“A living hope in Christ”

2025 MN North District Convention

February 23-25, 2025

Grand Rapids, MN

^“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” I Peter 1:3

We are people of hope! A living hope that by Christ’s cross and resurrection, we are saved from our sins to live in newness of life now and in anticipation of  His second coming (Matthew 1:21; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 15:20). Although we will grieve due to the brokenness of this world, we do not grieve as those without hope (I Thessalonians 4:13). Even in suffering, He leads us to have the kind of hope that does not put us to shame (Romans 5:5) but trusts in His perfect, unending love (I John 4:10). 

Living in the hope of Christ, we look forward to the 2025 Minnesota North District Convention in Grand Rapids, MN. The Board of Directors chose this theme to point all of us to hope we all have in Christ, by faith through Baptism, no matter our circumstance. Our two and a half days together next year will be saturated in worship, prayer, fellowship, and an enriching Bible study of Peter’s first epistle.   

The official announcement for convention will come in August, but we wanted to forewarn everyone due to the change from our normal spring convention dates. The Board of Directors chose these dates in February prior to Ash Wednesday on March 5^th. A February convention allows our congregations and workers to focus on the Lenten season and celebration of Easter outside of the many details associated with the convention. Our brothers and sisters in the North Dakota and South Dakota Districts have traditional hosted their conventions in January and February which has helped participation as later Spring and Summer months are quite busy in our neck of the woods. Finally, in a sense, we are going back to our “roots” as our first three district conventions in Minnesota North (1964, 1966, and 1968) took place in January and February. 

Keep fighting the good fight of the faith (I Timothy 6:12)

In Christ (I Peter 2:9)

Rev. Brady Finnern, District President

LCMS 2023 Congregation Year-End Statistics and Lay Leader Updates – Due March 31, 2024

It is that time again to submit your congregation’s end-of-year statistics and update your current list of lay leaders at the following website: https://lc.lcms.org/

Use the same login information that you used last year to register your Presidential Voters. If you cannot remember the username and/or password you created for your congregation last year, follow the on-screen helps on the login page to recover your login credentials.

Up-to-date statistical information is essential for the Synod as it plans current and future ministry efforts. Such information is also critical for determining proper voting representation at conventions.

Emails for lay leaders will be increasingly important as channels for critical convention communications.

The deadline for congregation statistics and lay leaders is March 31, 2024, you may also review your congregation’s profile and lay leader information anytime throughout the year to make sure your contact information, service times, and other important data are current.  

An Urgent Message from the MN North District Life Coordinator, Rev. Jason Wolter

This is an urgent message from your representative to the Public Policy Committee (which discusses the various issues related to Life; Marriage, Family and Sexuality; Religious Liberty; and Parental Choice). As the Life Coordinator for the LCMS- Minnesota North District, there are times when I feel compelled to address you about certain things that are- or will have- a tremendous impact on your ministries. The reason for this message is that there are some VERY disturbing things going on in the Minnesota legislature.  CONTINUE READING >>

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.

Save the Date for the Spring LLL Meeting

The spring meeting of the MNN District LLL will be held at Lutheran Island Camp, Henning, MN on April 13, 2024. Registration begins at 9:30 am and a noon meal will be served. Cost is $12. Please RSVP to minnesotanorthlll@gmail.com if you are planning to attend.

The 2024 MN State Bible Bowl competition will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Concordia University - St. Paul.  The Book of the Bible for the 2024 State Bible Bowl is the Book of Acts (ESV Translation). Registration deadline is March 18 ($40/team).  Rev. Steve Breitbarth s.breitbarth@mchsi.com is the coordinator for MN North with Rudy Mauer rudymaurer@aol.com the Coordinator for MN South and Rev. Mark Palmer for the North Wisconsin District.

REGISTRATION: Send $40.00 per team, with names of each participant to:

                                    Rev. Rudy Maurer 

                                    P.O. Box 113; New Richland, Minnesota 56072 

                            Checks may be made payable to “MN State Bible Bowl.”

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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