Christmas Care, Gifts and Prayers, 2025
We hope to touch the lives of 544 individuals with gifts and prayers, 700 children with books, and 800 families with holiday meals. We also hope to give food cards to neighbors in need of assistance. Pick up a Christmas Care 2025 brochure at the hospitality desk in the atrium, or visit the Giving Tables in the narthex. or, download a PDF of our Christmas Care 2025 brochure here.
Gifts for Our Neighbors Living in Shelters
St. Philip the Deacon generously supports local missions that serve our neighbors who are struggling. Our prayers and gifts will help make the lives of 474 shelter residents a little brighter during a difficult time of year.
How it works:
- Shopping from a wish list, purchase gifts and place in a gift bag, using the label provided, drop off at church.
- Include some non-perishable treats and a card with your good wishes.
- Pray for your person through the holiday season.
Two sign-up options:
- Online at spdlc.org/register (choose: Christmas Care)
- In person at the Giving Tables in the narthex
Both options will have wish lists and full instructions available.
Who will receive these gifts?
- Mission Lodge of Plymouth (120 residents)
- Anishinabe Wakiagun of Minneapolis (117)
- Home Free Shelter in Plymouth (30 moms and children)
- Home Free Families, living in the community and receiving services from Home Free Shelter (25 families, approx. 100 moms and children)
- Our Saviour’s Housing of Minneapolis (38)
- Smith Lodge of Plymouth (20)
- Mission Heights of Columbia Heights (14)
- Lutheran Social Services Group Homes (11)
Completed:
- Hart House for Women in St. Paul (24)
Thank you, Miriam and Joy Circles, for sponsoring this shelter!
Gifts are due by Sunday, Dec. 7.
Mission Nursing Home
Located on Medicine Lake, this skilled-care residence for 70 men greatly appreciates our attention at Christmas time. We are planning a gift bag for each person, most of whom are estranged from their families and unable to live on their own.
To ensure the gift bags, which will contain personal care items, are uniform in size and equitable, our plan is to order the items. The gift bags will also include wall calendars and treats.
Our thanks to the Elizabeth Circle who shepherds this ministry!
MNH Christmas Party!
Elizabeth members will also host our Christmas party at MNH on Dec. 11 from 1–3 p.m.
Carolers are welcome at the Party!
Let us know if you would like to sing Christmas carols at the party. Contact Marilyn Larson at mlarson868@gmail.com.
LSS Group Homes
SPD will help provide Christmas Care for three Lutheran Social Services group homes for developmentally disabled adults. We will shop from the wish lists of 11 residents of Unity, Smith and Northport, and pray for them through the holiday season.
You will find these lists on the Giving tables in the narthex. Please bring gifts to SPD by Dec. 7.
Home Free Shelter
Home Free Shelter in Plymouth supports and houses women and children fleeing domestic violence. If you would like to purchase gifts for families sponsored by Home Free, please follow the guidelines below. All gifts should be dropped off at the church by Dec. 7.
If you have any questions about the gifts for Home Free Shelter, please contact Pastor Valerie at vstrand@spdlc.org.
For families living in the community and receiving services from Home Free Shelter:
- Shop from a specific family’s wish list, spending about $50 per person.
- Pray for them through the holiday season.
- Find wish lists on the Giving Table in the narthex.
For families living at Home Free Shelter:
- We are hoping for a variety of gifts for women and children.
- Lists of appropriate and needed items can be found in our Christmas Care 2025 brochure.
Book Drive
We are hoping for 500 new books for children of all ages. Non-violent and multi-cultural content is appreciated. These books will be chosen by families as they receive Christmas food baskets. Drop off unwrapped books by the giving tables in the narthex.
Holiday Meals
- In partnership with our friends at Messiah/Community Bridge in the Phillips neighborhood, we are donating funds to purchase groceries for holiday food baskets for families in need. Checks should be made out to SPD, with “Food Baskets” on the memo line.
- Members of SPD will match your contribution dollar for dollar up to $25,000, with the hope of providing Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, supporting the food shelf into the new year, and assisting with other Community Bridge food programs.
Volunteers are greatly appreciated!
- Thanksgiving—pack food bags the week of Nov. 18; assist with grocery pick up or deliver groceries to homes on Nov. 22.
- Christmas—pack food bags the week of Dec. 15, and assist with pick up and delivery on Saturday, Dec. 20.
- To volunteer, visit the Holiday Food Basket site on the spdlc.org/serve. Thank you!
Gifts and Prayers
The gifts we give are often the only ones people receive, and are a reminder to the recipients that they are not forgotten.
