5879 Wyoming Trail

Wyoming, MN 55092

www.sharingchristslove.org

651-462-5212

A Message from Pastor Carrie

No matter how you feel about the government shutdown or how we got here, the reality is that starting tomorrow, November 1, those who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will run out of benefits and will be struggling to figure out how to eat and feed their families.

It made me wonder about the history of food assistance in the United States. How did we get to the modern-day SNAP benefits?

Summer 1933: The government tried to raise the prices of commodities in the midst of the Depression by paying farmers to plow under crops and kill livestock. With so many starving people, there was outrage.

Fall 1933: The Federal Surplus Relief Corporation (FSRC) was created. This time, the government bought commodities to give to charities for distribution. It was later suggested that the government open “goods exchanges” instead of relying on charities, but grocers across the country protested this idea.

1934: The FSRC became the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation and began giving surplus food to school lunch programs so it wouldn’t compete with grocers.

1939: The Department of Agriculture launched the first Food Stamps program in Rochester, New York. It used two kinds of stamps: orange stamps could be used for any food except alcohol, drugs, or food consumed on the premises; blue stamps could only be used for staples. Grocers could then redeem the stamps at banks for face value, which supported both the local economy and families in need.

1943: With the economic growth of World War II, the government ended the Food Stamps program.

1961: The Food Stamp program restarted after President Kennedy witnessed the extreme poverty in West Virginia.

1977: The requirement to purchase stamps was eliminated, making the program accessible to the poorest Americans.

1990: Food stamps were replaced by Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

2008: Congress renamed the program SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

2020: A study showed that 248,000 retailers benefit from SNAP spending. While 80% of SNAP dollars are spent in large superstores, 80% of eligible retailers are small stores. In many rural, poor parts of the country, small independent grocery stores are the only food source available.

This story of how we arrived at today’s food assistance programs was really helpful for me. As I said, this is not about the variety of opinions we may hold about the government shutdown or whether it is the government’s role to provide safety net programs for food, healthcare, or housing.

Yet, as a community that seeks to follow the call Jesus lays before us, we cannot ignore the words of Christ throughout the Gospels calling us to care for others in our community. Jesus is clear that the hungry and the poor are at the top of this list.

We hear in this Sunday’s Gospel from Luke 6:20–21:

Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”

This is the text for All Saints Sunday, a time when we remember and give thanks for those in our lives who have been the hands and feet of Jesus. It reminds us that the Holy Spirit holds us in our grief and, at the same time, that Christ sees those in our world who are so often unseen, stepped over, or brushed aside.

The Food Truck Ministry that happens monthly at St. Paul Lutheran helps us to see and meet the needs of those Jesus calls “blessed.” In response to the needs around us, our community at St. Paul Lutheran Church will be conducting an emergency food drive.

We will begin collecting non-perishable food at church this Sunday, November 2. These donations will help supplement the Food Truck ministry, especially if we see an increase in participation due to the government shutdown. Any excess food will be shared with Family Pathways to meet local needs.

If you wish to give a monetary donation, the Food Truck ministry is also collecting funds for gift cards for holiday meals.

If you feel called to engage more deeply in what is happening in our community, the ELCA has an Advocacy Network that offers support for civic engagement, as well as a Social Statement on Faith and Civic Life adopted this summer at the Churchwide Assembly.

Together, we can care for and make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.

See You In Church! (and bring a friend!)

Pastor Carrie

Worship, Sunday, November 2

View Order of Worship

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

We hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

Join us for worship THIS Sunday, November 2, as we celebrate All Saints Sunday, a day to remember and give thanks for all the saints who have gone before us. Each year, we take time in worship to honor those from our congregation who have died in the past year. This year we will remember Tricia Thompson and Kim Morsching. A candle will be lit and a bell will toll in their memory. During the service, all are invited, after receiving Holy Communion, to come forward and light a candle in remembrance of loved ones who have died, whether in the past year or in years gone by. This is always a holy and meaningful service of remembrance, hope, and thanksgiving for the promise of eternal life in Christ. We invite you to come and share in this sacred time together. If you happened to have made a bear at Mattson’s Funeral Home, please bring it with you to the service. 

The October 2025 Church Council Minutes are available here, on our website, and in the council book in the library.

Annual Quilt Raffle Begins This Sunday!

Get ready for one of our favorite fall traditions, our Annual Quilt Raffle kicks off this Sunday, November 2, with the drawing 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!

Have you considered sharing your gifts and leadership with our congregation?

The St. Paul Lutheran 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. Additionally, three delegates from our congregation will be elected to represent St. Paul Lutheran at the 2026 Annual Synod Assembly, which will include the election of a new Synod Bishop.

We are grateful that several of our current Council members, whose terms expire in January 2026, have expressed interest in serving another two-year term: Carole England as Vice President, Chris Timmons as Secretary, Andy Buccanero as Treasurer, and Kimberly Bahls as Member-at-Large.

Additionally, Bruce Spangler has agreed to serve as a Member-at-Large, leaving one Member-at-Large position still open.

