Reach Out. Proclaim. Inspire.

April 13, 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.

IOCP Food Shelf, TONIGHT! April 13
Messiah Food Pantry, April 23 and May 13
Sharing and Caring Hands, May 7

The Texts this Weekend

This weekend is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The readings include Acts 9:36-43 and John 10:22-30:

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Boars and Baseball - Sign-up TODAY!

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. Pre-registration closes today. Please sign up online today to help us plan enough food. 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.

First Communion Workshop - April 16

Students in grades 2-5 who do not currently receive Holy Communion are invited to attend a First Communion Workshop on Saturday, April 16 from 9-11 a.m. to learn all about this life-giving sacrament which is so central to their faith. The workshop is designed for parents to attend with their child. Participants will then receive their First Communion in worship on Saturday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. Sign up online today!

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!

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.

Spirit Beads - April 26

In this Spirit Bead workshop we will make a Sound Wave bead, which mimics the sound wave of your own voice saying a favorite Bible verse or prayer phrase. We record and print out your sound wave and you use colorful vinyl discs of varying sizes to recreate the wave. The resulting bead is about an inch and a half long, and can be used as the feature in a bracelet or necklace, or as a zipper pull. Register online for either the 3 p.m. or the 6:30 p.m. workshop on Tuesday, April 26.

New Member Workshops - April 30 and May 22

We have two more New Member Workshops coming up this spring. If you are interested in becoming an member of St. Philip the Deacon, or know someone who is interested, you can contact Pastor Tim Westermeyer at 763-475-7136 or twestermeyer@spdlc.org. The upcoming workshops are:

Saturday, April 30 at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, May 22 at 9:45 a.m.

New members who attend either of these workshops will be received on Sunday, June 12 at the 9:45 a.m. worship service.

The Haiti Kids Project - Black School Shoes!

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.

We have 452 specific children on our shopping list! 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; and we especially need kids sizes 9-3 (ages 4-9 years)
They must be sturdy, as the children may walk miles in these shoes.
Another option is to provide financial support, and others will shop for the remaining needed shoe sizes.

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

Chair Yoga Class

Are you interested in attending Chair Yoga at St. Philip the Deacon? Chair yoga is a great practice for everyone, as it deepens flexibility and strengthens personal body awareness. After the positive response from our chair yoga session at The Conversation in March we're looking into the possibility of having a weekly Chair Yoga class here at SPD Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. with Instructor Denise Schaff. The cost will be $3 a week. If you are eligible for the Silver Sneakers Program, your costs would be fully covered. Please contact Parish Nurse Susan Path at spath@spdlc.org or 763-475-7168 if you are interested in attending chair yoga classes starting in May.

The State of Health Care - May 5

The St. Philip the Deacon Foundation invites you to a timely and engaging talk by Dr. Kevin Croston, CEO of North Memorial Health Care, on Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. In his talk, Dr. Croston will discuss the intent of the affordable care act and its impact on our current health care, draw comparisons to the health care systems in other countries, and explore the effects of the ACA on the provider/payer relationship. This event is free and open to the public, so invite your friends to come with you for this thoughtful presentation from a respected leader in the health care field. Learn more at spdlc.org/croston.

The 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 to support programs that help 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.

Hospitality for the Choir

While the choir is with us, we will be providing hospitality for them, including hosting them overnight. Can you provide housing for 1 adult and 2 children following the concert on Friday, May 6? You would need to provide a bed for the adult, and the children are able to share a bed or sleep on the floor with bedding. Hosts are also asked to provide breakfast for their guests on Saturday morning, May 7, before bringing them back to the church to catch their bus. If you would like to host, please contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org or 763-475-7115.

Other ways you can provide hospitality for the choir:

Provide 2 dozen bars/cookies for the reception following the concert on Friday, May 6.
Serve dinner at the church for the choir on Friday, May 6 from 4:15-6:15 p.m. Arrangements have been made for the food.
Reception, help with either the set-up prior to the concert, or serving/clean-up following the concert.
Provide bag lunches for the choir, to be delivered to church on Saturday, May 7 by 10 a.m.

Baptism Workshop - June 12

Our next baptism workshop will be Sunday, June 12 at 10:45 a.m. The workshop is designed for families who are having a child baptized at St. Philip the Deacon for the first time. Please contact Liz Nelson at lnelson@spdlc.org to sign up.

Summer Fishing Retreat - June 25-28

A wonderful way to set aside some quality outdoor time with your family or buddies this summer! Join the 2nd annual SPD Outdoors Summer Fishing Retreat, June 25-28. We'll be fishing on beautiful Leech Lake and enjoying the accommodations at Brindley's Harbor Resort. Learn more and register online by May 27.

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

In This Issue

Boars and Baseball

1st Communion Workshop

Book Club

Faith & Life: Caroline Leaf

April Concerts

Spirit Beads Workshop

New Member Workshops

Haiti Kids Project

Chair Yoga Class

The State of Health Care

The Watoto Choir

Baptism Workshop

Summer Fishing Retreat

Summer Events

Faithful Parenting

Parish Nurse Health Tip

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;

for you are with me; your rod and your staff -- they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

- Psalm 23

For Reflection

"God takes everyone he loves through a desert. It is his cure for our wandering hearts, restlessly searching for a new Eden... The best gift of the desert is God's presence... The protective love of the Shepherd gives me courage to face the interior journey."
- Paul E. Miller

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

Faithful Parenting

Is Your Discipline Too Tough, Too Soft, or Just Right?

As we seek to discipline our children, there is a wide range of typical methods. At the extremes, some discipline harshly while others barely discipline at all. It's finding that sweet "just right" spot that's the real trick.