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A Message from Pastor Carrie
This Advent we will be digging into the texts from the prophet Isaiah.
These are the Old Testament lessons for Advent, chosen because they are prophecies, both for the Hebrew people and for Christians, as we prepare for the coming of hope on Christmas.
Waiting for Light — Isaiah 2:1–5
Watching for Light — Isaiah 2:1–5
Searching for Joy — Isaiah 35:1–10
Trusting the Promise — Isaiah 7:10–16
These themes are active, inviting us to wonder with Isaiah about how our waiting, watching, searching, and trusting will bring us to the hope of the manger. Do we think of waiting as an active word? When I think about waiting, the first thing I think of is the long lines at the State Fair. Every year when we get our Sweet Martha’s Cookies, I walk around at the end of the line and wonder, Where should I wait? Does one line look like it is moving faster? Is one line shorter?
In the end, I just have to get in line and wait, just like everyone around me. In a different circumstance I might be impatient, except I know what is at the end. So I actively wait, in anticipation of a big pail of warm chocolate chip cookies that I get to share with people I love.
How will your waiting be active this Advent season? How will your active waiting make space for you to sit with the stories of hope that Isaiah offers the Hebrew people? How will your active waiting help you to find hope in a baby? How will ancient prophecy invite you to actively wait in the present day for hope, hope that promises that Jesus is still working to turn the powers of the world upside down?
I am just finishing reading A Year in the Wilderness: Bearing Witness in the Boundary Waters, a book that has been sitting on my shelf since 2018. I met the author, Amy Freeman, at a reading of the account of the year she and her husband Dan spent living in the Boundary Waters. The pictures themselves are worth the read! Amy and Dan spent the year in the BWCA to bring attention to the beloved natural resource that we have in northern Minnesota and the need to protect it.
Throughout their year, they were both fed and challenged by the world in which they lived. Some days were full of work and some days, especially when the snow blew, were full of rest and waiting. Yet all of them were full of hope: hope that the work and the waiting would not only help others learn about the Boundary Waters, but that their own lives would be filled and changed.
There is more information about our Advent Theme and schedule on our website.
This Advent, may your active waiting, the words of Isaiah, and the promise of the hope of Christ in our world fill and change you.
See you in church! (and bring a friend!)
Pastor Carrie
| | The November 2025 Church Council minutes are available here, on our website and in the council book in the library. | | |
“Seeking Light” is an Advent Journey Through Darkness that begins on Sunday, November 30.
Mid-week soup suppers and worship will be offered again on Wednesdays in Advent.
Join us as we seek The Light together!
Find out more and view schedule.
| | | Advent Soup Supper Sign-Up. Advent is coming, and with it our tradition of mid-week Soup Suppers and Holden Evening Prayer! We’re looking for two volunteers/week to prepare and serve soup on Wednesdays, December 3, 10, and 17. Supper will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by Holden Evening Vespers at 6:30 p.m. Please plan to prepare enough soup to serve about 50 people. This is a way to share hospitality and fellowship during the Advent season! Sign up in the Narthex or contact the church office if you’re able to help. | | |
Help Adorn Our Christmas Eve Chancel
Beginning Sunday, November 23 through Sunday, December 7, we invite you to order Christmas plants to decorate the altar for Christmas Eve Worship.
This is a meaningful way to honor loved ones or offer a gift of gratitude this season.
To place an order, simply call Melissa in the church office at 651-462-5212, complete an order form available on Sunday mornings, or order now online.
Thank you for helping make our worship space shine with the hope and joy of Christ’s birth!
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Angel Tree Outreach Has Begun!
This Christmas season, we are once again partnering with Safe Haven Foster Shoppe to help provide gifts for children in foster care.
Beginning Sunday, November 23, our Angel Tree is up and ready with tag ornaments listing each child’s Christmas wishes. Simply take a tag from the tree, purchase the gift(s) listed, and return it under the tree, unwrapped with the tag attached.
Please place all gifts under the tree by Sunday, December 7 so they can be delivered in time for Christmas. Thank you for helping share Christ’s love and joy with children who need it most. Your generosity continues to make such a difference!
| | QUILT RAFFLE DRAWING - THIS Sunday! | | |
Annual Quilt Raffle!
Get ready for one of our favorite fall traditions, our Annual Quilt Raffle! The drawing will be on Sunday, November 30!
