 |
Here is an update of what is happening at
House of Prayer this week!
|
Worship This Sunday
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6
What is the cost of being generous? This is as much a spiritual question as it is a financial one. Being generous with one's finances requires saying "no" to some things we want. Over time acts of generosity form our character in powerful ways. A mentality of abundance-realizing God's generosity has no limits-frees us from anxiety and creates contentment. What then is the cost of being stingy? What kind of person do we become when we hold everything we have tightly and seek to control it? Our life is filled with never having enough and always needing more. This too forms our character. Join us Sunday as we consider God's generosity towards us and the opportunities we have to choose scarcity or abundance.
|
|
Pledge Sunday - April 7
Each year we ask members of House of Prayer to make a financial commitment that allows our mission and ministry work to continue to thrive and grow. If you haven't already, you should receive a letter and pledge card in the mail. We encourage you to take time to prayerfully consider your financial commitment to HOP for the coming year. Next Sunday, April 7, you will have the opportunity to bring your commitment card forward during the offering as an act of worship. If you are unable to attend worship, please mail or bring your card to the church office. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to HOP!
|
|
Thrivent Choice Dollars -3/31 Deadline
If you are a member of Thrivent Choice, the deadline to direct your Choice Dollars is March 31 (this Sunday). Please consider directing your Dollars to House of Prayer.
Click Here for more details.
|
|
Two Churches, One Building
For the past year, Southview Seventh Day Adventist congregation has been worshiping on Saturdays at House of Prayer. It has been such a great arrangement that leaders from both congregations have been meeting together to discuss a potential long term partnership. We are working through possible ways this partnership could work. We ask for your prayers in this time of exploration and discernment. We will keep all updated as our conversations progress. Feel free to contact Pastor Sean Lee (
[email protected]
)
or Pastor Ben Sandin (
[email protected]
) with questions.
|
|
Simple Crock Pot Meals-April 3
Come at 5:30pm for simple crockpot meals provided by YOU! DuAnn will add tuna melts, mac and cheese, broccoli salad, and cherry and lemon cheesecakes! Join us in Fellowship Hall at 5:30!
|
|
Children & Youth This Week
The Sunday School children begin a new unit this week reading the story of the Last Supper. Next week many of the youth will meet with their mentors for a service project before the Youth Group activity of kickball (weather permitting).
|
Shareholder Thank You
Our youth sold over $2,500 in shares this past month - THANK YOU to everyone who contributed! Shares help cover the costs of the high school mission trip to Chicago and for summer camp at Luther Park. All shareholders will soon begin to receive email updates from Ben Whalen as we prepare for these summer events. Please let him know asap if you invested but do not get an email OR if you still intend to purchase a share.
|
High School Retreat
All 9th-12th graders are invited to join us for a weekend at Luther Park in Danbury, WI. The original retreat in February was postponed to May 10-12 with a sign-up deadline of April 24th. Please reach out to Ben Whalen for more information or to sign up!
|
|
Many Hands Many Meals Food Pack
On May 1st, House of Prayer will host its 6th annual packing event with Many Hands Many Meals. The meals we packed last year were sent to Sierra Leone. This year's meals will be sent to Malawi in Africa. The event will start in the Parish Hall at 5:30 with supper, then move down to the Fellowship Hall at 6:15 to pack from 6:30 to 8:00. Collection of donations and volunteer sign up will begin on April 7. Don't miss this chance to have fun and make a difference to those in need.
|
HOP Foundation Funding Requests Due April 8th
Just a quick reminder that the HOP Foundation meets Monday, April 8th at 7:15 pm. Any funding requests should be sent to [email protected] ASAP. Complete this Funding Request Form or pick one up in the Church Office.
Thanks, Scott Wright-HOP Foundation Treasurer
|
|
Ordination & Installation Invitation
It is a great joy and blessing to be called to House of Prayer as Associate Pastor and I would be honored for your attendance at my ordination and installation on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 5:00 p.m., at House of Prayer. There will be a "drop in" choir rehearsal on the day of the service at 3:30 p.m., for all who love to sing. All rostered ministers and seminarians are joyfully welcomed to vest and process. We will line up at 4:50 p.m. The color of the day is red. Following the service, there will be an appetizer reception. Hope you can join the celebration!
|
|
Community Wellness Expo
Saturday, April 13th from 9am-noon is the annual Wellness Expo at Richfield High School! This event features a lot of local organizations, youth activities, businesses, and more all working to make sure Richfield stays healthy. There is a huge variety of interactive activities, presentations, resources, a fun run, and more. Many families and neighbors come each year to participate. If you would like to volunteer or just attend, reach out to Ben Whalen for more info ([email protected] or 612-500-9523).
|
Meet Our Legislators With ISAIAH
House of Prayer is partnering with Dar al Farooq Islamic Center to host an In-District Meeting on Saturday, April 13th with our state legislators: Michael Howard, Melissa Halvorson Wiklund, and Andrew Carlson. Our two congregations will gather at 11:00am at Dar al Farooq (8201 Park Ave S, Bloomington) to talk about our faith values and how they call us to create a caring economy, increase affordable housing, end Islamophobia, and work for climate justice. All House of Prayer members are invited, even if you live in a different district than church. If you have questions or would like to join us, please contact Kim Houle (612-558-0634).
