A Message from Pastor Dale

This coming Sunday is a special one at our church!

We’ll celebrate Reformation Sunday (wear red!), share an important milestone in the faith journeys of nine of our third graders and preschoolers as they receive their Bibles, and kick off our fall stewardship journey, “Rooted. Growing. Reaching.”

Over the next five weeks, we’ll reflect on how God has planted us in this place, continues to grow us as a community of faith, and sends us out to share Christ’s love with the world. We begin this Sunday with ROOTED: Where Has God Planted Us? We’ll give thanks for the people, ministries, and church home that provide a foundation for our life together. Now that our mortgage is paid off, we have an opportunity to focus on caring for our building and grounds so they can continue to serve our congregation and community for years to come. Our building is important, but Christ is our true foundation. As we consider our giving for the coming year, we’ll reflect on how our generosity helps us care for this place and prepare for the ministry God is calling us to do. I hope you’ll join us for this journey of prayer, gratitude, and generosity.

Reformation Sunday also reminds us that the church is always being renewed by God’s grace. That renewal begins with the good news of Jesus Christ and continues as we live out our calling together. One way we do that is by nurturing faith across generations. This Sunday, nine of our third graders and preschoolers will receive their Bibles as part of our Bible Milestone ministry. This is more than simply giving a child a book. It is a reminder of the promises we make at baptism, when we commit as a congregation to support children in their faith, help them grow in their understanding of God’s Word, and encourage them in their life with Christ. Thank you for being part of a community that helps faith take root in the lives of our youngest members.

I also want to thank everyone who participated in last Sunday’s preliminary 2027 budget draft meeting. Your questions, comments, and feedback were helpful and were discussed at our Church Council meeting on Tuesday evening. We appreciate your engagement and your desire to understand the financial decisions that shape our ministry. Moving forward, we will include monthly financial updates in the worship bulletin each week. These updates will show our year-to-date total General Fund offerings and other revenue received, total expenditures, and our net revenue. We hope this information will provide greater clarity about our financial status and help all of us stay informed as we plan for the year ahead.

As we begin this stewardship journey, I’m grateful for the many ways you already share your time, talents, and financial gifts. Our journey of faith continues, and we have much to be thankful for. God has planted us here, God is growing something among us, and God continues to call us into the world. May we remain rooted in Christ’s grace, grow together in faith, and reach out with generosity and joy as we continue Sharing Christ’s Love With Joy!

See you in church! (And bring a friend!)

Pastor Dale

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

Sunday, October 25, 2026

View Order of Worship

In-person and streamed live on our Church Facebook Page.

We hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

TANZANIA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORSHIPS

It’s that time of year again!

All are invited to help provide educational opportunities for the school-aged children of our Tanzanian partners in Mtera and Migoli by sponsoring a student for one full year of school.

A full-year scholarship is $450, but you don’t have to do it alone! Individuals, families, or groups of friends and families can combine their gifts to provide full or partial tuition for a student.

Last year, the generosity of our congregation provided nearly $6,000 in scholarship funds, enabling us to sponsor 12 students for an entire year of school. What a wonderful way to share Christ’s love across the world!

All sponsorship gifts need to be received by Sunday, November 1.

Thank you for prayerfully considering participating in this meaningful ministry. Your generosity makes a lasting difference in the lives of our Tanzanian partners and their children!

ROOTED. GROWING. REACHING.

Something Exciting Is Taking Root Among Us!

Our Rooted. Growing. Reaching. five-week stewardship journey begins this Sunday, October 25!

We’ll kick things off with ROOTED: Where Has God Planted Us? as we reflect on the people, place, and ministries that provide a foundation for our life together in Christ.

Information about the journey and a detailed schedule should have arrived in your mail this week.

Find out more by clicking here.

A.R.K. GROUP

ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) Group. Join us on tomorrow, October 24, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. for a morning of card making as we create cards to share kindness and encouragement with others. Questions? Please talk with Deb Cowing.

