Christmas Care, Gifts and Prayers, 2026
We hope to touch the lives of 571 individuals with gifts and prayers, 700 children with books, and 700 families with holiday meals. We also hope to give food cards to neighbors in need of assistance. Pick up a Christmas Care 2026 brochure at the hospitality desk in the atrium, or visit the Giving Tables in the narthex. or, download a PDF of our Christmas Care 2026 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 490 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. 6.
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 Circle members will also host our Christmas party at MNH on Thursday, Dec. 10 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. 6.
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 2026 brochure.
Book Drive
We are hoping for 700 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. 16; assist with grocery pick up or deliver groceries to homes on Nov. 21.
- Christmas—pack food bags the week of Dec. 14, and assist with pick up and delivery on Saturday, Dec. 19.
- To volunteer, visit the Caring Bridge sign up form. 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.
Helping Financially
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/givenow. 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!
Thank you for your faithful support of St. Philip the Deacon!
Your generosity makes our mission and ministry possible. As the year
concludes, please follow these guidelines for your final 2026 contributions.
Five Ways to Deliver Your Year-end Gifts
For a gift to be considered a 2026 contribution, there are five ways to deliver your gifts. All of these methods must be completed before midnight on Dec. 31, 2026. Offerings received or postmarked after Dec. 31 will be recorded as 2027 offerings, regardless of which year’s envelope is used.
- Place your gift into the offering plates in the narthex before or after worship services.
- Deliver to the church office. (Office hours: M–Th, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and F, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.)
- Place in the black mailbox outside Door B entrance. (Office door, west entrance)
- Give electronically at spdlc.org/givenow.
- Send via U.S. Mail, postmarked on or before Dec. 31, 2026.
Gifts of Securities
- If you wish to transfer securities to the church’s Schwab account, please inform us in advance about your gift, as donor names are not disclosed by Schwab. Contact the Finance Office for transfer instructions.
- When transferring assets to the SPD Schwab account from firms other than Schwab, processing times typically vary from two to six weeks. Assets must be deposited into our Schwab account on or before Dec. 31, 2026 to be considered a 2026 gift.
Prepayment for 2027 Giving
If you wish to prepay your 2027 contributions, please make a notation on the envelope, write in the check memo “Prepayment for 2027,” and give us instructions on how to designate the funds. To receive credit on your 2026 year-end statement, 2027 prepayments must also be received on or before Dec. 31, 2026. If you want to record an electronic gift as a 2027 prepay, the gift must be initiated on or before Dec. 31, 2026. Please be sure to choose the correct year and fund for your desired 2027 prepay gifts (i.e. to prepay General Fund 2027, make sure to choose that fund).
If you have any questions, please contact
Moe Hagestuen, Finance Administrator, at finance@spdlc.org or 763-475-7124.
We are grateful to you for your part in helping us continue to
Reach Out, Proclaim and Inspire.
Remember: Your gifts make a difference. (Ephesians 1:15-19)
We are collecting winter wear items for the December 3000 Acts of Kindness event.
3000 Acts of Kindness is a one-day outreach event that ministers to our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. We are collecting the following items to help supply the 3000 Acts of Kindness event. Drop off your donations at SPD in the Fellowship Hall through Oct. 25:
- Winter Coats —new or gently used—heavy, big, and bulky are most requested. Adult size XL and up and all kids’ siz
- Warm Winter Boots —new or gently used—Adult size 9 and up and all kids’ sizes
- Sleeping Bags/Blankets —new or gently used
- Long Underwear —new all genders/sizes
- Socks and Underwear —new all genders/sizes
- Washcloths —new
- Sweatshirts/Hoodies —new or gently used all genders/sizes—the bigger the better
- Sardines, pouches of tuna, or other meat in packaging that is shelf stable and easy to open without utensils.
- Hats, gloves, and mittens
More information about 3000 Acts of Kindness can be found at CoatedinLove.org.
We are pleased to announce that Jana Blomberg will be joining the St. Philip the Deacon staff to lead our Grade 5 and Elementary Special Events.
Jana is a child of the congregation with experience doing youth ministry with the YMCA’s Camp Ihduhapi, Luther Park Bible Camp, and Friends of the Boundary Waters. She also has been a volunteer at SPD in a variety of roles—including Sunday school teacher, confirmation guide, high school volunteer, and junior camp counselor for our Soul Sisterhood Art Camp. She is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus.
