Worship This Sunday 

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. Luke 17:5-6

Faith is about our trust in God. When the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith they misunderstand the nature of faith. Faith cannot be increased from the outside but must be done from the inside. Our life provides us opportunities to grow closer to God and deepen our trust in the Lord. We are all on our own journey and we seek God's presence along the way. Join us Sunday as we journey together this life of faith!

The menu for Wednesday, October 9th is tacos, corn salsa, Taquitos, snickerdoodle cookies, and drinks. Plan on joining us each Wednesday night in Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm for food and fellowship. 

This Sunday the children will be singing during 9:30 worship and in Sunday School will start exploring a new story - Joseph and His Brothers. Next Wednesday, the youth group will join with the rest of the congregation for our Forum on LGBTQ Inclusion.

If you like trivia, pizza, and fun, this is for you! We are gathering for HOP Family Trivia Night on Friday, October 11, from 6:00-8:00. Supper will be provided by Broadway Pizza! Trivia rounds will be suitable for all ages. Come as a family or as part of our HOP family. We will form teams to play several rounds of trivia and enjoy delicious pizza. Nursery care will be available. Contact Heidi Thomas at [email protected] with questions.

Next summer, our high school youth will join youth from Oak Grove & Woodlake for a high adventure week at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in Montana. We will get to try whitewater rafting, rock climbing, sailing, high ropes, and more! This is the same camp we went to 3 years ago and had an amazing trip so we're excited to be heading back. June 20-27 are the dates and the deadline to sign up is November 15th. Please contact to Ben Whalen for more information (612-500-9523 or [email protected]).

We love visitors! Pastor Kelly shared the story of "The Rainbow Fish" with us. Do you have a story or hobby you'd like to share with the preschoolers? We'd be happy to have you! Contact Nicole Olson, Director, at  [email protected].

Please join us for our next Forum on LGBTQ+ Inclusion on Oct. 9th at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. We will discuss scripture that has historically been used to exclude people from the LGBTQ+ community as well as passages that show the expanse of God's welcome. We will read scripture and gracefully engage with others through discussion. All are welcome! Please reach out to any RIC team members with questions. Brent King, Abby Whalen, Terri Behrends-Singer, Scott Wright, Wayne Swenson, Angela King, and Blaine Turk.

Favorite Bible Stories Study on Wednesday, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, and Nov. 6 at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Most suggested stories were: Joseph in Genesis and Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth. For questions, contact Pastor Kelly at [email protected].

On Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00pm in the Fireside Conference Room, we will be discussing Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG.  Contact Jeanne Lindstrom at 612-866-4895 with questions.

All are invited on Thursday, October 10, at 10:00am in Fellowship Hall for fellowship, speaker and refreshments. The topic is The Story of Ellis Island- Island of Hope, Island of Tears. Hear about the American immigration experience of over 18 million immigrants who journeyed to America in search of freedom and opportunity. Stories reflect their bravery facing the unknown until the doors opened at Ellis Island. Contact Noel Sagness at 612-266-0833 with questions.

This fall will be House of Prayer's third year partnering with Sheridan Story at Centennial Elementary in Richfield to provide weekend food for students experiencing food insecurity. We have committed to donating $3,124 for the program throughout the 2019-2020 school year. Through your contributions we can follow through on our commitment to feed hungry kids. Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated. To donate, you can send in a check to House of Prayer or put a check in the offering plate. Please make the check out to House of Prayer with Sheridan Story in the memo line. You also can donate online at www.hoplc.org. To do so, select the menu "Give," at the top of the page, then select the fund "Sheridan Story." You can give by credit card or use your check's routing and account numbers. To volunteer with packing backpacks on Fridays for Sheridan Story at Centennial Elementary, please contact Pastor Kelly at: 612-866-8471 or [email protected].

Upcoming education programs are presented by the Alzheimer's Association and take place at the collaborative churches. Please call HOP Office (612-866-8471) to sign up for all classes.  Contact Pastor Kelly ( [email protected] ) with questions.

• Effective Communication Strategies. Saturday, Oct 26, 1pm, House of Prayer. Communication is more than just talking and listening - it's also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. As people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect. Join us to explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer's, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at each stage of the disease. The Effective Communication Strategies program of the Alzheimer's Association was designed to profile practical information and resources to help dementia caregivers learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages from people with dementia.

