SPOC Past Events

Below is a record of past events hosted by SPOC

Life Match Grant Initiative

The St. Paul Outreach Center held a baby shower on Saturday, March 29 at 11am at Jehovah Lutheran Church. Thank you to everyone who attended. We were overwhelmed by your generosity!

We pray that the Lord will give us the opportunity to support more moms next year through renewal of the grant. Please keep the three moms and mentors in our prayers that they would foster meaningful connections and that opportunities to share Jesus’ love would occur.

This baby shower was the culmination of a grant the SPOC received from the LCMS Life Ministry to support the prenatal care of three moms and their babies at Options for Women East. The clinic is funded entirely by donations and exists to offer a valuable life affirming alternative for women facing unplanned pregnancies. They are one of the few pregnancy centers within the state to offer full prenatal medical care to the women at no charge.

If you could not attend but would still like to purchase a gift for a mom, you can do so here.

Free Meal and Music @ Pig's Eye Camp

Join us on Saturday, April 26 from 1-3 pm, when the St. Paul homeless ministry will share a free celebratory picnic/concert at the Pig's Eye Lake Regional Park homeless encampment for the residents. Pastor Kris Bjornstad (leader of a Lutheran Emergency Relief Team [LERT]) and his St. John Lutheran Church, Good Thunder, MN congregation are hosting the meal at Pig's Eye Regional Park homeless camp. St. John's is bringing food, chairs, tables, and tablecloths!

This celebration is an extension of the 20+ homeless camp visits Jim Seemann (Coordinator of the New Freedom Store), the St. Paul Outreach Center (David Mennicke, Coordinator), LERT, and Concordia University, St. Paul campus ministry and Business Capstone class (Prof. Renata Mayrhofer, instructor) have engaged in since December 2024, distributing needed supplies to the residents while making prayerful connections with them.

Concordia University, St. Paul Campus Pastor Tom Gundermann and possibly also his family will share their music for this event. All are welcome to join in this time of joy. Attendees are invited to bring bottled water, packaged snacks, or bags of oranges, apples or other durable fruit to give to the homeless camp residents.

Directions: The camp is in the east part of St. Paul: from I-94, take Highway 61/10 South, then in less than 1/2 mile, take Warner Road east, then take the first left onto Fish Hatchery Road. There is parking in the lot leading into the homeless camp village.

For more information and to register your attendance so we can get a count for food, please contact the event organizer, Jim Seemann (Coordinator of the New Freedom Store) at seemann@csp.edu by April 21 (the day after Easter).

SPOC Egg Hunt: April 19

SPOC Egg Hunt Returns on April 19!

The SPOC and partners will host this year's egg hunt on Saturday, April 19. Everyone is welcome! We are looking forward to this fun, community outreach event.

Can you help spread the word? Can you help set up? Volunteers will also be needed one evening before and on the day of the event to assist with hiding eggs and helping to facilitate snacks, crafts, and more.

Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/WmC5nRFLXFXB74tV8

Can you help donate candy and eggs? You can help by placing a bin at your site to collect donations of small toys or candy (that can fit into eggs). Donations can be brought to King of Kings or Jehovah Lutheran.

Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/QBHTqNYaV6tz6DP3A/

For questions, email David Mennicke at spoc@jehovahlutheran.org.

Save the Date: Annual Coat Drive Giveaway Returns November 9, 2024!

Free Coat Giveaway! The SPOC will be hosting its annual winter coat drive/giveaway this year on November 9, beginning at 10am.

Need a coat?

Stop by on November 9! Hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, etc. will also be available!

Want to participate?

Coat donations are needed! Coat collection has begun and info on volunteer opportunities on both Friday, Nov 8 and Saturday, Nov 9 are coming soon! Coats and other items can be brought to Jehovah and put in the large collection box (in the narthex on Sundays and in the Thomas entry on weekdays). Partner sites may also have collections.

Volunteers will be needed Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9. Email SPOC@jehovahlutheran.org to learn more.

This event will be in cooperation with SPOC partners, especially Concordia University, St. Paul and the annual Beautiful Feet conference.

International Potluck Kickoff

All are welcome to the 2nd Annual International Potluck on Friday, September 13 at 6:30 pm at Jehovah Lutheran Church. This year's event will again feature a free feast of Ethiopian, Hmong, and American cuisines. This is the kickoff event for the second year of the St. Paul Outreach Center (SPOC), a collaborative outreach of 14 St. Paul area churches and three schools of the LCMS. The International Potluck will also offer door prizes, games, and displays of the many outreach ministries that SPOC and its partners are doing to serve the community.

For more information, please email spoc@jehovahlutheran.org.

If you can bring a food item to share at the potluck, please scan the QR code to fill out the Google form at this link: https://forms.gle/74ArFVWY9zYGdz8E6

Chai Dosti with SPOC Partner, Concordia St. Paul

Chai Dosti is a program of conversation and fellowship with international students at Concordia University, St. Paul. We will meet occasionally over the summer. Everyone is welcome to stop by and meet students and be a welcoming presence during their time in the US. Meet in the Buenger Education Center (BEC) at Concordia University, St. Paul, at 4:30pm. Planned summer dates are July 31 and August 28.

Contact Anna Gruen (gruen@csp.edu) with questions or visit the CSP hospitality website for more details about this and other volunteer opportunities: www.thehospitalitycenter.org/events

SPOC Open House: Pickleball Opener

We are hosting an SPOC open house! Join us on Friday, July 26, 2024, from 5:30pm-7:30pm, at Jehovah Lutheran Church, located at 1566 Thomas Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104. Our gym court has been newly lined for pickleball. No experience necessary!

Summer S0cial & Sampler

Enjoy free frozen treats! Meet SPOC volunteers!

Sign-up for SPOC programming & partners for summer and fall such as:

• Free tutoring

• Futsal/soccer club

• Community Pickleball

• Lego club/Bracelet making

• Family resources (food, diapers, coats/winter gear, community meals)

• Seasonal events (Easter egg hunt, Christmas caroling)

Location: Parking lot of Jehovah Lutheran Church & Hamline Park (across the street)

Date and time: Friday, July 26 5:30 – 7:30pm

Hosted by: The St. Paul Outreach Center (SPOC) neighbors & partners

Do you want to attend the Summer Social & Sampler? RSVP to the event by scanning the QR code! We’d love to know you’re coming!

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