Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

Feb. 25, 2015

Registration for summer events begins March 1!

Summer Preview Fair - Join us between services this weekend in the Fellowship Hall to learn all about summer programming at SPD!

This Weekend

This weekend is the Second Sunday in Lent. Readings include Romans 4:13-25, and Mark 8:31-38:

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, 'Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.'

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.'

Wednesdays in Lent

Wednesdays in Lent offer opportunities for fellowship, a simple supper of soup and good bread, and a time for evening prayer. Join us in Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday for the soup supper, followed by worship at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Wednesdays, Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18 and 25.

Underwrite a New Art Installation at SPD

This past week, permanent art installations were hung in our Atrium, Fellowship Hall and Heritage Room. The installations communicate our Core Values (in the Fellowship Hall), our "Goodly Heritage" (in the Heritage Room), and our emphasis on creating a welcoming and hospitable environment (in the Atrium). The Atrium's installation was underwritten anonymously in honor of a mother who always created a warm and gracious welcome to guests and visitors. If you would like to help underwrite the creation and installation of the other pieces, you can make a gift online.

Ten Commandments - Feb. 28-March 1

This weekend in Faith Creek, first and second graders will spend a special hour with Kathy Hagedorn learning about the Ten Commandments and what they mean in our daily lives. We'll have a little fun with a football, too!

Summer Preview Fair - March 1

Come this Sunday to our Summer Preview Fair, event introducing summer programming at St. Philip the Deacon. Throughout the morning on Sunday, March 1 we'll be available in Fellowship Hall to answer your questions and help you sign up to participate in a wide range of family-friendly summer fun -- from retreats, trips and sporting events to service projects and sunny playtime. There's so much going on at SPD that we've decided to have an event to tell you about it all! Join us!

Church Assessment Tool - March 1-22

To help inform the development of a new SPD strategic plan, we are inviting congregational members to complete a survey called the Church Assessment Tool (CAT). The CAT is a statistically reliable, benchmarked instrument designed to provide an in-depth look at the experiences, perceptions and aspirations of the church's membership. We will be posting a link to the CAT our our website at spdlc.org/LookingForward2015 from March 1-22.

Women's Retreat 2015 - Register by March 1

Registration deadline is March 1!

All of us experience deeply personal periods of life that connect with the distinct seasons of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, waiting, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. These have the power to move us toward the kind of life we long for -- with new joy, transformation, and deep well-being in our personal lives and ministry. This March 6-8 Women's Retreat, Seasons of the Soul, unpacks the special rhythms of Jesus' life and passion that offer transformation to ours. It helps us recognize and embrace these rhythms toward resurrected power and meaning in our personal lives and ministries.

Read more on our website and download the registration form.

Bible Weekend - March 8

First Grade students will each receive their own copy of the NIRV Adventure Bible on Sunday, March 8 at our 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. worship services. It is a pleasure to be able to give Bibles to these students as a gift from St. Philip the Deacon. May they learn about God's great love for them through His Holy Word -- please keep them in your prayers.

Progressive Dinner - March 21

Join us for a Progressive Dinner, starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 21. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet others in the congregation -- whether singles or couples! Here is how it works: You will be assigned a home for appetizers and then a different home for the 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. To participate, contribute or host, contact Cindy Carlson at 763-475-7115 or ccarlson@spdlc.org. The deadline to register is March 9, 2015.

A History of Christianity

A six-week video course, A History of Christianity, will meet Sundays through March 29, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This series, presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, will explore the origins of Christianity and delve into what it means to be a Christian. The series has been called "intelligent, thought-provoking and magisterial in its scope." Each week participants will view the one-hour DVD and engage in facilitated conversation to follow. For more information contact Pastor Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org.

Summer St. John's Retreat - July 30-Aug. 2

An annual retreat at St. John's University will be offered for adults: men and women, singles and couples. This year the SJU Retreat runs Thursday evening, July 30 through Sunday noon, Aug. 2. Mornings are spent in classroom/group activities focused on a theme, afternoons are completely free time. We enjoy dinners together and evening prayers in the Abbey Church with the Benedictine monks. All are welcome! Contact Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson, vstrand@spdlc.org, or Kristine and Jim Houtman, kristine.houtman@gmail.com, with any questions.

In This Issue

This Weekend

Soup Supers

New Art Installations

Ten Commandments

Summer Preview

Church Assessment Tool

Women's Retreat

Bible Weekend

Progressive Dinner

History of Christianity

Summer St. John's Retreat

You who fear the Lord, praise him!

All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;

Stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted;

He did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.

From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord.

May your hearts live for ever!

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord;

And all the families of the nations shall worship before him.

For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;

Before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.

Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,

And proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Psalm 22:23-31

For Reflection

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else."

- Charles Dickens

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

Faithful Parenting

Why Conflicts are Sometimes Just the Tip of the Iceberg

When things start to get heated, or even before you begin, take a deep breath and ask yourself, "What might be going on under the surface right now, for myself and for my child?".