A Message from Pastor Dale

This Sunday, November 8, we enter the third week of our shared stewardship journey, Rooted. Growing. Reaching. Our theme this week is Reaching: God's World.

Over the past two weeks, we have celebrated the ways God has rooted us in a place to call home and how we continue to grow as a community of faith. Now we turn our attention outward, remembering that the love of God is never meant to stop at our church doors. We are called to reach beyond ourselves, sharing Christ's love with our neighbors, our community, and the world.

Whether it is through our partnership with Bega Kwa Bega in Tanzania, supporting our local outreach ministries like Family Pathways, caring for those who are grieving or struggling, or simply offering a word of kindness to someone who needs it, we are making God's love visible in the world. That's what it means to be the church!

As we continue this journey, watch your mailbox next week for a special stewardship mailing. It will include a summary of your year-to-date giving for 2026, along with a suggested increased annual giving amount for 2027. Please understand that this is an invitation based on your current and past giving patterns, not an expectation or an obligation. It is an opportunity to prayerfully consider how we might grow together in our generosity as we look toward another year of ministry. With our mortgage now paid off and our redevelopment journey behind us, we have so much to be thankful for and so many opportunities ahead. Our giving makes it possible to sustain the ministries we love while also reaching new people and responding to the needs of God's world. Our Commitment Sunday is November 15, when we will bring our Estimate of Giving Cards to worship and celebrate what God is doing among us.

And speaking of things to look forward to, there is still so much happening at our church this fall!

Our children and youth are preparing for this year's Christmas program, our ENGAGE faith formation continues, and our congregation continues to find ways to serve, learn, connect, and grow together. We will gather for Thanksgiving Eve worship on Wednesday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m., an opportunity to pause, give thanks, and remember God's many blessings. Then, as we enter the season of Advent, beginning November 29, we will gather for our Wednesday evening soup suppers at 5:30 p.m., followed by our Light of the World evening vespers at 6:30 p.m. We will also enjoy our annual Greening of the Church as we prepare our sanctuary for Christmas. There will be opportunities for fellowship, service, worship, and celebration throughout the coming weeks.

Sometimes we get so busy with everything happening around us that we forget to stop and recognize just how much God is doing in and through this congregation. I hope you will take time to celebrate it with us on Celebration Sunday, November 22 during worship and after worship at our pie social sponsored by our Stewardship Team and Church Council. Pr. Carrie and I are grateful to be part of this community of faith, and we are excited about what lies ahead.

We are rooted in God's grace, growing together in faith, and reaching into God's world with love.

There is much to celebrate, much to be thankful for, and so much more to come!

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

Pastor Dale

Sunday, November 8, 2026

View Order of Worship

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

We hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

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

We’re excited to introduce “Pass the Torch,” a new series of workshops designed to give our members an opportunity to share their wisdom, hobbies, skills, and knowledge with the rest of us! We’ll kick off the series on Sunday, November 15, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, with Tom Miller leading a helpful conversation about our Church Endowment fund, Estate Planning, and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) as additional ways to support the ministry and mission of our congregation. This will be an opportunity to learn more about ways to give back to our church, ask questions, and explore how thoughtful financial and estate planning can help support future generations of ministry. While especially helpful for our senior members, everyone is welcome! Come learn, share, and discover how we can pass the torch of faith and generosity to those who follow.

Sunday, November 15, is Commitment Sunday! As we continue our annual stewardship journey, “Rooted. Growing. Reaching.” Commitment Sunday is our opportunity to respond with gratitude for all that God is doing in and through our congregation. You will receive your 2027 Estimate of Giving Card in the mail next week. Please prayerfully consider your estimate of giving for 2027 and bring your completed card forward with your offering on November 15. As we give thanks for the rootedness of our faith, the growth of our community, and the reach of our ministries, we celebrate the many ways God is working through our congregation.

Join us on Wednesday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m. for our annual Thanksgiving Eve Worship service! As we gather in gratitude, we’ll give thanks for God’s many blessings and celebrate the gift of faith, family, and community. Come and prepare your heart for Thanksgiving as we worship together and give thanks to God!

Help us get ready for Christmas! Join us immediately following worship on Sunday, November 29, the First Sunday of Advent. Many hands are needed to help decorate our sanctuary and narthex for the Christmas season.

Tanzania Scholarship Update: Thank You for Your Generosity!

What an incredible expression of generosity!

Our congregation received a total of $6,925 in gifts for student scholarships in our partner congregations of Mtera and Migoli in Tanzania. That is enough to sponsor 15 students for an entire year of education!

What a wonderful way to live out this week's stewardship theme of, Reaching: God's World!

