Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

March 30, 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.

Sharing & Caring Hands, April 2
Messiah Food Pantry, April 8 and 23
IOCP Food Shelf, April 13
Community Bridge luncheon, April 13

The Texts this Weekend

This weekend is the Second Sunday of Easter. The readings include Acts 5:27-32 and John 20:19-31:

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

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."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Children's Ministry Easter Garden

Be sure to stop by the lower level to visit the Children's Ministry Easter Garden. This wonderful garden of flowers represents new life, color and sound. The seven yellow chrysanthemums represent the seven last words of Christ. The ten red azaleas represent the Ten Commandments. The twelve purple mums represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve white lilies represent the twelve apostles. Enjoy!

Worship Renewal

The response to our 2016 Worship Renewal project has been wonderful, and we extend a warm "Thank you!" to everyone who has given a gift to help replace worn out hymnals, choir robes and paraments. The new hymnals are now in the pews!

We are still receiving gifts, and you can still dedicate a hymnal in honor or memory of someone special. Let us know your dedication and it will be printed on a special bookplate on the inside cover of a hymnal.

Funds raised during the Worship Renewal 2016 appeal will also allow us to upgrade some technology in the Sanctuary, allowing us to make worship services available through on-demand web streaming.

You can mail in your gift in the green Worship Renewal envelope, or bring it to church for the offering plate. You can also support this effort with a special online gift.

Learn more about Worship Renewal at St. Philip the Deacon.

Bedding Needed

A family of six that until recently was homeless has been able to secure stable housing. While they have been able to arrange for beds, there is a need for bedding. Donations of new or gently used items may be dropped off in Fellowship Hall by April 3. Each of the beds are in need of a mattress pad, sheets, blankets and pillows. Any pillows should be new. Current needs:

Queen size: mattress pad, sheet set
Full size: sheet sets
Twin size: mattress pad, blanket or comforter
Pillows: 5 new pillows

Plymouth Metrolink Park and Ride

On Tuesday, March 29, St. Philip the Deacon began receiving commuters as a Park and Ride location for Plymouth Metrolink.The partnership will allow us to steward a resource that goes largely unused during the week -- namely, our parking lot-and will allow us to partner with the community in reducing traffic by encouraging mass transit. Learn more.

Faith Creek Cinema - April 2,3, 9 and 10

Faith Creek offers Faith Creek Cinema on both ends of Wayzata Schools' spring break for all Faith Creek students and their friends. Faith Creek Cinema will be held on April 2-3 and April 9-10.

Baptism Workshop - April 3

A baptism workshop will be held this Sunday, April 3 at 10:45 a.m. It is oriented toward parents who are having a child baptized at St. Philip the Deacon for the first time. If you are interested in joining us, contact Liz Nelson at lnelson@spdlc.org.

DivorceCare for Women - April 5

We will have a short, six-week course of DivorceCare for women starting on Tuesday, April 5, from 6:30-8 p.m. The group will decide together the topics from the DivorceCare program, other issues, or guest speakers. All are welcome, whether you are new to DivorceCare or have attended a previous course. Facilitated by SPD member Heather Wright. Contact Pastor Strand Patterson if you would like to attend.

Men's Chorus - April 6, 9, 10

The SPD Men's Chorus will be singing for worship on Sunday, April 10 at the 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. services. There will be 2 rehearsals: Wednesday, April 6 from 7:00-7:45 p.m., and Saturday, April 9 from 10-11 a.m. We have a great time every year singing together, so come, sing and have a great time with the men of SPD! Contact Linda Armstrong at 763-475-7142 or larmstrong@spdlc.org.

Women's Retreat - April 8-10

Join us for our annual Women's Retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, Minn.

Register online by March 31 at spdlc.churchcenteronline.com.

Please contact Pastor Valerie for more information at vstrand@spdlc.org.

Community Bridge Catering Event - April 13

Community Bridge is a food service training program at Messiah Lutheran Church. The goal of the program is to help people gain food service skills to become more employable. SPD member and chef Connie Blanchard, has been serving as a mentor for this program.

Community Bridge was awarded the bid to prepare and serve the Lutheran Social Services Legacy Donors lunch on Wednesday, April 13 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They are asking for volunteers to help serve the lunch, thus increasing profits for Community Bridge, which will be used to provide additional training opportunities. Servers should plan to wear black pants with an all white or all black collared shirt. Contact Connie Blanchard at connie.blanchard@blanchardscatering.com.

Elementary Movie Night - April 15

Kids in grades K-5 are invited to St. Philip the Deacon to watch a movie on the big screen on Friday, April 15 at 6 p.m. Come in your pajamas with a pillow and blanket, if you like! Cost is $5 per person for pizza, drink and dessert. We will be watching the new Peanuts movie! Register online by April 12.

Spring Progressive Dinner - April 16

The Spring Progressive Dinner is on Saturday, April 16 beginning at 6 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet others in the congregation.

There are three courses. 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 can sign up to attend the dinner, serve as host, or provide an appetizer, salad, bread, main course or dessert.

