Why You are Needed

• A point in time survey, done recently, revealed there are at least 406 homeless individuals in Fargo-Moorhead; 79 of these individuals are children under 18 years of age.
• In July, there were 65 families living in vehicles or tents. Some of this is due to flooding and the oil boom in western North Dakota where renters are being pushed out by skyrocketing rents and scarcity of available rental properties.
• The local shelters have gone into overflow mode and are providing shelter for more than 330 homeless individuals on any given night.

In late November 2011, churches began a conversation with health officials from across the community, local agencies and homeless shelter officials about how the crisis can be managed in the coming months (January-March), which were deemed the most crucially brutal weather months in our region.

Host Churches Needed

In early December, the following plan was developed: From January 1 – March 31, interested churches in the Fargo-Moorhead area will begin to help local homeless shelters provide a warm safe place for up to 25 overflow guests. The churches will sign up to host overflow guests on a rotating weekly basis (Sunday night – Saturday night) from 9:00 pm – 7:00 am. The weekly site will NOT be publicized.

The local homeless shelters will pre-screen and select up to 25 guests per night to be transferred to the local church site. These individuals will be single men and women so families can stay together at the shelter, which will provide continuity and stability for homeless children. Individuals who have been using alcohol, or have a history of violence or serious mental health issues will not be sent to church host sites. If there is a greater need, discussion of a second host site opening will occur.

Church Responsibility

The host church will be responsible for light snacks, restrooms, smoking locations (outside of building), and decide which areas will be open to their guests. Beds and linens have been purchased and/or donated by local businesses. The host sites will need to designate a coordinator or coordinators for their site.

Food

• Morning: Granola bar and Juice box
• Evening: Bottled water and individually wrapped single-serve items (preferably with protein), such as peanut butter crackers, cheese & crackers, peanuts, and pretzels

By taking the minimalist approach, the focus can remain on meeting the need for a warm place to stay while keeping people connected to the available agencies to try to move homeless individuals into the system to get them into jobs, apartments, etc., with the goal of getting them out of homelessness.

In the event of a blizzard warning, the host site should have supplies for up to 25 people for 1-2 days.

Beds/Linens

Local companies have donated air mattress beds and linens. Flannel blankets will be provided by HERO. The host church will be required to store the air beds during the week they are the host site; the bed linens and blankets will need to be laundered daily. Ideally a commercial laundry service in a business would be able to assist or volunteers could take linens to the laundry and/or home to wash the linens.

Transportation

Community organizations are working with interested church sites to provide a bus from the shelter to the church each evening and from the church to the shelter each morning. A grant proposal is in the works to hire and train two temporary drivers to cover the costs of a driver’s salary and gas for January-March. Donations will be needed up front to cover the cost of gas and salaries until the grant is received.

Liability Issues

Each site will need to confer with their own insurance provider regarding liability issues.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to provide a ministry of presence during the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. for up to 25 guests, who will be shuttled from the shelter to church. Volunteers can choose from 4, 8 or 12 hour shifts; the shifts are: 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 11:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. and 4:00-7:30 a.m.; however, a volunteer can choose to work the entire night. Four volunteers are needed each shift (2 men/2 women) who will be awake and on duty through the night. This will give our guests the sense of security they need to rest well. The church host sites will also need volunteers from 7-9 a.m. to clean the sleeping area.

The current homeless shelters need assistance from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to get the shelter ready for the evening by putting down mattresses, etc., for overflow guests at each site. Volunteers are also needed at these sites from 9:30- 11:30 a.m. to provide oversight for individuals preparing to shower.

Other non-training required volunteer roles will also be available, such as preparing and serving snacks and logistical support. Volunteers need to attend a training session to be equipped for this practical ministry of presence and care.

Training

Volunteers will need to attend one training session provided by the Fargo-Moorhead Area Coalition for the Homeless Persons, American Red Cross Minn-Kota Chapter, and personnel from the local shelters. These sessions will help educate churches on how to run an emergency shelter and working with people in crisis. Taining sessions will be added as necessary. All training will be at 1st United Methodist Church, 906 1st Ave. S. Fargo. No pre-registration is required.

To volunteer call FirstLink at 211 or 701-235-7335 (SEEK) or sign up online

• Follow FM Sheltering Churches on facebook

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I want to start off the New Year by expressing my gratitude for you, for the partnership we share in the Gospel, and for your prayers. Most everywhere I go, people tell me that they pray for the work of our synod. This is greatly appreciated more than you know. Also, I want to thank you for your continued financial support of all of our shared ministries in a less than ideal year, especially for our farming communities.

During our 2011 synod assembly, many expressed concern regarding the ministries that would receive less financial support due to budget cuts. Many have gone the “extra mile” for our regional ministries, some designating specific ministries, others wanting to support all that received less. Thank you! Some congregations and individuals have given above and beyond what they had planned and for this, all of these ministries are grateful. For those of you wanting to make sure that the work of our church continues, there is still time to make a difference.

Any funds that you would like to apply to help us reach our 2011 mission goal can still be submitted to our office postmarked on or before January 31, 2012. They can either go towards general mission support or to one/all of our “extra mile” for regional ministry partners if you choose.

As of Tuesday, January 17, we are still $130,000 from reaching our 2011 mission goal. Lutheran Campus ministry of ND will receive $50,000 less than last year even if we reach our goal; Luther Seminary $20,000 less.

