“And give you peace”

“Glory to God in the highest  and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:14

The first Christmas carol was sung by the angels the night Jesus was born. They gave glory to God and proclaimed that peace would be on the whole earth. The kind of peace from our Savior that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) as His forgiveness would be won for us sinners. We continue to sing these words today as peace is what He gives and peace is what we need.

I was leading a short Bible study on the basics of the Divine Service  for our board of directors at church. We specifically looked at how often we heard the word “peace” in a normal worship setting. It was interesting to see this word saturating the liturgy and how it faithfully was placed for the care of all who hear. We sing with the angels after we plead for mercy in the Kyrie with the Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14). We are given peace before, during, and after receiving the Lord’s Supper with the Pax Domini (John 20:19) and Nunc Dimitis (Luke 2:29-32). Peace is the last word we receive in the service with the Aaronic benediction (Numbers 6:24-26). At the end of the end of the study one of the leaders told us, “The benediction is my favorite part of the service!” Another member snarkingly said, “Why, because the service is FINALLY over?” He replied, “No, because we end with God’s word of peace and not our own words.”

The Lord’s peace in the Word made flesh be upon all of you this Advent and Christmas season!

Peace in Christ

Rev. Brady Finnern

ATTN: SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

Please login to your Lisn.LCMS.org account and complete your annual statistical report. Reporting deadline extended to January 5th. Need help? email: rosters.stats@lcms.org

Minnesota North District Resources

We are happy to provide reimbursement to church workers participating in Continuing Education and also to those wishing to explore Church Work Careers with a visit to one of the LCMS Universities or Seminaries.

Download the application forms at the MNN website: https://www.mnnlcms.org/forms-for-download

Registration for the MN North District Convention continues at the links below. Congregations should register their voting (pastoral and lay) delegates as soon as possible in order to facilitate the selection of floor committee members. Each delegate will need an email address for upcoming convention communications. Please be sure to BOTH register online AND complete the signed credential forms.

Upcoming deadlines:

DECEMBER 1: Nominating Committee. The nominating committee would like your recommendations for District Secretary, District Treasurer, 2028 District Nominating Committee, 2026 Synod Nominating Committee, and Pastor members of the Lutheran Island Camp Board. Submit them via email at mnndist@mnnlcms.org.

DECEMBER 31: Nominations. Submit your nominations for District President, District Vice Presidents and Lay members of the Board of Directors to the District Secretary. Use the nomination forms found at the Convention website.

Use the links below to assist with your convention preparation:

Above: Faith Community Lutheran Church in Zimmerman welcomed 14 new members on Reformation Sunday!

Right: Rev. Gary Rehborg was honored with a handmade Quilt of Valor at a ceremony held to honor veterans on November 13th in Frazee.

Business Skills for Faith-Based Organizations Program

This professional development program is designed to equip leaders of faith-based organizations with the skills they need to effectively manage their operations. This program is formatted in eight micro-learning courses.

Awardees will receive full tuition paid for the Business Skills for Faith-Based Organizations program, sponsored by LCEF. Preference will be given to rostered church workers, but others who are employed by an LCMS church, school, or organization may also apply. Deadline to apply is November 20, 2024. 

Click here to read the Business Skills Spring 2025 Cohort details and schedule.

Click here to complete the Scholarship Application.

For more than 30 years MN North has had Bible Bowl competition. The 2025 topic for Bible Bowl will be: 

Life of David

(1 Sam. 16-1 Kings 2);

Saturday, April 5

@ Concordia University.

Competition is for students in grades 7-12.

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MN PAID LEAVE REPORTS

LCMS church and school administrators with locations in Minnesota should note that they must submit reports to comply with Minnesota's new Paid Leave program requirements. Minnesota law requires everyone who pays covered wages in Minnesota to register for an employer account. You should register as soon as first wages are paid. https://uimn.org/employers

Spring Break Mission Trip ($800/person + airfare, March 8-15, 2025; individual or team): Join missionaries Chelsea Irwin and Benjamin Helge in exploring the unique challenges and blessings that go hand in hand with missionary service. Come and see how we spread the Gospel, plant Lutheran churches, and show mercy in Central Europe. This opportunity is tailor-made for college students to explore missionary service.

Serve in Panama ($850-$1150/person + airfare, flexible dates, team): Assist our brothers & sisters in Panama with ongoing ministry as your team helps fill one of these requested needs: Children's Ministry Team, Urban Mission Team: Painting & Refinishing, Parsonage Remodel Team. Each opportunity has been identified by the local church and missionaries as one way that a team can assist with the ongoing work of spreading the Gospel, planting Lutheran churches, and showing mercy.

English Bible Camp ($350-450/person + airfare; July 2-14 - Czech Republic; July 10-19 or July 24-August 2 - Taiwan;  individual or team): Share the Gospel with elementary and middle school aged children by partnering with a Lutheran congregation to put on an English Bible Camp. This week-long event is similar to a VBS in the United States. Your team will be in charge of planning the English Bible Camp using the curriculum we provide. 

Visit servenow.lcms.org to see all open opportunities. 

CHAPLAINCY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY

Concordia Lutheran Ministries, (www.concordialm.org), headquartered in Cabot, Pa., is in search of ordained and rostered LCMS candidates to fill a vacancy among our fulltime called chaplaincy staff of five pastors and two deaconesses. Areas of responsibility primarily include spiritual care visits, leading worship services for those served by our facilities, hospital visits, and supporting our residents and patients and their families, as well as staff. Concordia’s President & CEO is Keith Frndak (former member LCMS BOD) and our Director of Chaplaincy Services is the Rev. Jack Hartman.

LEARN MORE >>

Does your congregation have news to share? Send your photos and stories to our Lutheran Witness Editor, Rev. Travis Lauterbach at: the.lutheran.witness@mnnlcms.org

SAS School Resource Kit

Engaged in Mission Blog

MN North District | 7264 Fairview Rd, Baxter, MN 56425 | 218-829-1781 | mnndist@mnnlcms.org | www.mnnlcms.org