Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

Oct. 8, 2014

Faith & Life Lecture - Donald Miller speaks on "Faith & Story: Living a Meaningful Life," Tomorrow, Oct. 9! See article below.

500 Boxes - We're gathering in a harvest of cereal boxes! 500 of them by Oct. 19-20. See article below.

Adult Learning - All classes welcome new participants and it is never too late to join a study or discussion group. Learn more.

This Weekend

This weekend is the 18th Sunday after Pentecost. The readings include Philippians 4:1-9 and Matthew 22:1-14.

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet." But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, "The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet." Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Faith & Life - Donald Miller - Oct. 9

Writer and speaker Donald Miller delivers the first Faith & Life lecture of the 2014-15 season. Miller has authored several books, including Blue Like Jazz, the current selection of our book club.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. for Miller's talk on "Faith & Life: Living a Meaningful Life."

Learn more ...

Early Childhood Ministry

Upcoming dates for Early Childhood Ministry events:

Family Playtime: Oct. 7, 8, 21, 22, 28, 29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Set aside time to play with your young child in a safe learning environment.
Mom's Morning: Oct. 25 from 10-11 a.m. Moms gather for support and fellowship.
Beginner Bibles will be presented to 3 year-olds Sunday, Oct. 26 during 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. worship services.

Sign Up for Families Moving Forward!

Your gifts of time, talent and money make a difference in the lives of families who are experiencing homelessness through Families Moving Forward. We will once again be hosting up to 18 adults and children for one week beginning Oct. 26.

Sign up just inside Fellowship Hall (as you enter from the narthex) to host or make a dinner, do activities with families, provide groceries, stay overnight, or launder linens. About 75 volunteers from our church work together to provide warm hospitality to our guest families during each hosting week, as they move forward to stability in their lives. Contact Sandy Dockter with questions: sandymdoc@gmail.com

Movie Night - Oct. 10

It's Movie Night! Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. Kids in grades K-5 are invited to watch Muppets Most Wanted on the big screen at church. Feel free to come in pjs and tote along your pillows and blankets as well. We'll watch the movie and fill our tummies with pizza. Cost is $5 for the evening. Please register at stphilip.smartevents.com no later than Wednesday, Oct. 8!

Pigs and Pigskin - Oct. 12

Phil's Guys, a men's ministry of SPD, invites guys of all ages to join them for Pigs and Pigskin on Sunday, Oct. 12 at St. Philip the Deacon. Enjoy the fun, faith, fellowship, football (Vikings vs. Lions) and food (smoked ribs courtesy of Pastor Mark and Erik Jacobson) beginning at 11:45 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students. Please register by Oct. 9, online at stphilip.smartevents.com or at the Hospitality Desk in the Atrium on the upper level.

Phil's Guys is on Facebook! "Like" us to keep up to date on upcoming events.

The Conversation - Greece Travelogue - Oct. 14

Join Pastor Mathison and others who traveled to Greece last spring to hear about their journey and see pictures. The 13-day trip included visits to Athens, Corinth, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Patmos, and Ephesus. Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.

500 Boxes - Oct. 19-20

Faith Creek students are gathering in boxes of cereal for the food shelf. Can we reach the goal of 500 boxes by the weekend of Oct. 19-20?

Bring your cereal box donations to church this weekend! Let's help feed those in need!

Hear Our Prayer - Oct. 20

Monday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. is our next special community prayer service, "Hear Our Prayer." Our theme this month will be "Healing." Prayers are especially invited for physical, emotional and mental healing, but all prayers are encouraged and welcomed. Come join us for this time of prayer and healing.

Book Club - Oct. 21

The book selection for October is Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. This book has been described as "a fresh and original perspective on life, love, and redemption." We will discuss his book on the third Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. A limited number of books are available for purchase at the church and this book is readily available in bookstores and online. For more information contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org or Amanda Berger at aberger@spdlc.org.

Donald Miller will be the speaker at the Faith & Life Lecture on Oct. 9.

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Oct. 22

A one-day, eight-hour course sponsored by the Fairview Foundation and NAMI Minnesota, for those who work with youth: teachers, school counselors and nurses, coaches, community and youth ministry leaders, etc. Learn more about how to assess youth for risk of suicide or self-harm, and connect them to support resources and professional help. Meets at SPD Wednesday, Oct. 22, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CEU certificates available. Register online.

Fall Festival - Oct. 26

Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of fall fun, including bouncy house, Trunk-or-Treat, a wagon ride, petting zoo, games, activities, hotdogs, cider and more! No cost! Invite your friends!

Encounter - Oct. 26

The first in a series of events called "Encounter" will be Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. with Concordia University Professor of Visual Arts Keith Williams. Williams will work on his pottery wheel while talking with us about craft, creativity and creation itself. For more information contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org or Amanda Berger at aberger@spdlc.org.

"Encounter" means unexpected meeting with someone. We hope this, and future Encounter events, will inspire faithful conversation as the result of an unexpected meeting with God.

Ken Barlow Speaks on Mental Health - Oct. 30

Ken Barlow, chief morning meteorologist for KSTP-TV went public two years ago with his bipolar disorder and as a Mental Health Advocate speaks about his own journey as well as the need to break the stigma and perceived shame of mental illness. Barlow will speak on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at St. Philip the Deacon.

In This Issue

This Weekend

Faith & Life Lecture

Early Childhood Ministry

Families Moving Forward

Movie Night

Pigs and Pigskin

The Conversation

500 Boxes

Hear Our Prayer

Book Club

Youth Mental Health

Fall Festival

Encounter

Ken Barlow Presentation

Faithful Parenting

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;

for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long..

Psalm 23

For Reflection

"Have patience with all things, but, first of all with yourself."

- Francis de Sales

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

Faithful Parenting

Teaching Kids to be Wise Consumers of Today's Media

"My goal when I launch my kids into the world is that they can use the wisdom they've developed in our home to be thoughtful and intentional in their choices. For example, as they grow older and more independent, I want my kids to be wise in the media they choose to consume."