SPOC Partners
New updates for events with SPOC Partners
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).
Food Distribution with SPOC Partner, St. Stephanus
St. Stephanus partners with many different organizations to bless their surrounding Frogtown community. They are currently partnering with Second Harvest Heartland to do food distributions regularly every month in the Frogtown area.
For more information, see their website: https://www.saintstephanus.org/serving-frogtown
This is hosted every 3rd Thursday of the month, 4-6pm. Drive up to the front of the church building (739 Lafond Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104).
The next date is Thursday, April 17. April distribution is the same day as Maundy Thursday. You are invited to join us for worship at 7pm following distribution.
We need you! In order to keep this valuable program running, we need volunteers to help out. SPOC Partner St. Stephanus has added new dates and spaces to sign up for their 3rd Thursday food distribution program.
New Sign Ups Now Available! Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48ADA72CA7FDCF8-45279365-summer#/
Thank you for supporting this important work and loving our community well!
For questions, contact Megan Hoffman, Youth & Family Ministry, at St. Stephanus Lutheran Church: youth@saintstephanus.org.
From Megan who organizes this: Thank you again for your commitment to and support of this ministry. You are appreciated more than words can say!
Chai Dosti
Chai Dosti (tea and friendship) continues at Concordia St. Paul.
In spring 2025, Chai Dosti will be on the first school Tuesday of each month, from 5-6pm. The event will now include a small catered meal.
Dates are March 11, April 1, and May 6. Location is classroom LTC 214/215.
This is an event designed to help make connections among the international student community at CSP. Come for fellowship, conversations, and games.
Find sign-up information here: thehospitalitycenter.org/volunteer-signup
For more information, contact CSP Ministry Associate, Anna Gruen at gruen@csp.edu.
SPOC Partner: Bear Buddies at Concordia St. Paul
Bear Buddies: An opportunity to connect to International Students! SPOC Partner, CSP (Concordia St. Paul), invites you to befriend an international student by becoming a “bear buddy” this year. Be paired with an incoming international student at CSP. Foster lasting friendship by sharing meals, exploring state parks, attending festivals together, and sharing your favorite local activities. Share your life and the love of Jesus with them as you support their adjustment to MN.
Ready To Connect? Sign up here: thehospitalitycenter.org/volunteer-signup.
For more info, contact CSP Ministry Associate, Anna Gruen at gruen@csp.edu.
Scan the QR Code for more information about Bear Buddies
Life Match Grant Initiative
The St. Paul Outreach Center recently 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.
SPOC Partner: Options for Women
Explore resources available at Options for Women.
Call: 651-776-2328
Text: 855-776-2328
For more information, see their website: