Upcoming Events
Engaging Children Initiative: Learning Laboratory Meeting
Who: Learning Laboratory Participants
Get excited for our second Learning Laboratory Meet-Up! We will be taking time to learn more about what it means to engage children in worship at Prince of Peace, we will share in some worshipful practices together, and dive into more teaching time. Stay tuned for more info!
Webinar: Offering Testimony as a Tool of Public Witness
Many of us have heard the School House Rock song “I’m Just a Bill”, but do we actually understand how a bill becomes a law? And do we understand there are ways that we can engage in the process, especially for local and state laws?
Join Rev. Breanna Illéné, Director of Ecumenical Innovation and Justice Initiatives at the Wisconsin Council of Churches, to learn about advocacy and engaging in legislative hearings.
Synod Night Out at the Loggers Game
All ages welcome to this fun outing as a Synod. We will be watching the Loggers baseball game together on a party deck. Supper and beverages are included with your ticket. More information coming soon.
Engaging Children Initiative: Dream Team Meeting
We want to hear from you! This will be an opportunity to connect via Zoom with other people invested in better addressing children’s spiritual needs and in how the La Crosse Area Synod and neighboring congregations are engaging children in worship and prayer. Join of for a time of reflection, sharing, story-telling, and brainstorming as we seek to improve and expand engaging children’s ministries across our synod and beyond.
WELCA Global Engagement Travel Series
The Global Engagement travel to Arusha and Meru, Tanzania will bring together junior and senior high school age girls along with their moms, grands, women from their church unit or SWO with an affinity for education, advocating for women and girls, mentorship to experience mentorship in a camp setting at the foot of the majestic Mount Meru.
Engaging Children Initiative: Tech Equipping & Digital Ministry
Explore some best-practices for digital ministry, web-design, and online communications/media development. Bring your tech-y questions and challenges and we will work through them together! There will be teaching time on tips and tricks for major software and platforms, as well as, free time for questions and troubleshooting. All are welcome! Feel free to stay for the entire session or drop-in as you are able!
Engaging Children Initiative: Book Study
Join us as we dive into Pulling Together: A Handbook for Community Change. We have been exploring this work as Learning Laboratories and are excited to share the wisdom and insights we have found with you! All are welcome. Meeting over Zoom. Books available for purchase online at Acta Publications or Bookshop.org or contact the ECI team to borrow a copy!
Engaging Children Initiative: Creative Work Day
All are welcome to join us for a day of creativity and play! We will start the day with a Make-and-Take event, break for lunch, and regroup for an afternoon of creative work time together. We find that the Holy Spirit MOVES when we work in community, so we hope you will join us for a day of joyful creating, brain-storming, and networking!
RECLAIM: Young Adult Cohort
If you’re a young adult (18-35), you are invited to join this young adult cohort for a shared experience that explores where you are and where you want to bein the church.
Engaging Children Initiative: Fall Retreat at Sugar Creek
We are so excited for a weekend at camp! Learning Lab participants will engage in worshipful camp practices, learn more about what’s happening at Sugar Creek, and will receive special teaching time sessions with our guest speaker, Pastor Jen Rome. The community is invited to join us on Saturday for presentations by our guest speaker and opportunities to network and brainstorm with the large group!
Saturday: Community Event (all are welcome!)
More about Pastor Jen Rome: She is celebrating 25 years of ministry bringing people of all generations together to deeply experience and creatively connect with God, the world, and each other. Creating and leading cross-generational, multi-sensory, interactive worship brings her joy. She is pastor with the dear people of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
2025 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering
The 2025 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering will be held in Columbus, Ohio, Sep. 18-21. This year’s event will center on Micah 6:8: “[God] has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” This year’s theme is “Do. Love. Move. Toward a World Without Hunger.”
Queer Renewal: Wilderness & Homecoming at Holden Village
Village and explore Queer Renewal in times that challenge us, that call for our transformation & resiliency. How might being surrounded by wilderness, metaphorical & actual, provide us a way home to ourselves & to support we need in community? Whether through discussion forums with fellow attendees, through making art, hiking, sharing talents, or reciting poetry outdoors by a fire, there’s a place at this retreat for your Queer self to thrive.
ConFest
ConFest (Confirmation Fest) is an evening of fellowship, learning and worship for Confirmation youth to connect and learn. This event is coordinated by the Synod LYLE Team.
WELCA Global Engagement Travel Series
This experience is perfect for health care providers who would like to lend a hand and learn alongside this busy hub that pivots to meet needs as they arise. Practicing accompaniment (coming along side) will nurture time for sharing stories and skills as well as experiencing the view from the other side of the border. Along with your daily work you will experience community in worship, fellowship, bible study, the marketplace and dancing on the plaza. Your home away from home will be a familiar chain hotel in the area.
Fall Theological Conference
The Fall Theological Conference for Pastors and Synod Authorized Ministers will take place October 19-21, 2025 at the Metropolis Resort in Eau Claire, WI.
More information coming soon.
LGBTQ+ Equality Day at the Capitol
Save the date for a full day of connecting and grassroots advocacy with fellow activists from around the state of Wisconsin!
SYMBOL Network Forum: Collaborative Youth Ministry
This month's forum will be led by SYMBOL Steering Team Members and will focus on a conversation around Collaborative Youth Ministry.
WELCA Spring Convention
This is an annual Saturday gathering of WELCA groups from across the La Crosse Area Synod. Check-in is from 8:30 am - 9:00 am. Lunch and treats are provided. The Convention includes time for worship, learning, fellowship and the elections of new leaders. Reach out to WELCA President Anita Jensen with questions.
All-Synod Caucus Meeting
All 2025 Synod Assembly voting members, Pastors, SAMs and Synod Council are to attend this pre-assembly event.
Congregation Council Development Retreat
Join others serving on congregation councils for a morning of learning and networking together. Discuss council best practices and engage in leadership development workshops. Learn about strategic communications, legacy planning, congregational systems, and resources and support available to you through the synod network. Network with other council presidents, VPs, treasurers, secretaries, and at-large members. Register by March 13th to secure your spot.
Care Companion Informational Session
There will be an informational session on ZOOM for people who are curious about the Care Companion program launching within the synod.