February 7, 2025

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Sunday, February 9, 2025

In-Person Worship 

8:30am & 10:30am

YouTube Livestream at 10:30am

See the Sunday morning Crosswinds to watch the YouTube Livestream this week.

Church News

Guest Preacher this Sunday

Our Gift of Love offering this month is going to Global Health Ministries. Doug Cox is the Executive Director for an international ministry creating partnerships to develop sustainable and thriving Lutheran health care and health promotion systems in over 12 countries.

Like Coffee?

Everyone enjoys having a treat and a cup of coffee with their friends on Sunday mornings, but we can’t offer this ministry of fellowship without people to host the coffee hour. While we could use more volunteers in lots of ministry areas, we’re especially in need of extra Coffee Hosts. If you’ve never volunteered in this area before, we will train you in everything you need to know. Sign up at the Welcome Center. 

Hospital Visitation

If you or someone you know will be hospitalized and would like a visit from a pastor, please reach out directly to the church office or one of the pastors. HIPAA confidentiality laws prohibit hospitals from sharing patient information.

The Prayer Chain

If you would like to participate in praying for our members and friends, please talk with Pastor Tom or Pastor Stephanie. If you would like to request prayer from our Prayer Chain, contact Brenda in the church office or talk with one of our pastors. Please indicate if you would like your prayer request to be shared with the congregation, or if it is confidential. 

Scam Alerts!

If you get an email or text message from church staff asking to purchase gift cards or to do a favor, DO NOT respond to them. Block and delete them immediately. No one at St. Barnabas will ever ask you to do this. If

communication feels "off" it probably is. Call the church or email a known address to confirm if you're unsure. Email Scams! St. Barnabas staff will ONLY use their church email address when reaching out to members:

(example: pastortom@stbarnabaslutheran.org; brenda@stbarnabaslutheran.org).

St. Barnabas Blog

Transition Team Updates

Click here to read the St. Barnabas Blog.

Other News & Church Activities

Beacon Lobby Day

Join your Beacon Leadership Team at the State Capitol this coming Tuesday, February 11th for our Beacon Lobby Day. We will have scheduled meetings with our Senators and House Representatives to encourage them to vote positively for a number of housing-related bills this session. If you’d like to attend, talk to Cindy Dogan and register here:

https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/event/lobby-day-west-and-sw-suburban-districts-2-11-2025/

Cross+Generational Activity

Join us on Thursday, February 13th at 5:00pm for a special Cross+Gen activity, the “Global Poverty Experience,” presented by Global Health Ministries, our February Gift of Love recipient. This unique “live-action” game challenges groups to work together as families learning about life in a rural village in a low-resource country. Each “family” tries to complete tasks necessary to survive. Learn through hands-on experience, some of the daily challenges faced today by people living in poverty around the globe. Global Health Ministries, an independent Lutheran organization, brings you this event as an introduction to mobilize your engagement in global ministry. Dinner begins at 5:00, and the experience begins at 5:30. Sign up at the Welcome Center. 

Funding Shortfalls

Due to recent Executive Orders freezing aid funding as well as misinformation being spread about Lutheran social service agencies, organizations such as Lutheran Social Services and Global Refuge are facing extreme funding shortfalls. If you would like to donate to either LSS or Global Refuge on top of your regular offering and Gifts of Love, you can do so by placing cash or check in the offering envelope in your pew. Mark the “Other” line with “LSS" or "Global Refuge", and St. Barnabas will pass your gift along. 

New Light Pole at St. Barnabas

The light is VERY bright and illuminates the church driveway extremely well.

Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner

Dinner took place on January 18 at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights.

2025 Church Directory

We will be updating the church directory to be ready for printing by the end of March. It's very important that we have the correct contact information for our members so please let us know if any of the following pertain to you:

• You don’t have a picture in the directory and would like one added
• You want your existing picture updated
• You have a new mailing address
• You have a new email address
• You have a new mobile number
• You no longer have a landline number
• You have post college kids that are no longer active members

Please let Brenda know of these changes.

If you would like your picture taken, one of the council members or pastors can take it while at church or you can stop by the office during business hours M-F. You can also email pictures to Brenda in the church office.

