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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
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
(John 20:1-2)
While it was still dark, when others might be sleeping, when we can hardly see for lack of light, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus. I am not sure what she was expecting, but it is certain she was not prepared to see it opened and empty. Though she did not know it that dark morning, a tomb would not be able to contain Jesus. Join us this Easter Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord!
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Holy Week Schedule
Maundy Thursday - April 18, 7:00 pm Collaboration worship at Oak Grove Lutheran Church (7045 Lyndale Ave S, Richfield)
Good Friday - April 19, 7:00 pm worship
Easter Sunday - April 21, 9:30 am & 11:00 am worship
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Collaboration Maundy Thursday Worship Tonight
Join us for worship on Maundy Thursday, April 18th at 7pm at Oak Grove Lutheran Church! We will gather as three Lutheran congregations (House of Prayer, Oak Grove, and Woodlake) for a time of worship and celebration. At this moving service, we remember Jesus' last supper and his command for us to love one another as we have been loved. Children from each congregation will receive communion for the first time, so it will also be a time of celebration! All three of our congregations are also supporters of VEAP. If you would like, please bring a canned good to the service and they will be delivered to VEAP. All are welcome!
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New Member Orientation
If you are new to House of Prayer and are ready to become a member or would like to learn more about who we are, the New Member Orientation is for you! Join us on May 5 at 12:00 p.m. We will be serving lunch so please RSVP on the attendance card (childcare provided). Feel free to contact Pastor Ben (
[email protected]) if you have any questions.
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Simple Supper Menu
The menu for Wednesday, April 24th is scalloped potatoes and ham, broccoli salad, green beans, lemon/cherry cheesecake. Join us at 5:30pm in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome!
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Children & Youth This Week
The Sunday School children are singing Sunday morning during 9:30 worship and have an Easter art activity during 11:00 worship. Next week the youth group has a learning night on the following topics: 5th/6th grade - Jesus' Death, Confirmation - The Road to Emmaus, High School - Faith and Racism.
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Children on Easter
The Sunday School children from both services will sing (and ring!) during 9:30 worship. Then at 10:30am on Easter morning, all children including any guests are invited to join us for an Easter egg hunt! We'll meet in the narthex and go outside if we are able. During the 11:00 service, we will have an Easter activity for kids to do while joining us for worship.
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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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Spring Cleaning, Cleaning Service & Cleaning Support
Many thanks to the HOP folks that joined in HOP Spring Cleaning last Friday! The sanctuary, Narthex (and upholstery), windows, and kitchens got a good sprucing up before Pastor Kelly's Ordination and Easter. We also welcome Elver's Cleaning Service, a Richfield based cleaning company, that started twice-weekly cleaning at HOP this week. Elver's Cleaning will assist Ramo with upstairs cleaning in the Narthex, entryway, stairs, office reception/conference rooms, bathrooms and kitchens on Tuesday and Saturday evenings. We also thank the HOP Altar Guild, custodians from Southview SDA and Iglesia Apostolica, two of the churches that worship at HOP, for their weekly help to clean the building. Everything that HOP members do to keep the building clean is also greatly appreciated! Hundreds of people use our wonderful facility each week and caring for it is so much easier with many hands involved! Contact Cara Wright at
[email protected] with questions or to volunteer to help.
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Christians Clean Up Christian Park
House of Prayer members are joining Southview members (who worship at HOP on Saturdays) to jointly clean up Christian Park on Saturday, April 27th. We'll meet there (70th/Bloomington) at 1pm and eat lunch together before we start picking up litter. This is a great chance to care for the earth, serve the community, and meet our fellow Christians who worship in our building. If you'd like to join us and help out, please contact Paula Hall at 612-413-1214.
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Earth Day & Arbor Day
Monday, April 22 is Earth Day, the 49th year that people around the world have participated in projects to clean up the environment. Also, Arbor Day, a holiday that is literally dedicated to trees, is Friday, April 26th, and this year marks the 147th year that America celebrates trees. Trees give off oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce storm water runoff, help save energy, provide food, protection, and homes for birds and mammals, plus they add beauty to the earth. One large tree provides a day's supply of oxygen for four people. We have been encouraged to plant trees. Next Sunday, April 28, the Creation Care Team will be giving out Arbor Day Foundation White Pine tree seedlings to members and guests to take home for planting and an opportunity to make an environmental difference while helping and adding beauty to our surroundings. Plant a tree!
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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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Confirmation Class Photos - Help Needed
Confirmation class photos from 1954-2018 have been added to the HOP website (www. hoplc.org/confirmation-photos). We need your help to complete the identification of the students in each class. Many are done, but many are left! We believe the names in black font in the caption under each picture are in the correct location, but are unsure of the names in red font. Please contact Mike Murphy at [email protected] if you can help.
