August
3,
2016


Synod E-News

FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS FeaturedNews
Thank you for your patience during technology upgrades
The Synod Office continues to undergo technology upgrades this week.  If you sent e-mails to staff during the past week, they bounced back to you, or if you have not received a timely response, please feel free to followup with staff or send your message again.  We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience during this time of transition.  
Update Contact Information for the Synod Directory
We will be printing an new synod directory to be distributed at the Rostered Leader Conference in Medora. Please review the information on file from last year.  If any information has changed, please e-mail changes to [email protected]

Update Congregation Information:
CLICK HERE to review the CONGREGATION contact information that we have on file from last year for your congregation. We hope to include physical addresses as well as mailing addresses, and an e-mail address and website this year.  If your congregation has an e-mail address or website, or a physical address that differs from the mailing address, please email it to [email protected].

Update Rostered Leader Information:
CLICK HERE
to review the ROSTERED LEADER information we had on file fr om the 2015 directory.  If any information has changed, please email changes to [email protected].
Registration Now OPEN! 
Rostered Leaders Conference in Medora, Sept. 11-13
Register Now!
Registration includes all meals and program fees.  Lodging reservations must be made separately.  Reserve your room at the Rough Riders Hotel or Badlands Motel now.  Call 1-800-MEDORA-1 and request a room under the block reserved for
"ND Fall Pastors Conference 2016/Western ND Synod".  A few rooms are also available at the retreat center at Badlands Ministries.  Contact Becky or Brent at (701) 623-4332.
Presenters this year include President Robin Steinke of Luther Seminary and President Louise Johnson of Wartburg Theological Seminary. 
More Events and Notices MoreNews
Churches to Host Partners in Ministry from Nigeria - UPDATED ITINERY
In the first two weeks in August, churches in Kenmare, Powers Lake, Ross and Mohall will be joining together to host the Bitrus family, from Nigeria, who have been studying in Minneapolis.  Ibrahim Bitrus has completed his doctoral work at Luther Seminary, and Julecy is working toward a degree in education, biology, and chemistry.  They will be present in worship and preaching and/or presenting at Bethlehem in Ross on Sunday morning, August 7th, at 9:00 AM; at a WELCA retreat at Holy Cross, Powers Lake on August 10th at 5:30PM, and at Trinity Lutheran (north of Kenmare) on Sunday August 14th, at 9:30 AM, which coincides with the celebration of 120 years of ministry at Trinity.  All are welcome to attend these worship services and all women are invited to attend the retreat.
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Event: Engaging Adults, August 27
Your church can't thrive without effective adult faith formation.  Come spend a day exploring ways to enhance the development of adult faith in your congregation.  Cost is $30/person or $25/person for congregations that bring 4 or more participants.  The event will be led by Vibrant Faith Ministries and hosted at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave, Bismarck ND.  Register at https://ea-bismarck.eventbrite.com or call 255-1001. Learn More
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Free Grant Writing Workshop
The North Dakota State Commission on National and Community Service and the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Development will be hosting a free workshop on the basics of grant administration and writing, Tuesday, August 16, 2016, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the North Dakota Department of Commerce, located at 1600 E. Century Ave, Suite 2, Bismarck, North Dakota. Individuals representing non-profit and faith based community service organizations are encouraged to attend.    

Workshop topics will include:
  • Relating Grant Administration and Grant Writing (overview)
  • Regulatory Considerations and Perspectives
  • Pre and Post Grant Administration Stages, Strategies and Requirements
  • Grant Proposal Writing Stages
  • Grant Proposal Writing Simulation
This event is intended for novice grant administrators/writers and is limited to the first 40 registered attendees.Registration opens July 11, 2016. For questions, please contact Steve Schanandore at [email protected]. For more information and to register, go to the following link:  http://www.workforce.nd.gov/volunteer/grantworkshop/

