Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

April 8, 2015

Easter Flowers - If you sponsored flowers for our Easter Garden, please plan to pick them up in the Atrium by 5 p.m. tomorrow evening, Thursday, April 9.

The Minnesota Boychoir will be leading music in worship on Sunday, April 12 at the 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. services.

The Texts this Weekend

This weekend is the Second Sunday of Easter. Readings include Acts 4:32-35, and John 20:19-31:

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.'

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'

Phil's Guys Indoor Golf Outing - April 11

Phil's Guys invites guys of all ages to enjoy an early season indoor golf outing at Inside Edge Golf in Eden Prairie on Saturday, April 11 from 8:30-11 a.m. Regardless of skill level, join fellow members in this fun event and build relationships. Phil's Guys represent a variety of backgrounds, but are connected by what they have in common: A focus on family, love for Christ and desire to make a difference. The cost is about $30 per person for a foursome. Please RSVP as space is limited: Mike Sabin, 612-840-9632.

Minnesota Boychoir in Worship - April 12

The Minnesota Boychoir will be leading music in worship on Sunday, April 12 at the 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. services. Now in its 53rd season, the Minnesota Boychoir is the oldest continually operating boys choir in the Twin Cities. They have performed widely across the country and received international acclaim for their inspiring performances. The Director of the group is Mark Johnson.

Special Easter Offering

If you would like to make a special Easter offering, you will find a designated offering envelope in the pews, now and through the Easter season. If you prefer to make an online Easter gift, there is now a special "Easter Offering" category on our online giving form. This option will appear on the form through May 23.

CPR Class, AED Training - April 14

The Plymouth Rotary Club is offering four free Bystander CPR/AED training sessions at the Plymouth Creek Center Fieldhouse. One hour sessions will be conducted on Tuesday, April 14, at Noon, 2, 4 and 7 p.m. The training is free and open to parents, students (7th grade+), youth coaches, area businesses, churches. All are encouraged to attend. To take advantage of this great opportunity, register at the Plymouth Rotary website.

Storytime - April 15

Bring your little ones to Lilly Pad Storytime on Wednesday, April 15 at 10 a.m. A special guest will read a special story to the children in the Lilly Pad Library, on the lower level.

Storytime is held on the third Wednesday of each month. Our time together includes reading with the children, faith-based books, children's books by Minnesota authors, puppets, Veggie Tales, and time to check out books with a parent. No registration is required.

Sr. High Summer Trips - Register by April 20

Two great summer trips are in the works for Sr. High youth: Camping in the Rocky Mountains, and an RV Road Trip to Detroit. To get in on the fun, be sure to register online by April 20. Contact Jeremy Lahaie at jlahaie@spdlc.org or 763-475-7118 for more information.

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 twelve days in 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 this meeting.

Faith & Life: Immacul�e Ilibagiza - April 23

Immacul�e Ilibagiza is a survivor of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which claimed nearly one million Rwandans, including her family. Her book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, quickly became a New York Times Best Seller, and has been translated into 17 languages. Today, Immacul�e is regarded as one of world's leading speakers on faith, hope and forgiveness. Join us Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. for her moving presentation, "Faith & Forgiveness: Surviving the Genocide in Rwanda."

Boars and Baseball - April 26

Phil's Guys, a men's ministry of SPD, will be hosting a family gathering, Boars and Baseball, on Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. Come and enjoy the fun, faith, fellowship, baseball (Twins vs. Mariner on the big screens) and food (smoked ribs courtesy of Pastor Mark and Erik Jacobson). The cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for students. Please register online or at the Hospitality Desk by April 23.

Anne Denny Presentation - April 28

The St. Philip the Deacon Foundation is pleased to host an evening with Anne Denny at St. Philip the Deacon on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. Anne is a well-known speaker and consultant on issues of healthcare and end-of-life planning. Anne's talk is titled "Living with Intention, Dying with Peace." She will explore ways we can live more fully and faithfully through intentional goal-setting. She will also provide concrete, practical advice about how to have fruitful conversations about end-of-life wishes with loved ones. No registration is necessary for this event, and there is no cost to attend. Invite your spouse or your children, neighbor, friend or parents to join you for this important conversation.

Bible Read-Along Gathering Two - April 29

Participants in the 2015 Bible Read-Along will gather for our second conversation on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Center. We will check in with one another on how we are doing; share best practices and insights; ask questions; and conclude with a look at what lies ahead.

Yoga Devotion - Saturdays through May

Take time to stretch and pray! Yoga Devotion is a Christian-based yoga class that gives you time to focus on peace as well as health. Join us Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. through the end of May.

SPD Outdoors Summer Fishing Retreat - June 11-14

Join us June 11-14, for the SPD Outdoors Summer Fishing Retreat at the Hiawatha Beach Resort on the quiet north shore of Steamboat Bay. This experience is open to everyone, whether you are an experienced angler or a beginner.

To learn more contact Roger Elias at rwelias@comcast.net. There are only a few spots left, so register online now!

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.

In This Issue

This Weekend

Phil's Guys Golf

Minnesota Boychoir

Special Easter Offering

CPR Training

Storytime

Sr. High Summer Trips

Germany Trip Info Mtg

Faith & Life Lecture

Boars and Baseball

Anne Denny Event

Bible Read-Along Gathering

Yoga Devotion

Summer Fishing Retreat

Summer of Re-Creation

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,

On the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.

For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life for evermore.

Psalm 133

For Reflection

"As organs in the body of Christ we are assured of our eternal self-identity, and shall live to remember the galaxies as an old tale."

- CS Lewis

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

Faithful Parenting

The Most Important Tool for Building Wisdom

Notice the number of times you tell rather than ask. Pay attention to the number of times you tell your kids something they probably already know. Then, think about what question you could ask instead. Rather than saying, "Okay kids, it's time to get ready for bed." Say, "Hey kids, what do we do at 8:30? You're right, you get ready for bed. What do you want/need to do first?"