OUR MISSIONS
Hidden
Bibles for Missions
Contact Don and Ev Griwac for more information: dgriwac@usfamily.net
Braille/Large Print Ministry
More information: www.lbwinc.org
Contact: Sharon Viegas sviegas68@yahoo.com or Carol Hoppe choppe@q.com
Comfort Dog
Concordia St. Paul
More information: www.csp.edu
Dave and Luz Maria Ernst (LaCaramuca, Venezuela)
Dave, a pastor, and LuzMaria, a deaconess, have developed a Lutheran mission school in Western Venezuela in LaCaramuca, a very poor area. The pre school provides nutritious meals and cooperate with local health agencies. In addition to the school, they lead worship services on Sunday. Here is an update from their ministry:
- Anyelimar Katiusca Mesa Ruíz;
- Naiker Daniel Ruíz;
- Diana Carolina Torres.
- Escarleth Mariuzy Ruíz;
- Maryuri Daniela Rojas;
- Eduar José Garrido;
- José Ignacio Garrido;
- Frenyerlin Novoa.
Most of the families that we serve have for generations been plagued by instability in work and personal relations. It was one of our objectives from the beginning to help them break the cycle of poverty imposed by false beliefs through Christian education. Now the entire country is gripped by an economic crisis in a world that seem to be gripped by fear and uncertainty. We ask, that if you have the means, please consider helping keep shining a light in the present darkness. You may donate on-line at this Web site. Thank and God bless.
Dennis and Monta Denow (Bangkok, Thailand)
Drew and Nicole Bradshaw (Hong Kong, China)
Watch the video here of the Hong Kong students who experienced a cross-cultural trip to St. Michael’s Bloomington.
Cross-Cultural Experience Video
Feed My Starving Children
More information: www.fmsc.org
Georgetown Park Kids Club
Contact Sue Timmerman: stimmerman@smlcb.org
Global Health Ministries
Contact Ruth Meier
Healing Haiti
More information: www.healinghaiti.org
Contact Margie Schroeder: margieschroeder@
LINC Twin Cities
More information: www.linctwincities.org
Contact Dr. Fung Lo or Kurtis Smith
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF)
More information: www.lcef.org
Contact Kurt Fuhr: kurt.fuhr@lcef.org
Lutheran Indian Ministries/Tim and Heidi Norton
More information: www.lutheranindianministries.org
Monthly newsletter: Ministry in Motion
Lutheran World Relief
More information: www.lwr.org
Meals On Wheels
Minnesota South District
More information: www.mnsdistrict.org
Contact Dr. William Utech
Normandale Hills Elementary School
Normandale Hills Elementary School
We have an expanding opportunity to live the St. Michaels mission statement. Last year we worked with Normandale Hills Elementary School by distributing food with Sheridan’s Story. This year we are expanding our involvement with them to include before and after school opportunities serving the students. Below are the additional programs where they would like us to help them.
Connections is a free, after-school opportunity that offers students additional support from tutors to work on organizational skills, successfully complete homework assignments and reinforce classroom learning. Connections meets two days a week (Monday and Wednesday) from 3:10-4:30PM. Students in grades 3-5 are referred to attend Connections, and enrollment is capped at 25 students.
Connections volunteers will provide additional academic support to students outside the classroom, while encouraging students to give their best. Ideally, volunteers should be patient and well versed academically. Four volunteers are needed Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 3:10-4:30PM.
Before the Bell is a program where Normandale Hills’ students go to make connections and get additional academic support. Before the Bell runs Monday through Friday from 8:00-8:50AM.
Individuals will work with students on a daily basis from 8:00-8:50AM and are welcome to volunteer on specific days or a period of time. Duties will consist of student engagement, supervising and tutor starting with the primary objective of the program being to ensure the student(s) have a successful start to their day.
Lunch Buddies is an afternoon program that allows adult volunteers to enjoy lunch with the great students of Normandale Hills! Two volunteers are needed to interact and assist students with lunchroom tasks. This program runs Monday through Friday from 11:20AM to 1:30PM.
Volunteers are asked to interact with students while encouraging appropriate and safe behaviors. Individuals should be willing to assist students with the opening/ disposing of school lunch materials.
Our Knightly Stars program is a math and reading program where classroom instruction is reinforced by Normandale Hills’ staff. Knightly Stars runs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:20-4:35, typically from mid winter through early spring.
Five volunteer tutors are needed to work with classroom teachers to promote student math and reading achievement as part of our after school program.
