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September 24, 2025
EaND News and Events
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Small Church Saturdays
4th Saturday of the Month (beginning September 27)
9:00am, Zoom
Small churches have both amazing gifts and unique challenges! All small church leaders (rostered and lay) are invited to join to explore, celebrate, and learn together. We will be reading The Small Church Advantage by Teresa J. Stewart.
Learn more and find the Zoom links on our website.
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Vital Church: Why Lutheran? Why Church?
Saturday, October 18, 10am-4pm
In person @ Red Willow Ministries & Zoom
75 years ago, the answer to “why church?” was simple- it’s just what we did! Faith communities today are challenged to create a more robust answer to the question “why church?” and “why Lutheran?” Together we will explore the unique and specific why of our shared story as ELCA Christians and have the opportunity to create the unique and specific why of your specific congregation- for the sake of sharing your story with new people!
This event is open to anyone in the synod.
Click here to register.
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"When Healing Hurts" Text Study: October 7
How do look at stories in healing in scripture? How might we consider these stories in ways that are affirming of folks with disabilities? Join the EaND Disability Ministry Team for text study when healing texts show up in our lectionary.
The next "When Healing Hurts" text study will take place on Tuesday, October 7 at 5pm. The text will be Luke 17:11-19, the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Register here.
Learn more and find the schedule at this link. This event is open to rostered ministers, lay leaders, and anyone interested in diving into the week's lectionary text.
| Save the date for the EaND Synod "First Third of Life Ministry" Brunch! This event is for anyone who serves (employed or volunteer) in children, youth, or young adult ministry. More information is coming soon, but for now, mark your calendar for October 23 at 10am at Faith Journey Lutheran Church in West Fargo! | |
Grace Upon Grace: Cultivating your Congregation's Stewardship Story
Grace Upon Grace: Cultivating your Congregation's Stewardship Story is a devotional and discussion guide created specifically for councils, teams, and congregations in the Eastern North Dakota Synod. This resource invites you to explore the stories of generosity that have shaped you as an individual and as a community and to wonder together about what new stories might be emerging.
As a synod, we will be focusing on understanding, cultivating, and sharing our individual and communal stories as God’s people and Christ’s Church. This story guide is one way to explore your stories-specifically your stories of stewardship and generosity. Our prayer is that the questions and conversations will be a gift to your congregation, strengthening your mission and shared story.
Download this free resource at this link.
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Youth Summer Road Trip
No youth worker? No problem! Let the staff of the Eastern North Dakota Campus Ministries organize a week of fun for youth in grades 8-12 for the 2025-2026 academic year. We will experience faith, fellowship and fun as we venture to Winston Salem, NC. This road trip, completely organized and led by campus ministry staff, offers high schoolers a chance to grow spiritually, build friendships, and serve alongside The Dwelling, a ministry dedicated to loving and learning from neighbors experiencing homelessness. Learn more and register at this link or download this flyer to learn more.
Questions? Contact Pr. Kim Adams at kim@lcmndsu.org or Pr. Aaron Bye at aaron@christus-rex.org.
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Quality of Call Leadership Summit: Called to One Another
A Leadership Summit for Female-Identifying and Non-Binary Rostered Ministers in Region 3
January 12-14, 2026
Holiday Inn, Alexandria, MN
The Quality of Call Initiative of the ELCA is part of the Presiding Bishop’s Leadership Initiative. The initiative was established to:
Grow a church that is equitably served by people who are empowered to serve with their gifts, irrespective of identity markers heretofore targeted by systems and individuals for bias, discrimination, and oppression.
As part of Phase One, Region 3 (Minnesota and the Dakotas) was awarded a $100,000 grant to promote quality call experiences for female-identifying and non-binary rostered leaders actively serving ministries in Region 3. Approximately 8 leaders from each of the 9 synods in Region 3 will be invited to attend a Leadership Summit January 12-14 in Alexandria, MN under the theme "Called to One Another: Cultivating God's Kin-dom Together."
Those selected in each synod will also invite 2 male-identifying ally rostered ministers from their synod to accompany them to the summit and larger experience. The intent is to create a community and movement that speaks to the larger challenges facing female leaders in the church.
