Moms of small children—get together with other moms of small children. Enjoy food and fellowship and learn something from amazing presenters. Please let us know prior to coming if you need childcare so the nursery may be properly staffed.
What does the future hold? Unless you are Captain Oblivious, you must acknowledge the fact the world we live in today is pressurized to a degree we have not seen in many decades. I do not remember a time when every nation, every culture, every individual has been so affected by a single factor. Even if you are not in the crosshairs of the pandemic, likely you are feeling the secondary effect. So, it is easy to ask, “What does the future hold?” But it is the wrong question.
The right question is, “Who holds the future?” I have, for some time, encouraged people to look for the heroes in times of crisis. Keeping our eye on the good happening around us keeps our hearts from being discouraged. There is a greater good at work in the world than the heroic action of many. This higher work is the work of God.
God is not silenced nor diminished in the grasp of modernity. Not for a moment. Here are some helpful reminders of who is still in charge.
One of the many ways we show hospitality is through our Sunday morning coffee servers. Often the people serving comment on how much they enjoy this ministry—and it is so easy! The serving counter is all prepared; the only duties are to replenish the supplies as needed and greet people in a friendly, welcoming manner.
Anyone can help you with the wedding; we want to stick around for the marriage. That is why FLC requires pre-marital work before the “I do’s” are said. We contract with a local ministry called “Love, Succeed, Commit.” They offer online and in-person options and a cost involved.
Even though we were unable to gather in person, we have been blessed with continuing worship together virtually. Every Sunday and Wednesday, services have been broadcast from our website and Facebook page. The Holy Spirit is not confined to a building . . .
The loss of a loved one is a difficult time, and we hope to comfort those grieve by serving a lunch or dessert after a funeral. We have three groups of funeral servers. Each group serves one month out of each quarter of a year. Bars and cakes are donated by the people in each group. All other food is purchased.
The quilters are a faithful group of women who comes together every week to create beautiful quilts that are given away to Lutheran World Relief, FLC mission trips, or local charities. Beginners and experts welcome!
This group of caring women crochet or knit prayer shawls which are given to people in need of a special touch of love. They also create infant baptismal shawls that are given to every child baptized at First Lutheran.
There are two traditional worship services in the sanctuary each Sunday morning. Word and sacrament are at the heart of all of our worships and the sanctuary service celebrates with music that is mostly traditional in form.
The liturgy comes from the Lutheran Book of Worship, but the order of service and hymns are all included in the bulletin, which makes it easy to follow the service. Four scripture readings and a sermon form the basis of the Word each week. Holy Communion is offered at all services on the first Sunday of each month, and after each service in the chapel on the other Sundays of the month.
The organ is the primary musical instrument in the sanctuary, while the piano is used to accompany some of the choir anthems plus vocalists and instrumentalists. Musical offerings include the Cathedral Choir, Heavenly Bells, FLC Orchestra, Men's Choir, Women's Choir, and Children's Choir.
Time: Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Health Ministry is a standing committee whose mission is to help all to experience God's grace, love, and healing by addressing their spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health. This committee works closely with the Parish Nurse.
BeFrienders are volunteer lay ministers who provide pastoral care to people in difficult and transitional situations, such as illness, loneliness, or loss of a loved one. They embody the caring presence of God and serve as a living reminder of his love. If you have a heart for others and would like to be a caring presence for a hurting person, we invite you to find out more.
The Mission Soup team offers up many delicious varieties of homemade soup with proceeds benefiting local and global missions. You can help their efforts by purchasing a bowl of soup to eat here or take home, or you can volunteer to make soup.
We believe that worship begins and ends in a genuine relationship with Jesus.
We are a community dedicated to Christ’s saving grace, constant repentance, baptism as a symbol and public profession of Christ’s work, the indwelling & empowering of the Holy Spirit. We believe in faith and works as the evidence of genuine salvation.
Wednesday Fellowship has been a hallmark FLC Senior Ministry for nearly 50 years. Every Wednesday, 40 to 60 seniors gather for devotions and hymns, led by a member of the pastoral team and followed by a delicious luncheon served by FLC volunteers. Many also come early to enjoy a 30-minute organ recital by Michael Olson, Minister of Music. Several stop by the parish nurse office to have their blood pressure checked and/or health-related questions addressed.
Michael Olson is well known for his magnificent talent on the organ. Everyone is welcome to hear him play every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. in the Sanctuary. These recitals provide an opportunity for you to unwind, relax and reflect. While most of the recitals are played on the church’s pipe organ, occasionally a piano recital is presented and guest musicians are invited to share their talents. After the recital you are invited to attend Wednesday Fellowship Worship in the chapel at 1:30 p.m. with lunch and fellowship following in Celebration Hall.
Wrestling is seemingly part of the air that we breathe. We wrestle with important decisions. We wrestle with what we want to do with our one, holy, precious life...
I recently discovered a wonderful South African artist named Maria Magdalena Oosthuizen. One website explains her style and motivation: “She paints figurative portraits emanating innocence and hope that . . .
The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Thinking it was a ship with whom they would soon collide, the captain had his signalman send a message, “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” . . .