Not a Shopper?
Prefer not to shop but want to help? Your support by financial gifts is greatly appreciated. We will send out happy shoppers on your behalf with your monetary donations. Make checks to St. Philip the Deacon with a memo line for “Christmasing” or contribute online (see below).
Always Appreciated: Gift Cards!
Throughout the year, but especially during the holidays, St. Philip the Deacon receives regular requests for assistance. It is of tremendous help to us that we have gift cards on hand at these times. Cub and Target gift cards are especially appreciated by families in need for food and essentials.
Make a Contribution Online
To contribute online to any of the ministries described here, go to: spdlc.org/giveonline. You’ll find options on the form for Food Baskets, Christmasing, or the Angel Fund (to write in a designation.)
Questions?
Please contact Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson at vstrand@spdlc.org or 763–475–7126
Thank you for sharing your gifts!
Share your blessings by helping provide food baskets to families in the Phillips West neighborhood of Minneapolis. The distribution of holiday food baskets is a ministry in partnership with Messiah Lutheran Church, our sister congregation.
Donations to purchase food may be given by check or online.
Note Messiah Holiday Basket on your check. A gift of $50 will purchase food for two families however, any amount is greatly appreciated. Checks may be placed in the offering plate in the lobby or given to the church office. You may also give a gift at spdlc.org/giving and indicate “food baskets.”
A SPD family will match your contribution dollar for dollar up to $25,000, with the hope of providing holiday food baskets, and supporting the Community Bridge* programs.
In addition, you can sign up to help pack and distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner baskets at Food Shelf ML: Thanksgiving Baskets 2025. For more information, contact Renee Putnam at serve@spdlc.org.
Upcoming Holiday Food Basket dates:
- Thanksgiving Basket packing Nov. 18, 19, 20 , 21
- Thanksgiving Basket delivery Saturday, Nov. 22
- Christmas Basket packing Dec. 16, 17, 18, 19
- Christmas Basket delivery Saturday, Dec. 20
*Community Bridge (CB) began as a partnership of Lutheran Social Service of MN (LSS) and Messiah Lutheran Church at the Center for Changing Lives (CFCL or the Center) to enhance hospitality and community outreach in the Phillips West Neighborhood.
You can pick up a copy of our Fall Events 2025 flyer at church, or download a PDF copy here.
There are many ways you can engage with the SPD faith community this fall. Our Fall flyer highlights a number of fellowship and learning opportunities that you can attend. Take a look!
More events and groups can be found on the SPD Hub.
Do you have a favorite hymn? We want to know what you would love to sing on a Sunday morning! Send one or two of your favorite hymn titles to hymns@spdlc.org, or fill out this quick form on our SPD Hub.
We may not be able to use every suggestion, but we will do our best to include your hymn selections within the next few months of worship at SPD. If we are unable to include some of them this year, we will try to use them next year!
June 2025
Dear Friends of St. Philip the Deacon:
I’m writing to share news of our transition to a new system for our church calendar, event registrations, and group management. This new online destination will be called the “SPD Hub.” The transition will not only benefit you but also our church staff, allowing us to serve you more efficiently and effectively.
On the SPD Hub—which you can access at spdlc.org/hub—you will be able to:
- View Our Church Calendar: See all upcoming events, worship services, and activities in one easy-to-navigate calendar.
- Register for Events: Easily register for classes, retreats, and more. You can also sign-up guests! When you register for an event, you’ll be asked to enter your mobile number and a code that will be sent via text. If you need to create an account, it will also ask for your email address.
- Find a Group: Discover and join small groups, volunteer teams, and ministries that align with your interests. This is a new feature that we hope will encourage connection and engagement!
- Update Your Info: Update your address, phone and email along with other information in your personal profile.
- You will have the option to download an app to your phone, making all of this available at your fingertips. To download the app, look for the “Church Center” app on your Apple or Android app store.
It is our intention to make this transition as seamless as possible for you. Watch for hands-on help between church services and important tips about these new tools in the weekly eNews, and please reach out to the church if you have any questions.
Blessings,
Tim Westermeyer
Senior Pastor
This summer, wherever you roam, bring Flat Philip with you on your faithful adventures! You can pick up a Flat Philip at the information desk in the atrium. Wherever you travel, take a moment to engage in a simple spiritual practice such as a prayer or reading a Bible passage; then snap a photo with your Flat Philip. Email your photo to social@spdlc.org so we can share it on SPD social media and encourage others to Reach out, Proclaim, and Inspire!
You can also download a Flat Philip PDF and print him out to take with you.