More information: nemnsynod.org/quality-of-call-leadership-summit
Application: https://www.cognitoforms.com/NortheasternMinnesotaSynod/QualityOfCallApplication
Application Deadline: October 10, 2025
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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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Braving Budget Season for Women in Ministry with Dr. Crystal Hall
September 29 - October 3, 2025
Join Braving Budget Season for Women in Ministry:
- One series over five days to feeling more confident during budget season.
- When it comes to fraught conversations, difficult meetings and uncomfortable asks this is the place for you.
- To be supported in community by an expert coach so you know exactly where to go from here.
Click this link to enroll for free now.
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Fargo-Moorhead Youth Ministry Leaders Meet-Up
Wednesday, October 1
11am-12:30pm
Atomic Coffee, Downtown Fargo
Are you a leader or visionary for youth ministry in Fargo/Moorhead? Join us for a time of introductions, collaboration, and togetherness. All are welcome. Together we will get to know one another, establish a network of connection, and share what youth ministry looks like in our faith communities. Please RSVP with Brigham: 218-686-4496.
Download the event poster here.
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Global Refuge Webinar: Update on Immigration Policy & Programs
October 2 @ 11:am CT
Click here to register.
As we enter the final months of the year, join Global Refuge for a webinar to learn more about the latest changes in immigration policy and what they mean for those we serve.
President and CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah and representatives from across the organization will share more about the state of our programming, advocacy efforts, and beyond. Supporters will then have an opportunity to ask questions during an extended Q&A session—we look forward to hearing from you!
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September Mission Support Memo
Each month, the ELCA's Mission Support Memo offers a story from around the larger church, highlighting the importance of our life as church together. This month's Memo comes to us from the Florida-Bahamas Synod and offers a glimpse into Mary's path from accompaniment to advocacy as a Young Adults in Global Mission in Mexico City.
Click here to read more, or download this PDF.
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New ELCA Resource: Church Property Resource Hub
A project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Church Property Resource Hub is being built in response to requests from synod and local church leaders for support navigating the challenges and opportunities that buildings and land represent for both congregational vitality and the wider mission of the Church. Click here to learn more.
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Addiction and Faith Conference: Awakening the Church to Address Addiction
The Oct. 23, 2025 Addiction and Faith Conference, titled "Awakening the Church to Address Addiction” is presented by the Center of Addiction & Faith. Addiction is everywhere, and yet many churches feel unprepared to face it. This conference will give you the insight and tools to change that. Come and learn how your faith community can start addressing the addiction crisis in a meaningful way. By the end of the day you will walk away with a deeper understanding, renewed hope, and concrete steps to make your congregation a safe, welcoming, and recovery-friendly community. Cost: $50.
Learn more and register at this link.
Download the conference flyer.
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Hope in Practice: Applying Solution-Focused Communication Techniques in Response to Crisis by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association
October 7, 2025
6-8pm CST
As a faith community nurse, or other professional in ministry, you are on the front lines of mental health and substance use care. This interactive session introduces attendees to the Solution Focused model, an evidence-informed, strengths-based approach that emphasizes hope, possibility, and patient resources over pathology, diagnosis and problems. Rather than focusing on what's wrong, this model guides faith community professionals in helping people move toward hope, and what is possible.
Click this link to learn more and register or download this flyer.
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Courses in Transition Ministry
offered by Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association
Fall Course: Basic Training in Transitions (Online)
October 2, 2025 - January 22, 2026 (Thursday afternoons)
Learn more at this link.
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Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering
The Women of the ELCA (WELCA) Triennial Gathering will take place July 16-19, 2026 in Des Moines, IA.
Click here to read about this year's theme, see a list of speakers, browse this year's workshops, and more!
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New FREE Arrangement from Lutheran Summer Music by Anne Krentz Organ
Download a new free arrangement from Lutheran Summer Music 2025 by Anne Krentz Organ: Beach Spring for solo instrument with keyboard accompaniment. Based on the well-known shape-note hymn tune, this versatile work is this year’s installment in the LSM Hymn Tune Project and can be performed either in full or as individual movements. Listen and download for free at LSMacademy.org/lsmpress
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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: by appointment
Tuesday: 9am-4pm
Wednesday: 9am-4pm
Thursday: by appointment
Friday: 9am-4pm
The physical office is only open by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays; however, the phone will be answered between 1pm-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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