The Little Free Library will be closed until further notice. All books have been moved to the library inside the church.
The library is filled with a variety of books. Adult and children’s books circulate on the honor system - take what interests you and return it when you are finished.
We hope to have the Little Free Library open for business again soon!
The Parish Nurse Ministry Program of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN is offering a Foundations of Faith Community Nursing/Parish Nursing course April 25-29, 2022 (the deadline to register is April 11th) at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. The course format is in-person as we do not offer a distance learning option. The program is open to licensed registered nurses interested in starting health and healing ministries.
Based on the 2019 curriculum developed through the Westberg Institute, the program topics include:
The role of the faith community nurse within the ministry team
Spiritual care and prayer
Integrating faith and health, health and healing, and caring for those experiencing issues across the lifespan
A mentoring session, Service of Healing, and Service of Dedication
The program cost of $450 includes the participant workbook and a copy of the ANA’s practice standards for FCNs (this is a $100 value), and a binder of program specific materials,. The cost also includes refreshments and some meals for the week! Lodging is not available on site but there are many hotels in the F/M area.
For additional information, please email Dr. Jean Bokinskie, PhD, RN, PNM Program Director, at bokinski@cord.edu or call 218-299-3825 or 701-866-3063. Please visit our website for detailed information, program resources and a link to complete your registration.
Giving Hearts Day 2022 is Thursday, February 10. Hundreds of non-profit organizations are eligible for support during this annual day of giving.
Family of God is member church of Valley Senior Living. Gifts to them will benefit Intergenerational Programs, bringing together the wonders of youth to interact with the wisdoms of elders.
Northwestern Minnesota Synod’s campaign is focused investing in their leaders and, in turn, the communities in which they serve. The four initiatives they are supporting are “Go for it!” Grants, Five Smooth Stones, Jeremiah 29:7 Cohorts, and Seminary Debt Reduction Grants.
Please consider a gift to Valley Senior Living, Northwestern Minnesota Synod’ other organizations of your choice by visiting givingheartsday.org to schedule a gift.
The first birthday celebration of the year at LaGrave on First brought cheer on a cold winter day. Thanks for the beautiful cake from Oh for Heaven's Cakes and good chicken from Pizza Ranch. Pat and Debby shared their time to make this day special for the residents.
American workers are exhausted. Can ancient Biblical practice show us a away out? We are discussing articles in the January Sojourner magazine at 7:00 first and third Tuesdays of the month at Family of God Church. Everyone is welcome!
Family of God provides support to reach this vulnerable population. On January 19, we helped fill 160 food boxes for seniors! The third Wednesday of each month from 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. we join volunteers at North Country Food Bank in East Grand Forks. In about an hour we can fill over 200 boxes of food to be distributed through senior centers across NW Minnesota. Call 218-791-8687 for details. Good work team!
A “Morning of Mindfulness” will be offered by Lotus Meditation Center on Saturday, January 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at Family of God Church. Short periods of guided sitting and walking meditation designed to calm the body and mind will be led by Bridget Rolens, who has certifications as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher and Community Dharma Leadership. She draws on extensive experience in a variety of healthcare and spiritual practices rooted in the Christian, Buddhist, and Twelve-Step Recovery traditions. This session is intended for beginners and those with experience.
The morning session is the start of several opportunities to experience and learn about mindfulness that weekend. A Saturday afternoon (1-5 p.m.) session will extend the times of practice to cultivate awareness of our experiences and is intended for more experienced meditation practitioners. An evening session (6:30-8:30 p.m.) is more discussion-based, with instruction on the Eight Worldly Winds of Change (pleasure/pain, gain/loss, praise/blame, fame/insignificance). The evening session is open to all levels of meditation experience and does not require attendance in the other two sessions.
Join us for a day of worship, learning, Conference meetings, and workshop opportunities.
Saturday, March 12th in Detroit Lakes
(at First, Trinity, and Grace Lutheran Churches)
Registration will be 9:00-10:00, with Opening Worship at 10:00.