If you are interested in volunteering to work with the children before or after school each week, contact Diana Buechler at 952-210-3538 or DLbuechler1@gmail.com. There will also be a sign up sheet at the information desk at church.
Operation Barnabas (Veteran Ministry)
For more information on this ministry please visit: www.lcms.org/operationbarnabas
If you have interest in the SMLC Operation Barnabas ministry goals and objectives, please contact Bob Full: rbfull8@gmail.com
Operation Christmas Child, Samaritans Purse
Operation Christmas Child 2018
We have already started planning for OCC at St. Michael’s in 2018 and we need your help! The OCC team is seeking volunteers in two areas: Shoebox Shepherd and “FUN”draising Coordinator.
Our Shoebox Shepherd will help us gather donated boxes and coordinate the effort to wrap and decorate them ahead of our packing party in November. We have business partners, members/friends and Samaritan’s Purse that supply the boxes we need, but our team needs someone (or a group of shepherds) to coordinate the love and attention that they require.
Shoeboxes do not make their way to their final destination without a cost. One of our primary goals in 2018 is to increase our financial support for the journey that these boxes take to reach God’s children. The OCC team is seeking a “FUN”draising Coordinator to help to plan and coordinate a few simple fundraising activities throughout the year.
We believe that both of these roles can be extremely flexible to fit most any schedule and will only require a few hours each month. If you have a heart for children and want to join a fun and God-filled mission, give us a call. Contact Rick Jones at 952-334-1974 or rick.jones@basf.com.
- Any volunteer gets a really cool Operation Christmas Child t-shirt. You will be the talk of the town!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwudMtO6wik
More information: www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
Contact Rick Jones or Megan Drabek
POBLO Missionaries
More information: https://www.
S.O.N. Day
The Sheridan Story
More information: www.thesheridanstory.com
Contact Pastor Pat Simmons: pastorpat@smlcb.org
Trinity First Lutheran School
Current Prayer Needs
PRAISE
- Praise for a restful spring break for families and teachers! Praise for safe travel and that everyone came back to school safely.
- Praise for Elisebeth Rodriguez, a teacher in our Kindergarten 3 room and recent graduate of Concordia University, St. Paul, being awarded with “Outstanding Teacher Education Student – Birth to Grade Three”. We are very blessed with the talent God has given us!
- Praise for the donations of antibacterial wipes that have been coming in to be used in classrooms and around the building. Praise also for donations of blankets and other items that will be used at our Community Health Fair at the end of the month. We are so thankful for the generosity of God’s people!
- Praise for Pastor Maki painting some of the walls on our main level. It makes quite the difference!
- Praise for our new janitor! Once again, God has helped fill the gaps.
REQUESTS
- Pray for musical practice that begins this week. Pray for students and families as they adjust to schedule changes and more juggling of responsibilities. Pray for teachers and staff who put in long hours to make the musical happen.
- Pray for this week before Easter, that our families, staff, and those around us would be reminded of the REAL reason we take off a few days of school. Pray that Jesus’ death and resurrection would the focus instead of Easter bunnies and Easter egg hunts. Pray that the Holy Spirit would work in people’s hearts – showing us our sin and the need for Christ’s innocent death, but also the new life and hope we have in His resurrection!
- Pray for the last sprint to the finish line of our school year. Pray for peace, protection, wisdom and guidance as we not only look to the end, but also as we think ahead and plan for next school year.
- Continue to pray for one of our moms, *Lori, who is going through a tough season. Long story short, her husband may be deported, her marriage could be declared invalid due to lost paperwork, her father (who lives overseas) is declining, she has two young boys to care for, and her own health is often a challenge. Pray she finds strength in the Lord and that all these issues could be resolved.
*Names have been changed to protect family privacy
Volunteer Opportunities
Questions?
Contact Anna VanVleet (Educational Support Coordinator)
Email: vanvleet.tfl@gmail.com
Phone: 612-314-6773 (call or text)
For more information contact Anna Van Vleet: vanvleet.tfl@gmail.com
Phone: (612) 314-6773
Uphold Global
More information: www.upholdglobal.com
VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People)
Contact: www.veapvolunteers.org
Vernacular Video Mission International
More information: www.vvmi.org
VVMI Newsletter: January 2018
Projects List Updated: Projects List 02-17-2017
Vina update: Vinas Operation Little Fingers Ltr
Contact Colin Edwards: cjedwards@vvmi.org