House of Prayer 
is a gathering of God's people who value:
Welcoming,
Openness, 
Compassionate Community, 
and Relationships

Here is an update of what is happening at
House of Prayer this week!
Worship This Sunday
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."  Mark 9:35-37

Following Jesus has never been easy. It wasn't easy for the disciples and it is not easy for us. Following Jesus requires us to put the needs of others before our own. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. That sounds good on paper, but is very challenging in practice. To truly embrace and live out this life of service requires us to think differently about others. We must think of all people as God's people. We must begin to see Christ in a small child, an older adult, the disabled, the sick, the immigrant, or the enemy. God loves each person and calls us to love all. Join us Sunday as we celebrate the human family and respond to God's call.
Children & Youth This Week
This Sunday the Sunday School children continue learning about Moses and the Burning Bush & how God calls us each by name. Next Wednesday the youth group will do a service project to help clean up litter at Christian Park.
Simple Supper Menu
Menu for September 26th: Beef and chicken sliders, garden salad, fries and cake. Join us for dinner at 5:30pm in Fellowship Hall!
Penn Fest Recap
Thank you to everyone who helped at or attended Penn Fest on the 16th! We had a blast talking with neighbors about House of Prayer and playing games together like giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, and bean bag toss. Our free granola bars and ice-cold water were a big hit in the heat so that along was good ministry. If you didn't get a chance to go this year we highly recommend checking it out next year!
Flu Shot Clinic Sunday
The clinic will be in the Library at 10:30am until around 11:30am. Appointments are still available. Stop in! 
Chili-FEAST
In the spirit of FEAST (1st Sunday of month at ReFuel), we encourage all chili makers to bring a pot of chili to share on Sunday, Oct 7 at 11am. It will be a smorgasbord of goodness that will bowl you over! Sign up on the attendance card or contact Pastor Ben at bsandin@hoplc.org with questions.
Submit Funding Requests to HOP Foundation
The HOP Foundation meets Monday, October 8th, at 7:15 pm. Any funding requests should be sent to Foundation Treasurer, Scott Wright at scott.wright@horacemann.com ASAP. You can pick up a HOP Foundation Funding Request Forms in the church office, or send Scott an email to request the form as an email attachment.
LSS Children's Clothing Store
Please bring gently used children's clothing, shoes, winter outerwear /boots(newborn to high school sizes, including adult sizes in youthful styles) and new underwear / socks. Place items in the collection box in the Narthex by Sunday, Oct. 14. Contact Jean Robbins, cjrobbins@visi.com, with questions.
Housing Team Update
The Richfield Community Housing Team has been working with Richfield city council and city staff to develop policies that will protect tenants and preserve affordable housing for years to come. Two of these policies will be voted on at the September 25th City Council meeting, held at 7pm at City Hall. We invite you to come show your support for our neighbors to rent to have a safe, stable, affordable place to live. If you're interested in the work of the Housing Team, please reach out to Paula Kiehl ( paula@ecosmarte.com) or Ben Whalen (612-500-9523 or bwhalen@hoplc.org).
High School Mission Trip 2019 - Chicago
The high schoolers have opted to go to Chicago next summer on a weeklong mission trip through an organization called Serve Boldly. Parents and youth who are interested in the trip are encouraged to attend an informational meeting after youth group (8pm) on Oct 3rd.
Read With Students
A new school year means another chance to help 3rd, 4th, or 5th graders at Richfield Dual Language School (RDLS) develop their reading skills! One on one help with students for an hour each week makes a HUGE difference in children's academic success and you can help make that happen. Scheduling is flexible and no teaching experience is necessary. Please talk with Ben Whalen ( bwhalen@hoplc.org or 612-500-9523) to learn more.
The Sheridan Story
Starting up again with the new school year is our partnership with The Sheridan Story and Centennial Elementary. Many students rely on free or inexpensive meals at school which means the weekends & holiday breaks can stretch their families' grocery budgets. The Sheridan Story provides food packs to students in hopes of alleviating that stress. If you'd like to donate to this cause or volunteer on Friday mornings to help distribute food packs, please reach out to Ben Whalen for more info ( bwhalen@hoplc.org or 612-500-9523).
Men's Fellowship Group
All brothers and sisters are invited for fellowship, devotions and speaker on Thur, Oct 11 at 9:00am in Fellowship Hall! Come hear guest speaker Greg Bower, Representative for Diversified Wealth Management. He will discuss a major change to the Medicare Supplementary Insurance Cost Plans for 2019. Contact Noel Sagness 612-866-0833 for more information.
Book Discussion Group
We will meet the 1st Thursday of the month at 7pm in the Fireside Conference Room and will be discussing:
October 4-The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
November 1-Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman
Fall Festival-Save the Date
Our annual fall arts and crafts festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 3. Save the date and invite your friends! If you know of any potential vendors interested in having a table at this event, have them contact Ann Haffely at hopfallfestival@gmail.com now. Space is filling up!
Fall Festival-Book Table Donation
Do you have any gently used books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles, or games? Would you  like to donate them to our Fall Festival Book Table? Please bring them to the HOP library
and label "For FALL FESTIVAL." Thanks in advance!
All Saints: Dark Night of the Soul
The National Lutheran Choir reignites our signature choral service at All Saints featuring Ola Gjeilo's Dark Night of the Soul, a tour-de-force for string quartet, piano, and choir. Central to the All Saints service is the recitation of memorial names. Share the name of a loved one for a deeply moving remembrance of those no longer with us. Dates are: Fri., Nov 2, 7:30pm St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, Plymouth; Sun, Nov 4, 4:00pm St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN. Tickets: Adult $30, Senior $28, Students & Children FREE.
An Evening With Mikah Meyer
Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 7:00 pm.
St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, 100 North Oxford St., St. Paul
Featured on NPR, "The Today Show," and in "Living Lutheran," Mikah Meyer is a member of the ELCA traveling to all 417 National Parks to raise awareness and challenge stereotypes of LGBTQ people. Join us for his story and how his faith has made a difference on his journey.
Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 8, 2:00pm
Woodlake Lutheran Church (7525 Oliver Avenue South)
We begin with a short service outside 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. (If weather is bad, we'll hold the service inside our Fellowship Hall.) There will be a collection of pet food and kitty litter to be given where needed.

VEAP Donations for September
We will be collecting dish soap, hand soap and laundry soap for VEAP through September. Please put donations in the VEAP bin in the Narthex. Thank you!
Bloomington-Richfield Grief Coalition
Thursdays,  4:30-6:00 p.m.
St. Richard's Catholic Church
7540 Penn Ave. S
Richfield, MN
612-869-2426 / www.strichards.com
    
September 27 -  Is it Grief, or Something More? Mary Harlow
October 4 - The Mind-Body Connection Lorry Lundborg
October 11 - My Story Mary Canakes
October 18 - Dealing with Being Grief-Struck Dale Swan
October 25 - How Grief Affects the Family System Catherine Duncan
November 1 - The Courage to Ask: Embracing Help Rene Garpestad
on the Path to Healing
November 8 - Where is God in My Grief Stuart Walker
November 15 - A Time of Remembrance Joan Apt
House of Prayer Lutheran Church of Richfield, MN
 ELCA | (61 2) 866-8471
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