You are not strangers any longer. You are now fellow citizens with God's people and members of the family of God.
~ Ephesians 2:19
Welcome to Family of God Lutheran Church
Family of God serves the diverse people of the Point and surrounding areas of East Grand Forks, MN and Grand Forks, ND. We are a caring community of believers that values children, worship, Christian education, and fellowship.
Following the example of Jesus Christ, we welcome all into the fullness of God's love. In addition, Family of God practices an open communion table. All are welcome and invited to the gifts of bread and wine. We hope you will worship with us!
Announcements
- Weekly Bulletin : January 22, 2012
This is our weekly news bulletin that is inserted into our Sunday service bulletin.
- Your 2012 Offering Envelopes have arrived. . .
Envelopes will be available to be picked up from your mailboxes in the Narthex on Sunday, January 1st.
- The Family of God Annual Meeting/Potluck will be held on January 22nd following worship.
Prior to the meeting at 10:45 a.m., we will be having a good ol’ fashioned potluck meal. Please bring a dish to share. And if you have anything you would like to donate for our door prizes this year, just bring them to the church office. We hope and pray the majority of members will attend the meeting this year, as it is crucial that we have a quorum.
- Lent is right around the corner! On Wednesday, February 22nd, Family of God will be observing the beginning of the Lenten season with a 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday service that will include Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. And beginning the first week in Lent, all are invited to come at 6:00 p.m. for a Lenten meal prior to the service. A sign-up to provide the meal will be available at the beginning of February.
- “The Greatest Story” Bible Study …
We will be starting up our Tuesday night bible study, “The Greatest Story” again, on January 17th at 7:00 p.m. This study will be meeting each week and will cover a large portion of the Old Testament and New Testament. It is not too late to join this study. The cost is $13.00 and includes a participant’s book. Contact Pastor Sonja for questions and to order a book.
- The Fat Tuesday Spaghetti Feed is coming …
Mark your calendars!! Our 2nd annual Fat Tuesday Spaghetti Feed will be Tuesday night, February 21st from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Fat Tuesday is the night before Ash Wednesday - traditionally a time of cleaning out and getting ready for the six weeks of Lent. This is the Family of God fund raiser that funds the Worship and Music Coordinator position that we are so blessed to have Julie Deziel filling. We will need help in the planning and coordination of this.
- “Gather” Bible study … (formally known as Lutheran Women Today study)
All women of the church are invited to the women’s January bible study. This month’s study out of “Gather” will be Session 5 of our year-long study: “To Follow and to Serve: The Gospel of Mark”. This month’s study will focus on “Confessing Christ” as we see the questions about Jesus’ identity becoming more pointed in these chapters of Mark’s Gospel. No longer seen only as teacher, preacher, and healer, Jesus’ messianic identity is progressively revealed to the disciples. All women of the church and beyond are invited to the study at 9:30
a.m. on 13th. The coffee’s always on and there’s usually a goodie or two!
Ongoing Announcements
- Do you use the Internet? …
Family of God is looking for more households who would be willing to receive their Beacon electronically in an effort to, 1) go a little “Greener”, and 2) save the church a little more money in paper and postage costs. If you feel that this would work for your family to receive your
Beacon electronically, please contact the church office and we will send you your next Beacon via email! Thanks for your consideration!
- Family of God Youth Group …
If you haven’t checked out the Youth Group yet, join Josh and Desi on Sunday nights at 6:00
p.m. for some fun time with others. There is talk of a Lock-In sometime in November if there is
enough interest. Come on Sunday nights and talk to Josh and Desi!
- Check out Sunday School!
Family of God Sunday school classes, (three year olds through fifth grade), began in
September and begins each week at 10:45 a.m with a time of music and gathering in the
Sanctuary followed by 30 minutes of Sunday School. All are welcome! Spread the word!
- Thrivent Choice Dollars …
Thanks to so many who have designated their Thrivent Choice Dollars to the ministries of Family of God! Because Thrivent doesn’t have a mechanism in place to let the church know who the dollars are from and where they would like the dollars to be designated, the church is asking if you would let us know if we should be expecting Choice Dollars coming to the church
on your behalf. That way, we can be sure our record-keeping is accurate! Thanks so much!
Past Happenings
- Family of God donated 114 pounds of food to the East Grand Forks Food Shelf during our Thanksgiving Offering! Thanks to everyone that brought items!
- Thanks goes to all who contributed their time and talent during the weeks of Advent and into the Christmas season to make it a special time in the life of the church. A special thank you to the Sunday School youth, Tracy Magenau and Julie Deziel for all the hard work that went into the delightful Sunday School program that was presented on December 18th.Thanks also to the Alleluia Choir for all of their hard work and dedication that resulted in such a beautiful performance of “Winter’s Grace”, the Christmas Cantata. Thanks to Mike Deziel for such an amazing set. The winter meadow built in the Sanctuary was breath-taking. Thanks also to Todd Schumacher and Lyn Pankratz for their reading offerings and to Marla Carlson for all she did behind the scenes. Thanks to Shellie in the office for her help in making the programs and for tidying up the church. Thanks also to Pastor Sonja for setting up the
reception which followed the Cantata. And thanks of course, goes to Julie Deziel for her vision, her energy and her dedication to the music ministry of Family of God. It was a beautiful and moving musical offering in the life of the church.
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A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)