Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.Feb. 3, 2016
Opportunities to Serve

We have great opportunities to serve! You can make a difference in the community and in the city. Learn more. Contact Cindy Carlson.
  • Young people involved in scouting are welcome to usher and help with the Souper Bowl of Caring this weekend, Feb. 6-8. ontact Cindy Carlson for info.
  • Pancake flippers and other kitchen hands for the pancake supper, Feb. 9
  • Worship assistants for Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10
  • IOCP Food Pantry, Feb. 10
  • Messiah Food Pantry, Feb. 12
  • Lenten soup suppers, Wednesdays during Lent
The Texts this Weekend
 
This weekend is Transfiguration Sunday. The readings include Psalm 99 and Luke 9:28-43a.

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
Souper Bowl of Caring - Feb. 6-8

Since it began in 1990, the Souper Bowl of Caring, held on Super Bowl weekend, has generated more than $100 million for food banks. SPD has been involved for the last 15 years, with our donations helping the Kasambala Medical Center in Malawi, Africa feed AIDS orphans.

Donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring will be collected in the narthex in the soup kettles the weekend of Feb. 6-8. This is also a great weekend to bring a can of soup for Messiah Food Shelf.
Installation of Staff - Feb. 6-8

We have been pleased to welcome three new people recently to the St. Philip the Deacon staff. Clay Thomas joined the staff in July of 2015 as the new Director of Middle School Ministry. Our new Parish Nurse, Susan Path, joined the staff in September. In December we welcomed Justin Daleiden as the new Director of High School Ministry. These three staff members will be installed at worship services this weekend. Please keep Clay, Susan and Justin in your prayers.
Annual Meeting - Feb. 7

All members of St. Philip the Deacon are invited to attend the annual meeting of the congregation, Sunday, Feb. 7 following the 11 a.m. worship service, approximately noon.

Copies of the Annual Report are available in the Atrium. If you have questions about the meeting or the annual report, please contact Pastor Tim Westermeyer, 763-475-7136.
Baby's Space: Faith Creek Mission for February

During the month of February, Early Childhood and Children's Ministries are collecting "Gifts of Love" for Baby's Space, a childcare center in the Little Earth neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Your donations will provide clean, filtered, bottled water for Baby's Space throughout 2016. Bottled water is used in infant formula, and promotes a healthy alternative to sugared beverages.

Your Faith Creek student's offering envelopes during February will go toward this mission. You can also put donations in the water bottle display in the lower level lobby, or make a donation online at spdlc.org/giving. Thank you!
Freedom of a Christian - Feb. 8

Perhaps no other work so captures the revolutionary zeal and theological boldness of Martin Luther, the great reformer, as his book, The Freedom of a Christian. Here Luther defends the key doctrine of justification by faith. This special new translation by Dr. Mark Tranvik includes notes, an introduction, headings, a glossary and a bibliography. The next class will be Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Learning Center for a walk through this important work.
Pancake Supper and Movie Night - Feb. 9

We'll be holding an all-church Pancake Supper and Movie Night on Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 4-7 p.m. In addition, several times during the day we will be showing the Pixar movie, Inside Out, at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30, and at 7 p.m. for high school students. The movie will help to give shape to our upcoming midweek Lenten worship, From the Inside Out: A Look at the Bible's Emotions.
Ash Wednesday Worship - Feb. 10

Join us for worship on Ash Wednesday, a time of contemplation and grace. Worship services will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at noon, 5:30 and 7 p.m. and will include the Imposition of Ashes.


Lenten Devotionals

Our 2016 Lenten Devotionals, Bearing Fruit, have arrived.

You can pick yours up at the upper level hospitality desk in the Atrium.
Magical Mia at Faith Creek - Feb. 14

On the Sunday of President's Day weekend, Feb. 14, Faith Creek students will enjoy a special show by Magical Mia, award-winning magician with a Christian message, during Faith Creek at 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. Children who are enrolled in either the Saturday 5:30 p.m. or Sunday 11 a.m. Faith Creek are invited to attend at either the performance times.
Book Club - Feb. 16

Book Club meets monthly on the third Tuesday evening to discuss current books on various faith-related topics. This month Pastor Westermeyer will lead a discussion of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality For Real Life, by James Martin. Join us on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. for this fascinating discussion. Copies of The Jesuit Guide are available at the hospitality desk for $10.
High School Retreat - Feb. 19-21

High School students are taking a weekend to head to Camp Wapo near Amery, Wisconsin, Feb. 19-21, for renewal and refreshment. This weekend will be a great time for high school students to take time away from their regular schedule, spend it with friends, and with God. Register today!
Summer Preview Expo - Feb. 27-28

