“This we believe. This we confess.

This we read. This we pray in 2024” 

When a pastor, teacher, deaconess, or DCE is called and installed into their office, they are asked to confess before the Lord and God’s people to the truth of God’s Word and fulfill their vocations faithfully. We ask vital questions that capture the essence of their work in His Church. Three questions stick out as we serve the Lord:

• Do you believe and confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

• Do you confess the whole Book of Concord to be a true exposition of the Holy Scripture and a correct exhibition of the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Faith?” 

• “And will you be constant in prayer for those under your pastoral care?”

We ask our workers to all be on the same page. We not only ask what they believe about the Word of God, the Gospel, and the Lutheran Confessions, but we ask that they preach & teach in accordance with them. This rite not only confesses to the Church the calling of our workers, but is a template for the worker to know what to do.

We can ask it in this simple way, “If I believe that the Bible is living and active, inspired, and infallible, then I should probably read it. If we believe that the Book of Concord proclaims the truth of God’s Word with clarity, then we should probably read it. If we believe that the Psalms are the prayer book of the Scriptures, then we should probably use them for prayer.” This is not only good for our workers, but a blessing to every baptized believer in our congregation.

In 2024, we are continuing with “This we believe” which what we started last year. Each weekday we have designed an appointed reading plan that includes a chapter of the New Testament, a portion of the Book of Concord, and a Psalm to prayer. As the plan is followed, by the end of 2024 one will read the whole New Testament and Book of Concord and prayed the Psalms 2 times. The weekend is meant for everyone to be receiving the good gifts of Christ in worship and an opportunity to “catch up” when you miss a few days here and there. If you miss a day, keep moving forward. Please neglect to make a reading plan an additional source of guilt in your life. When we are in His Word, learning theology, and praying----It’s all gift. Rejoice in what He gives. The Lord unite us around His gifts to bring all things to Him in prayer.

We pray: BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Click on the teal colored link to the right (or maybe below if you are using your phone) to download the reading/prayer plan for 2024. >>>

Did you know the MN North District currently has 19 Preschools, 7 Elementary Schools and 1 High School? Your congregation can support our schools during National Lutheran Schools Week by contributing to the CROSS Appeal Fund. LEARN MORE >>

Vicarage Applications

If your congregation is interested in hosting a vicarage in 2024-2025, your application must be submitted to the District Office by March 1, 2024.

LEARN MORE>>

Calling Seminary Candidates

Congregations interested in calling a pastor from the Seminary should submit completed Call Documents by February 15, 2024. For more information and to request access to Call Documents, please contact Diana Ruopp: diana.ruopp@mnnlcms.org

Continuing Education Funds Available

Do you have a goal in 2024 to learn a new skill set or refresh an old one? Don’t let the expense of professional development/continuing education stand in your way. The District Office has funds available to assist professional church workers with these types of programs. Our Continuing Education Grant application is available on the forms section of our website. Complete the application today and grow your professional ministry skills in 2024.

Treasurer Information

With our new fiscal year (1/16/2024), our process for submitting congregational commitments has been updated. New remittance forms will be arriving with your green mailer. The biggest change is that we ask that donations to other LCMS entities be sent directly to them while specific District funds continue to be listed on the form. The forms and instructions can also be found at our District website under the giving tab.

MN STATE PASTORS CONFERENCE

Plans are underway for the MN State Pastors Conference to be held at Maddens on Gull Lake in Brainerd on May 13 - 15, 2024. The theme of the conference will be Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Ministry.

 

Speakers include:

• Rev. Dr. David R. Maxwell, Professor & Chairman of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Rev. Dr. Maxwell will provide an introduction to the topic, addressing pastoral applications.
• Dr. Angus Menuge, Professor & Chair of Philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin. Dr. Menuge will address 1. Anthropology: why we should think we are not organic computers and should question the metaphysical cogency of Strong AI and transhumanism; and 2. Ethics: the dehumanizing effects as people increasingly view themselves as technology.

Long-time friend of the MN North District, Gifty Kollie, celebrated her graduation from the Deaconess program at Concordia University Chicago. She is pictured here with Ken and Toni Erlandson. Ken served as Executive Director at Lutheran Island Camp for many years before his recent retirement.

Connecting the Dots Just Got Easier

Does your congregation have news to share? Send your photos and stories to our Lutheran Witness Editor, Rev. Travis Lauterbach at: the.lutheran.witness@mnnlcms.org

MN North District | PO Box 604, Brainerd, MN 56401 | 218-829-1781 | mnndist@mnnlcms.org | www.mnnlcms.org