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Here is an update of what is happening at
House of Prayer this week!
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Worship This Sunday
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John" (Luke 1:57-60).
On this second Sunday of Advent we will continue the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. We left off last week hearing the angel Gabriel telling Zechariah, while he was in the sanctuary, that his prayer had been heard and his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son and he would be named John. The angel went on to describe the joy and gladness they would have, how many would rejoice at his birth, and the kind of man John would become. Then Zechariah asked Gabriel how he would know this to be so, since he was an old man and his wife was getting on in years. But, Gabriel, who seemed to take offence for Zechariah's disbelieve, muted Zechariah and he was unable to speak until the birth of their son. Join us this week to hear the rest of the story when Zechariah finally becomes unmuted and sings a prophetic song and blessing for his newborn son.
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Northern Winds Holiday Concert
This Sunday
Sunday, December 9th - 4:00pm
Woodlake Lutheran Church, 7525 Oliver Ave S., Richfield
Northern Winds Concert Band is celebrating our 40th Anniversary. We are made up of 50 musicians ranging in age from the 9th grade to 90 years of age. Our concert calendar consists of nearly 20 concerts throughout the Twin Cities area. Please join us for a Holiday Concert featuring Christmas songs as well as a sing along and the story of the "Nutcracker Suite." It'll be an afternoon of Christmas music that will truly enhance your overall holiday experience. Please visit our website at: www.northernwindsconcertband.org
For more information, please contact Joe Speakman - 612-414-4426 or [email protected].
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Christmas Worship Services
Join us for worship on Christmas Eve - December 24:
2:00pm - ReFuel Christmas, Parish Hall
4:00pm - Christmas Eve in the Sanctuary
There will be not be a worship service at House of Prayer on Christmas Day. Oak Grove Lutheran Church invites you to join them for Christmas Day worship at 10am ( 7045 Lyndale Ave S, Richfield).
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Pick Up Your Offering Envelopes
2019 contribution envelopes are in the Narthex for you to pick -up. If you need envelopes assigned to you, please contact Jo at
[email protected] or (612) 866-7110.
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Simple Supper Next Week
Menu for Wed, Dec. 12th: Scalloped potatoes and ham, cauliflower/bacon salad, green beans, and lemon fluff cream cheese dessert. Come join us at 5:30pm in Fellowship Hall!
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Children & Youth This Week
The Sunday School children will continue preparing for this year's Christmas Program on Sunday mornings. Next week the youth group will participate in the last night of Intergenerational Advent. We'll explore the story of the wise magi following the star to find Jesus and offer their gifts. We'll also take time to share our own gift stories and play a special Christmas version of the game Encore. Joining us this week will be some guests from the local LSS homes!
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Intergenerational Advent &
LSS Group Homes
The residents from Mi Casa and My House are coming to HOP on Wednesday December 12th. Carol, Alicia, and Tammy from Mi Casa and Lorna, David, Chris, and Jamie from My House. They will have simple suppers with us at 5:30 and then join in for the Intergenerational Advent lessons and activities at 6:30. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet these neighbors. HOP is working with these homes to help provide additional support for these residents. It will be a wonderful evening. For questions, contact Jean Robbins at
[email protected].
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Festival of Carols
Sunday December 16 is also the annual Festival of Carols service. It will be slightly different this year as it will be held at 9:30am, essentially serving as the 9:30 service that morning. It will feature the spectacular pageantry and reverent "awe" as the afternoon version of past years. HOP members who have not been able to attend in the afternoon in past years, have a chance to take in what is truly a grand and very worshipful tradition in celebrating the coming, birth and life of our Lord and Savior .
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Children's Christmas Program
The Sunday School children will present their Christmas Program on Sunday, December 16th during the 11:00 worship service. Mindy Mennicke will once again lead them in song as they remind us of the love, joy, peace, and hope that Christ brings to us. Please contact Mindy at
[email protected] if you have questions about rehearsals, prep, etc.
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Save the Dates for Summer 2019
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New Trash/Recycling Cans
Have you noticed the shiny new trash and recycling cans in the Narthex? The Creation Care Team selected them to help members and visitors become even more conscientious about ways to protect our environment. Coming soon-- organic recycling containers and information on "what goes where."
(P.S. Until then, used paper coffee cups go in the trash!)
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Book Discussion Group
We will meet on Thursday, Dec 6th at 7:00pm, we will talk about the book by Jonas Jonasson, "The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared."
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Christmas in the HOP Library
Stop in our library soon and borrow a few Christmas books for this special season. We have so many to choose from for all ages!
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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].
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Tent City Ministry
In collaboration with Southview Seventh Day Adventist Church (that worships here on Saturdays) and at the request and in cooperation with the Minneapolis Police Chaplaincy we are collecting over the next 2 weeks, disposable hand warmers, bottled water and granola bars to be distributed on December 19th to the people living at the tent city at the intersection of Hiawatha Ave and Franklin Ave in Minneapolis. A collection box for these items will be placed in the Narthex.
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Watch Christmas in Christ Chapel
The recorded broadcast of Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College is available to watch on YouTube -
Click Here to view.
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VEAP Donations for Nov & Dec
We will be collecting baking items for VEAP through November and December. Please put donations in the VEAP bin in the Narthex.
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House of Prayer Lutheran Church of Richfield, MN
ELCA | (61
2) 866-8471
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