October 11, 2023

EaND News and Events


2023 Fall Gatherings


Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth invites all members of the Eastern North Dakota Synod to participate in this year’s Fall Gatherings! Join others from around the synod for an afternoon of connection, conversation, and prayer.  Dates and locations are listed below. If you are not able to attend the gathering for your conference, you are invited to attend a gathering in another location. 


Upcoming Dates and Locations: 

  • Prairie Rose and Spirit Lake ConferencesOctober 15, 3-5pm, Dacotah Oyate, Tokio
  • Grand Forks and Grafton Conferences: October 22, 3-5pm at Grafton Lutheran, Grafton

Synod Devotional Resource


We are excited to share with you a free, synod-wide devotional series! "And You Shall Be My Witnesses: Holy Wisdom and the Church Today" is a resource created specifically with Eastern ND church councils and ministry teams in mind. We invite you to gather as community, read Scripture and the corresponding reflections, and spend time asking yourselves and each other what these sacred texts might have to say to the church today. There is a form available on the synod website to share your reflections with us.


Download the devotional booklet here!

Fall Vital Church Modules


Register by October 20 for Vital Church: Models for Ministry! Both the church and the world look different today than they did 5, 10, 20, or even 50 years ago! What needs to be adjusted for the sake of a vital and sustainable witness? How might we shape and adapt how we do church to fit who we are today? Join us as we explore these questions and more.


Vital Church: Models for Ministry

Thursday, October 26, 2023

10am - 4:30 pm

Trinity Lutheran Church, Cooperstown

Cost: $20

Registration Deadline: October 20


Vital Church: Models for Ministry Introduction

Sunday, November 12, 2023

2-5pm, Zoom

Cost: $10

Registration Deadline: November 10


Click here for registration and more information.

There is still room on the Synod Holy Land trip! You are invited to join Bishop Tessa on a trip to the Holy Land on February 16-25, 2024. Learn more at this website, or download this flyer. As an added bonus, we will be traveling with our siblings in the Alaska Synod! We hope you'll consider joining us on this life-impacting journey.

Church Council Presidents' Network


Next Meeting: October 15



Council Presidents are invited to join Bishop Tessa for a listening and sharing session each month on the third Sunday at 7:00pm on Zoom.


Follow this Zoom Link to join.

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.

Dacotah Oyate Kids Christmas Project


Dear EaND Synod,


Thank you to all those who took tags for the Dacotah O'yate Kids Christmas Project at the Fall Theological Conference at Fair Hills. There were 117 tags taken. This is truly amazing. For those who were not at Fair Hills, the Dacotah O'yate Kids Christmas Project is a ministry for kids on the Spirit Lake reservation to receive gifts and needed items for Christmas. Each child receives needed winter items, hygiene items, and a fun gift. If you are interested in receiving some tags, receiving more tags, or if you have questions, please contact Kelly Longden at 701-662-4911 or [email protected] and he can get them to you. Please have tags filled by the start of December. Thank you for your work and support of this ministry.



Your friends in Christ,

Spirit Lake Conference

Other News and Events

You are invited to join ELCA members from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota for a Zoom conversation with Bishop Eaton about God's Love Made Real on October 17 from 12:00-12:30pm CST. God’s Love Made Real is a movement encouraging the ELCA to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation. Bishop Craig Schweitzer (Western ND Synod) will be hosting the conversation.


Click here for Zoom link.


Congregational Treasurer's Training


The Southeastern Synod is hosting a free training for congregational Treasurers and Financial Chairs led by ELCA Treasurer Lori Fedyk. She will be going over best practices, what to do and not to do, and important and healthy habits. Members of the Eastern ND Synod are invited to join this training! Register here.

ELCA Truth & Healing Commission News


Upcoming Events:


Presentation: Settler Narrative

October 24

7-8pm CST


Class: Indigenous Thought & Theology

October 26

10am-12pm CST


Land Acknowledgement and Land Back Movement

November 9

7-8pm CST


No pre-registration is required for these events. Visit the ELCA Truth & Healing webpage for course descriptions and to join classes. Be sure to check out the recordings of some of the previous events on the Truth & Healing Commission's YouTube playlist.

Dwelling in the Advent Word


EaND preachers are invited to join Pr. Melissa Pickering and Pr. Jake Anderson for a one-day Dwelling in the Advent Word text study.


Details:

  • Monday, October 16, 9:30 am-4:00 pm at Crossroads NDSU
  • FREE!
  • Snacks provided, lunch on your own



Download this flyer for more information.


Embody Series with Dr. Crystal Hall



Annoyed you’re being called “honey” instead of Pastor? Or resentful insurance policies and giving units seem more important than the gospel? Or leaving council meetings on the verge of tears because the mission of the church feels lost?

Join this series to realign your integrity with the realities of church work. You’ll walk away with powerful concepts, coaching tools you can apply right away, and a path forward to create a life-giving ministry.


Join Dr. Crystal Hall for Embody: Lead Powerfully as A Woman in Ministry, a webinar series on Thursdays at 10 AM CST October 19, October 26, November 2, November 9, and November 16. Each week will reflect on a chapter of The Rev. Dr. Karoline M. Lewis’ Embody: Five Keys to Leading with Integrity. Click here to register now.

Quality of Call Initiative for Women in Ministry


The reports for the Quality of Call Initiative for Women in Ministry are now public and available on the ELCA's website. Read the reports here.

Youth Gathering Volunteers


Interested in volunteering at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans? The application deadline has been extended until November 1! Volunteer categories include Gathering Volunteer Corps, servant companions, MYLE and tAble volunteers, and Young Adult Gathering volunteers. Learn more here.

Free Confirmation Robes


Can anyone use 22 white confirmation robes, assorted sizes? No charge!

Contact Horace Lutheran Church at [email protected].


Contact Us

Office Information

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, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Friday, 9:00am - 1:00pm


Visit the EaND Synod Website!
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