Sunday, October 20, we will be doing a BINGO mixer between services. It will be a great chance to meet people that you may not have had a chance to connect with from both services. Join us for the fun in the narthex ready to get better acquainted with our congregation. And, it's BINGO, so of course there will be prizes! Contact Monica Nelson at [email protected] with questions.

The menu for Wednesday, October 23rd is fajitas (beef and chicken), street corn casserole, lemon and cherry cheesecake. Join us every Wednesday night in Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm for food, fellowship, and fun!

This week the Sunday School kids will finish their unit on Joseph and His Brothers, remembering how God is there for us in our ups and our downs. Next Wednesday the youth group will be assembling toy boxes with Habitat for Humanity to support their work. Parents remember to turn in the Habitat waiver form on or before Wednesday for your child to join us!

Everyone of all ages is invited to join us Wednesday, October 30th from 5:30-6:30 for our annual Trunk or Treat event! Kids can bring their friends and neighbors to trick or treat in the parking lot and adults are encouraged to decorate their car trunks and hand out candy. Everyone is encouraged to wear costumes! Questions can be directed to Nathan & Les Bauer ( [email protected] or 507-269-8553).

Many thanks to Andry Jurcich, Scott Wright, & Heidi Thomas for hosting a wonderful Family Trivia Night last Friday and to everyone who participated! It was a close score throughout with a big upset at the end as the "Prayer Hats aka Straw Angels" team came from behind to win. Valiant efforts were put in by the other teams as well: "Blueberry Muffins," "Standing Around," and "Trivia Trouble Shooters."

Have you ever wondered how to guide your child/teen through the challenges of social media, meaning, nurturing relationships while nurturing their spiritual growth? Pathfinding Parents is a monthly seminar on contemporary topics and adolescent development. Parents and tweens/teens meet separately to discuss how contemporary issues impact decision-making and strategies to nurture positive growth. The next session, called Understanding Social Media, will meet on October 26th from 2:00-3:30 at House of Prayer in Parish Hall. Tweens/Teens are invited to a tweens/teens-only discussion on interacting and using social media to "craft your brand" with Pastor DarNisha Thomas, Pastor of Children and Family Ministries from Southview SDA Church. Mark your calendars for November 23rd, 2-3:30, House of Prayer, Parish Hall. The Pathfinding Parents topic will be Bullying and Creating Positive Relationships presented by Young Speakers Bureau. Contact Alison Pichel at [email protected] or Ben Whalen at [email protected] with questions.

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, Nov. 7 at 7pm in the Fireside Conference Room, we will be discussing Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Contact Jean Lindstrom at 612-866-4895 with questions.

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.

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.

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.

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 click here to register and join us!   Contact Kim Houle (612-558-0634) or Savanna Kamara (612-998-9790) for more information. 

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].

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 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.