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Synod Staff
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Bishop Larry Wohlrabe
Pastor Steve Peterson
Assistant to the Bishop
Pastor Laurie Natwick
Assistant to the Bishop
Mr. Erin Anderson
Assistant to the Bishop
Shirleen Wyland
Administrative Assistant
Marsha Hendrickson
Office Manager
Robert Larson
Bookkeeper
Pastor Keith Zeh
Director for Evangelical Mission
Cheryl Zeh
Secretary to Pr. Zeh/Office Reception
Michael Stein
Communications Director
Meet our staff
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Coming Up
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Cultivating Vitality in Multi-Point Parishes
January 16, at Climax Lutheran
Details
January 22-23
"Building Men for Christ" event, Hope South, Fargo
Details
May 14-15
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The Lutheran
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The January 2010 edition of The Lutheran includes a
four-page insert from the Northwestern Minnesota Synod. CLICK HERE
to open/download a PDF of the insert
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Prayer Concerns
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(If you have a prayer request to share, please
submit them to stein@cord.edu
And as we move through the year the synod staff
offers up general prayers for synod leaders in alphabetical
order.
William and Karen Bakewicz
Merlin and Darlene Bartelt
Gwenn Bazajou
Lori and Donald Beck
John and Carla Beem
David and Leanne Beety
Cheryl Berg
Marilee and Jim Bergerson
Robert and Diane Bergland
James and Lorraine Bergquist
Drell and Adeline Bernhardson
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Join Our List
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Positions Open
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Youth and Family Ministry Director, Brainerd
Part-time Youth & Children's Director, New Life,
Rothsay
Details
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Worth Quoting
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Human progress is neither automatic nor
inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice,
suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate
concern of dedicated individuals.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Humor Me!
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How do Minnesotans decide where to retire?
They tie a snowshovel to the back of their RV, drive south, and
when people start asking "What's that thing?" they know
they've gone far enough!
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Contact Us
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Contact the synod office:
218-299-3019
WATS: 800-452-3692
FAX: 218-299-3362
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Welcome to the new Northwestern Minnesota Synod
Northern Lights email newsletter. This will be your primary
source of news, information, events, stories from around the
synod and links to other resources to assist you in our shared
mission to be God's hands doing His
work.
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DISASTER IN HAITI
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Article Subheading
Responding to the Devastation in Haiti
The ripple effect of the massive earthquake that struck
the Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, area on Tuesday has spread throughout
the world. Many groups and individuals from our synod and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America were in Haiti when the
quake hit.
Miquette Denie and family members in Haiti were in
Petionville, a subdivision of Port au Prince. Miquette, the
daughter of Pastor John and Mary Lee, Detroit Lakes, directs the
TeacHaiti program. A program volunteer from Twin Cities was also
in Port au Prince. Pastor Lee said he doesn't anticipate hearing
any news about Miquette and family for several days.
Mission teams from Trinity Lutheran Church,
Moorhead, were in Pignon, about 70 miles from Port-Au-Prince. The
14-member medical team includes surgeons and nurses who work in
the hospital in Pignon. The 12-member mission team works on
projects at a school that Pastor Caleb Lucien and their church
operates. Members of Trinity provide thousands of meals for
children who cannot afford to pay for their lunch. The cost to go
to school is $30 a month and meals are $7 a month.
A group of Wartburg Theological Seminary
students were spending their J-Term working in Haiti. The
group was in Port-Au-Prince, and an official statement from
ELCA News Bureau Thursday afternoon stated that Benjamin Judd
Larson has most likely died, according to Wartburg President Rev.
Duane Larson.
Your help
is needed today to bring immediate relief and continued hope for
our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Help spread the word to your congregations, your
conferences and your friends and family. Learn more at www.elca.org/disaster
Today (January 14) Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson sent a
message to members detailing the responses to the disaster from
the ELCA and the Lutheran World Federation. This letter also
contains information about how members can respond with financial
and prayer/worship support. CLICK HERE
for Bishop Hanson's letter.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod has prepared a prayer
for use this Sunday. CLICK HERE.
Please
continue to pray for all those affected by this disaster. We will
provide updates in as timely a manner as possible.
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OUTREACH FOR MISSION
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Trinity
Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, Responds to Challenge
Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, Responds to Challenge
The challenge was extended, the goals were set and the
congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes exceeded
the goals of the challenge. The challenge was to fill a 6'X10'
cargo trailer with the dollar equivalent it would cost the Becker
County Food Pantry to fill the trailer with actual food.
Did they meet the goal? Yes, and exceeded it! CLICK HERE
to read how.
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SPOTLIGHT
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AArticle Subheading
2010 Column Series on
"Theology
of Abundance
"Bishop Wohlrabe has begun a series of columns on the
"theology of abundance"-using the synod assembly theme
for 2010 (and theme for Fair Hills 2010). Columns may
be read by individuals (devotionally) and/or used by congregation
councils or other parish leadership groups for study, reflection
and discussion.
January 2010 Column: "Life Overflowing: The
Word"
Word version (right click and
save)
PDF version
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BOOK OF FAITH
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Book of Faith Core Team Opportunity!
We are looking for three or four people to serve on
a Book of Faith Core Team in the synod for the purpose of
directing opportunities for programming, visioning and resourcing
around the Book of Faith Initiative. This core team will meet a
couple times each year and will be in frequent communication.
