October 21, 2026
EaND News and Events | Every item in this newsletter is tagged with the corresponding goal or ministry area from our Synod Strategic Plan, showing how our shared work directly supports our mission in action. | |
Look at the inspiring work happening in our synod! 🌟✨
Pastor Kristi Weber and Deacon Tara Longden recently represented 281BOLD at an intensive Evangelism/Mission Leadership Training in Chicago (Oct 6–8), made possible through a grant received by the Christians in Action Ministry.
This training focused on taking evangelism deeper... read more here.
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Seeking Retired Church Bells
Concordia Language Villages is seeking larger retired church bells for its programs in northern Minnesota.
If you or your congregation have leads on churches retiring or replacing larger bells, CLV would love to help these bells continue serving a meaningful purpose! Please contact the Eastern North Dakota Synod office at office@eandsynod.org.
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Did you miss our Quick Connect earlier this week? CATCH UP! Welcoming Our New Director for Evangelical Mission: Pastor Cassie Anderson. Read the full story here.
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In God’s Grace: Funeral Training for Lay People
Saturday, Oct 24 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Bruflat Lutheran Church (1023 Parke Ave, Portland, ND)
Pastors in the Mayville Conference are gathering a lay cohort to help with local funeral coverage. Join us for a free one-day ELCA workshop on funeral guidelines, service planning, preaching, and supporting grieving families.
Cost: Free (Lunch included)
RSVP: By October 20 to Pr. Penny Millspaugh at 218-521-0507 (call/text). Please note any food allergies when registering.
Help us spread the word! Please share our Facebook post with friends, congregation members, and anyone in the Eastern North Dakota area who may be interested in this ministry.
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Strengthening Our Bonds: Fargo Area Youth Ministry & Connections
Building meaningful connections across our conference and wider community opens up incredible opportunities for shared ministry, deeper relationships, and a larger collective impact. By coming together across congregation lines, we enrich our youth ministries and model unified community for the next generation.
Come to our monthly potlucks with other youth ministry leaders in the Fargo Conference. See the rotating schedule here.
Lutheran Youth "AfterDark" Event - All 6th–12th graders are invited to an exciting evening of fellowship, games, and growth! November 6, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM at St. John Lutheran Church (1710 5th St S, Fargo). Print attached poster for your congregation.
Have Questions or Want to Get Involved?
Reach out to Brigham at youth@blcfargo.org to learn more about how you or your church can join in!
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Safer Together: Beyond the Gun Control Debate
A Conversation Across the ELCA in MN & ND
Join us at various locations October 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM for a live stream presentation and local discussion featuring Dr. Jillian Peterson (Professor of Criminology, Hamline University; Executive Director, The Violence Prevention Project). Dr. Peterson will share research on mass shootings as a public health issue. Together, we’ll reflect on the ELCA Social Message and discuss how gun violence affects our local community.
Jamestown
Trinity Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, 523 4th Ave SE, Jamestown, ND
Moorhead
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4000 28th St S, Moorhead, MN
Grand Forks
Calvary Lutheran Church, 1405 S 9th St, Grand Forks, N
All lay leaders, rostered ministers, and community members are welcome as we seek collective action, communal healing, and the common good. REGISTER HERE.
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS - CONCORDIA COLLEGE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Fri, Dec 4 at 7:30pm
Sat, Dec 5 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Sun, Dec 6 at 2:00pm
Bring a group from your congregation!
Tickets go on sale October 27. Learn more here.
| WELCA private journey through Greece/Turkey, September 14–25, 2027. Information Session: November 4, 2026. Get the full story. | |
Park River Bible Camp Quilt Auction
Sunday, Nov. 1 | Bidding Starts Promptly at 1:30 PM
Join us for a cozy day at Park River Bible Camp! Enjoy soup, sandwiches, homemade bars, and fresh coffee while bidding on donated quilts, table runners, woodworking, crafts, and silent auction items.
To Donate: Items are still being accepted! Contact the camp at 701-284-6795.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already donated their time, talent, and items to support this ministry!
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VOTE NOVEMBER 3.
Democracy needs people who show up for it.
This week, take your civic action one step further. Sign up as a poll worker, poll chaplain, peacekeeper, or nonpartisan election volunteer. Can’t serve? Invite 3 people who can.
Serve your community. Strengthen democracy. Help people vote.
See more at vote411.org/lwvnd
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SAVE THE DATE:
Eastern North Dakota Synod Professional Development Series
Boundaries Training
The Eastern North Dakota Synod invites leaders across our network to save the date for an upcoming professional development opportunity focused on healthy boundaries in ministry.
Thursday, November 5, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Horace Lutheran Church.
with Kendra Stea, MS, NCC — Director of Misconduct Prevention, ELCA Churchwide
Participation Guidelines
• Rostered Ministers, Synod Lay Ministers & Synod Authorized Ministers: Attendance fulfills your mandatory 3-year boundary training renewal requirement.
Online registration here.
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SAVE THE DATE:
Region 3 Candidacy: Discerning Your Call.
Wondering what's next?
Wondering if God is calling you to something different?
Wondering if there's "something more"?
Explore these and other questions in the context of our faith, with other wonderers through storytelling, introspection, and studying of Scripture. Join us via Zoom, November 7 from 10:00am - 11:30am. Registration will be open October 13 - October 30. Read more here.
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Nadia Robb-Kern's Ordination to the ministry of Word and Sacrament is on Sunday, November 8th at 4pm at Shepherd of the Hills 3920 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN. Reception to follow. Link to livestream here.
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Urgent Action for Rostered Ministers: Download Your RMP Before Jan. 10
Based on feedback across our church, ELCA Churchwide is launching an updated Rostered Ministers Profile (RMP) on January 11, 2027.
Action Required: Current RMPs will no longer be accessible after January 10, 2027. All rostered ministers who want or need a PDF copy of their current RMP must log into ELCA Community and download it before January 11.
Training opportunities, webinars, video guides, and FAQs will be available from ELCA Secretary and RMP project team over the coming weeks to help navigate the new portal. For questions in the meantime, please email sec@elca.org.
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Big News for ND Congregational Leaders: The Extravaganza is right in our backyard! EXTRAVAGANZA is a four-day leadership training event for ELCA congregational leaders in children's, youth, young adult and outdoor ministry. This event is designed specifically with your congregation in mind.
January 22-25, 2027 at The Hilton, Downtown Minneapolis. Delve in to details here.
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Call Process
Please pray for congregations and rostered ministers in the call process. You can find a list of congregations currently in the call process on our website.
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From the Office of the Presiding Bishop
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Phone: 701.232.3381
Physical Address: 1555 43rd St S, Suite 100, Fargo, ND 58103
Mailing Address: PO Box 2019 Fargo, ND 58107
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9am-4pm
We are a Reconciling in Christ Synod.
We, as the Eastern North Dakota Synod ELCA, welcome all into the fullness of God's boundless love, without exception. This welcome is inclusive of people of every race, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental ability, sex, or station in life. United in Christ, we pledge to use and celebrate our differences as gifts for our work together in all things, including racial equity, intentional invitations, and radical hospitality. Inspired by Christ, we commit to advocate for justice, working for dignity, equity, and wholeness for all people.
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