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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
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Luke 4:1-3
Our journey of Lent began on Ash Wednesday and continues this Sunday with the story of Jesus' temptation. His temptation, or time of testing, in the desert reminds us our times of difficulty can prepare us for God's work. Join us Sunday as we consider the tests in our lives and how they shape us for the work of ministry.
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Daylight Saving Time Starts Sunday
Turn your clock ahead one hour this Saturday night, March 9th! (Enjoy the picture below-wishful thinking!)
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HOP Winds Play This Sunday
The ensemble will present a variety of pieces emphasizing the contemplative themes of the Lenten season. Music on Sunday will include Elgar's Nimrod, Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) from the Faure Requiem and a Mozart concerto for horn and orchestra as played by Shari Sjostrand.
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Collaboration Churches Fund Clean Water
Throughout Lent (March 6 - April 21) the Collaboration Churches in Richfield will be raising money for ELCA World Hunger's clean water initiatives. Our goal is for our three churches to raise $5,000 before Easter - enough to support construction of two "spring boxes." These long-lasting and low-maintenance wells protect a natural spring from contaminants and turn it into a reliable source of clean water for families. We will have special offering envelopes available March 10th during worship but you can donate anytime during Lent. Simply make checks out to House of Prayer with "ELCA World Hunger" in the memo line. We'll keep a display outside the sanctuary showing our progress toward the goal. Thanks in advance for your generosity! If you'd like to learn more, please visit www.elca.org/worldhunger.
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Lenten Bible Study Starts Next Wednesday
During this season of Lent, it is a privilege to have Professor Kathryn Schifferdecker from Luther Seminary lead us in a three-week long Bible study on the "Psalms as Tools for Prayer." Please join us Wednesday, March 13 - March 27, 2019, from 6:30-7:30pm in Fellowship Hall. "The Psalms have been used in prayer and liturgy for thousands of years. They are prayers of the heart - honest prayers of joy, grief, anger, praise, and trust. Come study the Psalms through poetry, music, and art and learn how to pray with the saints through the ages." There is no cost for this study, however a Bible and a notebook are suggested. All are welcome!
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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.
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Take the Discipleship Challenge
Pastor Ben wrote The Discipleship Challenge several years ago as a way to help people form spiritual habits. The Discipleship Challenge takes place during Lent (Ash Wednesday is March 6) and offers a daily schedule for spiritual discipline that will strengthen your prayer life, broaden your biblical literacy, help you be more generous with your time and money, and deepen your relationship with God and close friends. Sign up on the attendance card or email Pastor Ben at [email protected] if you would like to attend. Copies of the book are available for sale in the church office on Sundays and during the week. The cost of the book is $10 and all proceeds will fund our Lenten mission project through Lutheran World Hunger.
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Simple Crock Pot Meals for Lent
Come at 5:30pm for simple crockpot meals provided by YOU! DuAnn will add pizza, garden salad, and caramel rolls! Join us in Fellowship Hall at 5:30!
Please email DuAnn Thompson at [email protected] if you can bring a crock pot meal. Include the date and what you will bring. Many thanks!
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Children & Youth This Week
The Sunday School children are starting a new unit on the Woman at the Well and unpacking what it means for Jesus to offer "living water." Next week the Youth Group will have its first night with mentors (starting at 5:45pm) followed by a learning night on the topics we missed for the last snow day: 5th/6th graders - Jesus' teachings, Confirmation - Wilderness Temptations, high school - Faith and Politics.
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Youth Lock-In
Our annual Lock-In with the Gustavus Youth Outreach team will be on Friday, March 15th starting at 7pm and going until 7am on Saturday. All current 7th-12th graders are encouraged to come and invite friends. Activities will include lots of games, worship, pizza, Bible study, and maybe sleep (at least for some). This event is FREE but you need to sign up with Ben Whalen by March 10th.
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Invest in Our Youth
Our high school youth group is going to Chicago this summer for a mission trip and children of all ages will be heading to summer camp. We're asking YOU to join us in these life-changing experiences by investing in a "share" of them for $50 (or whatever amount is meaningful to you). All shareholders will get periodic updates as we prepare as well as photos and stories from the trip & camp. At the end of the summer, all shareholders will be invited to join the youth for a dinner where they will share about their experience. Shares will go on sale this Sunday (February 24th) through March 17th. Youth will be available on Sunday mornings to answer questions and sell shares to anyone who is interested. Thank you in advance for your support!
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Summer Camp at Luther Park
House of Prayer children in grades 1-12 are encouraged to attend Luther Park Bible Camp together the week of July 21-26. This year we are committing to cover HALF of the cost for all campers who attend so that money doesn't stop anyone from this faith-filled and life changing experience. You can sign up at www.lutherpark.com or reach out to Ben Whalen for more info(
[email protected]
or 612-500-9523).
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Pick Up Your Directory
Our new HOP Photo Directories from LifeTouch are here! Please pick up your copy in the Church Office. Directories are free to those who had a photo taken. If you didn't have a photo taken but would like to purchase a directory, they are available for $10 (cash or check payable to HOP). Contact Cara Wright at 612-866-8471 or [email protected] with questions.
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HOP Fellowship Group
Thursday; March 14 , 2019, 9:00am, Fellowship Hall. All brothers and sisters are invited for fellowship, speaker and refreshments. Our speaker, Mr. Anish Luitel, from Nepal, in the Himalaya Mountains (between India and Tibet), will be here to discuss "Scoutmaster and Mountain Climbing." Besides his scouting activities, our speaker has climbed Mount Everest Summit twice. Contact Noel Sagness (612-866-0833) for more information.
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Racial Justice Conversation
Five people met January 31st at Oak Grove Lutheran Church for the first Racial Justice Conversation. We decided to read the book Real American by Julie Lythcott-Hains for our next conversation in March.
A second meeting will be meeting held February 26th at 6:30pm at Oak Grove in the church Fellowship Hall to watch the documentary Thirteenth.
"Selma" director Ava DuVernay's Netflix documentary "13th" homogenizes a lot of discussion and history into a profound resource on the black experience in America with an emphasis on the post-Civil Rights era. To use the most relevant terms, it explains why, in fact, black lives matter." (Description on the Internet)
We welcome others to join our group as we grapple with what we are called to do to work towards racial justice in our communities. Questions can be directed to Jan Philibert, 612-401-7492.
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Get To Know Your Latino Neighbor
The community of Richfield is rich in diversity! Join MIRA (Modulo de Informacion Recursos y Apoyo and Richfield Community Education on Thursday, March 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Richfield Central Education Center (7145 S. Harriet Ave., Room 106) to hear a panel of Latino guests tell the stories of their family's journey from countries in Central and Southern America. They will share a little of their culture and what they would like you to know about their successes and struggles of adjusting to their new home. You will also have the opportunity to get your questions answered and connect with neighbors! Cost for the event is $15 but let us know if cost is a concern and we can help. You can register yourself
online through the Richfield Community Education website or talk with Ben Whalen to sign up (
[email protected] or 612-500-9523).
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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!
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Luther College Concert Band Tour
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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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House of Prayer Lutheran Church of Richfield, MN
ELCA | (61
2) 866-8471
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