March 2,
2016


Synod E-News
FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS
elder-waterside-couple.jpg
Ready to Retire Webinar, March 8
Portico Benefits will host a "Ready to Retire Webinar" March 8.  The conversation will help you make informed choices related to Medicare, ELCA Retirement Plan distribution options, and Social Security. You'll hear from several presenters from Portico and Ernst & Young, and be able to take part in live Q&A.
Register now for Ready to Retire

People finding Christianity, religion and faith. Large crowd of people walking to and forming the shape of a cross on a white background with room for text or copy space in the cross. Tilling the Soil Event, April 9
Come dream about ministry possibilities around us. Tilling the Soil is designed to unleash creative possibilities for Gospel proclamation while giving tools and resources to help engage the mission field. Join Rev. Ruben Duran, ELCA Director of New Starts as he explains options and partnership opportunities to help fund exploration.   Rev. Keith Zeh, Director for Evangelical Mission for the NW Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota Synods, will share examples of new ministries being engaged in the territory he serves. 
Registration and Information
Bulletin Insert to Share
Congregation Members & Rostered Leaders encouraged to attend
 Synod Assembly Announcements
Before long we will be gathering together for the 2016 Synod AssemblyWhile registration is still a month away, here are a few details to share:

Dates: June 10-11, 2016
(Mission Gala & Pre-Assembly Workshop will be held on June 9)

Location:
  Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center, Bismarck, ND

Deadline for submitting Resolutions: March 31st 

View the Resolution Form and Worksheet for more information.

Registration Materials will be posted April 1st.


ELCA Special Guest:  Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response.
Synod Assembly Worship Offering will support ELCA World Hunger
Live-Stream Event - Grace based Evangelizing: Living and Telling the Story of Jesus Today
colorful_logo_people.jpg April 14, 2016,   6:30-9:00 p.m. CDT
Hosted by the 9 ELCA Directors of Evangelical Mission in the Synods of Region 3.  One congregation could host and invite neighboring congregations to join in this great event.
Click here for more information
Click here to register
More Events and Notices
Compare and Contrast of Ruth and Judges, March 12
Join Dr. Diane Jacobson of Luther Seminary and the Book of Faith Initiative as she leads participants on a journey through the books of Judges and Ruth.  This event is sponsored by the synod's GIFTS program and will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck. All are welcome to attend.  $15 registration fee includes lunch.  Learn More
Open Bible over a desk or table. Open word of God waiting for the pastor or believer. The need of coming back to the word of God as source of guidance.     Note  Shallow depth of field
Discerning God's Call Retreat, March 18-19
Wondering if God is calling your to ministry in new ways in your congregation or the larger church? 
Join Krista Lind, AiM, Associate Dean of Student Resources and Candidacy at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN and Rev. Amy Currant, Dean for Vocation at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA, in a guided weekend of exploring God's call to ministry. Bishop Mark Narum and Beth Anderson will also be present for conversations about candidacy and opportunities to serve throughout the church. Learn More
Health Assessment LinkMayo Clinic Health Assessment & GO! Challenge yield big rewards
Portico Benefits offers a 1% discount on health contributions from congregation when 65% of the ELCA-Primary health plan members and spouses in their synod take time to complete the online Mayo Clinic health assessment before April 30th.  Collectively we could save our congregations a combined total of $13,000. While the health discount is a valuable reward, the real reward is greater health - among ELCA leaders, congregations, and church budgets. By walking together in the wellness reformation, we can achieve it. So don't just take the health assessment. Complete your GO! Challenge as well to create a healthy, lasting lifestyle change. Learn more at MyPortico.
Volunteer with Heart River Bridges of Hope
Do you have gifts to share with youth ages 12-19?  Consider volunteering on the campus of the North Dakota Youth Correctional Center in Mandan for game nights, gardening, lefse making, blanket making, crafts, and visits. This is a great opportunity to join with Heart River ministries in walking with youth as they are incarcerated and potentially develop relationships to mentor them as they make their journey into the community.
*must be 18 and pass state background check to volunteer at correctional center campus*
 