Joyful Noise is a great way for kids to lend their passion of singing to worship. The group leads singing in worship occasionally and with other FLC musical groups. No audition is needed. Boys and girls welcome.
Time. Seems like most of us have had more time of late due to the Covid Crisis. Some have gone crazy with boredom. Others, like me have appreciated the extra time to take care of stuff, work on home projects, cleaning, organizing, and tossing. I have used my time for a few extra weekend camping adventures, turkey hunting, looking for arrowheads and investing lots of time in my many handicraft hobbies. Ministry is mostly a head game . . .
The choral group for women, under the direction of Kathy Ferreira, is for those who love to sing and praise the Lord. Usually sing once a month. No auditions required.
What does the future hold? Unless you are Captain Oblivious, you must acknowledge the fact the world we live in today is pressurized to a degree we have not seen in many decades. I do not remember a time when every nation, every culture, every individual has been so affected by a single factor. Even in you are not in the cross-hairs of the pandemic, likely you are feeling the secondary effect. So, it is easy to ask, “What does the future hold?” But it is the wrong question.
The right question is, “Who holds the future?” I have, for some time, encouraged people to look for the heroes in times of crisis. Keeping our eye on the good happening around us keeps our hearts from being discouraged. There is a greater good at work in the world than the heroic action of many. This higher work is the work of God.
God is not silenced nor diminished in the grasp of modernity. Not for a moment. Here are some helpful reminders of who is STILL in charge.
This group of guys who love to sing are directed by David Ferreira. They sing at the traditional worship in the Sanctuary several times during the year (usually once a month) and especially on Mother’s Day. No auditions required.
The Heavenly Bells Handbell Choir, under the direction of Michael Olson, rehearses once a week. The group plays for the two Sanctuary worship services approximately once a month during the school year.
Life is quite a wild ride. Sometimes we are flying high having a great time, other times at the bottom, and at some points in life we are just plain terrified. There are times we have to make a decision . . .
Whether you know how to knit and crochet or would like to learn, you are welcome to join other women in a time of fellowship and creativity. Bring a pair of straight or circular needles, size 6-8, or a crochet hook of your choice, and some yarn.
This wonderful music group is comprised of string players of various ages and experience levels. Whenever they play, they enhance worship by sharing their gifts.
For over two and a half months, churches everywhere have been "doing worship" in very new and creative manners. It has been wonderful to be a part of that process here at First Lutheran Church.
I remember very well Sunday morning, March 22. On that particular Sunday morning . . .
First Lutheran Church celebrates the angelic voices of children with the Crusader’s Choir! Singing shapes a child's spiritual life and they learn scripture because they sing it. No audition required.
This striking painting depicts the story of Jacob wrestling with a mysterious stranger in Genesis 32. The stars in the background look down upon Jacob and the stranger, whose identity is . . .
I once heard a group fitness instructor say “You’re here, you’ve showed up. Don’t sell yourself short now.”
The idea is simple: if you’ve already committed the time to be here and present, then why not make the most of it? Don’t check out . . .
Martin Luther said when you sang, you prayed twice. If you have a passion for praising God with singing, you are welcome to join the Cathedral Choir. No audition required.
Peace and understanding. These two words have gone through my mind constantly for the last couple weeks. I have never experienced a week like I have this last week ever before in my life. I have been at times hopelessly confused, upset, angry . . .
This photo popped up on my Facebook page Saturday morning. It was taken by Jon Forness, a gifted and skilled photographer friend. It was reminding me that it was the 10-year anniversary of when my good friend Rory Eidsness and I ran the Fargo Marathon together in May of 2010. . . .
These last few months have been anything but normal, and we as a staff have missed seeing you face-to-face! However, we are grateful that worship and ministry have continued virtually and for the reminder the church is not limited to the walls of a building. . . .
My Grandpa Arlo passed away on April 15, 2017. He was one of my favorite people in the world. No matter how hard life got, and it did get hard, he always had a positive attitude and . . .
This Sunday is Pentecost, when the church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. It occurs 50 days after Easter, and the Greek name for 50 is “Pentecost.” The story as told in Acts 2:1-21 is that all the disciples were together when there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind . . .
I woke up this morning with these words, “For such a time as this.” I thought hmmm is this what the Holy Spirit is giving to me for this week’s devotion? Heaven knows I need something. I can’t do this on my own. All morning I prayed and listened to . . .
Quietly I cast off from shore and began paddling across the lake. My homebuilt 15' solo cedar-strip canoe silently parted the waters as I aimed the bow towards a narrow channel that led to another corner of the lake. A barred owl called out from the opposite shoreline. Odd I thought for mid-day, but . . .
This painting is done in the style of art called Cubism. You are probably most familiar with Picasso, who pioneered the genre. It was considered to be among the most influential art movements of . . .
Meet Dr. Enrique Pinto, my 92-year-old father-in-law who now lives alone in the bustling mega-city of Guadalajara, Mexico. Alone, yet surrounded by some seven million other souls . . .
Many people first became aware of Westboro Baptist Church in the early 1990s, when the church began picketing in protest of what they saw as the ills of an ungodly world. Megan was 5 years old when it began . . .
