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Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.December 18, 2013

Dear Friend of St. Philip the Deacon:

 

Christmas Worship Assistants: As you make your plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, please consider sharing in the Christmas worship service as a worship assistant. There are many opportunities for people to help usher and serve communion at each of the worship services on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org if you would like to volunteer for these important ministries. Thank you! A complete schedule of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services can be found here.

This Weekend: Advent 4

This weekend is the Fourth Weekend of Advent. Readings for the weekend include Isaiah 7:10-17 and Matthew 1:18-25.  

 

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 
'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel',
which means, 'God is with us.' When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
 - Matthew 1:18-25
Image: Dream of Joseph
Christmas Care Update
SPD members have signed up to shop and pray for residents of five shelters. A staff person from one of those shelters just sent us this message:

 

"Our residents believe, as do I, that your special prayers are working in their lives as we speak. It's so nice to hear them whispering about it. It's especially interesting to see the "on the fence" believers perk up. So thank your people for their prayers. They mean a lot to our folks who sometimes struggle during the holidays."

 

Know your ongoing prayers are deeply appreciated! Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson

 

Christmas Care: Gifts and Prayer

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated in our Christmas ministries. 

 

Completed: 

Gifts and prayers for 225 shelter residents

Gifts and prayer for 13 families served by Home Free Shelter

Five huge boxes of gifts for women and children living in Home Free Shelter

Four hundred fifty books have been donated for the great kids of the Phillips neighborhood

Plenty of socks and books and prayers for 50 Kaleidoscope kids

The Holiday Store - 700 gifts donated and almost 300 children experienced the joy of giving gifts to their caregivers

 

Food Baskets:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for this Saturday, December 21, to help with food basket distribution! Email Tami@tjfchampeau to say you would like to help. Friends, groups, ALL ARE WELCOME!

 

Christmas food baskets have been funded! Addition funds will help Messiah's food shelf early in the new year.

 

Always welcome:

Gift cards for Target, K-Mart, Cub and Rainbow (or checks to SPD with "Christmasing" on the memo line) which will be used for last minute needs and requests for holiday help.  

 

Christmas Drop-Off Night Friday, December 20

Parents -- do you have some last minute things to do for Christmas, or do you just want to have two hours to yourself? Bring your kids to church. We'll watch a Christmas movie, eat pizza and make a gift for you. We'll begin at 6:00 and finish at about 8:30. Register today at stphilip.smartevents.com. Deadline is Wednesday, Dec 18.  


Blood Drive January 8

During the holiday season there is a significant need for blood donors -- all types. To help meet this need we will be hosting a blood drive here at church on Wednesday, January 8 from 3:30-6:30 pm. You must be at least 17 years old, be in good health and free from colds or flu for at least 3 days. You may register online at mbc.org/searchdrives and enter sponsor code 0567. Contact Cindy Carlson at 763-475-7115 or ccarlson@spdlc.org with questions.

Caregivers Class Starts January 11

A three-week class for adults caring for aging parents is scheduled to begin Sunday, January 26 at 11 am to noon and will continue for three weeks. This class will address issues, needs, and concerns of both parents and adult children, as well as provide helpful resources and support. Seminarian Rebecca Hinz will facilitate the course. Register by emailing Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org or by using the pink insert sign up in the worship folder.

Crossways Welcomes New Participants

On January 22/23, we will begin the last ten sessions of our study of the Bible. During these weeks we will explore the letters of the New Testament with extra attention placed on Paul. Those traveling to Greece in April may find these classes of particular interest in preparation. If you would like to join the class, please email Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org or use the pink insert to register. Classes meet Wednesdays at 5 or 6:30 and Thursdays at 9:30 am. Come when your schedule permits.  Cost is $15 for materials.  

 

End of Year Giving Guidelines
The following guidelines have been established for end-of-year offerings to help you plan for the remainder of the year: 

Offerings in a 2013 envelope received in the offering plate through December 30 or delivered to the office by Thursday, January 3, 2013 will be recorded on your 2013 Contribution Statement. Note: Offerings may also be dropped in the mail drop-box outside the west office door (Door B) through Thursday night, January 3.

Offerings received after the above cut-off date will be recorded as a 2014 offering, regardless of which year's envelope is used.

Offerings received in 2013, in a 2014 envelope may be recorded as a 2014 prepay if 2013 credit is requested. Make a notation on the envelope of check memo: "this is a prepayment for 2014." This contribution must be received by the dates noted above and will be reflected on your 2013 year-end statement.

 

Questions? Contact Cheryl Sjaarda, Finance Administrator at csjaarda@spdlc.org or 763-475-7124. 2013 year-end contribution statements will be mailed prior to January 31, 2014.

If you have questions about anything you've read here, or want to know more about St. Philip the Deacon and its ministries, please contact us at info@spdlc.org or 763-475-7100.
In This Issue
This Weekend
Christmas Care
Christmas Drop-Off Night
Blood Drive
Caregivers Class
Crossways
End of Year Giving
 
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Let Your Face Shine, That We May be Saved

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! 

 

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth

before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!

 

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

 

Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?

 

You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.

 

You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.

 

Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

 

You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.

 

You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.

 

The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches;

it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River.

 

Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?

 

The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.

 

Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,

the stock that your right hand planted.

 

They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

 

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.

 

Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

 

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

 

- Psalm 80


   

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For Reflection:

 
"The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake." 
 
- Meister Eckhart (1260-1328), German theologian and author.

 

See more thoughts like this at fb.com/spdlc.