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December 17, 2025
EaND News and Events
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When There Was No Roadmap, God Made a Way
When Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cogswell, ND was unable to call a new, ordained pastor, they turned to their faith and creativity. What followed was not an easy answer, but it was a faithful one.
With accompaniment from the Eastern North Dakota Synod, congregation members were trained as Synod Lay Ministers, equipping local leaders to preach, administer the sacraments, and serve their own communities. Twenty-nine individuals participated in the training, and twelve completed the full program. They now touch hundreds of lives across Sargent County.
This creative, community-rooted ministry is possible because of generous support from people like you. As we look toward 2026, your year-end gift strengthens leadership development and innovative ministry across Eastern North Dakota. And gifts made by December 31 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $20,000 from generous givers!
👉 Learn more or give today at eandsynod.org/give
📞 701.232.3381
📧 lacey@eandsynod.org
📍1555 43rd St S #100, Fargo, ND 58103
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Professional Development Day: Anti-Racism
Date: January 15th, 2026
Time: 10am-3pm
Location: Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Hillsboro
Cost: $25
Inclement Weather Back-up Date: January 20th
Register by January 8!
The Eastern North Dakota Synod will have a Professional Development Day focused on Anti-Racism on Thursday, January 15th from 10am-3pm. Prairie Rose Seminole will be our presenter. All rostered ministers are expected to participate in Anti-Racism Training every three years. This event is also open to Synod Lay Ministers and others who wish to attend. The cost of this event is only $25, as the programming is being funded by the Vital Leaders Endowment Fund. In case of inclement weather, our backup date will be January 20. This information is also available on our website.
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January Vital Church Event:
The Church & Politics: Practicing Hard Conversations
Date: Saturday January 24th
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Register here.
Registration deadline: January 14th
Our world is wrestling with complicated realities, challenging policy divides, and global conflicts. How do we as church and congregation members talk together? How might the church be a good place to bring our worries and wonderings about politics and world realities?
Join on zoom for conversation as we explore why and how we as church can hold space for hard conversations, explore how church and politics intersect, and resources for talking together as congregations.
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Stewardship Webinar:
"Church Council Treasurer 101"
February 9, 2026 @ 6:00pm
Zoom
You are invited to a practical session designed to support church treasurers in congregations of every size. Whether you are brand new to the role or have been doing it for years, this conversation will offer clarity, confidence, and community. The event is free, but pre-registration is required to help us plan well and provide materials in advance. Register By February 8th, 2026.
Click here to register.
Learn more and view previous webinars
at this link.
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Bishop Election Information
As we journey together in faith, we approach a significant moment in the life of our synod: the bishop election process. This process is both an election and a call, governed by our synod’s constitution and guided by prayerful discernment. We invite you and your congregation to hold our synod, the process, and all nominees in prayer as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
A Bishop Election Information webpage has been created on our website to share information about the election process as it becomes available from the Nominating Committee. You can also download the following documents for more information on the timeline and other details about the election.
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Boundaries Training
The Eastern North Dakota Synod is partnering with the Southeastern Minnesota Synod to offer an online Boundaries Training on February 17, 2026 from 1:00-4:00pm. Rostered ministers are required to complete a boundaries training every three years.
Click here to register.
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Mark your calendars for Giving Hearts Day on February 12, 2026! Please consider including the Eastern North Dakota Synod in your giving plans on this regional day of generosity. Early giving opens on January 12.
Learn more about Giving Hearts Day at this link.
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Joint Theological Day 2026
Save the date for Joint Theological Day: April 16, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. Pr. Emily Harkins will be our speaker. More information coming soon!
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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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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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Living Lutheran Launches New Website
The new Living Lutheran website is now live! Living Lutheran tells the stories of the ELCA, bonding us as a church across congregations, synods, states, regions and countries. You are invited to get informed, inspired and equipped with the perspectives you need to deepen your faith and connect with the broader Lutheran community. For more information, visit livinglutheran.org/subscribe. You’ll also find options for individual and group subscriptions to the print magazine.
Members of congregations are now able to set up a free digital membership that offers these perks:
· A welcoming, easy-to-access format.
· A personalized dashboard prioritizing the stories that interest you.
· Access to members-only content, and the ability to save and “like” articles.
· E-news delivery options to get the stories you want, both online and in your email inbox.
