Two regional Lutheran bishops will attend the ecumenical worship service at 5:30 p.m. today in United Lutheran Church downtown Grand Forks open to "persons who care about the five American Crystal Sugar plants along the (Red River) Valley - farmers/growers, union workers, management and their neighbors - to gather together simply for prayers, songs and readings from scripture," according to organizers.
Bishop Bill Rindy of the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and his across-the-Red-River counterpart, Bishop Larry Wohlrabe of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod, will be part of the service, said the Rev. Peter Coen-Tuff of United.
The service will be followed by a catered dinner in United's fellowship hall, a gift from a donor. The church is at 324 Chestnut St. downtown.
It follows a similar service in Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks Sunday which was attended by union workers as well as Crystal growers and officials.
According to a news release on the Eastern North Dakota Synod's website, "Red Red River Valley faith leaders who are planning this service and dinner believe this could be an important contribution from the faith community to help bring out the best in all members of the Crystal Sugar family as they work together toward finding a good settlement. If you are unable to attend, please remember all our friends affiliated with Crystal Sugar in your prayers."
