Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.Nov. 26, 2014
Thanksgiving Eve Worship - TONIGHT at 7 p.m.! We gather to give thanks and glory to God.

Happy Thanksgiving! - The church office will be closed both Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27 and 28.
Thanksgiving Eve Worship - Nov. 26

TONIGHT! Take time to pause before the big day with a special Thanksgiving Eve worship service, Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., followed by a time of fellowship and pumpkin pie in the Fellowship Hall.
This Weekend

 

This weekend is the First Sunday in Advent. Readings for this weekend's worship include Isaiah 64:1-9 and Mark 13:24-37:    

 

"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Read more Mark 13:24-37 

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.
Join the 2015 Bible Read-Along!

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 at the hospitality desk in the Atrium. (It is 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. Read more about this exciting event on our website and join the email list. Contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org
for more information.

We've just received a fresh shipment of Bibles, so if you have ordered or want to purchase one, stop by the hospitality desk in the Atrium. 
Advent and Christmas Schedule of Events

St. Philip the Deacon is a busy place during Advent and Christmas, so we've published a webpage listing all the events and opportunities for learning, service and fellowship during the holiday season. Information on worship services, musical events, gift-giving programs and more can be found at spdlc.org/advent-and-christmas-spd.
Advent Vespers

Advent is here, the season of waiting and anticipation of the birth of our Lord. Our theme this year will be "Learning to Walk in the Dark," and many of us will be reading the book of the same title, by Barbara Brown Taylor. Special Advent Vespers worship services will be held each of the four Monday evenings -- Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22 -- at 7 p.m. As we await the coming of our Savior, take time for evening prayer. Learn more.
Christmas Care - Holiday Store - Deadline Dec. 1

On Saturday, Dec. 6, we will host a holiday store where 350 children can "shop" for their parents and experience the joy of giving. You can help by donating gifts by Dec. 1 (for adults, men and women, new, $20 value or smaller gifts that can be bundled into $20 gifts). Email Pastor Strand Patterson for a gift list or pick one up at the hospitality desk in the Atrium. We are half way to our goal of 750 gifts!

Want to help but prefer not to shop? We will send out happy shoppers with your cash donations! Let Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson know if you would like to be a shopper.

Want to help with the event? Help us deliver the gifts to the LSS Center for Changing Lives in Minneapolis on Thursday evening, Dec. 4. Help set up the store on Friday, Dec. 5. Or volunteer in the store in the morning or afternoon of Dec. 6. Sign up in the narthex or email Pastor VSP.
Christmas Care - Gifts and Prayers

Help make Christmas warmer and merrier for a vulnerable adult living in a shelter. Stop by the narthex to pick up a wish list, shop and pray for your person, and drop off the gifts by Sunday, Dec. 14. We hope to care for over 300 people from:
  • Smith Lodge, Mission Lodge
  • Our Savior's Shelter
  • Anishinabe Waikiagun
  • Home Free Shelter
Want to help but prefer not to shop? We will send out happy shoppers with your cash donations! Please let Pastor VSP know if you would like to be a shopper.

Would you like to be the coordinator for Gifts and Prayers for families from Home Free Shelter? Please contact Pastor Strand Patterson.
Sleep Out - Support Your Pastors! - Dec. 3

Our mission partners, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP), encourage you to support the annual Sleep Out campaign on Wednesday, Dec. 3, which raises funds to support struggling families with housing, employment, child care, food and transportation.

This year, you can come out and support Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson and Pastor Mark Schmid, who will be sleeping out that night in the IOCP parking lot -- with other area pastors and IOCP staff and board members -- to raise funds for 1,875 local families in need of help. Come by to wish your favorite clergy members well, donate to their fundraising efforts, and vote for them in the "Prettiest Feet" contest at 9:15 p.m. The winning clergy member gets to sleep in a cozy bed inside while the rest of us brave the elements!

Also at IOCP that evening, Pastor VSP and SPD member Joan Floren will be creating custom earrings for $10. All proceeds go to IOCP. come and help create your earrings!

Your donations to support your pastors' sleep out may be given online at iocp.org/donate, or dropped off at the church.
 