Discipleship Online Course
Rev. Dr. John Herman is conducting via Wartburg Seminary titled,"From Membership to Discipleship."   The course will take place from September 12, 2016 to October 16, 2016.  John has written several resources on discipleship and is a member of the ELCA Faith Practices Team.  Mission developers and redevelopers might be particularly interested in the content found in this course. 
Hymnals and Choir Robes in Need of a New Home
St. John's in Killdeer has many green LBW hymnals and about 20 red choir robes that need a new home. Please contact Amanda Knudsvig at [email protected] or 701-764-5264 if interested.
New Vision: A Training Program for Congregational Leaders
The Minnesota Bowen Systems Institute(MNBSI) will sponsor a training session for NEW VISION, led by Dr. Peter Steinke, scheduled on Thursday, September 1, 2016, at Luther Seminary, St. Paul MN.  The social, cultural, economic, and religious fabric of America is rapidly changing, and like other institutions the church needs to learn to read the new context and adapt accordingly.  New thinking and design are required.  A NEW VISION is on the way!  This is a completely new and revised curriculum.  NEW VISION comes in two designs-LIKE FIRE will help you lead the leaders of your congregations in this mission and can be used for leadership training, mission trips, with a planning committee, the call committee and as a mission school.  Brief instruction on use is included.  ALL THINGS RESTORED is a 10 week adult class/forum that provides the opportunity for congregation members to learn new ways of thinking church. Each course of learning has the same goal - to increase awareness and activity and to build a mission focused environment.  The Training will take place from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at Luther Seminary.  Cost for the training is $150 for one, $125 each for more than one from the same congregation.  Meals may be purchased at the Seminary cafeteria.  There are limited rooms available overnight in Stub Hall.  Contact the Seminary for room information, 651-641-3456.  Registration closes August 25.  For more information and registration forms contact Pastor Roger Schwarze, 651-777-5102, or
[email protected].
Bringing the Assembly Home
Resources from this year's synod assembly are available at wndsynod.org/synod-assembly/summary.

You'll find:
  • A Summary of the Assembly in Bulletin format
  • An Order of Worship Celebrating Giftedness to use in your congregation
  • Video Greeting from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
  • Western North Dakota Synod Video Walking Together
  • Links to All Resolutions and Reports
In Mission Together

 
Building Up the Body of Christ
 

On Sunday June 26th, Faith Lutheran (Fortuna) gathered with family and friends to hear the Word and share Holy Communion one final time as a worshipping congregation.  In the midst of their planning for this day, members were intentional in looking forward - beyond the life of their congregation.  Giving beyond themselves has been a tradition at Faith Lutheran.  The members have partnered with Upper Missouri Ministries, Lutheran World Relief, the Synod, and Churchwide through sharing a portion of their weekly offering.  At this service of leave-taking, the members of this congregation, as one final  act of giving, chose to give the $888 in offering to the ELCA Mission Builders.

Mission Builders continue to build buildings and ministries in our synod.  This summer Mission Builders are working at Metigoshe Ministries.     

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 [email protected] or call 701-223-5312. Resources
Bag o' Books! 
I know from the requests through "Bag o' Books" that some of you are reading Adam Hamilton's book "Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity." 

If it has caught your attention like I suspect it has, you may be pleased to learn that Pr. Hamilton has also written a stewardship program based on his book. It was written after the stock market went way down in 2008, during a period when the stock market was very volatile, many people had lost jobs and much fear was in the air.  (In other words, it is still extremely relevant!) It is called the Enough Stewardship Program Guide, and is full of great tools.  I have enjoyed reading it, and think you will find it to be a simple campaign that will transform how we view money in connection to our life's purpose and shows us the positive impact that transformation will have on the world.
 
Leaders who use this guide will be equipped with:  a program plan and timeline for a worship series, group study, and promotion materials; sermon outlines, video clips and powerpoint slides that can be used in worship; examples of mailings and letters, even artwork, all on an included CD - and a proven powerful and successful approach.
 
