Story originally printed in the Coulee News or online at www.couleenews.com
Published - Monday, October 13, 2008
Church news in brief
Here are a selection of brief news items pertaining to area church activities:
Two area Knights of Columbus councils recently won recognition
The Onalaska Knights of Columbus received the distinction of being named winner of the McGivney Award, while the Holmen Knights of Columbus were recognized with the Star Award.
Both awards recognize overall excellence in areas of membership and being active in church, community, family and youth programs.
This award was presented to Bruce Jerue, the Grand Knight of the Council, by State Deputy Roland Ransom II.
With more than 1.7 million members, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic lay organization. In 2007 the Knights of Columbus at all levels of the organization raised and distributed $144 million to charity and rendered 68 million hours of volunteer service.
An eight-band lineup will be featured when Creation Fest: The Tour comes to the Onalaska OmniCenter on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Bands to perform include Kutless, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Fireflight, Worth Dying For, Run Kid Run, Esterlyn and Capitol Lights. The event will be emceed by Christian hip-hop artist KJ-52.
Also included will be special guest speaker Bob Lenz, president of Life Promotions and founder of Lifest, who spoke to more than 250,000 teens and parents across North America last year.
Doors open at 5 p.m., with preshow bands playing at 5:30 p.m. The concert begins at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $18 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets are available at Shepherd’s Voice Bookstore in Onalaska or online at www.itickets.com.
Nonperishable food items, clothing and blankets will be collected at the concert to be given to area agencies that support the less fortunate.
More details on the concert are available online at www.creationfesttour.com.
Halfway Creek Lutheran Church is having its lutefisk and meatball supper Saturday, Oct. 11 from 1 to 7 p.m.
Cost is $13.50 for adults and $6 for children and will include lutefisk, meatballs and all the traditional fixings.
The church is located at W6016 Hwy. W, east of Holmen. For more information, contact the church at 526-3701.
“Questioning” is the topic of the current preaching series at Bridge of Life Lutheran Church in Holmen.
Asking hard questions is an important part of the faith journey. The series will explore questions about the Bible, suffering, different faith traditions, as well as many others. Members of the community are invited to submit questions by e-mailing Pastor Steve Meyer at steve@bridgeoflife.us.
Worship is at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays inside the Holmen Square Mall.
For more in-depth conversation, all are welcome at the 7 p.m. Tuesday night “Faith Exploration,” which currently is looking at “Understanding the Bible.”
The Riverland Chapter, American Guild of Organists, will present a free concert Sunday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 233 West Ave. S., La Crosse.
The unique concert is part of the AGO’s International Year of the Organ.
Along with several piano students who will play their pieces on the organ, a few classic organ pieces will be played on the Casavant pipe organ by local organists, Dean Whiteway, Sue Walby and Louise Temte.
Among the pieces will be Bach’s famous “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” and more.
The Organ Spectacular is a nationwide event. More than 300 organ recitals and programs will be given on that day in the USA and abroad. This is a highlight of the 2008-09 International Year of the Organ.
Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, will present a worship service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in Auditorium A at the La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St. All are welcome.
The annual W-ELCA Fall Bazaar will be held from 7 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Halfway Creek Lutheran Church on Highway W, 2.5 miles east of Holmen.
The event will feature a white elephant sale, baked goods, crafts, produce, soup and sandwiches.
Halfway Creek Lutheran Church is having its lutefisk and meatball supper Saturday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 7 p.m.
Cost is $13.50 for adults and $6 for children and will include lutefisk, meatballs and all the traditional fixings.
The church is located at W6016 Hwy. W, east of Holmen.
For more information, contact the church at 526-3701.
The Apostolic Life Church, N5898, Hwy. 35, Onalaska, will hold Harvestfest ‘08 Friday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Along with a free meal, there will be games and prizes, carriage rides, scavenger hunts, volleyball and football and pie and chil contests.
Everyone is welcome. For more information call 779-5059 or contact alcpastor@centurytel.net.
Canadian author and poet Ray McGinnis will lead a Psalm-writing, journaling and poetry workshop entitled “Writing the Sacred” at First Congregational UCC Monday, Oct. 20 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
The church is located at 2503 Main Street, La Crosse. The fee for the class is $15.
McGinnis has taught more than 7,000 people how to write prayers, poetry, and autobiographies, all the while guiding them to bring their whole heart, mind, and spirit to the process.
Participants will gain tools for how to use creative writing and poem-making as a companion on their own spiritual journey.
For more information on McGinnis, visit www.writetotheheart.com. Register for the class by calling the church at 784-8137.
A Feel the Rhythm Retreat will be held Oct. 10-11 at First Presbyterian Church, 233 West Ave., La Crosse. Cost is $45 for individuals, $75 for couples For more information or to register, call 784-4248.
The Lutheran World Relief boxcar will collect quilts, layettes, school kits, health kits and other materials from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. The boxcar will be at the George Street viaduct in La Crosse at the end of Clinton Street next to the La Crosse Boys & Girls Club. For more information, call coordinator Jim Balow at 788-8408.
The Scenic Circuit of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society will hold its Fall Rally Thursday, Oct. 16 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bangor.
Reigstration begins at 12:30 p.m. followed by a 1 p.m. opening service. Featured speakers are a professor and students from Luther Prep School on outreach work.
Ken Eggen, a retired chaplain from Gundersen-Lutheran will coordinate a series of sessions for people who have lost a loved one prior to July of this year.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, West Salem, will sponsor the sessions. The group will meet on six Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the church beginning Oct. 9.
The goal of the group is support for those grieving. Each session will consist of a presentation and time for participants to share their experience of grieving.
If you would like to be part of this group for support and healing, please contact the church office at 786-0030 or email the church at oslcws@centurytel.net Eggen is a member of Our Savior’s and a recent addition to Our Savior’s Pastoral Staff. As a hospital chaplain, Eggen led a number of grief groups and continues to do so through Gundersen Lutheran.
Our Savior’s is located at 359 N. Leonard Street in West Salem across from the historic Gullickson House.
Sugar Creek Bible Camp near Ferryville, Wis., will host a bluegrass festival on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The day will include wagon rides, Bible study and jamming in the morning, and the music runs from 1 to 10 p.m. Five area bands will be playing family-friendly traditional bluegrass and gospel music.
Cost is $15 for the whole day, and children 12 and younger are free.
Send us your church events or news at wsmnews@lee.net
All stories copyright 2006 Coulee News and other attributed sources.