Classes and Small Groups

"Living A Life That Makes A Difference"

Care Groups

Care Meals: Help keep our Care Meal Freezer stocked. Meet as needed.

Dad's Group (Fridays, 6:30 - 8:00 a.m., @ Lueken's North, Sept.- May)Purpose of this group is to strengthen men's relationships with God, wife and children. Various scriptures are studied.

Healing is Possible (Women's Support Group) Supports and ministers to women to help them heal from childhood sexual abuse. Contact church for more information.

Family Group (Fridays once a month) For families with children of various ages. Night to be decided by group. Share a potluck together.

Wednesday Morning Prayer Group (10:00 a.m. @ Janette Downing's home) This group meets to pray for our church. Welcome to join anytime, contact Janette to confirm the meeting.

First Place 4 Health (Mondays 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. @ the church, February 1 - April 19) First Place 4 Health is a Christian centered total-wellness program. Contact church to confirm meetings.

Young Families Group: This group is for young couples and parents of young children. Events are planned October - April. Contact church or Scott Nyegaard for schedule of events.

Parents of College Bound Students (Once a month @ the church, day & time TBD) Meet to support and pray for one another as children are sent off to college. Alos assemble care packages to send to our students.

Living With Hope (Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. @ the church) Support group for those living with chronic illness.

Common Interest Groups

Dinner for 8: Individuals & couples that gather for dinner, fellowship and relationship. Sign up by contacting the church office in the fall.

Hockey (Fridays, 7:00 p.m. @ Nielson Arena) Hockey for all ages 15 and up. Cost is $7.00 per time. Join at any time. Meets late November through March or April.

Men's Basketball or Softball: Call the church for contact information and to see when they meet.

Women's Mission Circle (1st Monday of the month, 1:00 p.m. @ the church, April - Nov.) Prepare items for local and foreign mission groups.

A more detailed description of studies and contact information is available at the church. Call 218-751-3699.

Upcoming Summer Opportunities

Membership Class - Covenant 101: Wednesdays, May 19 - June 2 (6:30 PM)

Covenant 101

If you are ready to join us by becoming a member, this is thenew members class. Participants will learn about the history, beliefs, purpose and mission of our church and denomination. You will understand how we practice communion, baptism, dedication, worship ministry, governance and church membership. Contact the church office to sign up.

Summer Study for Women, Begins Monday, June 14, 7 p.m. @ Evangelical Free Church

Here & Now... Then & There ($10 for a member book)

This is a Beth Moore lecture series on the book of Revelation. Beth Moore presents many points of view, allowing woen to decide for themselves when the interpretation varies among scholars. She teaches that God is as specific about what He does reveal as He is about wheat He does not reveal. Each of the 11 sessions is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. (click here for promo video)

Summer Adult Studies, Wednesdays in July & August beginning July 7, 6:30 p.m. @ The Covenant

Convergence: Where Faith and Life Meet

In these summer studies each session can stand on its own, so don't worry if you miss a session. You are welcome to come at any time. The Convergence series examines the intersects between faith and life, with the goal of sparking deeper conversation and stronger community. The Convergence series encourages and educates Christians by challenging them to live faithfully in a world where culture is often at odds with faith.

JULY STUDY: "Personal Growth: Learning to Meet the Demands of Life"

Join Donald Miller as he talks with Henry Cloud ("Boundaries") to discuss spiritual and personal growth. July 7: Growth and Its Ingredients; July 14: Relationships: Bonding & Boundaries; July 21: Expectations: Sorting Out Good & Bad; July 28: Responsibility: Meeting Life's Demands.

AUGUST STUDY: "Marriage: Life After I Do"

In this marriage series we will listen in on conversations between Donald Miller, Dan Allendar and Tremper Longman (authors of "Breaking the Idols of Your Heart, Intimate Allies") as they discuss God's design for Christian marriage and address relationship questions. August 4: Marriage Defined; August 11: Husbands and Wives; August 18: Leaving, Weaving and Cleaving; August 25: Marriage and Community.

Summer Book Club, Discussion in the Fireside Room @ The Covenant

JUNE BOOK: "Chasing Francis: A Pilgrims Tale", Discussion: Thursday, July 1, 6:30 p.m.

