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January 8, 2025
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
Click here for the Zoom link.
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.
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Lay Ministry Learning Opportunities
All are welcome to join the Zoom sessions below to learn more about the past, present, and future of lay leadership in Lutheran congregations.
The same Zoom link will be used for both sessions. Click here for the link.
Meeting ID: 820 2248 1139
Passcode: 288946
Faithful Witnesses: Lay Leadership in Lutheran Congregations, Looking Back and Looking Ahead with Dr. Susan Wilds McArver
January 18, 10:00-11:00 am
For a brief period in the mid-20th century, Lutheran congregations enjoyed the “one-pastor-to-one congregation” model of ministry across many rural areas of America. But in reality, this model was a brief exception in a much broader history of shared pastoral and lay leadership. This session will explore ways in which lay leaders within the church have always responded to changing contexts and realities, whether those be economic, demographic, or both. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the historical significance of lay leadership and its implications for the future of pastoral ministry in contexts like North Dakota.
Synod Lay Ministry Information Session with Deacon Laura Carson
January 18, 11:15-12:00 pm
Join Deacon Laura to learn about Synod Lay Ministry in the Eastern North Dakota Synod. Deacon Laura will share about the process to become a Synod Lay Minister, the need across the synod for trained lay leadership, and answer questions about Synod Lay Ministry.
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Lutheran Advocacy Series: Advocacy 101 & Book Study
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.
Click here for the Zoom link.
Book Study: January 21 @ 7pm (Zoom)
Additionally, the Advocacy & Action team will be offering a book study conversation on January 21 at 7pm via Zoom facilitated by Pr. Erik Weber. This conversation will be about the book The Man in the Dog Park: Coming Up Close to Homelessness by Cathy A. Small. Download this flyer to learn more.
Click here for the Zoom 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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Church Council Training
February 23, 2:00-4:30 pm (Zoom)
New and returning church council members are invited to our annual church council training February 23 on Zoom. Together we will dive into constitutions, reporting, trends and challenges, and finances and stewardship. Join us as we learn from both local leaders and experienced leaders from across the church. A recording will be available for congregational use.
Click here for the Zoom link.
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Mission Support & Annual Report Resources
As you finalize your congregational spending plans for 2025, we ask you to give prayerful consideration to your congregation’s mission support for 2025, knowing that your generosity not only funds our work as a synod but contributes to the impact made by our vast churchwide ministries. Please share your 2025 mission support intent using this form on our website to help us plan for mission & ministry in 2025.
A number of resources are available to tell about the impact of your partnership and generosity. We hope you include these in your annual reports or as part of your annual meeting, and share the story of our life together!
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Lenten Resource from The Neighborhood Church
"The God Who Dwells Among Us" is a worship resource for congregations to use for Sunday or mid-week services throughout Lent. The format was created with lay led worship in mind but can be adapted for however it works best! The full resource will be available on our website in early February. Use the form at the bottom of this webpage to be contacted when it is available.
This worship resource is a gift to Eastern North Dakota congregations from The Neighborhood Church. The Neighborhood Church also relies on the generosity of individuals and congregations to support the ministry they are called to do with their neighbors. Learn more about this resource here.
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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:
The on-going creation of new worship resources from ELCA Worship, including the newest hymnal supplement, All Creation Sings.
Share "Offering Connections" in your worship bulletin or congregational newsletters! Download the Offering Connections Document: PDF or Word
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Incoming Council Presidents: Request for Contact Info
Calling all new church council presidents! Please make sure the synod office has your contact information so that we can keep you informed about upcoming events, opportunities, trainings, etc. happening in the synod. You can email us at office@eandsynod.org to update your information. Thank you!
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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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Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course
The Parish Nurse Ministry Program of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN will be offering the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course April 28-May 2, 2025 (the deadline to register is April 1st). The course will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. This will be a full week of in-person/classroom learning activities as we do not offer a distance learning option. The program is open to licensed RNs who are interested in personal growth and/or starting a health and healing ministry within a faith community. Download this flyer to learn more.
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Faith Community Nurses Association Course:
The Faith Community's Call to Caregiving
January 23, 6-8pm
With recent emphasis on aging in place, the faith community is in a key position to answer the call to be or assist caregivers. Faith community nurses are uniquely equipped to meet this call by developing programs, educational initiatives, research, and policymaking. Information, tools, and resources about integrating an age-friendly vision of caregiving with the faith community will be provided. Download this flyer to learn more.
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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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National Day of Racial Healing
The 2025 National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21. It is an annual observance that follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, the ELCA, in partnership with Augsburg Fortress, will join the movement of racial healing for our church and the nation. On Jan. 21, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central time, the ELCA will feature a free online educational event that centers the voices of ELCA leaders of color. We invite you to join us in this collective effort for a more just and equitable world. This event is open to all ELCA rostered ministers, lay leaders and members. Learn more and register at this link.
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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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Nominate Young Musicians for Lutheran Summer Music
Enrollment is filling fast for the LSM 2025! Students come together in an immersive musical community that connects the pursuit of musical growth with the joy of Lutheran church music traditions. LSM welcomes musicians of all kinds: brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, harp, guitar, handbells, and more. Know a young person (grades 8-12) who would benefit from this life-giving and joyful musical community? Nominate them for LSM today at LSMacademy.org/nominate. LSM 2025 takes place at Valparaiso University from June 22-July 20 (Half Session through July 6). Standard Enrollment is open now through March 1.
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Play Ball & Connect! A Desert Sojourn Retreat
You are invited to an inspiring Spring Training experience in Arizona, where baseball enthusiasts and faith-driven individuals unite to explore the connection between sport and spirituality. This unique retreat, led by Pastor Dave Ellingson, combines fellowship, worship, and the excitement of baseball with opportunities to attend MLB Cactus League games in the vibrant Arizona desert. Download this poster to learn more.
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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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