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December 11, 2024
EaND News and Events
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Synod-Wide Bible Study
"Threads of Faithfulness: The Story of Ruth" with Dr. Michael Chan
Dates: January 12, January 19, January 26, and February 2
Time: 2:00-3:15pm
Join your siblings in Christ across the Eastern North Dakota Synod via Zoom for a four-week Bible study on the book of Ruth!
The book of Ruth is a remarkable narrative of loyalty, resilience, and faithfulness. Due to tragic loss, Ruth lives on the edge of precarity. Her perilous and dangerous journey unfolds with courage and trust as she navigates life as a non-Israelite woman in a foreign land. Her steadfast love and loyalty testify to the power of relationships forged through hardship and perseverance. This study will explore how Ruth's story mirrors themes central to the Eastern North Dakota Synod's values: community, resilience, and relationships. Join us as we delve into this profound story of hope, strength, and connection.
Promotional materials will be available very soon on our website!
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Lutheran Advocacy Series: Advocacy 101
January 21 @ 6pm (Zoom)
You are invited to join the Eastern North Dakota Advocacy and Action Team for "Advocacy 101" via Zoom. Join this session to learn the nuts and bolts of visiting with local legislators or preparing testimony, as well as hearing how to effectively share our stories and frame conversation around topics we care about.
More information about our Lutheran Advocacy Series can be found at this link.
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Becoming an Inclusive Church:
2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusivity Workshop and Community Conversation
Saturday, January 25th, 10-2pm
St. John Lutheran Church, Fargo
ELCA congregations are invited to join in a day of of learning and reflection as we seek to better accompany 2SLGBTQIA+ people in our midst. Deacon David Behling of Reconciling Works will be our presenter. Registration is free, pre-registration is required. Learn more at this link.
Download these graphics to share about this event.
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Stewardship Starters Webinar: How to Make Offering The Most Meaningful Part of the Liturgy
January 27, 2025 @ 6:00pm
Offering practices have changed a great deal in recent years with online giving and lingering COVID practices. Join Pastor Tim Brown for a conversation about the role offering plays in worship and how to highlight it in the worship service. Leave with ideas and practices that can be implemented at any congregation. Consider trying out a new practice during Lent!
No pre-registration required. Zoom link and event information is available on our website. You can also download this flyer.
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Letter about Pr. Brad's Upcoming Sabbatical
Pr. Brad Skogen, Associate with the Bishop, will be on sabbatical from January 2 - March 25, 2025. Read his letter to the people of the Eastern North Dakota Synod at this link.
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New Position: Disaster Capacity Builder
The Western North Dakota Synod and the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are pleased to announce a renewed partnership with Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). The two ELCA synods have received a grant of more than $300,000 from LDR to support a three-year pilot project that will add a Disaster Capacity Builder staff position to serve in the two synods.
Click here to download the job description (also available on our website.)
Click here to download the press release about this position.
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2025 Boundaries Trainings
The Eastern North Dakota Synod is partnering with the Southeastern Minnesota Synod to offer three boundaries trainings in 2025. Click on the dates listed below to be taken to the corresponding event registration page. All trainings will take place on Zoom.
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Synod Devotional Resource
We are excited to share a synod-wide devotional resource available for download! "Living our Baptism: The Marks of Discipleship" is a monthly devotional resource and reflection guide created especially for councils and ministry teams in Eastern North Dakota.
Download the devotional 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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Together we respond to God’s provision by sharing of our financial gifts, both as an act of worship and in support of our mission and ministry as Christ’s Church. Our shared gifts support ministry of our congregations, in our community, across the Eastern North Dakota Synod, throughout the ELCA, and around the globe. Today we recognize:
Mission support to the Eastern North Dakota Synod helps support our two indigenous ministries: Native American Christian Ministry and Dacotah Oyate Lutheran Church.
Share "Offering Connections" in your worship bulletin or congregational newsletters! Download the Offering Connections Document: PDF or Word
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ELCA World Hunger Advent Resources
ELCA World Hunger has a 2024 Advent calendar and Advent study available for download. Find these resources and more at this link.
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Advent Devotional from Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary invites you to use the 2024 Advent devotional, “Joy of Heaven, Here on Earth” for personal or congregational use this Advent. Learn more and download the devotional at this link.
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Luther Seminary Discernment Retreat
January 12-14, 2025
Shores of St. Andrew, New London, MN
Join Luther Seminary for a 3-day retreat and a holy experiment that explores God’s call on the lives of learners and the ways Christian leaders help those they serve in turn discern God’s call. This retreat will also explore the theological concepts of vocation, the priesthood of all believers, and the multiple callings that followers of Jesus live. Learn more at this link.
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Addiction & Faith Blue Christmas Service
December 19 @ 7:00pm, Zoom
In the midst of this long dark season when all of nature seems dead and lifeless, when things are at their darkest we look for the light of hope. Addiction & Faith offers this virtual candlelight service designed for those who may not be feeling the happiness and joy that this season calls for. We gather to acknowledge the pain you may be feeling and to plead for help and hope and light from out of the darkness.
Click here to register.
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Supportive Spaces: Confidential Support Group for Faith Leaders
ELCA Coaching Ministries is offering Supportive Spaces, a cohort-based program designed to enhance the holistic well-being and effectiveness of church leaders. Participants will engage in a transformative journey, meeting for one hour each week for six weeks.
Learn more at this link.
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Empowering Communication Workshops
Rev. Joel Westby and Rev. Leslie Ritter-Jenkins are co-facilitating six Empowering Communication workshops for ministry leaders between January 27 and February 28, 2025 via Zoom. In the six workshops clergy will learn tools that support congregational vitality and help heal in the world. Learn more about the workshop offerings at this link.
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Excellence in Leadership Cohort
Registration for the next Excellence in Leadership cohort is now open! EiL is a 13-month course that meets online from 7-10pm the second and fourth Mondays of each month (January 2025 - January 2026). Topics include emotional intelligence, adaptive leadership, Theory U, vulnerability and resiliency, family systems, and spirituality. This ministry helps each person learn how to appreciate who they are, how they are embodied, and manage the way they personally respond to challenges and conflict.
To learn more, download this document or visit this website.
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Festival of Homiletics Registration
Registration is now open for the Festival of Homiletics, which will take place May 12-15, 2025 in Atlanta! This year's theme is "Preaching to Heal the Divide." Click here to learn more and to register.
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The Moses Project
Apply now for the 2025-2026 cohort!
The mission of The Moses Project is to give rural pastors a vision of ministry that will help them thrive in congregational leadership and in turn, enhance the vitality of the congregations they serve. This program is designed to help them build relationships with and learn from experienced clergy who will guide them through challenges at critical, transitional phases in their early ministerial career. Through a distinct and exceptional professional development program, pastors will receive critical support, develop innovative strategies, and engage in ongoing learning and opportunities for renewal. Learn more at this link.
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Augustana University Buntrock Scholarship
The Buntrock Scholars Program at Augustana University supports students who are active and engaged in ELCA congregations throughout the Midwest by covering half of the net price of attendance, up to $12,000 per year.
Applications for Fall 2025 are now open. Find more information and the application at augie.edu/BuntrockScholarship.
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2024 LSM Musical Advent Calendar
Experience the anticipation and hope of the Advent season with Lutheran Summer Music's fourth-annual Musical Advent Calendar. From December 1-24, immerse yourself in a daily moment of music and reflection shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages and archived on our website at LSMacademy.org/acal.
To have these daily videos delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at forms.gle/6Jw7DoDApTAgW4Uf6.
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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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