You are welcome to borrow our copy if you'd like to look it over.  
 
If you haven't yet read "Enough", feel free to call the synod offic  to see if we have any available.  If we don't and you're anxious to read it -- I happen to know you can get a used copy on Amazon.com and other online booksellers for almost nothing!  Blessings!  

Pr. Lisa Ahlness
Missional
Joining God in the Neighborhood
By:  Alan J. Roxburgh

Description: 
 
The missional church movement is a sign that we increasingly feel the call to impact our communities, which is a good thing.  But, says Alan J. Roxburgh, these conversations still prioritize church success over mission -   i. e., how can being missional grow my church?  But to focus on such questions misses the point.

Missional calls you to reenter your neighborhood and community to discover what  the Spirit is doing there - to start with God's mission - to join in, shaping your local church around that mission.  With inspiring true stories and a solid biblical base, this is a book that will change lives and communities as its message is lived out.
 
 Format:  Book, Adult Study
Publication Year: 2011
Publisher:  Baker Publishing Group

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 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
First Lutheran, Rhame
St. John's Lutheran, Richardton
St. Paul's Lutheran, Riverdale
Bethany Lutheran, Robinson
 
Rostered Leaders
Bill Dodd, TEEM
Rev. Donna Dohrmann
Anna Dykeman, DM

For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Marcella Nelson

Our Ministry Partners
ELCA - Affiliated Long-term Care Ministries:
Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck
Southwest Health Care Services, Bowman
St. Luke's Home, Dickinson
Mountrail Bethel Home, Stanley
McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, Watford City
Bethel Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Williston

 Upcoming EventsEvents
  • August 8-13
    ELCA Churchwide Assembly
    (New Orleans, LA) 
  • August 16                   
    Synod LYO Board Meeting    
    (Bread of Life, Minot)
  • August 27 Engaging Adults (Good Shepherd, Bismarck)
  • September 11-13
    Rostered Leaders Conference (Rough Rider Hotel, Medora)
  • September 16 & 17            Western ND Synod Council (Good Shepherd, Bismarck) 
  • September 17                     Upper Missouri Fall Cluster Gathering (Ray)
  • September 24                     Badlands Fall Cluster Gathering (Scranton)
  • September 24                     Turtle Mountain Fall Cluster Gathering (Norwich)
  • October 8                           East Missouri Fall Cluster Gathering (Bismarck)
  • October 15                         Heart River Fall Cluster Gathering (Hazen)
  • October 15                         Western Prairie Fall Cluster Gathering (Minot)
  • October 22                         Lonetree Fall Cluster Gathering (Turtle Lake)

  View these and all Synod Events 

Synod TransitionsTransitions
 
Calls Accepted
Rev. Rory Philstrom
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Bloomington, MN

Rev. Wayne Van Kauwenbergh to Grenora Lutheran Parish, Grenora and Zahl

Ordinations  
Wayne Van Kauwenbergh, July 28, St. Paul, MN 
 
Upcoming Retirements 
Rev. Ray Anderson
Living Water Lutheran Church, Mandan, Aug. 1
 
James Hamann, SAM
McGregor-White Earth Lutheran Parish, August 1

Rev. Valerie Kinlan
Bethany Lutheran, Robinson and English Lutheran, Tuttle,
August 1


Congregations in the 
Call Process  
  • Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck
  • Lutheran Church of the Cross, Bismarck
  • Dakota Prairie Parish, Bowman, Amidon and Rhame (Associate)
  • English Lutheran, Hazen
  • McClusky Goodrich Parish, McClusky and Goodrich
  • 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
  • Bethany Lutheran, Rugby and Wolford Lutheran, Wolford
  • First Lutheran, Williston
  • Gloria Dei Lutheran, Williston
  • Shepherd of the Prairie Parish, Williston


  Save the Dates
Western ND Synod Assembly
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  
 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]