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Outreach

“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” - Proverbs 22:9

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Using Our God-given Gifts in Service

God has given you gifts for service and we want to work together with you as you use those gifts and talents to make a difference in God’s world. Ephesians 4:12 tells us that God has equipped us for works of service in order that the body of Christ be built up.

In response to the goodness of God, we reach out with ministries that serve others in our neighborhood, in the city and around the world. You are invited to join us as we use our gifts to make a difference.

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.” - Augustine

For more information about Outreach Ministry contact: Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson, Pastor of Adult Ministry at 763-475-7126 or by email or Cindy Carlson, Director of Congregational Life at 763-475-7115 or by email.

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A store with a purpose.

St. Philip the Deacon welcomes you to its Mission Market, a gift shop featuring handcrafted items made by artist entrepreneurs in developing countries. One hundred percent of proceeds from this endeavor go to support these artisans, as well as SPD’s other mission efforts.

The Mission Market is staffed Sunday mornings, but you can make cash or check purchases at any time, on the honor system. Just find our little store in the southeast corner of Fellowship Hall. Stop by and find a special treat for yourself, or do some gift or special occasion shopping!

Opportunities to serve locally.

There are many ways to be of service in our community. Highlighted below are several of our ongoing ministries.

Families Moving Forward 

St. Philip the Deacon serves as a host congregation three times a year for Families Moving Forward (FMF) housing families experiencing homelessness. FMF is an interfaith network of churches that provides hope to families with children who are experiencing homelessness. Three times a year, SPD welcomes families who spend a week at the church. Individuals from the church provide food for lunch, prepare and serve dinner and breakfast, serve as overnight hosts, launder linens, and play with children.

Sign up to help! (use Security Code 7795)

The success of this program is rooted in the generous spirit of our many helpers. To try to make it easier for service helpers to sign up for various tasks, visit our CareCalendar website. Once there, enter the Security Code 7795 and click the Login button. That will bring you to the calendar. On the calendar you can click on any task to claim it, and enter your information in the form that pops up. It’s that easy!

For more information:
Email Sandy Dockter
or Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson (763-475-7126)

Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP)

Since 1979, IOCP had been leading, rallying and igniting the power of people in the western suburbs to address the critical needs of people living right here—our neighbors. What started as a small food shelf has become a resource for thousands of families in eight west Hennepin County communities.

Volunteers from St. Philip the Deacon are invited to help with the food shelf and resale store. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to serve together.

For more information contact: Cindy Carlson at  763-475-7115 or by email.

Sharing and Caring Hands 

Each month on the first Saturday from 8:30-10:30 a.m., SPD helps to serve breakfast at Sharing and Caring Hands. Sharing and Caring Hands is a safety net organization to help those who could not obtain help from the welfare system. They serve over 20,000 people each month, providing meals, clothing, showers, shelter, transportation help, rent deposits, rent help, medical assistance, dental care, furniture, school expenses, and more. They rely solely on donations of time, goods, services and money from the community, and receives no federal or state funding.

For more information contact: Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson, Pastor of Adult Ministry at 763-475-7126 or by email or Ginny Steele by email.

Meals on Wheels

During the months of March, July and November, SPD provides drivers to deliver hot meals in the Wayzata/Plymouth area for Meals on Wheels. Drivers pick up the food at the Carlson Towers (intersection of I-394 and I-494) at 10:15 a.m. The routes are generally completed by 12:30 p.m. Drivers will receive very specific instructions and directions.

For more information contact: Nicki Nereson by email.

The opportunities to share God’s love are endless. How is God calling you?

The outreach ministries highlighted above are some of the ministries that go on throughout the year, regardless of vacation or holiday schedules. In addition, there are many other ways for you to share your gift of time and talents. For instance:

You can serve as a small group leader for Faith Creek Church School or Confirmation, be a Worship Assistant (usher, communion server, Altar Guild), help in the Childcare Center, host the coffee on Sunday morning, participate in the blood drive, or bake or serve for funeral receptions.  

Opportunities to serve in the city.

Looking beyond our own backyards, we support many ministries in the city. Highlighted below are a few:

Community Bridge at Messiah Lutheran Church 

Messiah Lutheran Church is located in the Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis. In conjunction with their congregation, we support the following outreach ministries in the community:

  • Food Pantry – 2nd Friday and 4th Saturday each month
  • Kaleidoscope After School Program
  • Holiday Food Baskets
    • Thanksgiving Baskets – Distributed the week before Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Baskets – Distributed the week before Christmas
    • Easter Baskets – Distributed the week before Easter
    • Holiday Store – Held the first Saturday in December
    • Care and Prayer Holiday Ministry

Our Saviour’s Shelter 

We provide, prepare and serve dinner to approximately 50 men at Our Saviour’s Shelter in South Minneapolis on the fourth Tuesday of even numbered months.

For more information contact: Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson, Pastor of Adult Ministry at 763-475-7126 or by email.

Serving globally.

At St. Philip the Deacon there is a strong sense of commitment to reach out in Christian love to our brothers and sisters all around the globe. Our commitment takes the shape of sharing resources, building relationships, and developing ministries. Past projects have included:

  • Collecting and sending black school shoes to children in Haiti so that they can attend school, as well as funding tuition and sending food from Feed My Starving Children.
  • Funding the building of a church for a faithful community in Mananjary, Madagascar. The church, made of brick and stone, is strong enough to withstand a cyclone.
  • Financially supporting the construction of a medical facility in Orkesumet, Tanzania. People in Orkesumet no longer have to travel 150 miles or more on foot to seek medical attention.
  • Raising enough money to put a roof on a church in Nabererra, Tanzania. Previously, worship took place under the canopy of a circle of Acacia trees—beautiful, but not always practical.
  • Funding hundreds of small business micro-loans to mostly young women in Colombia to help them provide for their families. 
  • Funding the building of a dormitory for Don Bosco School in Dumka, India.
  • Funding efforts through World Vision to build clean water infrastructure in Malawi.

Most of SPD’s global outreach projects are funded by our capital campaigns. When we raise money to help us pay for our own church building and its needs, we also designate a significant portion of those funds to benefit congregations and ministries in other parts of the world.

— CHRISTIAN WISDOM —

“Silence is evil’s closest ally.”

Gary Amirault