop off at church anytime the building is open.

Synod Assembly is June 11 & 12! ELC's voting members are: Bob Weeks, Pam Strittmater, Becky Strittmater, Joan Allen, and Maddie Sweeney.

There are opportunities for you to be involved too!

To register for the Saturday workshops, or to volunteer, contact Melanie at the synod office, 788-5000.

More information: La Crosse Area Synod's website.

ELC has a few spots that are perfect for pollinator gardens! Join us for yard beautification on Sunday, May 29, from about 11am-3pm (weather permitting). It would be great if you could bring along some basic gardening tools. For more information, contact Dane, our Building Maintenance Coordinator.

Dear Pastors and Members of English Lutheran Church,

We appreciate your recent, extremely generous gift of $6,900 [from first quarter donations to ELC]. This donation was designated as $1,050 in support of Lutheran Disaster Response, specifically for tornadoes in the southern U.S. in December, and $5,850 to Lutheran World Relief in response to the Ukrainian war. Thank you from the individuals, families, and communities affected by humanitarian and natural disasters who will benefit from these gifts. Both programs are noted for their ability to connect with communities in times of crisis through their networks of partnership on the ground. Our Lutheran organizations remain on site long after other relief organizations have returned home, and we know needs continue for many months. Your gifts will allow individuals and communities to retain their sense of hope for a brighter future.

In Christ, Bishop Felix Malpica, La Crosse Area Synod

Paddling for Hope is a fundraiser focused on bringing the community together in support of Hope Restores, a 501(C)(3) organization aimed at uplifting, empowering, and restoring the African American community in the Coulee Region through education, preservation, and advocacy. La Crosse resident Bobbi Rathert has pledged to paddle the 2400-mile length of the Mississippi River from its Minnesota source to the Gulf of Mexico. The Paddling for Hope campaign provides members of the community the opportunity to join in the excitement by donating for miles or becoming a champion of a landmark along Bobbi’s journey.

La Crosse’s historical affection for the Mississippi River is ever-present as we celebrate our city. Let’s team up with Bobbi as she paddles the river and we join the Pledge Drive to celebrate and benefit the diversity of our community! We invite you to join us in helping to change the hearts of La Crosse, promote impartial and equitable outcomes, and ensure that everyone in our region experiences an essential sense of belonging right here where they live.