This year marks the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger. For the next several weeks we will be highlighting this organization with stories and examples of how the ELCA reaches out both domestically and globally.

ELCA World Hunger works in more than 60 countries around the world. The strength of our international work is in the relationship between the ELCA and its global companion churches and partners. These churches and organizations understand their local context best, and this means they can responsibly identify their communities’ greatest needs and the most appropriate responses. Read more here.

Dinner is served each Wednesday evening from 5:00-6:00. Suggested donation $5/person or $20/family. Menu is subject to change.

April 17 - Soup, Sandwich, Salad

April 24 - Baked Potato Bar

Thank you to English Lutheran's Memorial Committee for providing funds to have this special piece commissioned for our bell choir!

English Ringers celebrates their 40th anniversary and premieres a new piece of music April 14 entitled "Saints, Come Join the Dance of Trinity." Written for five octaves of bells, it also includes trumpet, keyboard and singing. The composer is Paul McKlveen. The first director in 1984 was Nancy Matchett and the 3-octave bell set was donated by Mary Meyer and Marge Wheeler in memory of their parents, and the Tomalka family in memory of their sister, Jean. Marla Engbloom directed the group from 1996-2013. The group has played for weddings and at Chamber Chorale concerts, and recently at First Lutheran, rang for Dale Warland at the Beethoven Festival in Winona, and at the Norskedalen Christmas event featured on PBS! Current ringers include Linda Lebakken, Dawn Ortiz, Peggy Sannerud, Barb Bjornstad, Carol Soylst, Ann Kvale, Nancy Erickson, Sarah Herath, Sara Olson, Beth Twiton, Gail Quarberg, Sue Retzlaff and Director Jim Knutson.

On April 21, a congregational meeting will be held at English Lutheran Church at 12:00pm noon to review and vote on the recommended offer for the rental property next door that the church owns.

The property is available for viewing (contact Dan Stacey for an appointment) for any interested purchasers on:

• April 12: 10am-7pm
• April 13 & April 14: 10am-5pm

On April 16 the Vision Board Executive Committee and staff will meet with our realtors to go over offers received and select an offer to recommend to the congregation.

We're gearing up for a wonderful opportunity to extend our hands in service and compassion through Neighbors Day 2024. Make a meaningful impact in our local community. Neighbors Day is a yearly event in which over 400 volunteers come together to help their elderly and disabled neighbors in La Crosse get their yards ready for spring by raking leaves, turning garden beds, washing windows, and trimming shrubs. This family friendly volunteer event is a great way to get outside, help others, and make your community a better place. With your help, we will get the homes and yards of hundreds of neighbors ready for the spring! Learn more and sign up here!

Our next crafting weekend is this weekend in the South Hall. Doors open at 8:00am and we stay as long as we wish. Lunch is on your own. We can make coffee; please bring a snack to share with the group.

There is a signup sheet at the Welcome Center, or you can contact Karen Guptill at 608-780-5083 to sign up. (Please also use her contact info to get into the church if the doors are locked.) This will help us to plan how many tables will be needed. There will be a cutting table set up for those of us that quilt. There are large cutting mats at church that can be used.

Join the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin's policy council and staff for this 4-part book study beginning in April, the month we commemorate Dietrich Bonhoeffer's death in a Nazi prison. Explore his words of faith and hope on Tuesdays, beginning April 23 from 6:30-7:30.

This book study will be on Zoom. You can purchase the book at stores such as Amazon or Augsburg Fortress. Contact Cynthia Crane for more information, or join the Zoom link at 6:30 on April 23!

Sensory Bins are now available! Each bin contains several different fidgets for those who concentrate better by having something to keep their hands occupied. There are three bins in the building:

• Welcome Center
• Conference Room
• Room 118 in the Sunday School wing

These are available for everyone. We ask that each person take one fidget at a time and that the item is returned to the bin before leaving the building. Fidgets will be wiped down weekly. There are also disinfectant wipes available by each bin. Feel free to wipe down the fidget of your choice before use.

We hope these fidgets will help promote better focus for those who need it and hope everyone will work as a community to keep these sensory bin items in our church building.

You are invited to join Pastor Becky and Cheryl for a guided bird hike at the Shady Maple Interpretive Trail in Goose Island County Park on Saturday, April 27, beginning at 9:00 am. The hike will be about one mile long and we will travel at a slow, looking for birds pace! Plan on up to two hours for the guided hike. You are welcome to stay as long as you like.

Meet us at the trailhead which is located near the flagpoles, just before the first shelter area in the park. Please bring binoculars, bird field guide, water, and/or snacks. Dress for the weather and be prepared for walking in wet and/or muddy conditions. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Becky.

Thank you to all that support our 2024 Lenten Project which focused on Lutheran World Relief’s work in the Middle East. We collected enough items to assemble 99 Personal Care Kits, and $2,129 was donated to go directly to LWR work in the Middle East. THANK YOU! If you still would like to donate to LWR Middle East humanitarian efforts, you can send your donations to Jennifer at ELC. Write checks out to ELC and indicate that it is for “LWR Middle East.”

Vacation Bible School registration is open! River of Life is a curriculum that was put out by ELCA World Hunger. VBS is June 10-13 from 5:00-7:30pm at church. A meal will be provided beginning at 5:00pm each evening. VBS is open to all ages. We encourage the young and young at heart to attend!

Tuesday will be held at Myrick Park with a guided marsh tour led by Gabby Arnold from the Nature Place. Everyone will meet at the park and be picked up there. A picnic meal will be provided. (In case of rain, we will meet at the church and Gabby will do a presentation here at English Lutheran.)

Thursday will end with a worship service beginning at 7:00pm, which the entire congregation is invited to attend. Please register here, on our website, or by filling out a paper form at the Welcome Center.

Senior Fun & Fellowship meets on Monday, April 22 at noon in Room 106 for potluck lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and your own table service. Coffee will be provided. Anyone 55+ is welcome to join in the fun! Questions? Contact Karen Guptill.

Do you have experience in grant writing? Do you have experience in security? We're looking for a few folks who would assist in writing a grant for church security. If you can help, please contact Dane Melby or Howard Mills.