And please pray for a heat wave on Dec. 3!
Family Christmas Celebration - Dec. 7

Join us on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 3-5 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 Celtic musician 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.
National Lutheran Choir - Dec. 12

A group from SPD will be going to the National Lutheran Choir Christmas concert at the Basilica on Friday, Dec. 12. The bus departs from SPD at 6:30 for the 8 p.m. concert. The cost for the concert ticket and transportation is $23 per person. To make reservations contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org or at the Hospitality Desk.
Book Club - Dec. 15

December Book Club books are here. You can purchase your copy of Girl Meets God at the hospitality desk in the Atrium for $10. We will meet to discuss on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life. All are welcome; come when you can. For more information contact Amanda Berger at aberger@spdlc.org.
Storytime - Dec. 17

Join the fun of Storytime on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Lilly Pad Library. Our time together consists of a guest reading to children, faith based books, puppets, Veggie Tales, exploring a children's book by a Minnesota author, and time to check out books with a parent. No registration is required. Please use the lower parking lot for Storytime.
Christmas Drop-off Night - Dec. 19

Parents, do you need to do some shopping, gift wrapping, or do you just want a night of fun for your kids? Bring them to SPD for pizza, a fun Christmas movie, and making a gift for you, on Friday, Dec. 19 6-8:30 p.m. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 17, and we have a maximum of 70 participants, so register early! Cost is $12 per person (includes pizza, movie, and gift supplies). Register on line at stphilip.smartevents.com.
Year-End Giving Guidelines

Offerings in a 2014 envelope received in the offering plate through Dec. 29 or delivered to the office by noon Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 (and postmarked up to Dec. 31) will be recorded on your 2014 Contribution Statement.

Offerings received after this will be recorded as a 2015 offering, regardless of which year's envelope is used. You may also use the mail drop-box outside the west office door (Door B) if delivering after office hours.

If you wish to prepay your 2015 offerings please make a notation on the envelope AND check memo "prepayment for 2015." To receive credit on your 2014 year-end statement 2015 prepayments must also be received by the dates noted above.

Questions? Contact Cheryl Sjaarda, Finance Administrator at csjaarda@spdlc.org or 763-475-7124. Year-end contribution statements for 2014 will be mailed prior to Jan. 31, 2015.
SPD Outdoors Ice Fishing Retreat - Jan. 22-25

A new group is forming for SPD members who love getting out in nature: SPD Outdoors! Join the group for the Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Retreat, Thursday, Jan. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. This will be a great opportunity to spend time getting to know Pastor Mark Schmid, who is eager to share his enthusiasm for the great outdoors. Accommodations (lodging and meals) will be provided by Wheelers Point Resort and Lodge in Baudette, Minn. on Rainy River. This retreat is open to all. Twenty-four slots available. $420 per person. No experience necessary!

You can register for the trip online at stphilip.smartevents.com. Deadline: Dec. 15. An informational meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Heritage Room.

Questions? Contact Roger Elias at rwelias@comcast.net or 763-657-1858; or Pastor Mark Schmid at mschmid@spdlc.org or 763-475-7127.
DivorceCare Men's Group

Separation and divorce are painful and stressful experiences. They are confusing times when you feel alone and have lots of questions. DivorceCare is a confidential group support program to find help, discover hope, and experience healing. Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., beginning Jan. 20 and running for 13 sessions. Led by SPD member, Heather Wright. Contact Pastor Strand Patterson if you have questions: 763-475-7126 or vstrand@spdlc.org. Learn more about DivorceCare.
In This Issue
Thanksgiving Worship
This Weekend
Feed My Starving Children
2015 Bible Read-Along
Holiday Schedule
Advent Vespers
Holiday Store
Christmas Care
Sleep Out for IOCP
Family Christmas Celebration
Billy McLaughlin Concert
National Lutheran Choir
Book Club
Storytime
Christmas Drop-off Night
Year-End Giving
SPD Outdoor Retreat
DivorceCare for Men
 
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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.

O 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 neighbours; our enemies laugh among themselves.

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

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 80:1-7, 17-19

For Reflection

 

"Love means loving the unlovable-or it is no virtue at all."

- G.K. Chesterton

 

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

 

Faithful Parenting

 

Strategies for gaining kids' respect

Parents usually have good desires for their kids. They want kids to be respectful, responsible, faithful, obedient, and so on. But when parents make these behaviors their primary goals for parenting, their kids tend to resist. Why?
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.