News, Events, Classes, & Fellowship

News, Events, Classes, & Fellowship

Drama Ministry and Hospitality Committee Need YOU!

Are you looking for a way to help out with this year's melodrama,

Love Rides the Rails or Will the Mail Train Run Tonight?

April 11 - 14


Please consider helping with ushering, concession sales and/or providing treats for the concessions!  It's a great way to be a part of the musical - no acting, singing, or dancing required.  Consider volunteering as a family or with friends AND it's a fun way to meet new people!


Volunteers are needed in the following areas:


Ushering: welcome visitors and help with handing out programs - arrive a half hour before the performance

Concessions:  help with setting up treats, pouring pop, and sales - arrive by performance time

Treat Bakers and Donators:  bake or purchase treats to donate for concessions.  Drop off pre-wrapped treats prior to the performance


Look for the sign-up in the Narthex!

Important Message from Pastor Paul.  Please be aware:   A number of people of the congregation have been receiving scam emails that supposedly are from me. Please do not respond to them. The e mail address they are coming from is not mine. Furthermore, they don’t sound like me. I don’t ask people for gift cards or ask for discreet things in emails. In some of these messages my name is spelled wrong! If it doesn’t sound like me, it isn’t. Please call the church if you have any questions. Pastor Paul Burow.


Office Help Needed:  Sadly Amy Masterman will be moving to Wisconsin this spring.  Family of God Lutheran Church is looking for a part time Administrative Assistant/Receptionist to join our team. If you are interested please submit your cover letter and resume to Sandy Lenthe at slenthe@yahoo.com.  Click here for job description.


New Member Classes will be held April 28 and May 5 following worship services.  If you are interested in becoming a new member at Family of God, please join us!


Women's Brunch: Save the Date!  Family of God women are invited to the Women's Brunch on Saturday, April 27 at 10 am.  Members working on the planning are Carolyn Jahns, Connie Young, Myra Madsen, and Jeanne Ferguson.  One focus of the spring brunch will be to gather ideas for future Saturday or evening get-togethers.  Please watch for attendance and food sign ups.  Also, please see one of us if you would like to help.  Thank you!


Family of God Spring Plant Fundraiser:  Our spring plant sale is back for 2024! You can choose from a huge variety. Every purchase supports our youth ministry program. Visit Gertensfundraising.com and be sure to enter code 424 to be taken to our online store. The sale closes at 10PM on March 25. We aren't able to accept any late orders. Plants will be delivered April 30 (in time for Mother's Day). Ask Pr. Erin if you have any questions!


Lost and Found:  The lost and found has gotten pretty fun.  Time for some spring cleaning.  Please take a look to see if anything belongs to you.


LGBTQ+ Ministry Group:  March 17th following service, FOG LGBTQ+ ministry group will meet. Everyone and anyone is welcome to join.


Who's Ready for Some Baseball?!  There will be a sign-up list is up for this year’s Twins game, soon after Easter. We have a block of seats in our favorite outfield section for the Tuesday, May 14th game against the Yankees.


Nursery Staff:  Please welcome Madison Benton to Family of God staff, she will be working in the nursery once a month. Madison grew up and was confirmed at Family of God.

 

Mission Support:  Part of our commitment to worldwide ministry is our mission support to Rev. Sack out of Japan. He teaches at a Lutheran seminary in Tokyo. Please consider contributing to this mission in 2024. The cost is $35 per week. There are many open slots. Please sign up on the kiosk. Thank you!!


“The Chosen”:  On Mondays at noon a group of members will be watching “The Chosen” series. Everyone is welcome to join.


2023 Year End Giving statements are available for you to pick up. If you would like a copy mailed, please contact the church office.


Intergenerational drama ministry will be presenting “Love Rides The Rails or Will The Mail Train Run Tonight?” This is a humorous melodrama which will be entertaining for all ages. Please talk to Pastor Paul, Amie Sedesky, or Nicole Lang if you have questions. The play will be performed May 11 - 14.


