Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

March 11, 2015

Your Response Matters! Please complete your Church Assessment Tool, available online through March 22.

This Weekend

This weekend is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Readings include Ephesians 2:4-10 and John 3:14-21:

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.

Faith & Life Lecture, J.Warner Wallace - March 12

The Faith & Life Lecture Series continues with a talk by J. Warner Wallace, author and homicide detective, who uses his career skills of investigative fact-seeking to make a compelling case for the truth of the Gospels. Join us tomorrow, Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. for this engaging evening. The event is free and open to the public.

Messiah Food Pantry - March 13

SPD members are needed to help with the Messiah Food Pantry this Friday, March 13, starting at 8:30 a.m. If you can help, contact coordinator Tami Champeau at 612-251-5623 or tjfchampeau@gmail.com.

Church Assessment Tool - Now through March 22

Your Response Matters!

To help inform the development of a new SPD strategic plan, we are inviting congregational members to complete 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. Learn more about this assessment project, and find a link to the CAT on our website now through March 22.

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, March 11, 18 and 25.

Children's Ministry - March Events

During Lent, childcare will be available during the Lenten worship services, Wednesday, March 11, 18 and 25, at 7 p.m.

Enjoy sharing Bible Stories with your child! March 14-15 is the beginning of the Spring SPARK Session, scheduled for six weeks. SPARK Bible Story Cards with stickers are available for all 2 and 3 year-olds. Please stop by the Childcare Center each week to pick up the Bible Story Card for your child.

Bring your little ones to Lilly Pad Storytime on Wednesday, March 18 at 10 a.m. A special guest will read a story to the children in the Lilly Pad Library, on the lower level.

The next Jesus Crew event is Wednesday, March 18 at 6:15 p.m. All fifth grade students are invited to participate. Register online.

Join us for Movie Night on March 20 at 6 p.m. K - fifth grade students are invited to come and watch a movie on the big screen and enjoy some pizza. Cost is $5.00 for pizza. Register online.

The next Baptism Workshop is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, at 11 a.m. for parents who are having a child baptized at St. Philip the Deacon for the first time. You can register online.

The weekend of Palm/Passion Sunday, March 28 and 29, Faith Creek Cinema will be showing a movie at all Faith Creek sessions.

Looking ahead: On Easter weekend there will be no Faith Creek. Visit the Children's Prayer Garden after worship on the north side of the church near the chapel!

Holy Week Worship Assistants

As we look ahead to Holy Week, please consider helping at one of the worship services. We'll need extra ushers, acolytes and communion servers on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter worship services. Contact Cindy Carlson, ccarlson@spdlc.org.

Contribute to the Easter Garden - Order by March 23

Complete a form online or in the pink bulletin insert by March 23 to place an order for flowers for the sanctuary for Easter weekend. Choose from lilies, azaleas, hydrangeas or mums. The flowers may be picked up and taken home after the 11:15 a.m. worship service on Easter morning.

Easter Food Baskets - April 4

We will be donating Easter Food Baskets on Saturday, April 4 to 275 families served by our sister congregation, Messiah Lutheran Church, located in the Phillips neighborhood. $50 is a suggested amount; however a gift of any size is greatly appreciated. Use the pew envelopes and note Easter Baskets on both the envelope and the memo line of your check. You may also make a gift through on-line giving.

Another opportunity to help is to pack and distribute these food baskets, and clean-up afterward at Messiah from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 4.

Germany 2016 Trip Planning Meeting - April 22

You are invited to an informational meeting on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Center. The meeting will provide initial planning information about an exciting trip scheduled for the last part of May 2016. In anticipation of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, we will travel to Germany for an unforgettable tour through the land of Luther, Bach and Beethoven. Learn more on our website and sign up online to attend.

Mother-Daughter Weekend Retreat - May 8-10

Join us Mother's Day weekend, May 8-10, for a an amazing retreat supporting the relationship between mothers and daughters. Crafts, amazing food, time to connect with God and the fellowship of other mothers and daughters make this an experience you will remember for a long time. Sponsored by The Soul Sisterhood, this weekend retreat begins Friday night at 7 p.m. with a pot-luck style appetizer and dessert buffet, and wraps up Sunday morning after breakfast and worship. The weekend is all-inclusive: food, supplies, goodies and lodging at our beautiful home-away-from-home, South Fork Farm. You provide your own transportation and something to share for our pot-luck Friday night, and we'll take care of the rest. A sample schedule and more information about the retreat can be found at TheSoulSisterhood.com. Register online.

Summer of Re-Creation 2015

There's so much going on this summer at St. Philip the Deacon, we've produced a special booklet about the many opportunities for learning, service, worship and fellowship. To learn about these events and programs, pick up the Summer of Re-Creation booklet at church, or visit our website for all the information and a PDF to download. You can register online for many of these events.

SPD Outdoors Summer Fishing Retreat - June 11-14

Register now to reserve your spot at this summer's SPD Outdoors fishing retreat on beautiful Leech Lake. From July 11-14, our group will be based at the Hiawatha Beach Resort on the quiet north shore of Steamboat Bay. Everyone is invited, whether you are an experienced angler or a beginner. To learn more contact Roger Elias at rwelias@comcast.net.

In This Issue

This Weekend

Faith & Life Lecture

Messiah Food Pantry

Church Assessment Tool

Lenten Soup Suppers

Children's Ministry in March

Holy Week Worship Assistants

Easter Garden Flowers

Easter Food Baskets

Article Headline

Mother-Daughter Retreat

Summer of Re-Creation

Summer Fishing Retreat

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

For his steadfast love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble

And gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction;

They loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;

He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

For Reflection

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

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

Faithful Parenting

"My parents yelled, and I turned out fine..."

Parents are not naturally the powerful influence in their kids lives they were just a generation ago. So these days, when parents yell, their kids can quickly escape to a whole new world of other influences.