Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

March 18, 2015

Your Response Matters! Please complete your Church Assessment Tool, available online. The target for completion has been extended through April 1.

This Weekend

This weekend is the Fifth Sunday in Lent. Readings include Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33:

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

'Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-"Father, save me from this hour"? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.' Then a voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.' The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, 'An angel has spoken to him.' Jesus answered, 'This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.' He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Church Assessment Tool - Now through April 1

Your Response Matters!

Available through April 1

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.

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 18 and 25.

Children's Ministry - March Events

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

Enjoy sharing Bible Stories with your child! 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.

The next Jesus Crew event is today, 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. Students in grades K-5 are invited to come and watch a movie on the big screen and enjoy some pizza. Cost is $5 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 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.

Redeemer Pancake Breakfast - March 28

The youth of our partner congregation in northeast Minneapolis, Redeemer Lutheran, are busily preparing to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit this coming summer. They will join 30,000 Lutheran youth in worship, recreation, and service in this life-changing event. As part of their fundraising preparations, they are offering you an opportunity to join them for a delicious pancake breakfast on Saturday, March 28 between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. Through this partnership, Redeemer's youth get a glimpse of our wider Church and the faithful support that we provide each other.

Register online at redeemermpls.ticketleap.com/rlcdetroit2015. Questions? Contact angela@redeemermpls.org or call 612-374-4139.

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

Church Assessment Tool

Lenten Soup Suppers

Children's Ministry in March

Holy Week Worship Assistants

Easter Garden Flowers

Redeemer Pancake Breakfast

Easter Food Baskets

Germany Trip Info Mtg

Mother-Daughter Retreat

Summer of Re-Creation

Summer Fishing Retreat

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;

According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight,

So that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement.

Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:1-12

For Reflection

"It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you."

- Timothy Keller

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

Faithful Parenting

How can I be loving and supportive when I think my spouse is wrong?

Have a conversation in which you each express your best hopes for the kind of parents you want to be. Affirm those desires you each have for wanting what's best for your kids and each other. Tell each other a couple of things you'd like to do better.