Worship assistants are needed. There are signup sheets in the narthex. Please consider signing up. A lot of hands make for little work. Thank you!!


Sunday School Teachers:  We are always looking for additional teachers, if anyone is interested in volunteering,  please see the sign up sheet on kiosk or talk to Pastor Erin.


Pastoral Call or Visit:  Have you or a loved one been  hospitalized for an illness? Are you or a loved one feeling under the weather? Would you like a visit or a call from the pastor? We may not be your Facebook friend so please call 763-424-8625 or email admin@fogchurch.org letting us know here at the church office. Also let us know if we should add your name to the prayer chain or the prayer corner in Sunday’s bulletin. 


Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices:  Family of God has been selected to participate in the Synod’s learning community – Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices. This is a two-year project that brings congregations together each month to experiment with practices – things we do consistently and with intention – that will deepen our life of prayer and our relationships in this neighborhood. The Minneapolis Area Synod has found that vital congregations are those that make space for lifelong faith formation and have an authentic relationship with the neighborhood. Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices is a learning community committed to the belief that faith formation and community engagement are two sides of the same coin. God is already at work in the neighborhood, and our task is to discover God’s presence in the face of our neighbor and to tell the story. That is what we will learn to practice over the next two years. Family of God has a team of five -Dean Jahns, Laura Olson, Andrew Peterson, Ginny Trogen, and Pastor Paul Burow -who will walk this learning journey, and each month invite the rest of our congregation to experiment with the practices they learn. Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices launched with a two-day retreat on October 6th and 7th. Keep our team members in prayer and be ready to discover what God is up to in this community where God has called us to be church. 

Weekly and Monthly Fellowship & Classes

Book Club

3rd Monday of each month

1 pm


New members are welcome! Contact Joan Hermanson with questions or for a complete list of books for 2024.


Mar. 18:   Midnight Library by Matt Halg

April 15:  Fox Creek

by William Kent Krueger 

June 17: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

by Eric Metaxas


Next meeting:  March 18

Men’s Breakfast Group

3rd Saturday of each month

8:30 am


Monthly Sat. breakfast and property projects as needed. All men and friends of FOG are invited to come for a delicious breakfast and fellowship. Bring a friend! Please sign up at the church or call if you plan to attend.


Next meeting:  March 16

Ruth Circle

2nd Thursday of each month

9:30 am


All women of FOG are welcome to participate!  Hope to see you for coffee, treats and fellowship. 

 

Next meeting:  March 14

Tuesday Bible Study

Meets Weekly

9:30 am and 7 pm


Join us Tuesday mornings and evenings for an exciting journey through the life of the greatest king of Israel. David began as a shepherd boy, became a hero by killing the Philistine Goliath, was the servant of Saul, and finally King of Israel. We will read and study the whole of King David’s life and learn some things you might not know about him.

 

Next meeting:  Ongoing

Crafting Group

2nd Friday-Saturday of each month

Friday 5 - 9 pm, Saturday 8 am - 4 pm


Coordinators:  Stephanie Madsen and LeAnne


Crafters can set up and work Friday evening, leave all of your crafting materials and come back Saturday morning ready to get more accomplished. All types of crafters are welcome. We will set up in the Cornerstone Room to utilize the rectangle tables. Any questions, please call/text Stephanie Madsen 612-850-8220 or LeAnne Tieman 612-508-7921.


Next meeting:  April 19-20 (due to church play the previous weekend)

Social Ministry

Family of God is taking on the CEAP Community Challenge

during the Minnesota FoodShare Campaign!

