327 5th Avenue SE
East Grand Forks, MN
56721
Phone: 218-773-1433
9:30 a.m.
Holy Communion
1st & 3rd Sunday
10:45 a.m.
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Regular Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 9:00-1:00 p.m.
Pastor's Office Hours:
Monday 9:00-1:00 p.m.
Wedneday 9:00-5:00 p.m.
Thursday 9:00-3:00 p.m.
or by appointment
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Pr. Jo A. Gast |
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Shellie Lundeby |
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Mark Holt, President
Scott Erickson, Vice President
Jeff Tilley, Secretary
Melissa Ziegler, Treasurer
Sheryl Cariveau, Council Representative
Dan Chapa, Council Representative
Bill Holman, Council Representative
Bob Quamme, Council Representative
Steve Magenau, Council Representative
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At Family of God, it is our mission as a congregation, a part of the body of Christ, to "welcome all into the fullness of God's love." In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus lays out what many believe to be the "Great Commission" of Christ to the Church. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
This commission is ours. At Family of God our mission has four legs upon which it stands. They are like the legs of a table, and like a table our mission needs each of the legs to be strong and steady. The other thing about table legs is they all need to be of equal length or the table will wobble and those "full glasses" will be spilled.
"Welcoming" is the first leg of our mission. Ephesians 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the family of God." If we are to be the Family of God then we must help people around us feel as though they belong. As though this really is a family, and they really are part of it.
"All" is the second leg of our mission. No matter what age, gender, sexual orientation, race, language, country of origin, cultural heritage, etc. we welcome All into the fullness of God's love. Hebrew 13:2 "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."
"Fullness" is the third leg of our mission. It is not enough just to say, "Jesus loves you." If we are truly going to share the Fullness of God's love, then it must be heard and seen and felt by those to whom God is calling us to minister. Colossians 3:16-17 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
"God's Love" is the fourth leg of our mission. 1 John 4:19 "We love because God first loved us." God is the source of all love, and it is God's love for us that made Jesus die on the cross to forgive our sins. It is God's love for us that motivates us to reach out to others with the same gifts we have first received from God. In gratitude we seek to share with those around us the amazing grace and love of God that brings life to all who receive it.
We dedicate our hearts and the life of Family of God to our mission: "Welcoming All into the Fullness of God's Love."
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Our history goes back to 1965 when the land on which the church is located, was given to the Church to be the site for a new congregation. The first worship service was held at Crestwood Elementary School on February 4, 1979, and Family of God Lutheran Church was officially organized on May 20, 1979.
Family of God continues to serve the diverse people of the Point and surrounding areas of East Grand Forks, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota. 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.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God. All preaching and teaching is based on the word and witness of the Holy Scriptures.
Our name comes from Ephesians 2:19, "You are not strangers any longer. You are now fellow citizens with God's people and members of the family of God."
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Family of God Lutheran Church, as the body of Christ believes:
• God: We believe that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three persons as the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:13)
• Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human, who by His death on the cross has redeemed us. (1 Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 9:6, Colossians 1:15-20)
• Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit comes to us giving us supernatural gifts that are both available and operative today for all Christians. (Acts 2,1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-25, Romans 12)
• Human Nature: We believe that human nature is sinful and is redeemed only through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23)
• Salvation: We believe that we receive salvation through Jesus Christ alone. (Acts 4:12, John 14:6) and this salvation is the free gift of grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9) We teach that one can be certain of eternal life--assurance (John 5:24). We teach that we partake of this free gift of grace by faith alone (Romans 3:28, John 3:16), and thereby enter a lifelong process of change and growth. (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20)
• The Church: We believe that as Christians we are all part of one true Church. (Ephesians 4:4-6, Romans 12:5) We extend the hand of fellowship to all members of this universal Christian Church. We also are called to live out our call to “Welcome all into the fullness of God’s love.” (Romans 15:7)
• Prayer: At Family of God, we are a people of prayer. We believe that God answers prayer and we encourage everyone to grow in prayer. (James 5:16, Matthew 18:18-20)
• Baptism and the Lord’s Supper: We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Through this, God truly acts and our faith is essential for their effectiveness. (Mark 16:16, 1 Corinthians 11:29, John 3:16)
• Our Lutheran Identity: We identify with the renewal movement begun in the Lutheran Reformation. We teach the Lutheran themes of grace through faith alone, scripture alone, and Christ alone, and join ourselves with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA).
• Changed Life: We believe that becoming a Christian leads to changed life through discipleship in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This change is called “sanctification.” Sanctification is a lifelong process of growth in how to love selflessly, in humility, in service, in stewardship knowing that everything comes from God, and in holiness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ we commit ourselves to being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit allowing growth and change to occur within us. Change and growth are not optional for those saved by grace. (2 Corinthians 5:17,
James 2:17, Romans 12:2) A good tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18), people justified by grace through faith act on that faith and will change and grow in Christ. (2 Peter 3:18, James 1:22, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 5:17, Ephesians 4:22-24)
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A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)