Lunch is included
Closing Worship will conclude by 3:30.
Keynote speaker: Dr. Cynthia D. Moe-Lobeda, Professor of Theological and Social Ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Intended Audience: rostered ministers, SAMs Council/Parish Presidents and Treasurers (and other council members), those who are elected to attend Synod Assembly as voting members, others who would enjoy a day of learning and worshipping together.
Our COVID-19 protocols for this event are:
Vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours (please arrange beforehand, rapid tests are not available everywhere) - this will be checked at registration.
We will be requiring masks indoors (during meal times, we will have space to social distance) Be attentive to symptoms the seven days before the event.
Our light shines brightly for others! Thank you to all who participated in the Mission of Hope Banquet & Silent Auction. You make a difference in the world.
UND Interfaith's purpose is to organize, fundraise, and coordinate interfaith education events for UND's Interfaith Week programming. This annual event begins Sunday, January 30 and are held on the University of North Dakota campus.
6:00-7:15 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Brigid Rolens: Two Paths, One Dharma
12:00-1:00 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Native American Land Acknowledgement and Speaker
6:00-7:15 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Gretchen Graf: The Four Agreements Draw Us Together
7:30-8:45 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Karlene Clark: “Myth” Conceptions about Pagan Practitioners
12:00-1:00 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Lunch with a Muslim
6:00-7:15 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
The Moon’s Pull: Tides of Faith (from many faith perspectives)
7:30-8:45 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Panel Presentation: Muslim Women in America
12:00-1:00 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Lotus Meditation Center: Mindfulness Meditation 101
7:30-8:45 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Interfaith Fair
12:00-1:00 PM | Memorial Union Ballroom D
Jewish Bread: Make, Take & Break
7:30-8:45 PM | Archives
God Talk on Tap
12:00-1:00 PM | Christus Rex
Interfaith Free Lunch Fridays
1:00 PM | Islamic Center
Observing Muslim Prayer
Matthew 5:16
May you have a blessed Christmas! May you know peace, love, and light as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Areas church and Rotary folks packed 140+ boxes of food for area seniors. We fill boxes the third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 for about an hour. There are more projects than ever right now — and we could really use the help. If you are interested in volunteering email us at grandcitiesfog@gmail.com.
Family of God delivered Christmas gifts to Tufte Manor this week. Thanks to all who helped with this successful project!
December 9, 2021 - Gifts purchased by our church members for Valley Senior Living are all wrapped and ready deliver thanks to our Wednesday Kids. They did a great job and will help make Christmas a little merrier for several residents. Thanks to all who donated gifts in the true spirit of giving.
Each fall we join the Fill the Tote project which provides back-up clothing to East Grand Forks elementary schools and Head Start. Thanks to all who donated and helped Fill the Totes!
Pastor Gretchen & Family of God:
Thank you so very much for helping me fill the totes for the elementary school children. With your help we were able to over fill each tote!
Blessings, Cindy Barrett
Wednesday Kids have made Christmas cookies on November 10. The goodies wii be shared with LaGrave on First and Valley Senior Living in December.
Enjoy this video we received from the residents at LaGrave on First thanking the volunteers who cook for them.
Volunteers provide supper on weekends and holidays for about 30 residents of LaGrave on First, an apartment building welcoming persons who have been homeless. Family of God organizes over 100 community volunteers who provide meals for the residents. if you would like to cook, provide salad or dessert, or help in any way with this project, contact us at grandcitiesfog@gmail.com.
We’re proud of the many ways we’ve updated the inside spaces of our building in the past few years. Now the outside is getting a facelift, too. Our new roof is now complete! In the next few weeks, watch for a new windows.
We maintain our building so that it’s available for community groups to use. Currently the Lotus Meditation Center and a PFLAG chapter meets at Family of God. Several students come here for music lessons. Recently we were a temporary home for a Girl Scout Troop.
If you know of a group looking for meeting space, please contact us. We may be able to help!