If you would like to make a difference, either as a congregation or as an individual, please know that it will greatly appreciated.

Serving on your behalf as bishop,
Pr. Bill Rindy

Download Bulletin Insert: A Word from the Bishop

Rebuild requires some skilled volunteers and some less skilled to assist the skilled volunteers. Start forming your teams today and call 218-443-4970 to schedule with the volunteer coordinator in Minot.

You can download the forms and send them to LDRvolunteer@lssnd.org

Make a difference in the lives of those waiting to make their house a home again!

This summer communities across North Dakota experienced the power of flooding water. As they rebuild and recover, you can help by joining together to provide a powerful Flood of Love.

Resources related to flood recovery and response, including information about volunteer coordination, spiritual care during disaster, ways to give financially to support recovery efforts, and much more are available at wndsynod.org

» Download Letter: Help rebuild Minot

If you’re an ELCA-primary health plan member, we need you to take the health assessment. Will you be the one to push us over the 65% discount threshold?

• Take the assessment at elcaforwellness.org
• Find instructions for taking the assessment at elcabop.org

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
First Lutheran Church – Fargo, ND

This workshop is designed to help facilitators learn how to administer PREPARE/ENRICH and provide feedback to premarital and married couples using six core and over 20 supplemental exercises. Learn to help couples identify their strengths and growth areas in categories such as Communication, Conflict Resolution, Spiritual Beliefs and Financial Management. The cost is $175 (lunch included). Pam Hulstrand is the seminar director.

To register, contact Pam at (612) 741-6613 or pamhul@earthlink.net

April 10-12, 2012

Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer - Watertown, SD

Bishop David Zellmer is extending this invitation to leaders in our synod! Leaders from all of Region 3 are invited to participate. Steven Paulson from Luther Seminary is the featured speaker.

More information on the South Dakota Synod website

March 12-16, 2012

Luther Seminary – St. Paul, MN

The Parish Nurse Ministry Program at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN is offering a one week basic parish nurse preparation course in collaboration with Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Based on the current IPNRC curriculum, the program topics include: the role of the parish nurse, biblical healing and the Church’s ministry, integrating faith and health, health promotion activities, and working with persons across the lifespan.

In addition, there is a pastor/nurse panel, mentoring session, service of healing, and dedication service. The program cost is $575 (includes resources, notebook and some meals for the week!) It is open to registered nurses interested in health and healing ministries. The deadline for registration for the Luther program is February 27th.

Visit cord.eu to view additional program dates, locate resources, and download the registration brochure.

For further information, please email parish-nurse@cord.edu or Jean Bokinskie, RN, PhD, PNM Director, 218-299-3825.

March 4-6, 2012

Wartburg Theological Seminary – Dubuque, IA

Join leaders in rural communities and congregations gather to gain insight and inspiration, to network and neighbor that our ministries might be strengthened and our opinions better informed.

Conference Leader:

Rev. Dr. Dwight Dubois
“Courage in the Country: Dying to Ourselves, For the Life of the World”

Plenary Speakers:
Dennis Campbell; Dr. Kris Stache

Workshop Leaders:
Dwight Dubois; Jim La Doux; Ginger Anderson-Larson; Joan Fumetti Jim Ennis

Bible Study Leader:
Dr. Craig L. Nessan

To learn more and register at wartburgseminary.edu

5:00 p.m.(Monday) – 12:00 p.m. (Wednesday)
St. Paul, MN

“Monkey Business.” That’s what Martin Luther called the rite of confirmation. And the numbers of young people that the church is losing after, and possibly through, the confirmation process, is rising annually.

Join Luther Seminary for this FirstThird Dialogue designed to both begin, as well as further, ongoing conversations about the deep and adaptive change in our churches in confirmation preparation and the rite itself.

Keynote speakers are:

• Nancy Going - Distributed Leaning, Children, Youth & Family Ministry, Luther Seminary
• Hans Wiersma - Assistant Professor of Youth & Family Ministry, Augsburg College.

This event is designed for pastors, confirmation directors and confirmation volunteers. Cost is $150 early-bird registration through Jan 31; $175 regular registration.

Learn more  and register at firstthird.org

People of faith along the Red River Valley are invited to come together for a Worship Service for the Family of God. The service will be an opportunity for persons who care about the five American Crystal Sugar plants along the Valley—farmers/growers, union workers, management, and their neighbors—to gather together simply for prayers, songs, and readings from Scripture. Two ecumenical worship services will be offered in Grand Forks, ND.

The first service will be held Sunday, December 18, at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Family Parish, 1018 18th Ave So, Grand Forks, ND (701.746.1454). Fr. Phil Ackerman, Holy Family Parish, will lead the worship service.

A second service will be held Wednesday, December 21, at 5:30 p.m. at United Lutheran Church, 324 Chestnut St, Grand Forks, ND (701-775-4279). Pastors from area Christian churches will lead the worship service. The service will be followed by a 6:30 p.m. catered dinner in the church’s Fellowship Hall, courtesy of a donor.

Red River Valley faith leaders who are planning this service and dinner believe this could be an important contribution from the faith community to help bring out the best in all members of the Crystal Sugar family as they work together toward finding a good settlement. If you are unable to attend, please remember all our friends affiliated with Crystal Sugar in your prayers.

Download bulletin insert