Serving on the Council is a wonderful way to contribute your talents, support our ministries, and help shape the mission and vision of St. Paul Lutheran.

If you feel called to serve or would like to nominate someone, please contact the church office or one of the current Council members. All nominations will be welcomed until all positions are filled and ultimately voted on in January.

Come to The Table! Each Wednesday evening begins at 5:45 p.m. with a shared meal, followed by worship and intergenerational learning around the table. Together we’ll eat, sing, and grow in faith, just as Jesus often did around the table with his followers. From 7:00–7:30 p.m., children, youth, and adults will gather in age-specific groups: The Kids’ Table (up to 3rd grade), SPLASH (4th–6th grade), Mindfulness with Jesus (7th–12th grade), and Adult Study.

Families may register children online through our church website or by contacting Pr. Carrie or the church office directly. Contact Pr. Carrie with any questions, and join us as we grow together in faith this year at The Table!

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.

• Sunday, November 9 – Faith and Doubt - Faith is not the absence of doubt, but trusting God’s promises even when questions remain.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Our men’s group for learning, fellowship, and service meets again on Saturday, November 22 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.

Each year, we have the opportunity to make a life-changing difference by supporting young Tanzanian students in their education, many of whom would not be able to attend school without our help. It costs $450 to fund an entire year of school for one student. St. Paul Lutheran currently supports ten students! You are invited to contribute toward a partial or full scholarship for the coming year. Donations are due by November 16 and should be clearly marked “Tanzanian Post-Secondary Scholarship.” For more information, please contact one of the pastors.

As the holiday season approaches, we invite you to consider making a financial gift to support our monthly Mobile Food Shelf Ministry. Donations received will go toward purchasing gift cards to be shared with families at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Your generosity helps provide neighbors in need with the dignity and joy of choosing their own holiday meals. Please clearly mark all gifts “Food Shelf Gift Cards.” Thank you for your compassion and support! For questions, contact Melissa in the church office.

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!

Blood Drive— SPLC will be hosting a blood drive on Friday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m. We need volunteers to check people in and hand out snacks for this event. Please sign up for a shift on the volunteer table in the narthex. Questions? Contact Melissa in the office.

We’re excited to launch our new ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) program with two upcoming events, and you’re welcome to attend one or both! We ask for a $20 donation per participant, which goes directly toward the ARK events and their causes.

The first event will be held on Friday, November 14, from 6:30–7:30 p.m., hosted by Pam Heaton at her home (6466 263rd Ave, Wyoming). This gathering will benefit Options for Women & Families of Chisago County in North Branch, an organization that provides free essentials to new moms and families who are facing tight budgets, job transitions, or simply trying to get back on their feet. Pam will provide snacks and treats and will lead a discussion about how we might organize a church-wide drive to collect additional donations to accompany our monetary gift.

The second event will take place on 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 Pam or Deb if you plan to attend their ARK event. We hope to see you at one, or both, of these wonderful opportunities for devotion, fellowship, and sharing Christ’s love with joy!

"FROM MORTGAGE TO MISSION!"

We’re Almost There! Let’s Finish Strong this Fall! 

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve received $87,510 toward our $100,000 goal to pay off our mortgage in 2025. That means we’re already 88% of the way there, with only $12,489 to go!

Together, we’ve accomplished so much. Now, as we enter the final stretch, let’s finish strong! Imagine the joy and freedom of being completely debt-free, able to invest even more deeply in ministry, staff, facilities, and sharing Christ’s love with joy for generations to come.

You can help us cross the finish line!

Click the button below to give online or view our giving chart.

Thank you for your faithful support as together we move from Mortgage to Mission in order to live out our mission of Sharing Christ’s Love with Joy.

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 meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to walking this path of hope and encouragement with you.  

Find out more.

2025 Weekly

General Fund Offering Received

$168,492.57

2025 Weekly

General Fund Offering

Budgeted

$209,102.50

Over / (Under) Budgeted General Fund Offering

$(40,609.93)

2025

Total Revenue Received

$239,607.46

2025

Total Revenue Budgeted

$257,019.20

Over / (Under) Budgeted Total Revenue Budgeted

$(17,411.74)

Monthly Totals (as of 09/30/2025)

Total Expenses (before mortgage): $204,794

Total Expenses (after mortgage): $252,746

Net Revenue (after mortgage payment): $17,793

Mortgage Balance: $41,507

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.

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 2

All Saints Sunday

Worship, 9:00 a.m.

Vocal Choir Rehearsal, 6:00 p.m.

Bell Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, November 3

Boy Scouts, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 4

 Adult Bible Study, 1:00 p.m.

Cub Scouts, 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 5

The Table, 5:45 p.m.

Sunday, November 9

ENGAGE: Lutherans! Faith and Doubt

Worship, 9:00 a.m.

Vocal Choir Rehearsal, 6:00 p.m.

Bell Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD

November 16— “On a Roll … Building Faith, Sharing Hope” Commitment Sunday

November 26—Thanksgiving Eve Worship, 6:30 p.m.

November 30—Advent Begins, Baptism, and Greening of the Church!