Author Ian Cron shed new light on St. Francis of Assisi. He masterfully weaves actual accounts of St. Francis' radical impact on the world into a fictional story of Chase Falston, a New England minister on a pilgrimage to regain his faith. It's an amazing story with profound implications for the contemporary church. "When the death of a child in his Connecticut congregation sends minister Chase Falson into a tailspin, the elders not-so-gently suggest a sabbatical. So Chase heads for the hills of Italy - searching for himself and a second chance. What he finds is a long-dead saint and an ex-con! Does God have answers Chase can't yet see?" Come and discover Francis the first postmodern Christian.

JULY BOOK: "The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knew", Discussion: Thursday, July 29, 6:30 p.m..

Not every book on developing spiritual intimacy with God includes chapters on getting enough sleep and learning to slow down. But James Bryan Smith has tailored his recommendations for "soul-training" accordingly. "The number one spiritual sickness of our day is 'hurry sickness,' " writes the author. Smith challenges those who seek to follow God to examine the stories they already know about God, engage in new spiritual practices and enter in dialogue with others under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He analyzes "false narratives" (we can work our way to God) and asks the reader to replace them with new ones (God works His way to us). Smith believes we need a pattern of transformation. He encourages us to reexamine what we think about God (our narratives), how we practice (the spiritual disciplines), and whom we interact with (our social context) to discover the life Jesus lived and grow in the knowledge of a good God.

AUGUST BOOK: "Intimate Allies: Rediscovering God's Design for Marriage and Becoming Soul Mated for Life", Discussion: Thursday, August 19, 6:30 p.m.

In their book, "Intimate Allies," Dan Allender and Tremper Longman III, strip away cultural expectations and take a fresh look at God's design for the marriage relationship. The authors focus on five foundations taken from Genesis 1 - 3 and include an extensive review of other biblical passages on marriage. Each section begins with a real-life story concerning an unresolved marriage issue and concludes with the same story built on the "foundation" of a godly marriage. With eloquence and wisdom, this book will challenge you to move your marriage out of the mundane and into the fulfilling and enriching experiences God intended. Dan Allender is a counselor and Longman a renowned Old Testament scholar and Bible editor.

Sunday Class: 9:00 a.m.

The Prayers of Paul

This class will study the prayers of Paul, which he wrote in his letters to the churches. We will study them by a didactic method, discovering the original Greek meanings of the words he used in his prayers, identifying who Paul was praying for, discussing why Paul prayed about these topics, and finding why those prayers are valuable for our own prayer growth. The goal of this class will be to grow in our own prayer lives by using these prayers as models to lead us in the right direction as to the content of our prayers.

Growth Groups/Bible Studies

Abigail Womens' Study (Thurs. 3:30 p.m. @ the church, Sept.-May): Beginning February 4 we will be reading and discussing Ian Morgan Cron’s Chasing Francis, the story of the impact of St. Francis on an evangelical pastor. Newcomers welcome.

Bethel Women's Study (3rd Tuesday of month, @ the church,1:30 p.m.) Studying We are using Max Lucado's book, Life Lessions: Romans. New members welcome.

Esther Women's Study (3rd Thursday of month, 1:30 p.m., April - Nov.) Studying the Women of Faith book, Contagious Joy, by Patsy Clairmont.

Friday Morning Men's Small Group (6:30 - 7:45 a.m., @ High School Commons area)

Joy Women's Study (Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. @ the church, Sept.- May) Studying the Women of Faith book, Understanding Purpose, by Shiela Walsh.

Priscilla Women's Study (Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. @ the church, Sept. - May) There are two groups that meet. One is using the Serendipity Bible as their study guide and is studying the book of Romans. The other is doing the Kay Arthur study "Lord, I'm Torn Between Two Masters." Childcare is available - $2.50 per child.

Rebecca Women's Study (3rd Tuesday of the month, 6:00 p.m. @ the church, Sept. - May) DVD series The Life and Ministry of the Messiah with Ray Vander Laan

Sarah Women's Study (3rd Tueday of the month, 6:00 p.m. @ various places, Sept. - May) Studying As Sliver Refined by Kay Arthur.

Senior Adult Study (2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month, 9:30 a.m. @ the church, Sept.-May) Finishing their study of the minor prophets.

Tuesday Morning Men's Small Group (6:30 - 8:00 a.m. @ Dave Moffett's office - 5th & Beltrami) Currently they are chronologically going through the New Testament.

Young Couples & Singles Group (Mondays, 7:30 p.m. @ the home of Travis & Sarah Scharn) DVD series The Truth Project. Once a month do an outreach event.