The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



Click here to view this Newsletter as Webpage.

Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• Episcopal Church Lenten Resources
• Preaching Support Program

Read on for other announcements and the calendar!

Did you miss a copy of the Prairie? The past four editions of the bi-monthly Prairie are now online! Click the button below to be taken to the webpage!

Wardens & Treasurers Zoom Meeting

Bishop Tom Ely, Diocesan Minister Steve Godfrey, and Diocesan Administrator Jess Thielke invite wardens & treasurers (past & present) to gather on Zoom this Sunday, Feb. 26, at 5:00 pm Central Time, to talk about what our wardens and treasurers need, meet each other, form community, and share concerns, ideas and resources. Email Steve for the Zoom link with any questions you may want us to address.

Episcopal Church Lent resources

AVAILABLE ONLINE

Click the button below for new and updated resources for individuals, small groups, and congregations, including the following:

• Lent curriculum, sermons, lesson plans, devotionals, and meditations
• Lent Madness
• “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent” – adult forum sessions with videos
• “Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community” podcast series
• Sermons That Work
• 40-day gratitude challenge
• Publicity material, bulletin inserts, and more

UNITED THANK OFFERING

Greetings all,

I am writing to you today as we move closer to Lent. if you have someone designated to head up UTO, Wonderful! If not, please participate as part of our diocesan church family. I will also send you this month’s UTO newsletter for your use.

United Thank Offering or UTO has a special offering for Lent for giving and receiving. We are to be more aware of our blessings and thankful on a daily basis. More information is available through the national church website.

Here is a link for UTO and a Grateful Lent. There are resources for yourself and your family and your church family. 

Something new this year is being grateful each and every day throughout Lent. There will be a daily text message for which you can sign up. I have signed up and am looking forward to it!

Below is a link to the 40 Days of Gratitude Challenge with United Thank Offering. It includes information about the UTO challenge and a calendar for Lent with something to be grateful for each day.

So please be grateful, say a prayer of thanksgiving (such as the one below) and drop your coins, dollars or thanksgivings in your UTO Blue Box. This becomes an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. They would call that a sacrament!

Almighty God, I give you praise for blessing me in many ways. Create in me a grateful heart and with this gift a blessing start.

Amen

Thanks,

Mary Massad

Co-Chair for United Thank Offering 

New Season of Ministry Survey

Greetings from the members of the New Season of Ministry Task Force! After recommendations from the Diocesan Discernment Task Force, our diocese has made some changes in the last few years including increasing cohesive communication, rebuilding relationships, addressing racial healing and reconciliation, youth and young adult ministries, diocesan leadership and administration, and looking to new models of congregational leadership and ministry. As we are now discerning options for our long-term future, the New Season of Ministry Task Force (NSMTF) wants to hear from you about how things are currently going in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota. Please share your thoughts on the following questions. Members of the Task Force will be visiting congregations in the Diocese to follow up on this survey. To find the survey, please click here.

If you have any questions please email the Task Force co-chairs, John Baird and Carmine Goodhouse.

School for Ministry

Lay and ordained ministry leaders and potential leaders (we are all leaders!) of all experience levels are encouraged to participate in the School for Ministry, a diocesan learning community for shared leadership. All are welcome to join these Zoom sessions. Contact Steve Godfrey for the Zoom link. 

Each session is intended to last about an hour, perhaps a bit longer for questions and conversation. It is not expected that everyone will attend every session. Feel free to pick and choose, though you may want to commit to all of the sessions of any one of the topics. For more information, contact the Rev. Harvey Henderson or the Rev. Steve Godfrey.

Tuesdays, 7:00 pm Central Time:

March 14: Ministry (The Rev. Kim Becker)

April 11: Ministry (The Rev. Steve Godfrey)

Thursdays, 7:00 pm Central Time:

March 16: History (The Rev. Dn. John Anderson)

April 20: Scripture (The Rev. Harvey Henderson)

The next gathering will be April 28-30, 2023, at Maryvale, near Valley City. Courses will be offered in sacramental theology, Hebrew Bible, Anglican/Episcopal history, and pastoral ministry. There will also be conversation about discernment for those exploring ministry possibilities. All are welcome to attend! Mark your calendar and watch for a registration form soon!