The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



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Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• "Proclaim the Good News" Preaching Workshop
• NDEF Grant Spring Deadline
• Province VI Synod Gathering - Save the Date

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!

Email Scams

Please note that email scams are common and could appear to come from anyone, but in fact aren't legitimate. Please note the email addresses that such scams are coming from, mark them as spam/junk and/or delete.

There have been several recent attempts to impersonate Bishop Brian by hackers. These attempts most often ask the recipient to do, or purchase, something for Bp. Brian. Please ignore and delete such emails and know that he would never communicate in that way.

All legitimate emails from the diocese will come from:

• Bishop Brian - bishopthom@ndepiscopal.org.
• Steve Godfrey - sgodfrey@ndepiscopal.org
• Kim Fox - therevkimfox@gmail.com
• Jess Krzewina - office@ndepiscopal.org
• Finance Office - finance@ndepiscopal.org

Toward GC81

Registration is now open for General Convention visitors!

Online registration is open for visitors to the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church, scheduled for June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. An onsite registration area will also open June 21.

The Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota

School for Ministry

Announces

“Proclaim the Good News”

A workshop for all who may be called to preach.

with

The Very Rev. Mark Strobel

Dean of Gethsemane Cathedral, Fargo

Saturday, April 13, 2024

10:00am – 3:00pm

Grace Church, Jamestown

The School for Ministry is shifting its focus to providing training for local ministry. This workshop is for lay people and deacons who are preaching or considering a call as preachers in their community.

Dean Strobel has written about preaching and for preachers for the past 25 years.

There is no charge for this workshop.

To register send an email to

Jess at the Diocesan office

or to Steve Godfrey

Please let them know if you have any food restrictions

Vital Church:

Community & Welcome

Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024,10am - 4pm

Trinity Lutheran, Jamestown & on ZOOM

Registration Deadline: April 26

Event Hosted by: The Eastern North Dakota Synod (Lutheran)

"All are Welcome!" is our bold proclamation and invitation, but are there ways to more fully embody this welcome for the sake of community and belonging? How might we increase who is able to experience our invitation? Together we will explore how we might create more accessible and community-centered spaces and gatherings. Individual registrations are welcomed, though attending as a congregation team will create more opportunities for wondering in community!

NDEF Grants

The North Dakota Episcopal Foundation Spring Grant Cycle is now open to receive new grant applications. 

Grants may be provided for projects including but not exclusive to, evangelism, theological education, youth, campus ministry, and mission outside the Diocese. 

Grant Deadline is April 8, 2024.  Completed grant applications with church vestry approval can be mailed to: John Baird.

For more information go to: https://www.ndepiscopal.org/ndef/ where you will find the guidelines and application form.

Episcopal Service Corps

seeks applicants for

2024-25 service year

The Episcopal Service Corps invites young leaders ages 21 to 32 interested in a transformative outreach and discernment experience to apply online for the 2024-25 program year through the end of May.

Good Friday Offering:

Special Online Concert to

Support Middle East Ministries

As The Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Offering prepares to mark 102 years, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites the whole church to an afternoon of sacred music and collective giving to support siblings in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

Recorded at Christ and St. Luke’s Church, Norfolk, in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, the concert will air online at 3 p.m. ET March 29 on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page and website. Viewers will have the opportunity to make donations during the event to go toward the offering, also frequently gathered by churches during Good Friday services.

Clergy Cohorts for Money and Meaning forming Now! Register today.

If you have ever struggled to write a stewardship letter because you worry that you are being too pushy…

If you have felt alone in shaping your theology of money and articulating it publicly…

If you have avoided sharing your stories of giving because you are terrified to speak about money from the pulpit…

If you have been emotionally bullied by members who threaten to cut their pledge…

If you are avoiding financial conversations with your partner because you are ashamed of your salary…

If you nurse resentment because the vestry budget process was so fraught…

This just might be the thing for you.

You are invited to join a small pilot group of clergy leaders in two conversations that will offer space to destigmatize money-related struggles while creating supportive connection with others. Join in shared explorations that develop trust and solidarity, help to manage personal money anxiety, and free your heart and mind to lead stewardship efforts with a confidence that will inspire generosity. The idea for the conversations came from TENS board members who have experienced the power of sharing fears, frustrations, and stories with one another, which freed us to better understand how money fuels mission. 

Groups will be arranged intentionally to enable trust among colleague participants, and two sessions are planned for each group. Each session will be 90 minutes in length and occur on one of the following dates as determined by facilitators.

Session 1- April 9, 10 or 11

Session 2- May 7, 8, or 9

Facilitators include two clergy on the Board of TENS, and 4-6 participants. First come, first served! Find your session and sign up today!

Soul Shop 2024: Suicide Prevention

The North Dakota Board for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is proud to announce the upcoming Soul Shop: Ministering to Faith Communities Affected by Suicide, which will take place in two locations in North Dakota. Soul Shop Bismarck will take place on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the Ramada and on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Courtyard by Marriott of Fargo/Moorhead. Each eight-hour workshop will start at 8:30 am and will go on until 4:30 pm. 

The Soul Shop™ Movement has emerged to address the pressing need for individuals in deep emotional distress to find understanding, recognition, and support within their faith communities. This initiative provides comprehensive training and guidance to faith community leaders.

Suicide touches the lives of individuals in various ways—through the loss of a loved one, personal experiences with suicidal thoughts, or concerns for others who are going through challenging times. In most congregations, half of the members are directly affected by the reality of suicide. Some congregations even face the tragic loss of members due to suicide, leading to a 100% impact rate. Our mission is to empower congregations and organizations to effectively respond to the challenges of suicidal desperation and foster soul-safe communities.

Soul Shop is designed for a wide range of individuals, including pastors, priests, youth directors, educators, counselors, therapists, faith community nurses, and any ministry leader. It is important to note that Soul Shop is not exclusive to clergy; it is open to anyone who feels a calling to address suicidal desperation.

Leading this workshop will be Michelle Snyder, Soul Shop Director. Michelle brings a unique combination of expertise, holding a master’s in social work and being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, as well as a master’s in divinity with a theological background.

Please register afsp.org/SoulShopBisMan or afsp.org/SoulShopFM 

Please reach out to Barb Hanson with any questions.

Apply now for Episcopal Church 2024-2025

educational scholarships 



Applications are being accepted for a wide variety of educational scholarships from The Episcopal Church for the 2024-2025 academic year. The deadline to apply online is April 15. All applicants must be Episcopalian.