Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

Dec. 3, 2014

TONIGHT! - Pastor Strand Patterson, Pastor Mark Schmid, other area clergy, and IOCP staff and board members will be sleeping in the parking lot of IOCP tonight, Dec. 3. Read more below.

Family Christmas Celebration - Holiday fun for the whole family. Join us Sunday, Dec. 6 from 3-5 p.m. for Christmas crafts, music, games, stories and more. Register TODAY online at stphilip.smartevents.com.

The Advent and Christmas Events page on our website has a listing all the events for worship, learning, service and fellowship during the holiday season. Visit spdlc.org/advent-and-christmas-spd.

This Weekend

This weekend is the Second Sunday in Advent. Readings for this weekend's worship include Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."'

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, 'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'

TONIGHT! - IOCP Sleep Out - Support Your Pastors!

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

This year, you can pledge your support for Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson and Pastor Mark Schmid, who will be camping out in the IOCP parking lot with other area pastors and IOCP staff and board members to raise funds for 1,875 local families. 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 the crew brave the elements!

Also at IOCP that evening, Pastor VSP and St. Philip 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 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. Register TODAY at stphilip.smartevents.com! Cost is $7 per person; children under 2 yrs. free.

Holiday Store - Great Response!

Thank you for your generous gifts (we have all we need!) and for volunteering to help (all positions filled!)

Please keep the children we will serve in your prayers this Saturday when the store is open!

- Pastor VSP

Advent Vespers - Dec. 8

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 on Monday evenings, Dec. 8 and 22 at 7 p.m. (Monday, Dec. 15 will be Hear Our Prayer.) On Dec. 8 we welcome St. Philip member Jim Suhr who, with Pastor Mathison, will talk about what it is like to walk in darkness and surprising discovery of treasures even there.

As we await the coming of our Savior, take time for evening prayer. Visit our Advent and Christmas worship and events web page.

NAMI Family Support Group - Dec. 9

A new support group by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, begins next week at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Plymouth. This group will provide ongoing support for families and friends of persons living with a mental illness. Please feel free to share this information! The group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month starting Dec. 9, from 7-8:30 p.m. at St. Barnabas, 15600 Old Rockford Rd., Plymouth. Contact Elizabeth at 612-432-0471 for more information.

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.

Lessons and Carols - Dec. 13 and 14

With anticipation and hope, we await the coming of the Light of the World, Emmanuel, Christ our Savior. All worship services on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14 will feature special choral music as we celebrate our annual Lessons and Carols liturgies.

Check out all the special worship times and events at St. Philip the Deacon on our Advent and Christmas events web page.

Christmas Care - Gifts & Prayers - Deadline Dec. 14

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

We are hoping for 1-2 more St. Philip the Deacon families to sponsor a family receiving services from Home Free Shelter. You will receive a wish list for each person in the family and pray for them throughout the holiday season. Please contact SPD member Becky Griffin at bejagr@gmail.com to say you would like to help.

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.

Blue Christmas Prayer Service - Dec. 15

The last Third Monday of the year, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m., we will hold a special prayer service for those who may be struggling during the holiday season, especially those who have lost a loved one this year. But all prayer concerns are welcome at this contemplative prayer service, creating an oasis of peace and hope, allowing us to listen deeply for the word God, and experience God's love and healing.

SPD Outdoors Ice Fishing Retreat - Deadline Dec. 15

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.

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

Book Club - Dec. 16

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 the book on Tuesday, Dec. 16 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 time to do some shopping, gift wrapping, or do you just want a night of fun for your kids? Bring them to SPD for pizza, activities and a fun Christmas movie 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.

Join the 2015 Bible Read-Along!

Join SPD members and friends in reading through the Bible in one year. If you wish, you may purchase a copy of The NRSV Daily Bible for $20 at the hospitality desk in the Atrium. This Bible has extra prayers and reflections for each day's texts.

Sign up for weekly emails highlighting what to look for in the readings. Read more about this exciting event on our website, and invite a friend to join the Read-Along with you! Contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org for more information.

In This Issue

This Weekend

Sleep Out for IOCP

Family Christmas Celebration

Holiday Store

Advent Vespers

NAMI Support Group

Billy McLaughlin Concert

National Lutheran Choir

Lessons and Carols

Gifts and Prayers

Blue Christmas

SPD Outdoor Retreat

Book Club

Storytime

Christmas Drop-off Night

Year-End Giving

2015 Bible Read-Along

Lord, you were favorable to your land;

You restored the fortunes of Jacob.

You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

For he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

For Reflection

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all."

- William Faulkner

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

Faithful Parenting

Trickle-Down Parenting

A little one is flitting at the breakfast table again and the milk goes spilling all over the place, in between the cracks, and onto the floor. He holds his breath waiting for mom to explode. Mom makes a choice: she can use her words or use her hands to make a mountain out of a mole hill, exploding in anger and blame OR she can grab the towel and wipe the spill offering gentleness, reassurance, and peace.