This year’s raffle features four beautiful quilts, three lovingly made and donated by Maureen Sausen and one by Mary Haselbauer.
Tickets: $5 each • 3 for $10.
All proceeds will go toward our special mortgage payoff appeal, helping us move into an exciting new chapter together as a congregation.
A heartfelt thank you to our Humble Bees quilting and sewing group and our generous quilt donors for sharing their gifts and creativity once again this year. Come see the quilts on display starting Sunday and don’t miss your chance to take home a masterpiece while supporting a great cause!
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ENGAGE: Lutherans! A Monthly Worship & Learning Series
Six special Sundays during the school year have been planned, when worship will highlight what it means to be an E.L.C.A. Lutheran, followed by 30–45 minutes of learning for all ages.
The six core Lutheran themes that shape our faith and life together will explore a central “both/and” truth of our tradition.
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Sunday, January 11 – Saints and Sinners - As Lutherans we confess we are both saints and sinners, redeemed by Christ, yet still in need of daily forgiveness.
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Sunday, February 15 – Cross and Resurrection - At the cross we see God’s love revealed in weakness, and in the resurrection we trust God’s promise of new life.
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Sunday, April 12 – Law and Gospel - God’s Word both convicts us in our sin (Law) and frees us with the promise of grace (Gospel).
After worship, groups will gather by age: Wild Faith for Littles (birth–5 and parents), Wild Explorers (K–4th grade), 5th–6th graders as helpers and leaders, and Confirmation Vitality (7th–9th grade).
Whether or not you can join Wednesday nights, ENGAGE is another great way on Sunday mornings for kids, youth, and parents to connect and grow in faith together.
| | UPCOMING ELECTED POSITION OPENINGS | | |
Have you considered sharing your gift of leadership with our congregation?
Our Church Council is seeking nominations for the 2026–2028 term. Several Council positions will be elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026. We are grateful that several current members whose first terms expire in January have expressed interest in serving another term: Carole England (Vice President), Chris Timmons (Secretary), Andy Buccanero (Treasurer), and Kimberly Bahls (Member-at-Large). Additionally, Bruce Spangler is willing to serve as a Member-at-Large, leaving one Member-at-Large position still open.
Three delegates will also be elected to represent our congregation at the 2026 Synod Assembly in May, which includes the election of a new Synod Bishop. Karen Carlson, Carole England, and Kimberly Bahls have offered to serve in this way.
A total of six voting delegates are allowed for our congregation at the Annual Conference assembly on February 14, 2026. Christina Fashner has offered to serve as an additional delegate to the Conference Assembly. Two Conference Assembly Delegates are still needed. Names for a newly elected Bishop at our Synod Assembly will be nominated at the Conference assemblies this day. Three of the six delegates at the Conference Assembly will represent us at the Synod Assembly in May.
Serving in these ways are significant as they help shape the mission and vision of St. Paul Lutheran and our Synod. If you feel called to serve or would like to nominate someone, please contact the church office or a current Council member. Nominations are welcome until all positions are filled and ultimately voted on in January.
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West of 55: Name that (Christmas)Tune!
Join us on Friday, December 12 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for Name That Tune: Christmas Carols & Cookie Exchange!
Join us for Friday Pie Day with apple pie and coffee for everyone! Bring a dozen cookies (homemade or store-bought) and go home with a dozen different treats. Sheila Byl will play Christmas carols as we test our skills in "Name That Tune" - Can you guess the song in just five notes? No sign-up is required.
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Our men’s group for learning, fellowship, and service meets again on Saturday, January 10 at 9:00 a.m.
We’ll start with coffee, treats, a short devotion, and prayer, followed by more hands-on work that can be on your own or together in groups.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship, lend a hand, and serve together. All are welcome to join The 3G Crew!
For more information, talk with Pastor Dale, Myron Carpenter, or Steve Greseth.
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Our quilting and sewing group, the Humble Bees, meets on the second Monday of each month at 12:30 p.m. at church.
No experience is necessary, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to quilt or sew, share your skills, or simply enjoy time together in fellowship. Whether you’re an experienced quilter, a beginner, or just curious, you are invited to join the group. And bring a friend!
| | ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS (ARK) EVENTS | | |
We’re excited to launch our new ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) program with upcoming events, and you’re welcome to attend! We ask for a $20 donation per participant, which goes directly toward the ARK events and their causes.