Sanctuary Sunday Worship | Scripture - Leviticus 13:1-6, Matthew 8:1-4 | Message - Pastor Marty Tollefson | Assisting Pastor - Pastor Laurie Neill | Minister of Music - Michael Olson
Marine artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky creates mesmerizing waves and seascapes and has over 6,000 painting devoted to the subject of oceans. An article . . .
Since today is the first day of summer at 4:44 PM, I think it's high time to talk about God's majesty. Indeed, we've already had some very hot, humid weather . . .
Celebration Sunday Worship | August 9, 2020
Gospel - Mark 7:1-23
Message - Pastor Marty Tollefson
Assisting Pastor - Pastor Laurie Neill
Worship Leader - Rollie Johnson
Celebration worship bulletin, August 9:
https://www.flcfargo.org/application/files/9915/9673/7084/August_9_2020_Celebration_Worship_Bulletin.pdf
A gorgeous spring day had been birthed for us to enjoy. After a cozy, warming coffee around our morning campfire and downing some delicious and nutritious donuts, it was time for . . .
In life there is waiting. With the goings on in our world, country, and community it seems like there has been more waiting as of late. What are we waiting for? . . .
"But First..." | As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. As they were walking along the road . . .
One of the attractions in New York City is a bronze statue called, “Fearless Girl,” sculpted by Kristen Visbal. She is a 50-inch high ponytailed powerhouse with attitude, facing down the famous . . .
I remember my first day at Agassiz middle school. I was entering the sixth grade, leaving a small school of maybe 40 children in a grade, and entering a large school with almost 700 children in a grade, and there were . . .
I heard a story once about a woman whose life took an unfortunate turn. She fell on hard times, got a divorce, lost her family, and sank into a deep depression. She was in desperate . . .
I’m taking a seminary course on American theology in the 21st century and we are reading the book, “The Long Loneliness” by Dorothy Day. Just the title “The Long Loneliness” speaks volumes . . .
Last week, we celebrated our daughter’s birthday. Sarah is now nine years old! She is smart, witty, and just a joy to be around. A couple of weeks ago . . .
We have all experienced grief and loss in our lives. It is difficult to say goodbye, but for us there is hope. Over the most recent years I have been...
This lovely painting of two friends reading together comes from the French impressionist, Pierre Auguste Renoir. His first foray into art was creating designs on...
In light of everything going on these days and looking forward to a less-than-certain future, we need all the strength we can muster. I gain much strength from reading....
Last week a classmate of mine shared a video with us as a way to center our day titled, “How Can I Keep from Singing?" It is a NYC virtual choir and orchestra. I was very moved...
The first time I saw the above image was at Castaway Camp a few years ago with a bunch of middle schoolers we took to the Eastern North Dakota Synod gathering. We were listening to an incredible speaker ...
When I was at an art retreat in Venice last summer (seems like years ago!), I found myself with a couple of unscheduled hours, so I made my way to a museum to do one of my favorite activities...
It is so hard to lose the ones we love. We all say that they are in a better place, they are in heaven. But I also know that it is easy for doubt to creep in. How do we trust in this place that we can’t see ...
We are blessed to have a God who is crazy in love with us. He created us out of love: See what great love God has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 ...
Today I'm going to use the second scripture text from the Daily Texts in a most interesting manner: I used to hunger and thirst, particularly hunger...
Many times, in my life I have prayed so hard for something to happen and have had my prayers go seemingly unanswered. Places I thought our family was going to move to over the years and then things falling apart...
Big Coulee Lutheran Church stands a mile away from where I grew up. It closed about forty-two years ago, primarily, because it ran out of people. It continues to be a part of my spiritual landscape. With that said, the church that once gathered in that building no longer exists...
Somehow, when I read this passage from Matthew’s gospel, I can’t help but think about Jed Clampett and the “Beverly Hillbillies.” Now, if you have never seen the show...
This week during our staff meeting we did a check in with each other to see how we are doing. I'm not going to share my comments because words came out that are not devotional appropriate. However, they were brutally honest and true...
Yesterday as I was walking down Broadway going to grab lunch, I overheard a boy talking to his dad, well more complaining to his dad, about having to do chores...
A few weeks ago, at Norman Lutheran Church while getting ready for service our youngest daughter Claire was pretending that she was the pastor. She was up in the pulpit...
I have been asked this question by so many youth: why do we go to church? And, truly, it is a good question. While most of the time, the youth are just looking for an excuse to...
Not much needs to be said about this painting. It is self-explanatory. I identify with both figures—the one with the arrows in the back and the one with the bow. How about you?
As I was reading the verse from Philippians 2 for today, I was immediately reminded of a hymn which is probably not very well-known but it tells the story...
I saw this beautiful picture on Facebook. The title was “First Day in Heaven.” It’s hard to even describe the emotions that go along with this picture...
I have a love affair with The Saint John’s Bible and this is an illumination of the Parable of the Four Soils from that Bible (Mark 4:1-20). Notice it is ...
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, in the midst of racial tensions, in the midst of wildfires still burning, in the midst of the upcoming election, we need...