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FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS 
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Dishin' with the Bish 
Synod Staff are getting ready to sharpen up their chopping knives and washing up their hot mitts as they get ready to hit the road for another round of Dishin' with the Bish' this fall. NEW THIS YEAR! We're adding morning coffee sessions to our on-the-road schedule. Morning Coffee sessions of Dishin' will feature Grandma's Kuchen from Ashley, ND and staff will cook up traditional Lutheran hotdishes for the evening stops. At each stop, we invite you to join us for good food, Bible study, a short presentation, and conversation.
Oct. 12 10:00 AM Morning Coffee @ St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake 5:30 PM Dinner @ Norwich Lutheran Church, NorwichOct. 13 10:00 AM Morning Coffee @ First Lutheran Church, White Earth 5:30 PM Dinner @ West Prairie Lutheran Church, WillistonOct. 27 (Note Change in Date!)
10:00 AM Morning Coffee @ Calvary Lutheran Church, Lemmon 5:30 PM Dinner @ St. John Lutheran Church, Killdeer
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 Small Town and Rural Ministry Event, Oct. 29
Western North Dakota Synod will be teaming up with Eastern North Dakota Synod to sponsor and event with Rev. Dr. Mark Yackel-Juleen, the Director for Small Town and Rural Ministry at Wartburg Seminary. If you are part of ministry in a Small Town, rural or multipoint setting this event is for you! Join us for a day of exploring what might be needed for leaders as we anticipate changes in multipoint/rural parish ministry. Location: English Lutheran Church, Medina, ND Cost: $30 per person if registered by Oct. 20, $40 per person after Oct. 20 Learn More
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A Year with Martin Luther, Teacher for Today 
Join members of ELCA congregations from across our synod for these day-long faith formation events. Registration for events will be available online and the cost is $15.00 per event. Event schedule. Click here for schedule.
Become a Supporting Member of the WND Synod G.I.F.T.S. program!
Your membership gift helps cover the costs associated with hosting G.I.F.T.S. events in our synod. Congregations are encouraged to cover the membership (formerly tuition) for participants from their congregation. Click Here to become a Supporting Member
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Lay School at Luther Seminary
November 28-30
Congregational Planning and Innovation
How can local churches navigate a changing cultural landscape where some of the old maps don't seem to apply? This course offers biblical and theological insights and practical steps for claiming the best of a congregation's heritage while embracing experiments in order to learn how to form Christian community and share a meaningful witness with neighbors.
Martin Luther: A Grand Assortment of Insights
As we approach the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, we will be considering the profound influence of Martin Luther on theology, the church and culture. Come and hear the professors reflect on how Luther's reformation insights have impacted the areas in which they teach.
Lectures include:
*Luther's Understanding of Jesus Christ 
*Luther Around the World Today
*Luther and Ordinary Life (vocation)
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| More Events and Notices
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 Introduction to Centering Prayer with Tom Eberle
Saturday October 22 from 9:30am - 3:00pm
Bismarck Veteran's Memorial Library - Meeting Room A
Centering prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. This introductory workshop is for anyone who would like to learn the practice. Our presenter is Tom Eberle, Director of Education for Richard Rohr's Center for Action and Contemplation. The suggested donation is $45 per person or $70 per couple; this includes lunch and 6 optional follow-up sessions. Registration is a the door. For more information: Steve Sathre 701-223-3560 or sathre@trinitybismarck.com |
  Lutheran World Relief Quilt & Kit CollectionsOnce again, Lutheran Social Services of ND will be facilitating Quilt and Kit collections for Lutheran World Relief throughout the state in October. Click on the link below for specifics about collection locations near you:
List of Dates, Locations and Instructions
PLEASE NOTE: Change in Location for the Williston Site
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In Mission Together
Reflections on ELCA Churchwide Assembly from
Western North Dakota Synod's Voting Members
Back: Jodi Lorenz (AiM), Rev. Roger Dietrle, Rev. Paul Schick, Rev. Mike Pretzer, Sherie Heine, Jessica Harkins, Derek Harkins, Diane Laub. Middle: Dina Nygard, Beth Anderson (DM), Bishop Mark Narum, Anna Dykeman (DM), Gail Slinde.
Front: Sarah Sorenson, Mason Schmidt, Tara Ulrich (DM).
