Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

Nov. 5, 2014

Great Workshop Available Nov. 6! - Healthcare Decisions and the Family. See article below. The focus will be on helping you have healthy conversations about end-of-life issues.

This Weekend

This weekend is the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for this weekend's worship include 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Matthew 25:1-13:

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves." And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, lord, open to us." But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you." Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour..

Bible 101 - Nov. 5 - Prepare for the Read-Along!

Get ready to read the Bible in 2015 by participating in a three-session class, Bible 101. We will look at how the Bible came to be, consider its contents and structure, and discuss how to read God's word. We will meet Wednesday evenings beginning Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. Contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org.

Then join SPD members and friends in reading through the Bible in one year. Participants may purchase a copy of The NRSV Daily Bible for $20, available beginning Nov. 1, at church. (Also available online.) Each week an email will highlight what to look for in the readings and periodic gatherings will be scheduled to reflect on our journey. Join the email list on the SPD website!

Healthcare Decisions and the Family - Nov. 6

Do your children know your wishes for end-of-life care? How do you have a conversation with your parents? Join us at SPD on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. for Healthcare Decisions and the Family, an evening seminar to help educate and equip families to have meaningful discussions about end-of-life healthcare preferences. The seminar will be led by Anne Denny of Thrivent Financial, an expert in healthcare directives. The seminar is free, and open to the public. Please feel free to attend even if you have not registered!

Sr. High SleepOut - Nov. 8

All you need are a box or tent, sleeping bag, blankets, warm clothes, a sense of adventure and desire to learn! Join the Sr. High camp at church on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m. for an evening of activities, fellowship, and the experience of sleeping outside in cardboard boxes. It will be cold outside, but that's the point: to understand what a person goes through when they struggle with homelessness. On Sunday morning we will collect donations for our mission partners -- Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) -- between worship services. The event will end at noon on Sunday.

Youth are encouraged to collect donations prior to the event. Checks can be written out to Interfaith Outreach. You may also add a donation to your registration, which will go directly to IOCP as well. Register online!

Joseph Pearce - Faith & Life - Nov. 13

The second in the Faith & Life Lecture Series takes place Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. with Joseph Pearce speaking on "Faith & Conversion: From Radical Hatred to Rational Faith." Pearce is a well-known author and biographer of Christian leaders, but in his youth he was a member of a racist nationalist group in Britain and imprisoned for hate speech. He will share his conversion journey from a life of anger and hatred to one of faith and love.

Progressive Dinner - Nov. 15

Here's a wonderful way to enjoy the fellowship of our congregation: Join us Saturday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. for a Progressive Dinner!

How it works: You will be assigned a different home for appetizers and main course, and then everyone will gather together at church for dessert and coffee. You will be asked to provide either an appetizer, salad/bread, main course or dessert. We are also look for hosts for the appetizer and main course. To sign-up, email Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org. Childcare is available.

Pizza and Movie Night - Nov. 15

Kids in elementary school are invited to Movie and Pizza Night, Saturday, Nov. 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $5 per child. Register at stphilip.smartevents.com. The movie is Mr. Peabody and Sherman.

Book Club - Nov. 16

The book selection for November is New York Time's bestselling author Barbara Brown Taylor's new book Learning to Walk in the Dark. Taylor became uncomfortable with our tendency to associate all that is good with light and all that is evil and dangerous with darkness. She asks and reflects on this question: Doesn't God work in the nighttime as well? Discussion takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. A limited number of books are available for purchase at the hospitality desk and this book is readily available in bookstores and online. For more information please contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org or Amanda Berger at aberger@spdlc.org.

Pictorial Directory Photo Sessions - Nov. 18-19

Register today!

There are still appointments available to have your picture taken for the pictorial directory. If you consider St. Philip the Deacon your faith community, we encourage you to be a part of it. There is no cost to you (unless you decide to purchase additional portraits). Each family who has their picture taken will receive a free 8x10 color portrait. Sign up for a time slot on Nov. 18 or 19 between 2-9 p.m. Make an appointment online by visiting the church website.

Encounter: Stargazing - Nov. 21

The second event in the Encounter series will be Friday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Phil and Mona Milne. Our guest will be WCCO Meteorologist Mike Lynch, who will bring his telescopes for a magical night of stargazing, and serve as our guide to the solar system. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information please contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org or Amanda Berger at aberger@spdlc.org.

Encounter means unexpected meeting with someone. We hope these events will inspire faithful conversation as the result of an unexpected meeting with God.

The Overnighters - Nov. 21-27

An independent film is touring the country and will be in Minneapolis Nov. 21-27. Award-winning documentary The Overnighters engages and dramatizes a set of universal societal and economic themes: the promise and limits of re-invention, redemption and compassion, as well as the tension between the moral imperative to "love thy neighbor" and the resistance that one small community feels when confronted by a surging river of desperate, job-seeking strangers. Nov. 21-27 at St Anthony Main Theater in Minneapolis. Tickets are purchasable on the film's website.

Feed My Starving Children - Nov. 29

Join the crew from St. Philip the Deacon on Saturday, Nov. 29 (Thanksgiving weekend) from 9-11 a.m. as we serve at Feed My Starving Children's Chanhassen location. We will pack meals that are specially formulated for malnourished children that will be shipped to nearly 70 countries around the world. In our service group, the minimum age group for participation is 3rd grade. This is an opportunity for the whole family, young and old alike, to serve others. Questions? Contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org or 763-475-7115. You may also register on-line at fmsc.org, group #550481.

Family Christmas Celebration - Dec. 7

Join us on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 3-5:30 p.m. for our annual Family Christmas Celebration. Families with kids of all ages are invited to join us for an afternoon full of games, crafts, music, story, service, friends, and more all to celebrate the season of Christmas! The gathering ends with family-style dinner from Davanni's. Questions can be directed to Trisha Ragner at tragner@spdlc.org, and you can register at stphilip.smartevents.com.

Billy McLaughlin Christmas Concert - Dec. 11

Join us on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at St. Philip the Deacon for a holiday concert by the Billy McLaughlin group, Simple Gifts. The concert, titled "Winter Grace," will also feature singer Laura MacKenzie. Tickets are available online at simplegiftsmusic.net. Adult tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Student tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

In This Issue

This Weekend

Bible 101

Family Healthcare Decisions

Sr. High SleepOut

Joseph Pearce, Faith & Life

Progressive Dinner

Pizza and Movie Night

Book Club

Pictorial Directory Photos

Encounter: Stargazing

Film: The Overnighters

Feed My Starving Children

Family Christmas Celebration

Billy McLaughlin Concert

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me.

O Lord, make haste to help me!

Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life.

Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire to hurt me.

Let those who say, 'Aha, Aha!' turn back because of their shame.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.

Let those who love your salvation say evermore, 'God is great!'

But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Psalm 70

For Reflection

"When we take ourselves too seriously, we are at the risk of taking other things, including God, too lightly."

- James Martin

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

Faithful Parenting

The conundrum of trust...

Kids are built to trust, built to feel safe and secure. But if trust is betrayed and not restored, the kids are hurt and they live in resentment. They rebel. They hurt back.