Caregiver Support & Respite Services

Whether you need a break from your caregiving responsibilities to tackle your to-do list, resources to grow your caregiving skills, time to see friends and family, or a nap to recharge — we can step in. We also offer groups where you can connect with others in the same situation. 

Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, through Caregiver Support & Respite Services, supports adults 60 years and older who receive care so that they can remain active, healthy and living in their own home as long as possible. Participants enjoy fun activities like playing cards and doing crafts. This is a great way for them to make new friends in a safe environment with trained volunteers.

Afternoon Adventures Group meets Mondays, noon - 4 p.m, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1515 5th Ave. NW, East Grand Forks. To learn more or get started, contact Julie Praska-Moser at 218-686-6228 or email julie.praska-moser@lssmn.org.

WCI's Connections: Our Brains on Bias

Join us for our next Connections event where we will explore how our brain is hardwired toward bias. That’s right, our brains are naturally conditioned to be biased!  So what does that mean for a diverse and inclusive world?  We’ll look at the research of Standford Social Psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt and discuss why bias happens and how we can overcome our brains natural tendencies so that we are experiencing the full joy of being part of a world full of differences! 

Take a peek at this video where Jennifer explains this tendency to bias. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD5a3-v9KZs&list=PLynnNYWbZL3TjUui4ADmt8rfslMveRKij 

Then join us on Wednesday, February 22 at 5 p.m. via zoom to engage in an informal conversation about this! To get the link and learn more, email Sue Hedtk skhedtke@gmail.com

Connections

Family of God is one sponsor of a new community group called Connections. The monthly meetings are a time to meet with people who share a hope for a better world and a more connected community. The next meeting is February 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Campbell Library, 422 4th St NW, East Grand Forks, MN. We’ll be talking about our hopes for our community and ways we are making those hopes into reality. Everyone is welcome. Invite a friend!

Dementia Friends Information Session

Are concerned about a family member or friend showing signs of Alzheimer’s? If so, you are invited to attend a Dementia Friends Information Session on Tuesday, February 21 at 12:30 pm. at the East Grand Forks Senior Center, 538 Rhinehart Dr. SE, East Grand Forks.  This session will discuss what is Dementia/Alzheimer’s, what is normal aging versus early signs of Alzheimer’s and effective communication.  Everyone is welcome to attend this one hour informational session. This presentation is provided by the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging.

The Memory Cafe

The Memory Cafe is a weekly educational event for people living with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia and their family, care partners, friends, and professionals. All are welcome and the event is free. Resources are available at the event. Refreshments are served following the program.

The Memory Cafe will be held next week on Tuesday, February 14 from 1 - 3:30 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1405 S. 9th St. Grand Forks, ND. The program will begin at 1:30 p.m. with Sara Gusaas, OTR/L with Ethos Home Care talking about "Ideas for Dementia Home Care."  Sara has been certified in Dementia Capable Care and she will have great information for us! 

UND Interfaith & Worldview Week

UND's annual UND Interfaith & Worldview Week is January 30 - February 4. We will highlight some of the spiritual, religious, cultural, philosophical, and (non)belief communities present on our campus and in our city. This event is an opportunity to learn more about some of our neighbors and their theistic and nontheistic perspectives.

During the week we'll have both multi-worldview events featuring over a dozen perspectives and others that focus on one. You'll have the opportunity to meet some practitioners, learn about their practice, and debunk misinformation and stereotypes about them. Join us as we join with UND's mission to learn and discover in ways that are transformative.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30

6:30-8:30 PM | Memorial Union Main Floor
Interfaith & Worldview Fair (free parking in Swanson ramp)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

5:00-5:30 PM | Christus Rex
American Buddhist Meditation

6:30-8:30 PM | Memorial Union Main Floor
Interfaith & Worldview Fair (free parking in Swanson ramp)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

12:30-1:30 PM | Christus Rex
Lunch with a Muslim (free)

8:00-9:00 PM | Memorial Union 340
Can Spirituality be Scientific?

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 

7:30-9:00 PM | Archives Coffee House
God Talk on Tap: The Moon’s Pull – Tides of Faith

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

1:00-2:00 PM | Islamic Center of Grand Forks
Observing Muslim Prayer

Annual Meeting

Our annual meeting will be held Sunday, January 29 following worship. We will be voting on proposals to merge our congregations. Rev. Deborah Blood, our Conference Minister, will be preaching. We’ll celebrate our history in worship, enjoy a potluck, and then conduct official business. Please plan to join us!