Not Pictured: Sonna Anderson, Rev. Anna Haugen
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Sixteen voting members and synod staff traveled to New Orleans August 8-13, to participate in the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Over the next few weeks, we'll share reflections from several of those who participated in your church at work through the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Reflections from Rev. Paul Schick - Trinity Lutheran (Bismarck):
Many church buildings are adorned with beautiful stained glass windows, which incorporate many broken pieces of glass into a beautiful whole. This is very similar to my experience as a delegate of the Churchwide Assembly. In the ELCA we are many, we are diverse, and when we come together we make something beautiful. Being together with over one thousand Lutherans was a deeply spiritual experience. Each day we came together in worship to sing beautiful music from around the world and to ponder God's word in new ways. I was especially moved by a preacher who spoke about the raising of Lazarus and challenged us in the ELCA to practice boldness as God's people by repeating the refrain, "Get out of the grave!" During the week we explored, discussed, and voted on many issues. We celebrated an agreement between the ELCA and the Roman Catholic Church which acknowledged a deepening sense of unity around communion. We moved into a new understanding of non-clergy rostered leaders, who as of 2017 will become Deacons. And we wrestled with how the ELCA can become more faithful in the areas of racism and environmentalism. Churchwide afforded the opportunity to meet Lutherans from across the country and world. As I spoke with a number of young delegates, I was struck by how they were both passionate about their ELCA identity and yet also anxious to see our church live into a deeper sense of mission. Overall as we move into an era of both opportunity and uncertainty for our church, I can truly say that the ELCA is moving forward with boldness and faithfulness in Christ.
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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.
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Online Course: Theological Principles of Stewardship
This course focuses on developing or defining the student's understandings of the the theological principles of their stewardship practices. In the stewardship ministries of our congregations, we use biblical passages and references to speak of our need to be good, intentional stewards.
In our congregations in many denominations we are noticing a variety of "shifts" in how we experience church and life today. Some are witnessing a change in how people participate in the life of our churches. This class will wrestle with some of those "shifts" in light of the basic principles and tenets that guide and direct our stewardship ministries. We will seek to wrestle with how our cultural experiences and the shifts that have take place over time, influence our stewardship practices. And we will seek to name the theological principles that undergird our work as steward leaders in our congregations.
The Virtual Classroom is open now and you can begin the course immediately. The first class-wide conference call will be on Nov. 1, 2016. Late registration closes November 7, 2016. Register today! You will get access to the course's Virtual Classroom after registration. The registration fee for the course is just $49.95.
The course features 4 audio-graphic video sessions and 4 online Class Forum discussion assignments. You will do 1 lesson per week and complete the work at your convenience and on your schedule. The class also features 3 live class-wide conference calls. The class textbook will be "Stewardshift" by Bob Sitze, and the course will be led by Rev. Scott Jacob, pastor in the ELCA for 34 years.
Click Here to Register Now!
Rev. Lisa Ahlness
Assistant to the Bishop for
Stewardship Education
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Papa Luther
A Graphic Novel
By: Daniel D. Maurer
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Description:
The exciting story of Martin Luther, told through the eyes of his children Hans and Magda. This colorful, 88-page "comic book" is geared especially toward children ages 8 to 13, but will intrigue all ages.
Format: Book
Target Groups: Ages 8-13
Publication Year: 2016
Publisher: Augsburg Fortress
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In Our Prayers
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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
Birka Lutheran, Washburn
Banks Lutheran, Watford City
First Lutheran, Watford City
Garden Lutheran, Watford City
Rostered Leaders
Ms Bethany Haberstroh
Ms. Gail Hagerty
Rev. Richard Hagestuen
For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Marcella Nelson
LuAnn Holter
Our Ministry Partners
Community Connections, Williston
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- October 15 Heart River Fall Cluster Gathering (Hazen)
- October 15 Western Prairie Fall Cluster Gathering (Minot)
- October 20-22 LYO Gathering (Bismarck)
- October 22 Lonetree Fall Cluster Gathering (Turtle Lake)
- October 29 Rural and Multipoint Ministry event hosted by EaND and WND Synods (Medina)
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| Synod Transitions |
Retirements
Rev. Carol Wendel
Metigoshe Lutheran, Bottineau
Congregations in the
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck (Associate)
- Lutheran Church of the Cross, Bismarck
- Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bismarck (Associate)
- 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
- Zion Lutheran Church, Minot (Associate)
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Noonan Lutheran Parish, Noonan and rural Crosby
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Reeder Lutheran Parish, Reeder, Ralph & Bucyrus
- Prairie Lutheran Parish,
Stanley, Ross, & Palermo - Bethany Lutheran, Rugby and Wolford Lutheran, Wolford
- First Lutheran, Williston
- Gloria Dei Lutheran, Williston (Associate)
- Shepherd of the Prairie Parish, Williston
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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 - Medora, ND
September 10 - 12, 2017
September 9 - 11, 2018
September 8 - 10, 2019
Western North Dakota Women of the ELCA Gathering
June 16-17, 2017 at the Grand Hotel, Minot, ND
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Preaching through the Lutheran Lens with Dr. David Lose, 