Pastor Kate Bruns of Bethlehem Lutheran in Fergus Falls has
agreed to serve as chair of the team. If you or someone in your
congregation have an interest in serving on the core team, please
contact Erin Anderson at eranders@cord.edu
or Pastor Kate Bruns at pastorkate@prtel.com. An
initial core team meeting is set for Thursday, January 21, from
10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the synod office in Moorhead, 310 14th Ave.
S.
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EVENTS IN OUR SYNOD AND BEYOND
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The
Northwestern Minnesota Synod's next Lay Ministry Class will be
held February 12-13 at Grace Lutheran Church, 213 Roosevelt Ave.,
Detroit Lakes.
The theme
for this class is "Worship's Windows to the World." We
will focus on creative and practical ways to explore and
implement this vital connection between what we do on Sunday and
all the rest of our lives. The outward movement of worship
to the world will help all worshipers discover and renew their
baptismal vocations. God so loved the world that God gave
the Incarnate Word. Jesus so loved the world that He gave
his church to the world. The journey to the world for us
begins in worship.
Mons A. Teig,
Professor Emeritus of Worship, Luther Seminary, will lead the
class. Registration Cost is $50. Registration will begin at 6:15
p.m. on Friday with class beginning at 7 p.m.(Please note
there will be no supper.) Saturday morning rolls and
coffee, Saturday lunch, and refreshments will be provided. CLICK HERE
to register online. Registration questions? Contact rlarson@cord.edu
TRF Lay Ministry
Class: Room for More!
The Thief River Falls Lay
Ministry Class is a group of about 10 to 12 people who gather
together once a month on a Sunday afternoon for an in-depth,
seminary level, study of the Scriptures, our Lutheran heritage
and theology and some of the practical aspects of serving the
church (preaching, pastoral care). Prayerfully consider becoming
a part of this group who will be starting or continuing such a
venture on February 21 as we begin the study of the New Testament
with Professor David Rhoads. We meet at Redeemer Lutheran Church,
1300 South Nora St., Thief River Falls. For more information,
call Pastor Mark Helgeland at 218-681-3390 or 218-689-0727.
Church Council Training Events: Save These Dates!
Church Council Training Events will be held February 21, 27 and
28 in three sections of the synod. The theme:
"RE-ROOTING, RE-ROUTING, RE-FUELING." CLICK HERE
for more information and watch Northern Lights for updates.
Women of Faith Revisited
Women of Faith Revisited will be held on Saturday, January 30,
2010, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2900 N Broadway, Fargo, from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. You will hear heart-felt, hilarious messages
by nationally known speakers and participate in songs of worship.
Admission is $15 per person and includes lunch, as well
as beverages and snacks throughout the day. Registration
required: call church office at . Childcare is available (ages 2
and up) upon request by January 15. Join us for a day of
inspiration and be encouraged in your faith journey!
Building Men For Christ January 22-23
Lutheran Men in Mission, along with the Eastern North Dakota and
Northwestern Minnesota Synods is sponsoring a training event for
men's and congregational leaders at Hope (South), Fargo. The vision
of Lutheran Men in Mission is for every man to have a deeper
relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective ministry with
men in every congregation. If funds are an issue in deciding
whether or not to attend this event, scholarship money is available.
Contact Doug Haugen, Director for Lutheran Men in Mission at
773-380-2566 or Doug.Haugen@elca.org
MORE
INFORMATION
Ken Medema in Concert
Ken Medema will perform January 20 at UND's Chester Fritz Auditorium.
Click here for
event poster.
Region 3 Hunger Retreat
Jan. 28-29, Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria. Do you have a
passion for hunger and justice work or do you know someone in
your congregation that does? Join others for this retreat to be
inspired by music, worship, Bible study, and presentations on
hunger-related issues. Contact the Rev. Paul Erickson at the
synod office for more information or to register at 651-224-4313.
Clergy Spouse Retreat Date Set for October
The date for this year's clergy spouse retreat has been set!
Where: Relaxing Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria,
Minn.
When: October 15 - 17, 2010
Watch for updates as planning takes shape - and remember to tell
all your clergy spouse friends about this fun & relaxing
retreat, even those from other churches and denominations!
Questions? Contact Pia Carlsen, 218-837-5762.
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EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES
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New Life
Lutheran, Rothsay, has the following educational
material that needs a new home:
VBS
Group: Power Lab, Fiesta: Lava Lava; Avalanche Ranch; these
have Chaddder the chipmunk who our kids just really like.
Standard Publishing: Construction Zone
Sunday School (material is a group):
Living Inside Out: Star Quest, Wilderness Trail; Heroes: Treasure
Island; Under the Tree: Spelunkers; In the Doghouse
Arctic Antics; Rescue 911; Balloon Fest: Available after May
15: Music Camp & Stormchasers.
Contact Joyce Peterson by email
or at 218-867-2443
Calvary Lutheran, Perham, has Faithweaver Sunday school
curriculum they are no longer using. It is Fall 2008
Pre-School through 6th Grade, and Spring 2009 Pre-School through
4th Grade. There is a leader guide for every grade, and
almost all grades still have unused workbooks. They also have a
VBS "Beach Party, which still has the director's guide and
many decorations. If you can use these resources, or know of
someone who can, contact Tracy Bieger Christian Education
Coordinator, 346-4780 ext 104
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