Christmas Gifts for VSL

Family of God Church members are asked to purchase Christmas gifts for a neighborhood of residents at Valley Senior Living. The resident’s wish lists will be ready November 13 and gifts need to be returned by December 14. The Wednesday Kids will be doing the gift wrapping. Valley Senior Living asks that we stick to the lists and spend $20-25.

Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart

But we should also make our blessings count.

At a time of year when we gather at tables filled with holiday favorites, many of our neighbors are worrying if they’ll have enough food to feed their families.

The overwhelming cost of food and everyday needs is putting thousands in our community at risk of hunger this holiday season. You can provide delicious Thanksgiving meals to families facing hunger with your support of North County Food Bank.

Every $10 you give provides 50 meals. Please share the blessings of the season with neighbors in need. Your gift will ensure everyone has nourishing food to put on their table this holiday.

Thank you for remembering your neighbor in need.

RSC Fall Banquet

Join Riverside Christian School for this monumental anniversary, celebrating 40 years of God’s faithfulness in providing Christian education in the Greater Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area and looking ahead to what the next 40 years may hold.

You won’t want to miss our featured speaker, evangelist Nick Hall. Nick is the Founder and President of Pulse, author of the book Reset and former Riverside Christian student. As an evangelistic voice to this generation, Nick has shared the Gospel at hundreds of events to more than 300 million people and nearly 2 million people have responded. For more information on Nick, go to pulse.org.

Tickets to this inspirational night are on sale in the office or online at rcsrams.org.

North Dakota Human Rights Film & Arts Festival

Join The Human Family at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks for the sixth annual North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival.

The event is free and open to the public. Two screenings will take place on Tuesday, November 15: The first at 1:30 p.m., and the second at 7 p.m. Different films will screen at each showing.

Our feature presentation at 7 p.m. will be THE WISDOM OF TRAUMA, with a community conversation about trauma-informed care to follow.

Help provided meals at LaGrave on First

LaGrave on First is the city’s first Permanent Supportive Housing that utilizes the Housing First approach. LaGrave on First is a creative, effective, and cost saving solution to meet the needs of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

Volunteers provide supper on weekends and holidays for about 30 residents of LaGrave on First. Family of God organizes over 100 community volunteers who provide meals for the residents. We cook 4-5 times each month, providing a full meal for neighbors who live in this Housing First facility. Pizza night is the first Sunday of each month and the second Friday we celebrate birthdays at LaGrave.

We also raise funds to supplement food donations so that each meal can be nutritious - meat, fruit, vegetables - and include dessert. If you would like to cook, provide salad or dessert, or help in any way with this project, contact us at grandcitiesfog@gmail.com. When health safety allows, we serve supper in person at 6:00 pm each evening. Other nights the staff steps in to serve.

Your ongoing support is needed to keep this program going. Please consider financial donations or assistance in preparing and serving meals.

Fill the Totes

Bring items during October for our annual Fill the Totes projects. Donations will be collected for EGF elementary and preschool children to be sure everyone has warm gloves & hats during recess and when clothing gets wet with snow it can be changed for something dry. Requested items are: waterproof gloves, hats, children’s underwear & socks, black sweat pants.

Mental Health Support

Wellness in the Woods is dedicated to improving access to mental health through peer-to-peer support and substance use care for all residents of Minnesota.  An informational meeting will be Wednesday, October 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the East Grand Forks Public Library.  Come to learn more.

Wellness in the Woods “warm line” 844-739-6369
Zoom link available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   592-347-390

Connected Community

Family of God is helping to create a new group for people interested in creating a more just and connected community.  Called “Connections”, this group will gather for the first time on Saturday, October 22 from 10:00-11:30 at the East Grand Forks Public Library.  There will be refreshments, conversation, a chance to share dreams, and a time to take action.  People of all ages are welcome.

Mission of Hope Banquet and Auction

80th Anniversary Banquet & Auction

Thursday, November 17, 2022
Alerus Center | 7 PM

ONLINE AUCTION NOBEMBER 15-17

Northlands Rescue Mission is the largest shelter in North Dakota and the surrounding Minnesota areas. They help individuals and families experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives. That may include helping find employment, transportation, housing, food assistance and community resources.

Their Backpack Program provides meals for elementary school children who may not have enough to eat at home. Children receive a bag of food items to take home over the weekend. This ensures they get the nutrition they need to grow healthy and strong and helps take financial pressure off low-income famliles.

The largest fundraiser for the Mission is each fall and is critical to ensuring they can serve community members in need. Join them to celebrate 80 years of support for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness and hunger. Bid on 100+ packages in our online auction. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the Alerus Center as you hear about new ways we are serving community members in need. This year's guest speaker is former BMX pro Tony Hoffman, who went from prison to coaching an Olympic athlete.