Here are a selection of brief news items pertaining to area church activities:

Our Saviour’s to confirm 26 youths

The following area youths will be confirmed Sunday, Aug. 17, at the 10 a.m. worship service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in West Salem: Matthew Berghefer, Kolton Christenson, Kari Czajka, Alton Degenhardt, Savanna Elliott, Clara Haldeman, Travis Hanson, Brittany Heilman, Carl Hole, Myron Hole, Amy Kleinvachter, Chelsey Kleinvachter, Molly Klos, Alex Koenen, Cody Limberg, Emma Molling, Kelsey Novak, Desiree Peters, Lucas Pierce, Zachary Rigotti, Justin Sagler, Dwight Schomberg, Dominick Selck, Marissa Skrentny, Chase Wilker and Richard Ziel.

Sparta church plans Summerfest event

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sparta will hold a Summerfest event Aug. 9-10 at the church, 319 Main St.

An auction will be held on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., and Sunday’s activities will include a roasted chicken dinner with all the trimmings, bingo and other games, arts and crafts, petting zoo, refreshments and live music.

Organist to present service at St. Paul’s

Organist Charles Bonow will present his festival worship service concert, “Our Life In Christ,” on Sunday, Aug. 10, at 8 and 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Onalaska.

The service concert will consist of a spoken message entwined with organ solos and congregational singing of well-loved hymns of faith. Everyone is invited to attend. A free-will offering will be received after the service.

Gospel choir seeks instrumentalists

The Coulee Region Gospel Choir is looking for experienced instrumentalists for its annual Christmas musical, which this year will be “Child of the Promise.” The program will take the place of the traditional outdoor concert in Holmen this year only.

Musicians needed include flute, oboe, first and second trumpet, first and second trombone, violin (three), viola (two), cello (2) and timpani/percussion.

For more information, call Ruth Ann Granum at 526-2218.

Service is mission sendoff for pastor

On Sunday, Aug. 10, the Rev. Kevin Jacobson will be commissioned at Holmen Lutheran for missionary service in Suriname. The community is invited to attend the commissioning.

Jacobson has roots in Holmen, as son of Twila Jacobson and the late Dr. Donald Jacobson. He was ordained at Holmen Lutheran on Aug. 12, 1990.

He has served with the Lutheran church in Papua New Guinea and more recently as director for the global mission education team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Jacobson will serve with the Lutheran church in Suriname, particularly with a view toward assisting that church in developing closer ties with other church bodies. Suriname is a country in northern South America, formerly known as Dutch Guiana.

The commissioning will take place during the 9 a.m. worship service. The Rev. Raquel Rodriquez, director for the ELCA’s Latin America and Caribbean program, will preach and do the commissioning.

Churches sponsor financial classes

Christ the King Lutheran Church, Holmen Lutheran Church and Bridge of Life Lutheran Church are sponsoring a 13-week Financial Peace University series of classes.

The classes will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays starting Sept. 7 at Christ the King’s Fellowship Hall at 2703 Sand Lake Road in Onalaska.

Cost is $93 per family. Payment must be made by Aug. 24. To register, call 783-1892.

Volunteer Corps seeks participants

Participants are sought for Lutheran Volunteer Corps, a full-time program that offers people a one-year opportunity for spiritual and personal exploration while working for social justice, living in intentional community and simplifying their lifestyles.

Volunteers are matched with nonprofit organizations in Baltimore, Md.; Wilmington, Del.; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Milwaukee; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.; and the San Francisco Bay Area in California.

Applications may be downloaded at http://www.LutheranVolunteerCorps.org/Volunteers.htm/. For more information, contact Kelly Shinn, recruitment coordinator, at (202) 387-3222 or Recruitment@LutheranVolunteerCorps.org.

Organic supper set at Stoddard church

Lower Coon Valley Lutheran Church in rural Stoddard will hold its fourth annual all-organic supper from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. The menu includes organic quiche, ham and hot dogs, salad, bread and dessert, Cost is $8, $4 for children younger than 12. To order tickets or for more information, call Pastor Donald Fox at 782-3499 or the church at (608) 483-2384.