Please email questions to livinglutheran@elca.org.
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From the Presiding Bishop: Recent Messages & Statements from Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry
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Church Property Resource Hub Webinars
Church Property Insurance Webinar
January 13, 2026 @ 1pm CST
Insurance is one of the most pressing property concerns synod and congregational leaders have shared with the Church Property Resource Hub team. Join us for a conversation about the current insurance landscape as well as support and options available. Learn more and register here.
Community Purchasing Alliance Webinar (Recording)
In last month's Church Property Resource Hub (CPRH) webinar, Community Purchasing Alliance shared collective purchasing options available to faith communities: shared utilities, insurance, services and more. CPA is a network of local cooperatives leveraging the buying power of community institutions in pursuit of sustainability, equity, and justice. I wanted to make sure that you are aware that they graciously offered to be a free resource for cost comparison of insurance policies, utility bills, and service/subscription contracts (e.g., copiers) you can connect with them at outreach@cpa.coop.
Watch the Community Purchasing Alliance webinar recording.
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Upcoming Events from the Center of Addiction & Faith
December 21 - Virtual Blue Christmas Service
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:5.
There are moments when that light feels faint and the shadows feel closer than ever.
This Winter Solstice Service is for anyone who isn’t feeling merry or bright, for anyone carrying grief, exhaustion, disappointment or sadness. We gather to honor your pain and to gently ask together for comfort, for courage, and for a light that still rises even when we cannot see it. Come to this service. You are not alone. Come as you are.
Register here.
December 31 - Webinar: "Unwine Your Mind - A January Reset"
December 31, 2025, 12:00-1:00pm CST
Special Guest: Hilary Sheinbaum, journalist, author, and founder of GoingDry.co and author of The Dry Challenge
Many people step into the New Year promising to “cut back,” but then January sneaks by in a blur of old habits. This year, we’re inviting you to something simpler—and far more transformative: a January Reset. This webinar will invite you to go fully alcohol-free for 30 days or commit to a meaningful reduction and see how you feel physically, emotionally and spiritually after one month. Modeled after Dry January, this version is flexible and judgment-free: The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity. It’s a chance to finally see your relationship with alcohol without excuses, autopilot, or cultural noise.
Register here.
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Reconciling in Christ Sunday 2026 - Worship Resources
Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday is an annual worship celebration created to share in the commitment our organization and partnering faith communities have in the ongoing work of welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the church. While historically this day is celebrated on the final Sunday in January, many RIC partners will celebrate on their date of affirmation, or on other days meaningful to their communities rooted in this commitment to radical hospitality. We hope you enjoy Resilient Community as we join collectively with our 1,140+ partners across the United States and Canada through this celebratory service.
Check out this year's worship resources here.
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Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course
Concordia College Parish Nurse Ministry Program, Moorhead
The Parish Nurse Ministry Program of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN will be offering the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course March 5, 12, and 19 (on-line via ZOOM) and April 9, 10, and 11 (in-person at First Lutheran Church, 619 N. Broadway, Fargo, ND, 58102). The deadline to register is February 5, 2026. 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.
For additional information, please download this flyer or email Dr. Jean Bokinskie, PhD, RN, PNM Program Director, at bokinski@cord.edu or call/text 701-866-3063. Please visit our website for detailed information, program resources and a link to complete your registration. Parish Nurse Ministry | Concordia College
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Mental Health First Aid Trainings
Quality Health Associates of North Dakota is offering online Mental Health First Aid Trainings. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. Training will be ongoing with multiple trainings offered each month. The class is hosted virtually via Zoom. Training requires 2 hours pre-work plus a post-test and evaluation. This course is valued at $170. Thanks to a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), learners living or working in North Dakota may attend at no charge.
Register and view class dates: www.qualityhealthnd.org/contracts/mhfa
| The ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering will take place July 6-9, 2026 in Indianapolis. The theme is "Woven Together." Click here to learn more. | |
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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2025 LSM Musical Advent Calendar
Experience the fifth annual Musical Advent Calendar from Lutheran Summer Music, November 30–December 24—daily musical meditations to inspire reflection throughout the Advent season. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, with all videos archived at LSMacademy.org/acal.
Sign up to receive each day’s video directly to your inbox by completing this form: https://forms.gle/xfPUVkVTyUffp8PH7
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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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