Contact Cindy Carlson at 763-475-7115 or ccarlson@spdlc.org. The deadline to register is April 4.

Boars and Baseball - April 17

Before you know it, it'll be time to fire up the smoker! Come one come all to the 2nd Annual Boars and Baseball, hosted by the Men's Ministry of SPD. On Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m., you can enjoy fun, faith, fellowship, baseball (Twins vs. Angels on the big screens), kid's activities (bounce houses) and mouth-watering food (Smoked Ribs and Pulled Pork courtesy of Pastor Mark and Erik Jacobson).

The cost is $12 for adults ($15 at the door), and $7($10 at the door) for children 10 and under. Please register in advance online or stop by the Hospitality Desk. Registration closes April 13. Register online today! Everyone's invited!

Proceeds from the 2nd Annual Boars and Baseball and meat raffle will go towards supporting Habitat for Humanity and our summer Habitat Build.

Book Club - April 19

Anne Lamott is one of the most insightful Christian writers of our time. Her 2014 book, Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace, offers a message of hope that celebrates the triumph of light over the darkness in our lives. The Book Club invites you to read this book and join in an engaging discussion led by Pastor Cheryl Mathison on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Copies of this book are available at the information desk in the Atrium for $10.

Faith & Life - April 21

Dr. Caroline Leaf, a leading researcher of the Mind-Brain connection, will present the final Faith & Life lecture of the 2015-2016 series on Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. Her talk, "Faith & Neuroscience: Why Your Mind is Not Your Brain," will explore the Mind-Brain relationship in the context of a life of faith. This is sure to be a popular event, free and open to the public. Learn more at faith-and-life.org.

An April Weekend of Concerts!

St. Olaf Philharmonia
Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m.
The St. Olaf Philharmonia performs music from all periods, including repertoire for string orchestra, chamber orchestra and symphony orchestra. Virtually every academic major offered on the St. Olaf College campus is pursued by one or more students in this musical organization. The concert is free and open to the public.

Minnesota Symphonic Winds
Sunday, April 24 at 3 p.m.
The Minnesota Symphonic Winds (MSW) is an adult concert band serving the greater Twin Cities metro area. Join us for a program of musical storytelling that will feature some familiar favorites as well as some less frequently heard but engaging pieces. The concert is free and open to the public.

Thank You by Chocolate - April 23-24

The weekend of April 23-24 we will lift up the dedicated people who help to pass on our faith to the children of St. Philip the Deacon. In honor of our Faith Creek volunteers, we will be holding our special "Thank You by Chocolate" event. To all who volunteer in this special way, your talents are truly a gift to our faith community. Thank you!

The Haiti Kids Project

Children in Haiti are required to wear black dress shoes with their government-required uniforms to attend school. The dress code is strictly enforced. Besides being a school requirement the shoes also protect the children's feet from disease and injury. Our goal is to send 450 pairs of shoes to Haiti. We need:

New or gently used black dress shoes, not tennis shoes or sandals. Girls' shoes must be flats and closed toe.
All sizes, for ages 3-18, for both boys and girls.
They must be sturdy, as the children may walk miles in these shoes.

Please bring shoes to the collection table in Fellowship Hall. Your gift makes education -- and a future -- possible for a child in Haiti!

Sign Up for Summer Events!

Sign up online today for the many great events sponsored by St. Philip the Deacon this summer. There's so much to do, and there are activities for all age groups. Check out our summer brochure, found at the hospitality desk in the atrium. Invite your friends and register at
spdlc.churchcenteronline.com

Watoto Choir - May 6

We are excited to announce that St. Philip the Deacon will be hosting the reknowned Watoto Choir for a concert on Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The Watoto Choir is made up of 18 child missionaries and 10 adults who are touring the world to raise awareness and funds in support of their programs for children who have lost their families, or are vulnerable for other reasons. Through dance and song, they bear witness to what God is accomplishing in their mission, and they share the love and grace of God with all who hear them. The Watoto choir offers an amazing, powerful and faithful experience you will not soon forget! There are no ticket sales; the choir receives a free-will offering at the concert.

In This Issue

Children's Easter Garden

Worship Renewal 2016

Bedding Needed

Metrolink Park and Ride

Faith Creek Cinema

Baptism Workshop

DivorceCare for Women

Join the Men's Chorus

Women's Retreat

Community Bridge Event

Elementary Movie Night

Progressive Dinner

Boars and Baseball

Book Club

Faith & Life

April Concerts

Thank You by Chocolate

Haiti Kids Project

Summer Events

Watoto Choir

Faithful Parenting

Parish Nurse Health Tip

The Lord is my strength and my might;

he has become my salvation.

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:

'The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.'

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.

The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, and he has given us light.

Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

- Psalm 118:14-29

For Reflection

"Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will."
- Eric Metaxas

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

Faithful Parenting

It's Not Defiance -- It's Science!

It can be easy to get aggravated when your child gets into yet another mess. But if we expect kids to just stop when we say "stop," we're probably not going to get very far. Why? Because we're fighting their brains.