LEAVE THE LEAVES: CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION

A Timely Tip from our Creation Care Team!

The leaves have fallen from many of the trees, and perhaps you’re planning to tackle some fall yardwork during this unseasonably warm weekend. Thank you to Brandy Timmons for updating our Creation Care board with the theme “Leave the Leaves!” Be sure to take a look at the board for some great information. Here’s a little more about why leaving the leaves can be a good choice for caring for God’s creation.

Improve soil health. Fallen leaves return important nutrients to the soil, help retain moisture, and insulate the roots of trees and other plants throughout the winter.
Give leaves a place to rest. A thin layer of leaves on your lawn can be beneficial. If you have too many, consider raking them onto garden beds to provide insulation for perennial plants. While mulching is an option, it can also harm caterpillars, butterfly chrysalises, and other beneficial insects that overwinter in the leaves.
Protect overwintering wildlife. In addition to fallen leaves, the stems of perennial plants provide shelter for insects and other wildlife. Butterflies, moths, queen bumblebees, fireflies, spiders, and beetles spend the winter in leaf litter or plant stems in various stages of their life cycles.
Create habitat for wildlife. Leaf piles in garden corners and beds, along with standing plant stems and shrubs, provide food and shelter for birds, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Songbirds and small mammals forage among the leaves for insects and larvae, while toads, frogs, and salamanders use the damp leaf layer for cover and protection.

Thank you for considering how we can share our yards and gardens with the rest of God’s creation. Sometimes, caring for the earth means doing a little less yardwork and allowing nature to do what it does best!

FALL FESTIVAL

Fall Festival—SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendar for our annual Fall Festival on Wednesday, October 28!

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a Chili Cook-Off Contest, caramel apple bar, fall crafts, games, and the Barron of Bubbles, back by popular demand!

This fun event is an annual partnership with our Discovery Center.

Interested in helping? Talk to Pr. Carrie!

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 1

All Saints Sunday is November 1, 2026.

We have three saints who have passed away since All Saints Sunday 2025 - Ellsworth Larson, Allan DeWolf and John Peterson.

As we remember them with the lighting of candles and tolling of the bell, we invite you (if you have one) to bring your Heartly Bear from Mattson Funeral Home to worship on All Saints Sunday. We will display the bears as part of our remembrance and celebration of the saints in our lives.

All will be invited to light candles in memory of their own saints who have gone before us following Holy Communion.

FALL BLOOD DRIVE

Fall Blood Drive, Friday, November 6 - The American Red Cross is offering another opportunity to give the gift of life right here at St. Paul Lutheran!

Join us on Friday, November 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to donate blood and make a difference in someone's life.

To schedule your appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter St Paul Lutheran in the search field.

Volunteers Needed! Our blood drive depends on the volunteers to make it happen. If you can lend a hand, please sign up on the sheet located on the table in the narthex or contact Melissa in the church office.

THE TABLE HAS BEEN (RE)SET

No table this week due to our fall festival!

ENGAGE LEARNING SERIES!

ENGAGE: Symbols of Faith

We are in the midst of our fourth year of ENGAGE Monthly Learning with a new series exploring six familiar symbols of our Christian and Lutheran faith traditions.

We’ll discover the history, biblical connections, and meaning behind symbols such as Luther’s Rose, the Ichthus (fish), the Chi Rho, the Dove, biblical numbers, and the Cross.

ENGAGE Sundays offer opportunities for worship, learning, conversation, and faith formation for all ages, including Wild Faith learning opportunities for children.

Come join us as we explore the stories and meaning behind these familiar symbols and deepen our understanding of the faith we share!

Find out more!

WEST OF 55

Join us on Thursday, October 29 from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. for White Elephant Bingo!

Bring one item from around your house that you no longer need or want. Please do not purchase anything new. Bring a snack to share, and popcorn will be provided. Come ready for some bingo, laughs and fun!