Our Next ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) Gathering will be Saturday, December 6, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. at church, hosted by Deb Cowing. Participants will prepare meals, such as chili, lasagna roll-ups, and chicken hotdish, that will be frozen and made available through our pastors and our Congregation Care Committee to share with members in need. Please RSVP to Deb if you plan to attend this ARK event. We hope to see you there!
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Winter Allergies
Why Allergies Can Still Bother You When It’s Cold
Most people think allergies only happen in spring or summer, when flowers bloom and pollen is everywhere. But allergies can also be a problem in the winter. Winter allergies might be less obvious, but they can still make you feel miserable. This article explains what causes winter allergies, what symptoms you might have, and how you can manage them, so you know why you might sneeze even when it’s cold outside.
We are blessed to have knowledgeable, care nurses in our congregation. If you have questions for Joanna or Jaime, call the church office at 651-462-5212.
| | H.E.A.L @ S.P.L.C. - A GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP | | |
H.E.A.L. (Hope and Encouragement After Loss) is an ongoing grief support group at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
This group is for anyone navigating the challenges of loss, offering a safe space for compassion, support, and unconditional acceptance. Whether your loss is recent or in the past, you are welcome to join us as we journey together toward healing.
The H.E.A.L. group will meet again on December 18 at 6:00 p.m.
We look forward to walking this path of hope and encouragement with you.
Find out more.
| | BRIDGE THE GAP - FINAL UPDATE! | | |
Joyful News! All Four Goals Achieved!
Bridge the Gap: Two Years of Renewed Mission & Ministry
With gratitude and great joy, we celebrate that all four goals of our Bridge the Gap appeal have been reached, and many ahead of schedule! God has been at work in powerful ways through your generosity, prayers, and commitment to the mission we share.
Here’s what we’ve accomplished together:
1️⃣ Increase membership by 30% - Our new member group on April 27 put us over our goal five months early!
2️⃣ Boost general fund offerings by 5% - Goal achieved, reaching so far, a potential 16% increase for 2026 (potentially more if all pledge cards are returned!)
3️⃣ Match the generous $30,000 anonymous gift - Mission accomplished nine months early!
4️⃣ Become debt-free with mortgage payoff - $100,000 received as of November 23, 2025 to pay off mortgage by year end!
We rejoice in what God has done among us and look forward with hope to the ministry ahead.
Thank you for your faith, your generosity, and your shared mission.
Thanks be to God!
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**NO new numbers this week due to the holiday**
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2025 Weekly
General Fund Offering Received
$180,752.17
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2025 Weekly
General Fund Offering
Budgeted
$224,785.19
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Over / (Under) Budgeted General Fund Offering
$(44,033.02)
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2025
Total Revenue Received
$262,294.81
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2025
Total Revenue Budgeted
$276,295.64
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Over / (Under) Budgeted Total Revenue Budgeted
$(14,000.83)
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Monthly Totals (as of 10/31/2025)
Total Expenses (before mortgage): $227,231
Total Expenses (after mortgage): $280,511
Net Revenue (after mortgage payment): $12,706
Mortgage Balance: $36,341
Edward Jones Balance: $54,761
The Total Revenue received includes ALL revenue received by SPLC.
General Fund Revenue is the portion of Total Revenue Received through
undesignated offerings from members and guests.
Please contact our Church Council Treasurer, Andy Buccanero or
our Bookkeeper, Chris Timmons, with any questions.
| | GIVE NOW! ELECTRONICALLY! | | Click the purple button to give now using our newly updated and improved electronic giving page, still powered by Vanco. You can set up a one time or recurring gift. Thank you! | | | |
Sunday, November 30
Advent Begins w/Sacrament of Holy Baptism
Worship, 9:00 a.m.
Greening of the Church, after worship
Vocal Choir Rehearsal, 6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, December 1
Boy Scouts, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 2
Adult Bible Study, 1:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 3
Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal, 5:30 p.m.
Advent Soup Supper, 5:30 p.m.
Advent Wednesday Worship, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 7
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
Worship, 9:00 a.m.
Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal, After Worship
Vocal Choir Rehearsal, 6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.
LOOKING AHEAD
December 24—Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship, 4:00 p.m.
December 28—Service of Lessons & Carols
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St. Paul Lutheran Church
651-462-5212
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