Free Training sponsored by Heart River Lutheran Church
Date: March 12, 2016
Location: Heart River Lutheran Church, 701 16th Ave SW, Mandan ND
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Noon meal provided
Please RSVP to Shera at 595-3962 / [email protected]  by March 10th.
For more information on Heart River Lutheran Church and it's ministries: www.heartriverlutheran.org or find us on facebook.
Rostered Women's Retreat, April 3-5
All rostered women are invited to a retreat at Sacred Heart Monastery near Richardton April 3-5. Take some time away to renew yourself after the demands of Lent and Holy Week.
Register online HERE

Recycled paper note pinned on cork board.Save the Date Message. Wedding Concept Image
Power and Boundaries Workshops
All rostered leaders in the ELCA are expected to participate in ongoing continuing education (at least every 3 years) on maintaining appropriate boundaries in ministry. Workshops will be held in both Minot and Bismarck this April. Visit the links below for more information & registration:
In Mission Together

Living Lutheran amid Elections:
How can the Lutheran tradition help us navigate all the rhetoric?

 

by Timothy K. Snyder, adjunct instructor of theology and spirituality at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa

Alice Walker's poem, "Democratic Womanism," begins with these wonderful lines:

You ask me why I smile
when you tell me you intend
in the coming national elections
to hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils. There are more than two evils out there,
is one reason I smile.


On this long, and increasingly strange, road toward Nov. 8 (Election Day), our Lutheran tradition has some sound words to offer in the midst of all the white noise, all the chatter.

In a time when many question the role of government in our lives, Luther's writings offer a vision for the power of government.  More

  Save the Dates
Western ND Synod Assembly
June 10-11, 2016 @ Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck, ND
June 2-3, 2017 @ Grand Hotel, Minot, ND
May 31-June 2, 2018 @ Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck, ND
June 6-8, 2019 @ Grand Hotel, Minot, ND

Western ND Fall Rostered Leaders Gathering
September 11-13, 2016 Medora, ND
 
Western North Dakota Women of the ELCA Gathering
June 16-17, 2017 at the Grand Hotel, Minot, ND  

praying.jpg
 In Our Prayers
We will pray together through the synod's roster of congregations and rostered leaders.  Please keep the ministries and ministers below in your prayers this week.
 
Congregations
Rose Valley Lutheran, Des Lacs
Peace Lutheran, Dickinson
St. John Lutheran, Dickinson
Trinity Lutheran, Douglas

Rostered Leaders
Rev. Joel Sherer
Rev. Emily Shipman
Rev. Zechariah Shipman

For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Marcella Nelson
Gary & Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl

Our Partnership Ministries
ELCA seminarians and their families during the upcoming synodical assignment Process
ELCA Conference of Bishops meeting next week
 Upcoming Events
  • Mar 12 -"Ruth and Judges" - GIFTS Event
    (Good Shepherd, Bismarck)
  • March 18-19 -
    Discerning God's Call Retreat
    (Camp of the Cross, Garrison)
  • April 9 -
    Tilling the Soil Event
    (BSC, Bismarck)
  • April 16 -
    LYO Board Meeting
    (Peace Lutheran, Burlington)
  • April 18 -
    Boundaries Workshop
    (Minot)
  • April 19 - Boundaries Workshop
    (Bismarck)
  • April 23 -Deitrich Bonhoeffer with Dr. Andrew Root - GIFTS Event (Minot) 
  • May 1-3 -
    Theology on the Prairie - "Sundays and Seasons for Seekers" with Paul Hoffman,
    (Camp of the Cross, Garrison)
Synod Transitions
 
Upcoming Ordinations 
 Kevin Nelson, Peace Lutheran Church, Lincoln, March 19 
 
Installations

Rev. Desiree Uhrich, Christ Lutheran Church, Minot, February 28

Transfers
Rev. Rachel Simonson to Northwestern Minnesota Synod  
 

 The Synod E-News is sent to rostered leaders and congregations of the Western North Dakota Synod, and subscribers each week.  If you would like to submit an item for publication in E-News or on the synod website please send to  [email protected]