• Understanding And Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior. Saturday, Nov 23, 10am, Woodlake Lutheran Church. Behavior is a powerful form of communication and is one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language is lost. However, some behaviors can present real challenges for caregivers to manage. Join us to learn to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavior challenges of Alzheimer's disease.

The Richfield League of Women Voters is sponsoring a School Board Candidates' Forum on Saturday, October 5, from 9:00 to 10:30 am at the Richfield City Hall, 6700 Portland Ave. S., Richfield. For questions, contact Maureen Scaglia, LWV Richfield, 612-798-0485, [email protected].

Sunday, October 13, 2:00pm
at Woodlake (2120 W 76h Street)
We begin with a short service outside (inside if it's rainy) and then move inside to the chapel where each pet will be individually blessed. Favorite stuffed animals and pictures of pets no longer living or too shy in a crowd can also receive a blessing. Treats for pets and humans will follow the blessings. Please join us on the lawn by the parking lot located on 76th and Newton. There will be a collection of pet and human food to be given to VEAP.

On Sunday, October 27th, House of Prayer members and Dar Al Farooq members will join forces to welcome Hennepin County Commissioner, Debbie Goettel, visiting with us about current issues challenging our neighbors.  We plan to meet from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Dar Al Farooq (8201 Park Avenue So, Bloomington).  There will be snacks provided.  Please join us!   Contact Kim Houle (612-558-0634) or Savanna Kamara (612-998-9790) for more information. 

Let's DO it! You have been donating your hearts out! THANK YOU! Diapers a' plenty are stacked in corners of the three collaborating churches and some homes. You can continue to donate through October. Now it is time for the DO part of Donate & Do. We will repackage the diapers on Saturday, October 26th, 10:00 am at VEAP. Anyone 12 or older is welcome. It should not take more than an hour followed by a tour of the VEAP facility. Sign up sheet is at the information desk. Contact Irene Sable at [email protected] with questions.

Thanksgiving, a time to gather with family and friends and reflect on our many blessings, will soon be upon us.  For its November event SALT (Socializing Adult Lutherans Together) will host a service event to provide for those who have less.  Members of Woodlake, and several other nearby ELCA churches, will be participating in a packing event at Feed My Starving Children on Saturday, November 23rd, from 2-4 PM, with a pot luck dinner to follow at Woodlake from 5-7:30 PM.  Feed My Starving Children (www.fmsc.org,) founded in 1987, is a Christian non-profit that provides nutritionally complete meals specifically formulated for malnourished children.  Volunteers pack the meals, which are then shipped to mission partners around the globe.  The packing will take place at FMSC's Eagan location, 990 Lone Oak Rd., Suite 136.  Children 5-17 are welcome with adult supervision.  For further information contact Scott Dahlquist at (612) 919-9232 or at:  [email protected].

You are cordially invited to House of Prayer Lutheran Church for a concert by the Augsburg Centennial Singers on Sunday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. A 50-voice men's chorus, the Singers' concert features well-known gospel music, folk songs, familiar hymns, sacred selections and a spitirual or two. The Singers are men of faith and conviction. Through their music listeners are encouraged to establish and deepen a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We hope to see you at House of Prayer Lutheran Church for an inspiring evening. Contact David Steenson at  [email protected] with questions.

Thursday, September 26, 2018 - November 14, 2019, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Nativity of Mary Catholic Church
9900 Lyndale Ave. S.
Bloomington, MN
(952) 881-8671
October 3-How Grief Affects the Family System, Steve Sims
October 10-The Mind-Body Connection, Lorry Lundborg
October 17-Why Do I Feel Like I'm Going Crazy? Judy Young
October 24-The Courage to Ask: Embracing Help on the Path to Healing, Dr. Renee Garpestad
October 31-Where is God in My Grief? On the Path to Healing, Stuart Walker
November 7-What's Left? Bob Bartlett
November 14-A Time to Remember or Service of Remembrance, Joan Apt

The back of our weekly attendance card gives you the opportunity to request prayers for yourself and/or someone else each week. Please check the "Prayer Chain" and/or "Staff Prayer Chain" on the prayer concerns side of the yellow "Welcome," card. If you are attending ReFuel worship please check the box on the green card under "How Can We Pray For You".  If you would like to be in the prayer chain email to pray for others please write your email address on the card and include "Add me to the Prayer Chain Email List." For ongoing prayer requests, please fill out a new card as prayer emails are updated each week.