February 26th - April 6th

MN Foodshare is happening now. We will not be able to stuff the truck this year due to staffing shortages at CEAP. Demand is at an all time high for food shelves in MN. CEAP has set a goal of raising 150,000 pounds of food & $150,000. To help with this effort, FOG would like to contribute 3,000 pounds of food & $500. In order to accomplish this, we need lots of help. We have

asked all groups meeting at our church to partner with us. We also will distribute bags with a letter to donate to the 75 plus townhomes to the south of us. Would you consider also distributing some bags in your neighborhood? They are ready to go

at church. It seems to work best if you offer to pick them up too. Remember all donations are matched so our donation will be doubled!!


If you would like to make a monetary donation, please drop off or mail to Amy M. in the church office and write "CEAP" in the memo line of your check.

A Message from CEAP President, Clare Brumback


Right now, we are seeing the highest percentage of first-time Food Market visitors in CEAP’s history. High costs of living in all areas of life – food, housing, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and more - continue to drive families to CEAP’s doors. CEAP is our community safety net and a soft place to land for our neighbors no matter their circumstances.


In 2023, CEAP nourished nearly 15,000 people through our Food Market and shared over 55,000 meals with senior and homebound neighbors through Meals on Wheels. From baby formula nourishing our littlest neighbors to pureed soft foods nourishing our senior neighbors and everyone in between CEAP is a hand of support our community can count on.


CEAP is our community safety net that keeps families on their feet, but it’s very expensive to keep the lights on and food coming through our doors. Purchasing food from food banks is extremely costly and CEAP has limited funds to do so.


For example, it currently costs CEAP a minimum of $35 to provide basic groceries to a family of 4 for 1 week, purchased from Second Harvest Heartland.


CEAP is an expert at mobilizing resources and nourishing our neighbors – it’s our mission! - but we need you to share abundance to make it happen.


During the CEAP Community Challenge, we are asking you to lend a hand of support. From February 26th - April 6th, Minnesota FoodShare will provide a proportional match for every dollar and pound of food donated to CEAP. In addition, a group of committed community partners have come together to create a $15,000 CEAP Community Challenge Fund. This means that your donation will be MORE THAN DOUBLED! Will you help us strengthen the safety net by donating to CEAP today?


Every can, every cent, every caring neighbor counts!

In community,

Clare Brumback
CEAP President

CEAP's Meals on Wheels Program

 

Another volunteer opportunity to deliver meals through CEAP’s Meals on Wheels Program has come up as they are short on drivers. 


The meal’s are picked up at 10:00 and most people are finished by noon. Currently they deliver to BP, BC, Crystal, Robbinsdale, New Hope, Golden Valley & Plymouth. Usually driver’s go out in pairs-one to navigate-the other to deliver meals. 


Churches usually volunteer for certain days each month. We want to see the interest and then can organize. Could you help on a Monday, a Thursday or a Friday? Please e-mail the church office or Kathy Behrens at katbehrens47@gmail.com with your availability.


EVERY MEAL BACKPACK PROGRAM

SPONSORED BY SOCIAL MINISTRY

Every Meals at Edinbrook Elementary involves putting a bag of food in kids backpacks to take home for use on the weekends. It involves about an hour on Fridays or occasional other days depending on school schedule. We have a schedule as to when you serve and of course, trading if something comes up. If you would like to help out, please contact Kathy Behrens or let Amy know at the church office.


Every Meal believes child hunger is solvable when they partner as a community to alleviate it. Where do we fit into this picture? Every Meal packs the food and delivers it too the school. Family of God volunteers put the food in student’s lockers on Friday afternoon. The school staff, students, & their families are very appreciative of this program.


In order to continue this project for the upcoming school year, we need your help. What can you do?

2023-24 Every Meal Backpack Volunteer Form


Time and Talents

How Can You Serve?


Please consider offering your time in one of the many service areas at church that rely on volunteers. Service areas that are always in need of new volunteers are listed below.  Click on the links below for a "job description" of the service area.



Complete the online form below indicating your interest.  THANK YOU!

Time & Talent Volunteer Form

Christ Chapel International is the church group that is renting from Family of God.  They meet every Sunday at 11:30am. 

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