Coming to a Church near You

The ELCA Churchwide assembly has approved a new worship resource called Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The WND synod’s Congregational Life Team has formed a task force to offer four training workshops for the congregations in the synod in late October through mid November. Members of the task force are: Kris Brugamyer, Dickinson, Kari Files, Minot, Craig Schweitzer, Bismarck, Pastor Barb Haugerud, Maxbass and Pastor Norm Paskowsky, Carpio.

Anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of what Lutheran worship is all about is invited to attend! This includes: pastors, organists, choir directors, musicians, and YOU!

The workshops will be Saturday, October 28 at Good Shepherd, Williston, Saturday, November 4 at St John, Dickinson, Saturday,November 18 at Good Shepherd, Bismarck, and Sunday,November 19 at Bethany, Minot.Cost is $20.00 per person and includes a meal, coffee breaks, and an Evangelical Lut heran Worship resource book

Evangelical Lutheran Worship is the outcome of a five-year process in which the whole church was invited to discuss, explore, review and engage with new worship materials.  This new resource brings to the church a sense of breadth and depth of the Lutheran church today.  From traditional to gospel, from contemporary to Latino, from chant to praise song, Evangelical Lutheran Worship will help us all explore and celebrate the riches of God’s church.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship is grounded in our rich heritage as Lutheran Christians. Much of its content we already know and cherish, coming directly from current worship books. It contains over 200 new hymns and worship songs (not in LBW or WOV), services enlivened with a balance of new and traditional words, and expanded prayer resources. It includes nearly 700 hymns and songs – over 100 more than LBW.  Imput from churches across the country guided the hymns selection, resulting in a rich and useful collection of music.  Every congregation will find new gifts to nourish and renew their worship.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship is not the end but the beginning of a new generation of worship. A sampler of the new resource was in the packets at synod assembly. This is just a glimpse inside a volume that will be engaging, easy to use, and most importantly, enriching for believers. Each congregation received an “ELW” preview kit in March 2006 and each congregation and each rostered pastor will receive an “ELW Introduction Kit” in early October 2006..

For ELW registration information on the “ELW” workshops, click on ELW registration.

For more information on the workshops, contact Jan Zook at 701-377-3600 or email at: wndsynod@nccray.com. For more information on Evangelical Lutheran Worship, visit www.renewingworship.com.