Who we are
What To Expect
We have two services every Sunday - traditional service and a family/contempory service. Join the service that best fits your style, both services have the same message to make sure we are all learning as a family. Life can be busy, but at worship you can slow down and accept God's Word and Sacraments.
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids - Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God:
The Father, creator of all that exists;
Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and
the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.
The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
We accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
Bulletin Announcements
ALL MEN OF FIRST LUTHERAN- Men’s Morning Bible Study
You are invited to attend Men’s Morning Bible Study each Wednesday morning at Forest Lake Restaurant. We meet in the upstairs back room at 6:45 AM. We open with a prayer and then begin our reading for the day. After our reading we have discussion. During this time our server takes our breakfast orders. Some men order just coffee and others a full breakfast. We are finished by 8 AM. There is plenty of room so bring your Bible and join us in studying God’s word.
ALL THE MEN OF FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH- Men’s Club
If you are male and a member of First Lutheran, you are automatically a member of the Men’s Club. We have regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6:30p.m. in the church basement. Our mission is to help the ministry of First Lutheran by providing funds and manpower for the betterment of our church. Cinnamon Roll Sunday and the Wild Game Feed are a couple of ways for us to raise funds. Our meetings consist primarily of how to spend these funds. After a short meeting we have dessert provided by one of the men. Come and join us. You will enjoy.
Stewardship message: (Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany) Luke 6:20-21- “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.” The beatitudes are largely about emptiness. If you are poor, your pockets are empty. If you are mourning, there’s an emptiness in your heart that used to be filled with the presence of a loved one. Jesus assures us in each case that the Lord will fill our emptiness. That assurance gives us peace and courage to follow the Lord faithfully.
Personal hearing devices are available for your use. If you desire one, please ask an usher.
Our nursery (unstaffed) can be found on the lower level of the education wing. There is a PA System provided in this room, so the service can be heard.
Cable TV Broadcast Proclaiming the Good News of Christ on ICTV (Mediacom Cable Channel 2 and Paul Bunyan Cable Channel 32) each Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday at 4 a.m. and 12 noon.
BIBLE STUDY: We will continue a study today, equipping us to share our faith with family and friends, The course is called “How Not To Be a Witless Witness”. Join us for this challenging study.
First Lutheran Women in Mission- At our LWML executive board meeting recently we distributed our mission funds from 2018 to support the following missions:
Concordia Seminary St. Louis-Food Bank $500.00, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne-Food & Clothing Co-op $500.00, New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center-$500.00. Grace House of Itasca County-$200.00 and Elder Circle Assisted Transportation-$200.00. These funds were from Red Stockings, Bake Sale, Summer Concert Series Lunch, Advent Supper and our Sunday morning coffee and treats. Thank you for your support of these activities to raise funds for our society missions. First Lutheran LWML
We were blessed with 26 children and adults that joined together to play board games, eat pizza, and enjoyed cupcakes and ice cream for Tijanna’s birthday last Sunday! Thank you to everyone that came, helped make the pizza and cleanup. If you missed us last week, we have other activities planned through May. Watch the bulletin board for more information.
Lock-in March 1st: In order to prepare food and activities, we need to know who is attending. Please fill out a form for your child(ren) and drop it in the FMPD mailbox.
Do you play an instrument? We are looking for anyone interested in playing for Easter. Contact Heather Angell for more information. 218-341-2810
VBS Steering Committee will meet on February 18th at 5:30 pm. If you have helped in the past and would like to give direction and input, we would love for you to join us. If you have never helped and would like to know what goes on behind the scenes, please join us. We would love and value your input. For more information contact Lois Bendix at 218-355-0581.
Cabin Fever Reliever Dinner will be on Saturday February 23rd at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Social Hour is 5:30pm-6:30p with music from the Soring Brothers and Friends. Chicken Kiev dinner will be served. Cost for dinner is $8.00 per person. There will be a Silent Auction and Raffle. All proceeds will go to local missions, Ruby’s Pantry and the Alaska Mission Trip.
I wish to thank all of you for your prayers over the years for my brother Dave. He told me often that he truly felt the comfort they brought him through his long battle. I thank you now for your hugs and words of comfort for me as I accept God’s will for him and know he is now with God’s loving presence. May he bless you all. Donna Ramnarine.