Hurricane Harvey Response

Dear Partners in Mission,

Hurricane Harvey has devastated communities across the Texas Coast, including areas within the territory of Southwestern Texas Synod and Gulf Coast Synod, and flooding now is extending beyond Texas into Louisiana. The flooding in the city of Houston is unprecedented and catastrophic.

I have been in communication with Bishops Tiemann and Rinehart, along with Lutheran Disaster Response (including a phone conference call this Monday morning for updates). Right now, they are asking for patience and caution. Below are some resources for assistance that you can begin to do both locally and more regionally.

Most of all, pray for the strength and patience of our first responders, civic officials, our bishops and pastors in the area, and for all affected by these storms. We will respond as invited, and we are…

In Mission Together,

Bishop Erik K.J. Gronberg, PhD

Luther Disaster Response (LDR)

We have an opportunity to accompany our neighbors during and after this disaster, in Jesus Christ’s name.

Your gifts are needed now to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Your support through Lutheran Disaster Response will bring hope and healing to those who have been or will be affected by this hurricane. Lutheran Disaster Response is already collaborating with our affiliates to initiate recovery efforts.

While the storm is not over, you can help now. Gifts designated for “Hurricane Response – United States” will be used in full until the response is complete to help disaster survivors recover and rebuild.

Stay connected to the latest events and our response to this and other disasters through our Facebook page. Join me in prayer and partnership, and use this bulletin insert in your congregation to help spread the word. You can find additional resources for worship here.

With gratitude,

The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

OneStar Foundation

Texas VOAD has received a request from Dallas for teams to staff and manage the following shelter functions in a 5,000 person shelter:

• Entertainment/Recreation Children’s Areas & Infant Care
• Laundry Service
• Spiritual CareIf your organization is able to support these functions, please let me know ASAP.

Thank you!

Damian Morales
Disaster Services Program Manager
OneStar Foundation

Office: 512.287.2026 | Mobile: 512.696.3435
damian@onestarfoundation.org

---

Tri-Synodical Theological Feedback Request

Dear Texas and Louisiana Lutheran Leaders,

As we promised in our message two weeks ago in our weekly news, here is the survey link for your feedback regarding the Tri-Synodical Theological Conference:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5B2WWJR

We truly value your input. Please take a moment and put down your honest reflections. We will share a summary of the data and responses we receive.

Thank you for your willingness to help us discern this and for your ongoing ministry.

Yours in Christ,
Michael Rinehart, Gulf Coast Synod
Ray Tiemann, Southwestern Texas Synod
Erik Gronberg, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod

---

Creativity in Mission

More details from Pr. Paul Mussachio:

Dan Lund visited on our annual Christmas in July Sunday and preached with passion and authenticity, and I simply asked the congregation to support his work since he can’t take up an offering behind bars. The congregation responded generously.

They also are supporting Mosaic’s Christmas in July drive, a big table overflowing with in-kind donations from their wish list.

The story would be that several years ago I asked the congregation for their favorite hymns and we’d sing those through the summer.  A number of people put down Christmas hymns so we dedicated a whole day to singing them.  Now, we decorate the sanctuary with paper snowflakes, light up the pulpit and lecturn with Christmas lights, and even read the Christmas story.  It’s awkward to do all that on a 105-degree day in July, but we hear the story anew because there are none of the trappings that go along with the Christmas season (busy schedules filled with parties and all the gift-buying activities).  And we celebrate the generosity of the season by sponsoring Mosaic and another mission, this year was The Church of the Damascus Road.

Money follows mission.

Featured Resources for August

A reminder that the ELCA has legal resources available on its website at http://elca.org/en/Resources/Legal. The resources include information on some of the most common legal issues faced by congregations, such as employees and volunteers, tax, misconduct, property, and financial issues. While not a substitute for legal advice, these resources can help point you in the right direction.

Save the Date

Harmony Conference

October 15-16

---

Where in the world is?

Bishop Gronberg:

• Aug. 31 – Historic African-American Congregational Caucus, Mt. Olive, Dallas

Pr. Totzke:

• Aug. 28 – First, Temple
• Aug. 31 – NT-NL Synod youth leaders lunch
• Sep. 3 – Bethany, Dallas (preaching)

Pra. Bañales:

• Aug. 29 – Meeting with Pr. Sileshi Borana, St Luke’s, Richardson
• Aug. 29 – Prison Ministry, Jacksboro, TX
• Aug. 31 – Historic African-American Congregational Caucus, Mt. Olive, Dallas