what we’re up to in
The Community
Sunday Gathering
Get an online taste of our vision for The Grove Planting Project’s worship experience — powerful music, compelling teaching, and a truly welcoming environment.
Groups
Build relationships and find encouragement for following the way of Jesus in everyday life.
Events
Have fun and connect with others as we work with community partners to make Cottage Grove an even better place to live.
Partnerships
Come alongside other community organizations working to meet the needs of families in Cottage Grove.
While the launch of weekly public worship won’t happen until late 2020, we’re planning opportunities to get a taste for what a worship experience that grows vibrant faith in families might look like.
Join us each Sunday morning at 8:40am on Facebook Live or YouTube for a short message and music. You can also just listen to our music playlist.
Groups
Groups are intentionally smaller environments meant to grow meaningful relationships and encourage us in following the way of Jesus. With the onset of the COVID-19, most groups have been moved fully online.
Cottage Grove and Surrounding Area – Laid Off, Furloughed, and Job Loss group
This group is meant to share resources and build community for those in the Cottage Grove (MN) area who have been laid off, furloughed, or lost their job due to COVID-19.
Our hope is that you find this group to be empowering and encouraging. As such, members who disrespect or discourage one another may be removed at the administrator’s discretion.
ONLINE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
Parenting Forward discussion group
Have you been moved by the death of George Floyd to engage with your family in conversation around reforming our systems and our souls? Let’s come together to discuss “Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness.” If you live in Cottage Grove and surrounding areas, we’ll even buy the ebook for you.
TUESDAY NIGHTS AT 7:30 PM
Trouble I’ve Seen discussion group
Have you been moved by the death of George Floyd to engage with your family in conversation around reforming our systems and our souls? Let’s come together to discuss “Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism.” If you live in Cottage Grove and surrounding areas, we’ll even buy the ebook for you.
MONDAY NIGHTS AT 6:30 PM
Benefit of the Doubt discussion group
The beauty of the Bible is that is shows us what the life of faith looks like — and the life of faith is often messy and full of questions. Sometimes questions seem off-limits, leading people to walk away from the church or never fully welcome in the church to begin with.
Join us with your questions in hand as we explore God, the Bible, Christianity, and much more without judgment or fear. We won’t guarantee answers, but you will walk away knowing you’re not alone.
THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 5:30 PM
Bless This Mess discussion small group
Parenting is hard, and parenting children in faith is even harder. When life is chaotic, it’s helpful to know that we’re not in it alone.
Join us as we encourage meaningful relationships and nurture the goodness in our kids alongside others whose lives are just as crazy as yours.
While we’ll use the book “Bless this Mess” to guide some of our discussion, reading is optional. We just want you to show up as you are!
read the full Book Description
When Rev. Molly Baskette and Dr. Ellen O’Donnell first met, they were both new mothers seeking parenting wisdom. They read a lot of books on the topic, but none of them contained practical suggestions that would help their families psychologically and spiritually while maintaining their progressive values: How do we teach the art of forgiving and serving others? How do we raise kids who are tolerant, curious, and honorable? And what about the sex talk?
Taking matters into their own hands, Baskette and O’Donnell began creating actionable steps addressing these questions and more. This audiobook is the fruit of their many conversations begun long ago during the daycare carpool, from angsty moments to hallelujahs.
In Bless This Mess, listeners will gain constructive tools as they learn how to talk to their children about social justice, money, God, ethics, bullying, disabilities, sexuality, and their bodies. Parents will also glean insights on how to serve others with joy, give generously and gratefully, and – perhaps most important – learn how to stop being so afraid all the damn time, even while raising kids in an increasingly chaotic and often scary world. With real-life examples, relatable personal stories, and strategies tailored to the toddler, preteen, or teenager, Bless This Mess guides parents of children at all stages of their development.
Events
Get out into the community. Have fun with friends and family. Build relationships. Make a difference.
While COVID-19 will keep us from meeting in person anytime soon, we’re offering fun ways to connect and have fun online.
Skoolie Family Fun Nights!
Every Thursday . 5:30-6:30pm . Armstrong Elementary
Partnerships
As a part of the larger Cottage Grove community, we’re dedicated with working alongside a variety of other organizations in order to make our city an even better place to live for all.
armstrong elementary
We’ve been working with our neighbors at Armstrong Elementary School to provide cold weather clothing. Here’s a list of outstanding items which you can donate.
SoWashCo CARES
St croix family resource center
We’ve been helping support and promote the St. Croix Family Resource Center’s new Youth Connections Drop-in Center for teenagers experiencing homelessness in Cottage Grove.