from Bishop Bill Rindy
I don’t usually watch C-Span but the Monday following our synod assembly I heard a Senate committee having the same debate our assembly had the previous day: whether our country should allow the immigration of gay/lesbian partners of U.S. citizens from outside of the U.S. The assembly had a culturally relevant discussion. Although declining to speak corporately, people on both sides of the issues were encouraging their brothers and sisters in Christ to exercise their constitutional rights and responsibilities in a Christ-like manner. Thank you to the people of the Eastern North Dakota Synod for electing faithful voting members to do the work of our assembly. Continue reading…
A sermon from Pr. Bill Rindy, Bishop, EaND Synod, ELCA for use in congregations on Sunday, April 21, 2013 based upon Psalm 23.
Download: The Good Shepherd: Synod Assembly Sermon 2013
Whenever Christianity is portrayed in television or the movies, you can almost count on hearing either “Amazing Grace,” the Lord’s Prayer, or the beginning of the 23rd Psalm. That’s ok because even the world can recognize a word which brings hope. Lord knows the world needs more hope!
The beloved verses of the 23rd Psalm … penned by David, a good shepherd, … under the influence of the Holy Spirit, provide some of the most hope-filled words God could have ever given to us. Continue reading…
151 people completed the Mayo Clinic Health Assessment, which resulted in 81.6% of those eligible, resulting in over $29,000 in savings for the congregations of the EaND Synod!!! (Only three synods had a higher completion percentage, not that I’m at all competitive :) )
See the results
Seriously, thank you for your good stewardship of your life, your finances, and for helping out your congregations. Continue reading…
A Sermon for Lay Proclaimers from Bishop Bill Rindy
Synod Assembly Sunday, April 22, 2012
Suggested Hymn of the Day: “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-3 NRSV)
Do you remember being young? (Some of you still are.) Do you remember wanting to be “big?” …wanting to be old enough to go to school? Or were you one of those who couldn?t wait to be 18? To be 21? Or to be 25, so your car insurance would finally be cheap? Continue reading…
from Bishop Rindy
Mardi Gras… Carnival… Shrove “Fat” Tuesday… all come so easily. They appeal to our base nature, self-indulgence, no-holds-barred, ego feeding. Wild. Unrestrained. Partying. People seeking to fill our emptiness appear on our TV screens as networks report this “news.” Gordon Gekko, the infamous Wall Street film character, summed up this mentality which comes so easily – “greed is good.” This is not news, novel or new. It comes as easily to our human nature as falling off a wagon. Continue reading…
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…
A Word from Bishop Rindy
Gratitude
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…
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