|
State of the Richfield Community Event
Join our neighbors from all over town on Thursday, April 11th from 5:30-7:00pm at Richfield Middle School for this exciting chance to hear from our community's leaders about where we're at now and where we can aspire to go next! This free event includes refreshments, entertainment, and speakers including Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez, Superintendent Steve Unowsky, Richfield Foundation President Scott Hvizdos and Chamber of Commerce President Anne Schultz. If you'd like to attend with other House of Prayer members, please talk to Ben Whalen (
[email protected] or 612-500-9523).
|
Card Ministry Cards on Sunday
The Card Ministry Team will be selling cards on Sunday, March 31, between services today in the Narthex. Stop by and browse their selection!
|
Book of Job Study-Last Session
Pastoral Intern Deanna Basset will finish the Book of Job Bible Study on Wednesday, April 3, at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall as the last session was cancelled due to weather.
|
HOP Fellowship Event
All brothers and sisters are invited on Thursday, April 11 at 9:00am in Fellowship Hall for fellowship, speaker and refreshments. Our speaker is Deanna Bassett, Pastoral Intern, Collaboration of Richfield Churches. She is an Asian-American born in Sacramento and raised Japanese Buddhist. She was baptized into Christianity in her early 30s. Come and hear about her background, her calling to ordained ministry, and how the Collaboration helps define her ideas. She will speak to her life and how it informs her ideas for ministry in the ELCA. Contact Noel Sagness (612-866-0833) for more information.
|
|
Collaboration Churches Fund Clean Water Update
Because of generous donations our three churches have already raised $6,588 for ELCA World Hunger's clean water initiatives! This means we've already funded construction of two "spring boxes" - but now we'd like to aim for $7,500 to fund three of them. Special offering envelopes are available at the office. Checks can be made out to House of Prayer with "ELCA World Hunger" in the memo line. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
|
|
Collaboration Samaritan's Feet Volunteer Opportunity
Because of the partnership with the NCAA and Final Four Tournament with Samaritan's Feet & Thrivent, they will be providing 1,200 kids new shoes at four shoe distributions in Minneapolis schools and organizations. For more information about Samaritans Feet see link/video https://www.samaritansfeet.org/about-us/. Woodlake Lutheran Church is organizing volunteers to go to Lucy Laney Elementary on Thursday, April 11th from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. To register on line go to https://www.samaritansfeet.org/lucylaney/ or call Carol Olson from Woodlake Lutheran Church 612-281-7137 or Cheryl Buranen 612-670-1016 for questions.
|
|
Collaboration Men's Softball
Enjoy softball and looking for a "joy of the game" experience rather than competitive success? Consider playing with the Woodgrove Saints, a composite team made up of members of Richfield churches and their friends. Games are on Thursday evenings at Dred Scott fields in SW Bloomington starting in April. Contact team manager Scott Dahlquist for further information at [email protected] or at (612) 919-9232. Men (18+) of any ability are welcome.
|
|
Collaboration Racial Justice Conversation
Have you been concerned about what you see in the news, read in the papers or hear about in your community? Are you seeking ways to engage others in difficult but important conversations such as the topic of white privilege and/or racial inequality? Questions? Contact Jan Philibert at 612-401-7492. Join us the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in the Library at Oak Grove Lutheran Church.
|
|
Luther Park Spaghetti Dinner Celebrates 60 Years
Join Luther Park friends to celebrate 60 years of camping ministry at a candlelight spaghetti dinner served tableside by our Spaghetti Scout campers and support Luther Park. In partnership with Richfield Lutheran Church youth ministries, enjoy good food, music from the 60's, a raffle and trivia for fun and prizes. Come dressed to win "best 60's costume." There will be raffle games, a trivia contest, a few camp songs, a Luther Park update, and heartwarming stories of how Luther Park Bible Camp has changed people's lives. Please come on Saturday, April 6, 5:00-7:30pm to Richfield Lutheran Church, 8 W 60th St, Minneapolis. Tickets: $20/adults, $5.00/students. Call 612-861-2265 x3 for reservations. See you there!
|
VEAP Donation March
We have been asked by VEAP to bring canned fruit for March. Please bring your canned fruit donations and place them in the collection bin in the Narthex. Thanks in advance for your continued generosity and support to VEAP!
|
Gustavus Wind Orchestra Tour
|
|
Let's Visit!
Would you like a visitor from one of our pastoral staff members? While we often hear of needs within the congregation, sometimes we are unaware of the needs within our family of faith. Pastor Ben or Minister Kelly would be happy to visit any of our members or friends who would like a pastoral visit. These visits could be health related but could be for any reason. Contact the church office via telephone 612-866-8471 or Pastor Ben via email
[email protected].
|
|
House of Prayer Lutheran Church of Richfield, MN
ELCA | (61
2) 866-8471
|
|
|
|
|
|
