The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



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Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• Diocesan Treasurer
• WoDakota Annual Appeal
• Bishop's Visitation - Standing Rock
• Pentecost Sheaf articles due - Deadline: May 29th

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!

New Diocesan Treasurer

It is with great joy that we announce that Diocesan Council on Tuesday, May 9, elected Amy Morrow, from Saint Stephen's Church in Fargo, as the next Diocesan Treasurer. Amy is a gifted woman with an MBA from University of Mary, Fargo, along with a BA in Music from the University of Arkansas, and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas. She is currently employed as a KeyAccount Executive with WEX INC, in Fargo, ND, and has worked in various capacities with WEX INC since 2016. Prior to that, she has other employment history in banking, finance and office management. We are pleased to welcome her.



Amy succeeds Charlotte Peterson in this key diocesan role, following Charlotte's many faithful and diligent years of ministry for which we also give thanks.

 WoDakota Appeal -

off to an amazing start!

As of May 17, 2023, 40 people have made pledges or donations to the WoDakota Appeal for a total of $47,755. That total includes $19,800 toward the $20,000 challenge match (also included in the total) that is underway through the Day of Pentecost (May 28). And, we have only just begun the congregational phase of the appeal.

Tri-fold brochures and bulletin inserts have been sent to all congregations describing the WoDakota appeal. Council members and other diocesan leaders have been asked to speak a word in support of this effort. There is also a video available on our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il3pjCr1qMs

As a reminder, the Diocesan Convention adopted a budget for 2023 that included a bold initiative to raise $50,000 in support of three important ministry areas in our common life and budget:

• Youth and Young Adult Ministry
• Native American Ministry
• Congregational Development

WoDakota is about being in harmony and balance with yourself and the world around you. The Diocesan Council chose this name for the Annual Appeal because we believe that Jesus calls us to do all we can toward becoming that Beloved Community. 

Please consider joining me in contributing to this appeal. You can donate on the diocesan website https://www.ndepiscopal.org/ by clicking on the Donate button and choosing WoDakota from the drop-down menu. Or you can send a check to the Diocesan Office: 3600 25th Street South • Fargo, ND 58103-6861

The amount of your contribution will be confidential, although we hope you will allow us to share your name as a contributor.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and a blessed Easter Season to you.

Faithfully,

Congratulations are in order! NW Regional Coordinator, Rev. Kim Becker, and Robert Fox were married in a civil ceremony in Minot on Monday, May 15th. Church blessing to follow at St. Paul's, White Shield on August 12th. Congratulations, Kim and Robert! 

Bishop's Visitation to Standing Rock

May 14, 2023

Pentecost Sheaf

Dear Colleagues,

The next issue of The Sheaf will be published in a couple of weeks. The deadline for submissions is May 29. The theme is “Pentecost.” Pentecost is all about the Spirit alighting on the apostles to empower them to share good news in language that people understand. Many of you are doing inspiring (spirit-filled) ministry in your contexts, in language that is being understood by people who need to hear good news. Ministry with children, youth, young adults, creation care, LGBTQ+ folks, people living with hunger or homelessness or sick or in legal trouble or in prison, immigrants, people living with war or poverty in Africa, Haiti, etc., etc. Some of these efforts are within or sponsored by the church, some are in secular work that is spiritually nurtured by involvement in the church.

If you feel inspired and have time, it would be great if you or someone in your ministry world could send a story of a recent success or inspiration from your ministry, ideally (but not necessarily) with a photo, to share with our diocesan community. Send it to our Diocesan Administrator, Jess Thielke, at [email protected]. Feel free to call if you have questions or want to bounce around an idea.

Thank you for all you do!

Jess Thielke

Diocesan Administrator

701-235-6688

[email protected]

Steve Godfrey

Diocesan Minister

515-450-9858

[email protected]

Graduation Photos Wanted!

In the next edition of the Sheaf, we would like to celebrate those who are graduating! If you, or someone you know, is graduating high school or college, please send in a picture and a little bio and we would love to celebrate with them and hold them in prayer. Please send information to Jess. Thanks!

Last Sunday May 14th was Rogation Sunday within our Anglican tradition. This special day falls on the sixth Sunday of Easter and is closely tied to Ascension Day. This celebration is devoted to asking God’s blessing on agriculture and industry as the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the coming week are known as Rogation days. These days are filled with prayers, fasting, and thanksgiving as farmers prepare their land for the growing season with hope of a bountiful harvest. Although a bit late, the Creation Care Committee would like to offer some prayers for agriculture, farming, and gardening:

Collect:

Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (pg. 635).

Prayer:

O gracious Father, you open your hand and fill all living things with plenteousness: Bless the lands and waters, and multiply the harvests of the world; send forth your breath, and renew the face of the earth; show your loving-kindness, that our land may yield its increase; and save us from selfish use of what you provide, that the poor and needy may give thanks to your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (pg. 653).

Find more prayers and scripture here:

https://anglicancompass.com/rogation-days-a-rookie-anglican-guide/

Church Periodical Club invites you to their annual meeting featured speaker

The Written Word: A Poet's Perspective

The Rev. Kim Fox

Friday June 9, 2023

Kim Fox is an Episcopal priest and poet (publishing under Kimberly L. Becker) with five full-length collections from national presses. She has also served as hospice, ICU, and trauma chaplain and was the April 2023 writer for Forward Day by Day. She is based in Minot, ND, where she serves in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota as Northwest Regional Coordinator. www.kimberlylbecker.com

We will start at 5:30 CDT - we ask you to log on at that time.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84726979705?pwd=Rk5JZm5waTdoQTBOWVVrbmhidH

JKQT09

Meeting ID: 847 2697 9705

Passcode: 1888

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.