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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
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.
John 12:8
These words from Jesus are odd if not fully understood. Jesus is not pro-poverty. He is not saying we have to choose between following Jesus or helping the poor. Rather, he is encouraging the disciples to cherish the time they have with him. It is important to not get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to spend time with the Lord. This Sunday we will focus on our relationship with God and seeking ways to spend time with God and support one another. See you then!
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This Sunday is Pledge Sunday
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. You should have received a letter and pledge card in the mail. If not, more will be available on Sunday at the Information Desk or from an usher. We encourage you to take time to prayerfully consider your financial commitment to HOP for the coming year. This 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!
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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!
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Simple Crock Pot Meals-April 10th
Come for simple crockpot meals provided by YOU! DuAnn will add chicken wild rice soup, garden salad, and cake. Join us Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm.
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Children & Youth This Week
The Sunday School children continue learning about the Last Supper and Jesus' example of service when he washed the disciples' feet. Next week many the youth will split into age groups to learn about the following: 5th/6th grade - Jesus' Betrayal, Confirmation - Jesus' Resurrection, high school - Faith and Racism.
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Preschool Summer Camp
Exciting news! House of Prayer Preschool will offer three weeks of Summer Camp in June! It will be open to 3-5 year olds and meet Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9-11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Nicole Olson, Preschool Director,
[email protected]. Come join the fun!
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HOP Spring Clean Up Day
Come join us on Friday, April 12, from 9:30a-12:30p for HOP Spring Clean Up Day in preparation for Pastor Kelly's Ordination and Easter. The more hands we have, the more we can clean! Contact Cara Wright at 612-866-8471 or
[email protected] with questions.
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Collaboration Churches Fund Clean Water Update
Generous donations from our three churches have already raised $8,567 for ELCA World Hunger's clean water initiatives! This means we've already funded construction of three "spring boxes" - but now we'd like to aim for $10,000 to fund four of them. Special offering envelopes are available at the office. Make checks out to House of Prayer with "ELCA World Hunger" in the memo line. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
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Defensive Driving Course
Is it time need to renew your Defensive Driving certificate? Charlie Robbins will teach a refresher course on Wed, April 24, at 9 am at church for those who have already taken the 8-hour class. The program is a great opportunity for those over age 55 to learn more about traffic laws and safety tips, and also to receive a 10% insurance discount for each of the next three years. Cost is $20 for AARP members, $25 for others. Sign up on Sundays or by calling the church office. Sponsored by the Adult Ministry Team
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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).
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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).
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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 10:00am 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).
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Collaboration Samaritan's Feet with Woodlake
We have an opportunity to join the Samaritan's Feet Project, which will be providing 1,200 kids new shoes at 4 shoe distributions in Minneapolis schools and organizations. We are organizing volunteers to go to Lucy Laney Elementary on Thursday, April 11, from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. We can carpool from Woodlake. Please call Cheryl Buranen at 612-670-1016 or Carol Olson at 612-281-7137 to register for volunteering, get your T Shirt ordered, and get more details. To learn more about the Samaritan's Feet organization, please visit: https://www.samaritansfeet.org/about-us/
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Collaboration Families Moving Forward
Woodlake will be hosting families experiencing homelessness with Families Moving Forward (FMF) from Sunday, April 28 to Sunday, May 5th. Volunteers will be needed to set up rooms, help prepare meals, act as hosts, wash dishes, stay overnight, and clean up after the week is through. If you have family or friends that would enjoy participating in this, feel free to invite them along with you. Our most pressing need for volunteers is for dinner and evening hosts. The dinner hosts help serve and clean-up the evening meal, and evening hosts provide activities with the guests children. Both are a two hour commitment. To volunteer or get more information, please contact lead coordinator Scott Dahlquist at (612) 919-9232 or at [email protected] .
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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.
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Luther Park Spaghetti Dinner This Saturday
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!
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VEAP Donation April
April is canned meat month (chicken, tuna, SPAM, etc). Please bring your donations and place them in the VEAP collection bin in the Narthex. Thanks in advance for your continued generosity and support to VEAP!
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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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