A Message from Pastor Carrie

Last Sunday was full of festivity and celebration!

We kicked off our fall stewardship campaign and celebrated with our third graders and four- and five-year-olds as they received the gift of God’s Word from the congregation, fulfilling part of the promises we make in baptism. On top of all that, it was Reformation Sunday, when we remember that we are a church that is constantly being reformed and renewed as Christ calls us forward. It was beautiful, joyful, and a lot to take in!

This Sunday, we continue our stewardship journey of ROOTED, GROWING, and REACHING. After exploring what it means to be rooted in this place and how our congregation’s history and future inform and anchor us, we will reflect on how the Body of Christ nurtures and supports our faith in Jesus. We need one another, not only for encouragement and support but also to challenge us and help us grow in our individual faith journeys. Each of us has a different story of how this congregation has shaped and strengthened our faith, and we will hear some of those stories on Sunday.

We will also celebrate All Saints Sunday, remembering those who have gone before us. The saints who have shaped our lives are woven into the fabric of our faith. The stories of those through whom God has worked to make a difference in our lives are part of who we are as children of God. Everyone will have an opportunity to come forward and light a candle in memory of their own saints. We will also light candles and toll the church bell in memory of three longtime members of St. Paul Lutheran who now rest in the eternal promise of Christ’s resurrection: Allan DeWolf, Ellsworth Larson, and John Peterson. While All Saints Sunday carries a more somber tone, it is also a celebration of the lives they lived, the gifts they shared, and the lasting imprint they have left on our congregation and our lives.

The scripture from Isaiah reminds us to trust that God is at work in our growth, just as rain and snow water the earth and bring forth new life. God provides what we need to grow, individually and together, so that we can continue to reach out into the world around us. Do we trust that God will continue to nurture our life together, helping us grow as followers of Jesus and as the Body of Christ? And how might we, in turn, leave our own imprint on the world through the gifts we share, the relationships we build, and the love we extend to others?

¹⁰For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

-Isaiah 55:10-11

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

Pastor Carrie

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

All Saints Sunday, November 1, 2026

View Order of Worship

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

We hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

CHURCH COUNCIL

The October Church Council Meeting Minutes are available here, on our website, and in the council book in the library.

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 is underway.

Find out more by clicking here.

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!

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

Supper for all ages and families will be served from 5:45–6:15 p.m., with Joyful Noise children’s choir and Confirmation to follow. Supper this week will be pulled pork sandwiches and tator tots.

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

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!

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.

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!

Give Now!