from Bishop Rindy
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. Continue reading…
Can you see it? It’s underneath all of the lights, the commercials, the presents…
The “stealth God” flies under the radar once more, refusing to powerfully assert Lordship, appearing once again under the form of a servant. In the midst of all that clamors for our attention, Jesus patiently and quietly comes to us in the needs of our neighbors… in our need for the Prince of Peace. Continue reading…
We are in a season when we take time to reflect on God’s goodness. There is much to trigger such awareness. As a synod, we just celebrated the ordination of our 14th seminary graduate. Should we be thankful for: The families who served as faith incubators? The congregations who nurtured the faith? The Bible camps, Lutheran colleges, and campus ministries that challenged and strengthened them for growth and service in God’s so loved world? Continue reading…
from Bishop Rindy
As a parish pastor, one is sometimes asked to be with a family when a loved one is to be disconnected from life support. If the person is a donor, the family is asked if they would be willing to honor the wishes of their loved one by donating his/her organs.
In June, Zion Lutheran Church, Oriska, experienced a church building fire from which very little was able to be saved. While they could have simply closed their church and joined other area congregations, the members felt compelled to rebuild; not for their sake, but for the sake of the Gospel and their 23 active Sunday School children.
Meanwhile, Blanchard Lutheran Church, Blanchard, lived and served as a congregation for over seventy-five years. Because of local demographics in their rural community, they decided that their mission was complete and that it was time to close.
from Bishop Rindy
Freed in Christ to Serve was the theme around which we (22 voting members from the synod and myself) gathered, worshiped, deliberated, and prayed as your voting members at Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Florida August 14-19. During the opening worship, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson asked the question, “Is this church ready to move forward in mission?” The answer he received at the closing worship on Friday was a resounding, “YES!” Continue reading…
*Updated 10/13/2011
from Bishop Rindy
My sister kept M&M‘s in her glove box as part of her winter survival gear. One day while giving our inquisitive niece a ride, our niece discovered the M&M‘s. “What are these for, Auntie?” she asked with big eyes. “They are for an emergency,” my sister replied with a smile. A few moments later, the little girl stated, “Auntie, I think I‘m having an emergency.”
This phrase is taking on a new meaning as the result of a wonderful project initiated by our sisters and brothers in the Western North Dakota Synod. My great wish is that EVERY member of our synod would have a new thought when they see M&M‘s in the CAR: Mission and Ministry in the Central African Republic. Continue reading…
from Bishop Rindy
Abundance… if there is one thing Americans are used to it is abundance. This year, it is an abundance of fresh river water and rain. The past two years we experienced some of the most abundant crops and prices Midwestern farmers have ever experienced. We are used to abundance. The funny thing about abundance is that it can be good or bad depending on how it is shared or distributed. Continue reading…
» Download: 25 + 28 + 22 = :) Sermon (download .pdf file)
A sermon by Bishop Rindy for congregational use on May 15, 2011
Based on Matthew 25:34-40 (external link)
This weekend, the congregations of our synod are gathering in Fargo for our annual assembly. As we and they gather, we do so around the theme, God’s Work. Our Hands: Meeting the Needs of a Hungry World. This theme was adopted by our synod at last year’s assembly. Much of what they will be doing revolves around our care for the hungry.
The Bible is a big book. The Word of God comes to us through these Holy Scriptures. It comes bringing laws which accuse, restrict, guide, and shape us. The law even sentences us to death. These same Scriptures also reveal the Living Word to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, who alone can raise us up to new life, where as it says in the Small Catechism, (and Romans 6) to serve him in righteousness and blessedness all of our days.
Living in North Dakota, we know about ditches. Ditches are actually good things. They help to move water. They help to point out the road. But when you are driving down the road, they are good to avoid. In times like we’ve been experiencing, ditches can even be fatal. It’s good to avoid the ditches. Continue reading…
EaND Synod Office
1703 32nd Ave S
Fargo, ND 58103
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Phone: 701-232-3381
Toll Free: 877-895-4598
Fax: 701-232-3180
We are a synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 223 congregations and a variety of ministries.
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