March 16,
2016

Synod E-News
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FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS FeaturedNews
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 Assembly.  While registration is still a month away, here are a few details to share:

Deadline for submitting Resolutions: March 31st 
View the Resolution Form and Worksheet for more information.

Registration Materials will be posted April 1st. 
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
Clergy Invited to Luncheon at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center

"Founded in Christian faith, we enrich lives with love and compassion" is the mission statement of our care center.  Synod Clergy are invited to a Luncheon on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, that will begin at noon and conclude by 1 p.m.   We will meet in the Missouri Slope Chapel located at 2425 Hillview Ave. in Bismarck.   The entr�e is smothered chicken with Parmesan potatoes; you are our guest.

Why are you invited?    We appreciate your work and ministry and value the way our paths cross, for the sake of our residents at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center and the tenants at Valley View Heights Assisted Living Apartments.  As spiritual leaders, we share our Creator's calling to care for and with the neighbor.  Our faith traditions matter, as you know.  The lives of so many of our elders reflect that faith priority.  At the luncheon, we will briefly introduce ourselves to one another, hear a word of welcome from our CEO and President Reier Thompson and learn about a program that is benefiting our residents at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center.  It's called Music and Memory.  Our Activities' staff will introduce us to this tool of technology that brings joy to elders who struggle with dementia. We value your insights and help with this program;  each faith tradition has a rich "playbook" of music and poetry that could benefit our (and your) elders.  

Will you join us for lunch on Tuesday, April 5? Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 29 to Pastor Rebecca Aardahl, raardahl@mslcc.com or call or text her at (701) 390-4519.
More Events and Notices MoreNews
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.
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 InMissionTogether

Neighbors helping Neighbors from One Border to the Other
 
On January 14th, 31 people left for Shining Light Mission Trip to San Marcos, TX. The trip was planned by Knife River Lutheran Church which is part of Prairie Lutheran Parish in Stanley. Last fall Knife River opened the Mission Trip to the Prairie Lutheran Parish. What a great way to get to know our fellow parishioners by working and praying together.

The destination of the trip was decided after a major flash flood occurred on Memorial weekend 2015 and another flood in October of 2015. The community was hit with two natural disasters in 6 months. Upon arriving in San Marcos we met with the Blanco River volunteer coordinators to receive our work orders. We helped 4 individuals with putting in can lights, putting up sheet rock and chip board, insulating, taping and mudding, taking down cement forms, yard cleanup and carrying in pails of rock for fill against a foundation. When we got done with each job we held hands and did a blessing for the people we helped.

What a humbling experience for us and them. We are so blessed to have been able to do this and we can't thank Knife River Church and the community for their financial support to do this mission trip. Doing mission work is an experience everyone should do. The difference you can make in someone's life is so gratifying. It is an experience we will cherish. 

submitted by Marlene Grabow, American Lutheran Church, Stanley
 
The items highlighted below are available for preview from the Synod's Resource Library. 
To request to borrow a copy, e-mail your request to info@wndsynod.org or call 701-223-5312. Resources
StewardTalk Conversation with
the Author of Stewardshift: An
Economia for Congregational Change
In the first quarter of 2016, we have been blessed with the release of some excellent new books on stewardship. 

On Tuesday, April 19, at 3PM CDT, we will have our first StewardTalk with author Bob Sitze.  His book Stewardshift: An Economia for Congregational Change offers theoretical and practical propositions by which lay and clergy leaders can ensure the sustainability of stewardship ministries to help their congregation flourish. 

There are two parts: Part I, Scriptural Stewardshifts, reinterprets familiar biblical passages on stewardship, introduces new ones, and helps congregations expand the use of the Bible in their life; Part 2, Secular Stewardshifts, examines resources available to congregations from the "continuing revelation" that is occurring in the secular world, including philanthropy, financial planning, community organizing and other areas.

Join the conversation: 
These opportunities for conversation with the author will be national conference calls.  Simply call 1-877-820-7831.  The Participant Passcode is 6314685#.  All are welcome to participate.  
 
The format will be 30 minutes of informal conversation with the author, and 30 minutes for call participants to ask questions. 

If you have questions that you would like the author to address, feel free to send them to Keith.Mundy@elca.org  in advance.  

One copy of Stewardshift is available in the synod office and can be borrowed.
Book of Faith Series: Ruth
by Diane Jacobson
and David Vasquez Levy
Written by our recent GIFTS Event Presenter!

Description
The incredibly rich story told in the book of Ruth captures the fears, challenges, and hope of those who find themselves pulled away from home and of those who are there when they return. In this book we are invited into the deep emotions and conversations of the three central characters of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, while exploring the themes of loss, loyalty, risk, and hope.
 
This four-session course explores the entire book of Ruth.

Sessions include:
 1. Where Does Loss Push Us? (Ruth 1:1-18)
 2. Where Does Loyalty Pull Us? (Ruth 1:19-2:23)
 3. Where Does Risk Take Us? (Ruth 3:1-18)
 4. Where Does Hope Lead Us? (Ruth 4:1-22)

This course kit includes one Leader Guide and one Learner Guide.

Publisher: Augburg Fortress
Year of Publication: 2012
Format:  Bible Study Kit

praying.jpg
 In Our PrayersPrayers
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
Vang Lutheran, Dunn Center
Zion Lutheran, Elgin
Epping Lutheran, Epping
Concordia Lutheran, Fessenden

Rostered Leaders
Rev. Duane Sorum
Rev. Jonathan Splichal Larson
Rev. Renee Splichal Larson

For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Marcella Nelson
Gary & Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl
Allen Schauer (father of Rev. Paul Schauer)

Our Ministry Partners
People of Eastern North Dakota Synod
 Upcoming EventsEvents
  • March 18-19 -
    Discerning God's Call Retreat
    (Camp of the Cross, Garrison)
  • April 2 -
    Synod All Team Meeting
    (St. Paul's Lutheran, 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 TransitionsTransitions
 
Upcoming Ordinations 
 Kevin Nelson, Peace Lutheran Church, Lincoln, March 19, 7pm

Congregations in the
Call Process  
  • Dakota Prairie Parish, Bowman, Amidon and Rhame (Associate)
  • Grenora Lutheran Parish, Grenora and Zahl 
  • Dunn County Parish, Killdeer, Halliday, and Dunn Center
  • Calvary Lutheran, Lemmon
  • McClusky Goodrich Parish, McClusky and Goodrich
  • Christ Lutheran, Minot (Associate)
  • Zion Lutheran, Minot (Associate)
  • Prairie Hope Parish, Newburg, Maxbass, Westhope
  • Prairie Rose Parish, Roseglen, Ryder & Makoti
  • Noonan Lutheran Parish, Noonan and rural Crosby
  • Reeder Lutheran Parish, Reeder, Ralph & Bucyrus
  • Rugby-Leeds Lutheran Parish-Rugby & Leeds
  • Bethany Lutheran, Rugby and Wolford Lutheran, Wolford
  • First Lutheran, Williston (Associate)
  • Gloria Dei Lutheran, Williston
  • Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran, Williston
  • St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Wishek 


  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  
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 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  beth@wndsynod.org
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