“We’re delighted to be adding Jana to our already strong children, youth and family team,” said Makayla Dahleen, pastor of family life. “Given her experience and her knowledge of the congregation, she will be a wonderful leader for these important elementary school ministries.”
“I’m very excited to join the church I love in a more formal role,” said Jana. “I look forward to working with our 5th graders and elementary students and their families in the coming year.”
Jana will begin on Aug. 24, and the first Grade 5 Gathering will be Sept. 16. Families can register their 5th grader online.
Please join us in welcoming Jana!
The youth of SPD are collecting gifts for NAMI, the National Alliance for Mental Illness, this holiday season. NAMI Minnesota hosts an annyual holiday gift drive for children and adults living with mental illnesses who will be hospitalized or in residential treatment over the holidays. This is a meaningful way to remind peopole that they are not fort=gotten—especially for those who may be experiencing some of their darkest days during a season that can be so difficult for many.
We invite you to shop for gifts and bring them to Fellowship Hall by Sunday, Dec. 14.
For safety reasons, the gift ilist is very specific. Gifts must be new and unwrpped. They should be of a safe nature—nothing sharp, no ribbons, no strings in clothing, nothing breakable, no glass. For example:
- art materials, markers, coored pencils and pens
- puzzles, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, word-find books
- origami paper and instruction books
- journals (non-spiral)
- card games, decks of cards
- adult coloring books
- nonviolent comic books
- fidget gadgets
- warm socks, gloves, hats
If you have any questions, please reach out to Charlie Olson at colson@spdlc.org.
Home Free Shelter in Plymouth supports and houses women and children fleeing domestic violence. If you would like to purchase Christmas gifts for families sponsored by Home Free, please follow the guidelines below. All gifts should be dropped off (unwrapped) 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.
Gifts for Women
(Please, no candles or incense.)
- Sleepwear (sizes small, medium, large and 2X especially needed), slippers, socks, underwear. All sizes.
- Clothing—winter, sweat suits, sweaters, jeans, leggings, etc., all sizes.
- Small appliances (toasters, blenders, irons, coffee makers), kitchen utensils, curling irons, flat irons, hairdryers, items to start a new household.
- Body wash, lotion, cosmetics, jewelry, watches, nail polish, purses, bath sets, ethnic hair products.
- Fun Stocking Stuffers—Calendars, pens, playing cards, earbuds, adult coloring books w/pencils or markers, manicure sets, hand sanitizer, slipper socks, journals, puzzle books, lip balm, pampering items, etc.
Gifts for Children
The bolded items are especially needed. Please remember, no violent toys (guns, swords, axes, etc.)
- Socks, Underwear/boxers (all sizes girls and boys) boys and men’s boxers (all sizes),
- New clothing (all sizes), especially sweat suits.
- New Tennis shoes, Boots, Coats & snow pants (all sizes).
Infants:
Developmental baby toys, umbrella strollers, diaper bags (neutral colors), Baby monitors, 8-ounce bottles, baby care sets, musical toys (Laugh & Learn, Baby Einstein, etc) teethers/rattles, outfits (size newborn–
12 months), pacifiers.
Toddlers (1-3):
Toddler toys, wooden train set, Duplos or Mega Blocks, chunky cars, musical toys, learning (ABC/123) toys, leak-proof sippy cups, ride on or pushing toys, bath toys, bubble bath
Preschool (3-5):
learning toys (ABC/123), cars, dolls (especially dolls of color), doll accessories, racetrack sets, play food, booster car seats, sensory toys, Pull-ups.
Elementary (5-10):
Electronic learning games, sensory toys, wooden train set-magnetic trains, Lego sets, Barbie/Ken Dolls (especially dolls of color), Barbie clothing, unisex craft/art kits, fidget spinners, water bottles, cars, monster trucks.
Preteen/Teens (11-17):
Headphones/earbuds, board games, sketch pads & water color pencil sets, sportswear/gear (sweatshirts, hats, etc.), water bottles, fuzzy blankets, LEGO sets for older kids, jewelry, purses/bags, YA books, puzzles, journals, art/craft kits, K-Pop toys, make-up sets.
General:
Movie tickets, activity passes for youth (trampoline park, underwater world, etc).