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28, during coffee hours following worship, program staff will be in Fellowship Hall with fun displays to tell you all about what we have planned for this summer. You can learn about Vacation Bible School, special retreats, Bike Club, service projects and more. There is so much happening at St. Philip the Deacon over the summer that we're producing a special brochure to tell you all about it. You won't want to miss this fun event!
National Lutheran Choir Concert - Feb. 28

St. Philip the Deacon will host a concert by the National Lutheran Choir on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m., Psalms & Spirituals. The choir will be joined by organist Aaron David Miller, harpist Rachel Brandwein, percussionist Will Kemperman and guest soloist, Grammy-nominated countertenor, Ryland Angel. Highlights of the program include Leonard Bernstein's hopeful and life-affirming Chichester Psalms, the premiere of a new work by David Cherwien, and spirituals by James Miller, Moses Hogan and André J. Thomas. Tickets may be purchased online on the NLC website.
High School Bowling Night - March 19

The High School bowling outing has been postponed to Saturday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. (It was originally scheduled for Feb. 6.) This popular annual event will include the coveted baby-doll trophy tournament and loads of pizza, fun and fellowship. Double check your calendar, and don't miss this awesome event!
Women's Retreat - April 8-10

For years, women have asked for the grown-up version of Soul Sisterhood. Ladies, here it is! Amanda Berger, director of Soul Sisterhood, will lead us through a weekend of exploration and creativity as we discover what it means to be rooted in God's presence. This year's women's retreat will take place Friday evening, April 8, through Sunday noon, April 10 at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, Minn. Through our devotional time, conversation, and mixed-media painting, we'll unearth more about who we are created to be and who God is in our lives. Mixed media is the perfect medium to explore the messiness of life through which God causes our lives to blossom. The time you spend creating your masterpiece will allow you to reflect on how God is nurturing you right now. Please contact Pastor Valerie for more information at vstrand@spdlc.org.
Save the Date for VBS - June 13-16

We know you're already planning for summer. Save the week of June 13-16 for Vacation Bible School! VBS is held in the morning. Registration will be available in early March. Get ready for an exciting VBS experience!
In This Issue
Souper Bowl of Caring
Installation of Staff
Annual Meeting
Baby's Space
Freedom of a Christian
Pancake Supper Movie Night
Ash Wednesday
Lenten Devotionals
Magical Mia
Book Club
High School Retreat
Summer Preview
National Lutheran Choir
High School Bowling
Women's Retreat
VBS Dates
Faithful Parenting
Parish Nurse Health Tip
 
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The Lord is king;

Let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.

Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!

Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity;

you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool.

Holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name.

They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.

He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.

O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.

- Psalm 99
For Reflection
 
"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less."
- C.S. Lewis
 
See more thoughts like this at fb.com/spdlc.
  
Faithful Parenting
 
The Surprising Power of No, Yes, and Why

As we look at these examples of St. Paul teaching wisdom with "no, yes, why," it reminds us to focus more on the positive than on the negative. This doesn't mean we don't set boundaries or give consequences -- Paul still says "don't do that" -- but we give our biggest energy to the yes and the why rather than the no.













Five Benefits of Kindness: Part 1
 
Kindness or Altruistic Behavior is Healthy and Healing Behavior
 
"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." - Luke 6:35
 
The ultimate model of kindness is Christ. Science also backs the benefits of being kind or paying it forward.
 
Kindness makes us happier. Being kind makes us feel good. Because it is the right thing to do, we feel good about who we are deep down inside.
 
Biochemically, dopamine is elevated in our system by natural endogenous opioids when we feel good, similar to morphine.  This is our reward circuitry.

When dopamine is triggered the brain gives us "Helpers high," a natural high. Harvard associate professor, Dr. Gregory L. Fricchione, M.D. says, "If altruistic (kindness) behavior plugs into the reward circuitry, it will have the potential to reduce the stress response. And if altruistic behavior continues to be rewarding, it will be reinforced."
 
Let's look at the Grinch in Dr. Seuss' book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch becomes alive when he begins to do good in the world and has kind emotions. He is using his whole neurology, endocrinology and immunology of generosity to remake himself. He becomes happy.

Next week Part 2 of Kindness!

Be kind. Be happy,


 

Susan Path 
Parish Nurse 
If you have questions about anything you've read here, or want to know more about St. Philip the Deacon and its ministries, please contact us at info@spdlc.org or 763-475-7100.