The Family Resource Center

Office Hours & Exciting Opportunity

Updated office hours for The Family Resource Center:

• Mondays: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
• Wednesdays: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
• Sundays (Two to three per month): 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• 
  

I am glad to have anyone stop by for resources, questions, or just to say hi!

Appointments outside of these hours are also available upon request. Please don’t hesitate to reach out! In addition, I am excited to share a new goal. The Family Resource Center is looking for a small group of individuals interested in joining a Mental Health Task Force. This group will explore ways to strengthen the connection between mental health and our congregation, and we would love to have your input and participation. If you are interested in learning more or joining the task force, please stop in or email Melissa at BarnabasFRC@gmail.com.

Partner Ministry News

Gift of Love

February "Gift of Love"

Global Health Ministries

 Global Health Ministries (GHM) is an independent Lutheran nonprofit (501c3)

established in 1987, and specializes in capacity-building for Lutheran health systems in under-resourced countries, serving some of the most vulnerable people in the world. We believe all people should have access to a healthy life. But they don’t. Together we can make a difference. Each year thousands of

volunteers gather in our Minnesota-based warehouse to help sort and pack medical equipment and supplies to share around the world. At the request of our international partners we also offer grants and volunteer consultants to help build their capacity to move the needle on health in their communities and effect sustainable and enduring change.

February Birthdays

Community Happenings

Meet Your Neighbor: Basics of Islam and Muslim Lifestyle

This is a free event at the Plymouth Community Center on Wednesday, February 26th from 2:00pm-3:30pm. Learn about the Muslim and Islamic culture. How does this belief system guide day to day lifestyles of a Muslim?

Explore similarities and differences compared to American cultures. Hear how these beliefs are sometimes misrepresented. Call the City of Plymouth Park and Rec at 763-509-5200 to register for this free and informative event.

55+ Movie Matinee

Movie in February: Nowhere Special

·   2/18/2025 1:00pm - 3:30pm  

·   Plymouth Community Center

Enjoy an afternoon with friends going to the movies right here in Plymouth. Popcorn and water provided. No cost, but pre-registration requested.

Click here to register

Photo of the Week

Donations Needed

Donation Station (Updated 2/4/25)

Here is what we're currently collecting at our Donation Station in the Narthex.

Good News Jail Ministry

Needed: XL thru XXXL sweat pants & shirts, and fall/winter coats.

IOCP Food Shelf Most Needed Items

Feminine Hygiene Products (especially pads)

Brand Name Cereals

Bottled Water

IOCP Client Clothing Most Needed Items

Men’s Clothing (all sizes plus Big & Tall): casual wear, active wear, jeans, shoes

Men’s Underwear (S, M, L)

Women’s Underwear (XS, S, M, L)

Women’s Socks - all sizes

Women’s Bras (XS, S, M)

Children’s Shoes - all sizes

Children’s Socks & Underwear - all sizes

Bath Towels, Bedsheets new or like-new

Pots & Pans, Everyday Dish Sets & Eating Utensils new or like-new

Donation Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 10am – 5pm

Donations can be dropped off at the east side of our building at 1605 County Road 101 N Plymouth, MN 55447

Resources & Links

Spread the Word!

Have you Liked and Followed our Facebook and Instagram pages? No? Go there right now and do it! (Please.) When you like our pages, they show up for the people you know, and we can extend our reach. Plus, the more you engage (like commenting, liking, and sharing posts), the further the word gets out! It's an easy way to tell everyone you know about St. Barnabas!

Want something in the E-News?

Do you want your small group information, community activities or church news in the

weekly E-News? Please email your articles to Brenda Ericson with all the details by Wednesday morning of the week you want it shared.

Church Council Minutes

Copies of the minutes are available in the narthex. They are also located on our website.

If you'd like to be added to the email list, call the church office at 763-553-1239

Bulletin Delivery

Want a Bulletin Delivered? For those who are not able to access the worship video, some of our BeFrienders will deliver printed copies of the bulletin on Friday's.

If you'd like to have a bulletin delivered, you can call the church office at

763-553-1239.