Zion Community Dinner, Monday November 9. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a meaningful service project! On Monday, November 9, we’ll be volunteering again at the Zion Lutheran Community Meal in Chisago City, where we’ll help serve and connect with members of the community. Our group has been asked to provide 16 dozen desserts, and a meal will be provided for all volunteers. Please remember to wear a hat! We’ll meet at Zion Lutheran Church at 3:30 p.m. A sign-up sheet is available on the table in the narthex, be sure to add your name!

For more information on both events, talk to Carole England.

Prayer Wall: A Place of Remembrance & Prayer

You are reminded that a Prayer Wall has been created in our Prayer Room as a sacred space to remember loved ones and honor those who have served. This beautiful wall, built by Jamie Hyrkas with faith, love, and prayer, serves as a lasting reminder that we hold one another in prayer.

You are invited to request the name of a deceased loved one to be added to the Prayer Wall. Requested names will be engraved monthly, creating a continuing place of remembrance, faith, and hope within our church. When we lift up our loved ones in prayer, we keep their memory alive.

Thank you for helping us create a wall that reflects the power of prayer and the strength we find when we pray together. Instructions for requesting a name to be added are available on handouts in the Prayer Room or by contacting Melissa in the Church Office.

FALL QUILT RAFFLE! THE HUMBLE BEES

Fall Quilt Raffle

This year, we have three beautiful quilts available to win.

Raffle proceeds will once again support college scholarships for graduating seniors in our congregation. Sponsored by our St. Paul Lutheran Humble Bees Quilting & Sewing Group.

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!

PARISH NURSE'S CORNER

October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month

I know we usually think of Breast Cancer Awareness in October but there are other types of cancer that we should be aware of and watching for.

What does the liver do? The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It filters harmful substances from the blood,

produces bile that helps in the digestion of fats, and stores sugar that the body uses for energy.

Liver cancer includes two major types: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic bile duct cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are about 42,000 new cases each year of liver cancer and about 30,000 people die each year from liver cancer in the United States. Liver cancer is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer but often people avoid treatment due to the stigmatism of liver cancer.

One of the easiest ways to prevent this type of cancer is receiving treatment for Hepatitis B or C. The liver is often a place where cancer spreads from other types of cancer such as kidney, lung, pancreatic, stomach, and colorectal just to name a few. The 5 year survival rate for liver cancer is 21% according to American Association for Cancer research. This type of cancer is not as common in the United States but there is a rise of cases with the rise of hepatitis C.

Risk factors for Liver Cancer include; Chronic hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, heavy alcohol use, tobacco use, eating food high in aflatoxin b, progressive non alcoholic fatty liver (steatohepatitis), or rare genetic disorders and the most common risk factor is increasing age. If you are wondering what are food high in aflatoxin check out this link.

Liver cancer is more common in men than women. Diagnosis usually is done thru CT or biopsy of the a piece of the liver. Symptoms for liver cancer can include, yellowing of skin or eyes, unexplained weight loss, persistent swelling or pain in the abdomen, and feeling full very quickly or tired very easily. Staging for liver cancer usually uses the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) method that stages cancer from 0-D Stage D being the worst or end stage. Liver cancer is usually treated so there is not as much data to help understand what happens to early stages of liver cancer untreated. Some treatments include liver transplant, surgical resection, and ablation offer high rates of complete responses and a potential for cure in patients with early HCC.

If you would like more information about liver cancer or any other health topic reach out to Joanna or Jaime our resident RN’s.

We are blessed to have knowledgeable, caring nurses in our congregation. If you have a question for Joanna or Jaime, call the main office at 651-462-5212.

Monthly Financial Stewardship Update

Through September 30, 2026

General Fund Offering Received: $174,521.00

Total Revenue Received: $221,861.00

Total Expenses: $216.208.00

Net Revenue: $5,654.00

Detailed monthly financial reports are located in the

Church Council meeting minute binder in the church library

Please contact our Church Council Treasurer, Chris Timmons with any questions.

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