The article at the bottom of this page was published in the North Dakota Monitor and was shared by Rev. Marty Toepke-Floyd, who serves First United Methodist Church in Jamestown, N.D., and was one of our Dakotas UMC pastors who attended the event. Find the original article here. 

Bismarck area UMC pastors (photos from Marty Toepke-Floyd)

In reflecting on the event, Pastor Marty shared, "For me, it was the most inspirational and touching times of Lent this year.  Gathering with colleagues and clergy from other churches, surrounded by dozens of lay people singing, we were indeed 'Marching in the Light of God!'"

Pastor Cory Thrall. lead pastor of Legacy UMC in Bismarck, N.D., echoed the sense of a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit amidst the gathered Body of Christ. "It was an amazing experience.  I was moved by the number of people who showed up to lift up our shared vision of loving all people by welcoming immigrants and refugees.  Worshipping God together on the Capitol Lawn was a mighty movement of the Spirit."

Pastor Lou Whitmer, associate pastor of McCabe UMC in Bismarck, had the opportunity to help lead the Intercessory Prayer during the service at the Capitol. "For me, it was energizing and hopeful to experience people from around the area all holding up the same values of what it means to be a Jesus follower," shared Pastor Lou.

Pastor Rita Ennen traveled from Dickinson, where she serves as pastor of the Dickinson United Methodist Church. "Marching, singing, and worshipping together on Palm Sunday felt like a tangible tie to generations of Jesus followers through the centuries," shared Pastor Rita. "God continues to call people into actions of acceptance of and provision for all who are suffering and in need.  It was encouraging to stand with others answering the call together."

Rev. Lou Whitmer leading worship at the capital.

On May 2nd, there will be a follow-up event at McCabe UMC, where community organizations will have displays and information on ways to serve and extend these values into the community. 

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(From the North Dakota Monitor) :

North Dakota’s immigrants need community members to stand behind them, a Bismarck nonprofit leader said Sunday afternoon.

“We do not have to agree on everything to agree on this: human dignity is not optional,” said Jasmine Tosseth-Smith, executive director of Bismarck Global Neighbors, an organization that helps immigrant families resettle.

Her comments, delivered from the steps of the state Capitol, came as part of a religious demonstration held partly in response to the immigration policies of President Donald Trump’s administration.

The core message of the event, called the Palm Sunday Path, was “caring for the sick, feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger,” a reference to a Bible verse. It was one of many similar demonstrations held on Sunday in cities around the country.

An estimated more than 400 people attended Bismarck’s Palm Sunday Path, volunteers said. Attendees walked from Trinity Lutheran Church to the Capitol, where a short service took place. During the event, worship leaders sang songs, read Bible passages, and delivered sermons.

In an interview, Tosseth-Smith said the federal government’s immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis has caused the immigrants she works with to be terrified. Even though immigration agents’ presence in Minnesota has tapered somewhat, many still don’t feel safe, she said. About 25 of the families Bismarck Global Neighbors supports are still afraid to go out in public because they’re worried about encountering immigration agents, according to Tosseth-Smith. 

She said she wants North Dakotans to understand the common values they share with immigrants. Many families have sacrificed everything to come to the United States in pursuit of a better life, she said.

Pastors Marty Toepke-Floyd and Rita Ennen

Immigrants are part of North Dakota’s fabric, said Tosseth-Smith, who came to the U.S. from Zimbabwe.

“Today, we’re still shaped by newcomers,” she said. 

Rev. John Muhorana, a Congolese immigrant and pastor at a Bismarck church that serves African immigrants, was one of several church leaders in attendance. 

Muhorana’s congregation has also been deeply shaken by the operation in Minneapolis, he told the North Dakota Monitor previously. 

He said he was touched to see the number of people who participated in Sunday’s demonstration.

“This is a very big revival,” Muhorana said.