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Former Bishop Herb Chilstrom Visits House of Prayer
Herbert W. Chilstrom served as the first Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He will be at House of Prayer on Sunday, May 12th, to preach at the 9:30 am worship service and lead a forum at 11 am that morning. He will discuss his book,
"Writing Books: An Unexpected Retirement Venture." Rev. Chilstrom has authored/ coauthored several books and will be sharing his writing journey and offering suggestions about how others can write their own memoirs. His books will be available for purchase with proceeds going to ELCA college and seminary scholarships. Please contact Pastor Ben at [email protected] with questions.
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Collaboration Churches Fund Clean Water Update-Almost 4!
Generous donations from our three churches have already raised $9,600 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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Book Discussion Group
Join us on May 2nd at 7:00pm in the Fireside Conference Room to discuss The Lightkeepers Daughter by Jean Pendziwol. All are welcome!
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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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ISAIAH In-District Meeting
Many thanks to the roughly 75 leaders from House of Prayer and Dar Al Farooq who met last weekend with our state legislators, Michael Howard & Melissa Halvorson Wiklund. We shared stories and talked about our faith values that call us to work toward Paid Family Leave, funding for childcare assistance, more affordable housing, an end to Islamophobia, and 100% renewable energy. It was a powerful event!
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Join our Muslim Neighbors for an Iftar Meal
Each year during Ramadan, the MN Council of Churches works with mosques around the metro area to host Taking Heart Iftar Meals. This is a great chance for non-Muslims to learn more about Islam and Ramadan before joining in the (very delicious) breaking of the fast. Dar Al Farooq in Bloomington is hosting one on Thursday, May 16th at 7pm and several House of Prayer members plan to attend! If you have questions or want to sign up, please contact Pastor Kelly Sandin ([email protected] or 612-500-9525).
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LSS 2019 Benefit for Youth
I would like to invite you to join me at my table for a complimentary luncheon to benefit Lutheran Social Service (LSS) Youth Services. The luncheon is Tuesday, May 14th at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power Street in Minneapolis. Reception & registration is at 11:30 with the Program and Lunch at 12:00.
LSS helps keep youth and children safe and supports their healthy development by providing:
- Early intervention and prevention services
- Supportive shelters and housing options for youth experiencing homelessness
- Services to restore and strengthen families
Join in walking alongside the youth served by LSS. You will hear the stories of youths' journeys and have the opportunity to give to critical services that help LSS go further in supporting young people in our community.
Reserve a spot by contacting Jean Robbins e-mail:
[email protected] cell: 952-738-1704
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Urban Wildland Race
Each summer, Richfield hosts the Urban Wildland half marathon and 5k race - this year on Saturday, July 27th starting at 7am. It's a fun event that funds the opportunity for students of Richfield schools to get hands-on education through the Wood Lake Nature Center. House of Prayer is helping sponsor the event and already have 7 folks committed to run! There are also many volunteer opportunities to hand out snacks/water, help runners check in, and more. If you'd like to run, volunteer, or just cheer folks on please reach out to Ben Whalen (
[email protected] or 612-500-9523). More information is available at
www.urbanwildland.com.
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Friends of Wood Lake Dinner
The Friends of Wood Lake (FOWL) are hosting their annual fundraising dinner on Friday, April 26th to support our local nature center! This is their main fundraiser each year and it supports the many fun and educational programs offered through Richfield's 150-acre Wood Lake Nature Center. The event includes a dinner, silent auction, ticket prizes, and guest speaker Jean Larson from the MN Landscape Arboretum. Tickets are $60 each and can be purchased on the Wood Lake Nature Center website or by calling 612-861-9365.
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National Lutheran Choir - You're Invited
The National Lutheran Choir (NLC) will be holding a FREE OPEN REHEARSAL at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave S., on Tuesday, April 23 beginning at 7:00 PM. Please invite your friends. All are welcome!
Come and listen to the choir as they prepare for their Spring Concert: Light and Dark, which will be performed at 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 5 at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
All guests are welcome to join the NLC staff and singers for dessert and conversation during the rehearsal break. Treats are kindly provided by members of House of Prayer Lutheran Church, with underwriting from Thrivent Financial, to spread the word about supporting a Chair in the National Lutheran Choir.
For additional information about the Choir, or to purchase tickets for the May 5 concert, go to NLCA.com.
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Northern Winds - Mother's Day Concert
Sunday May 12th, 7:00 pm
Edinborough Indoor Park (7700 York Ave S, Edina)
Bring Mom out to a Great Concert with many House of Prayer members playing in the band.
For more information, contact Joe Speakman at
[email protected].
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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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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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