Through your generosity, we are reaching beyond our own community, sharing Christ's love, and helping provide opportunities for children to learn and grow.

Thank you, so much (Asante, sana!!) for making a difference in the lives of these students and their families. Your generosity truly makes a difference!

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.

Advent Midweek Soup Suppers & Worship.

Join us Wednesday evenings beginning December 2 as we gather for our Advent Midweek Soup Suppers and worship!

This year’s Advent theme is “Bless This Waiting.”



Advent is a season of waiting, longing, and hope as we prepare to welcome the Christ child into this world. Yet we struggle in the waiting. We know the darkness of disappointment, the ache of uncertainty, and the yearning for God among us. In the midst of our waiting, God meets us with a hope that sustains, a peace that grounds, a joy uplifts and a love that transforms.

You're invited to join us for “Bless This Waiting,” a journey of discovering God’s blessings in the waiting. Together we will anticipate the world-changing good news of Christmas. Each week, we will explore a different blessing: Bless This Hope, Bless This Peace, Bless This Joy, and Bless This Love. These themes will shape our Sunday morning worship and our Wednesday evening “Light of the World” Evening Vesper services. May this holy season of anticipation give us space to trust that even in the waiting, God is at work bringing light, love, and new life into our world.

On these Wednesday evenings we’ll share a meal together at 5:30 p.m., followed by our Light of the World evening vespers service at 6:30 p.m. Come enjoy a warm bowl of soup, meaningful fellowship, and a time of worship as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex to help provide and serve soup one of the evenings.

We look forward to sharing this special Advent journey together!

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.

It’s time to get ready for our annual Children’s Christmas Program! All children and youth ages 3 through 6th grade are invited to participate. Rehearsals will be on Wednesdays, November 11 and 18, from 6:15 - 7:00 p.m., and Wednesdays, December 2 and 9, from 5:45 - 6:15 p.m. If you are unable to attend all the rehearsals, please reach out to Pastor Carrie. The Program will be Sunday, December 13, at 9:00 a.m.

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.

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

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!

November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month.

Another name for this disease is gastric cancer. Stomach cancer starts when cells in the stomach grow out of control. The stomach helps break down food. Most stomach cancers start in the inner lining, where stomach acid is made.

Stomach cancer may not cause symptoms at first. Signs can include pain in the stomach area, heartburn, bloating after meals, or feeling full after eating very little. You may feel sick to your stomach, vomit, have trouble swallowing, or lose weight without trying.

These symptoms do not always mean cancer. Other health problems can cause them, too. Make an appointment with your doctor if symptoms worry you. Your doctor can check for the cause.

Stomach cancer is more common in older adults, but it can affect anyone. Smoking, a family history of stomach cancer, and long-term swelling in the stomach lining can raise your risk. So can an infection with bacteria called H. pylori. Eating lots of salty or smoked foods, or few fruits and vegetables, may also raise your risk.

To test for stomach cancer, your doctor may use an upper endoscopy to look inside your stomach. This test uses a thin tube with a small camera, passed through your mouth. The doctor may take a small tissue sample, called a biopsy. A lab checks it for cancer. Scans and other tests can show how far the cancer has spread. This is called its stage.

Treatment depends on the cancer’s stage and your overall health. It may include surgery, cancer-fighting drugs called chemotherapy, or radiation, which uses strong energy beams. Other drugs target weak spots in cancer cells or help your body’s defenses fight cancer.

Talk with your doctor about your symptoms and family history. If you are diagnosed with stomach cancer, ask about your treatment choices. Support groups can help you connect with people who understand what you are facing.

We are blessed to have knowledgeable, caring nurses in our congregation. If you have any questions for Joanna or Jamie, contact the main office.

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.

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 8

Rooted. Growing. Reaching.

Stewardship Journey

Worship, 9:00 a.m.

Wild Faith/Explorers, 10:00 a.m.

Vocal Choir, 6:00 p.m.

Bell Choir, 7:00 p.m.

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Tuesday, November 10

Adult Bible Study, 1:00 p.m.

Boy Scouts, 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11

The Table, 5:45 p.m.

Confirmation & High School Youth, 6:15 p.m.

Christmas Program Rehearsal, 6:15 p.m.

Sunday, November 15

Rooted. Growing. Reaching.

Stewardship Journey

Worship, 9:00 a.m.

Pass the Torch - Tom Miller, 10:30 a.m.

Vocal Choir, 6:00 p.m.

Bell Choir, 7:00 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD

Thanksgiving Eve Worship - November 25

Advent Begins - November 29

Greening of the Church - November 29