In 2022, we bought a new (to us) house in Sauk Rapids, MN. We plan to turn our yard into a place neighbors can feel free to hang out. We also seek to promote the values that help make a good community, such as kindness, stewardship, creation care, and hospitality.
The house is our private residence, but we occasionally host events that we will invite our neighbors to. Check the calendar below for information about public events.
Fire And Board Games
Board games are a great way to meet new people, connect with neighbors, and learn new things. Join us for an evening of playing games and getting to know others in the community. We’ll set tables in the garage to play games and have the fire pit in the driveway. We’ll have seltzer, snacks, and s’mores fixings on hand. All other beverages are BYOB. It’s a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and have fun at the same time.
Come and join us. Bring a favorite game. You’re welcome to bring your own game or a snack to share, making this event genuinely communal. Everyone is invited, and we look forward to meeting you. If it rains, we will still play games in the garage.
Council Fires
Our Counsel Fire is a welcoming space for individuals from diverse cultural and religious/non-religious backgrounds. We gather around our fire pit to engage in open and respectful discussions about spiritual life from various perspectives. We will have seltzer, snacks, and s’mores fixings on hand to share. Other beverages are BYOB.
We will send out and post a discussion prompt the week before. Before we start discussing the prompt, we will take some time to catch up on life. Our goal is to create a safe space for discussion where different perspectives are welcome, and where there is no pressure to conform to any particular belief. We will have a talking stick available to facilitate the discussion if those present find it helpful.
IRL Connections
The vision of IRL Connections is Finding Life Beyond the Isolation. We exist to combat isolation by creating opportunities to gather around board games, books, art, and other creative activities. What started with hosting fire and board game nights in our front yard has evolved into a mission to create safe spaces where people can gather around games, books, art, and other creative activities, meeting others in real life and addressing the epidemic of loneliness in our society.
Beyond our front yard game nights, we started working with Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education to host a monthly “Board Games With Neighbors” event at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School. We are now launching a semimonthly game night at B-Side Indie Music Cafe in downtown St. Cloud. Check our calendar below for upcoming events.
diakonoslife.org 