Dear Partners in Mission,

For the second time in just over a month I wish you Happy New Year! At the end of November we celebrated the Church’s new year with Advent 1 and now we celebrate the calendar new year and begin to learn to end our dates with 2022. New years are a time to reflect and also to look forward. As I reflect on the last year the realities of all the challenges we have and continue to face communally are real. So also are the amazing moments of God’s grace and abundance. Of deep faith and generosity as communities look towards their futures with boldness and hope.

This boldness and hope come in many different ways across our territory and over 100 worshipping communities. For some it is beginning a long needed building renovation and improvement. For others it is finally deciding to end Word and Sacrament ministry in one place and join together with another NT-NL congregation to enable ministry to be sustained. We have new ministries being started, and we will give thanks this weekend for the first graduates of the Secondary School of Latinx Theological Education (SSTE).

As we begin this year together. A year when we pray fervently we will be able to be in person for our assembly April 29-30th. (note location change to King of Glory, Dallas). A year when we will be challenged by our ever changing culture and world. Yet sustained by the never changing love of God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Happy New Year, I look forward to continuing our work in 2022 #InMissionTogether.

Bishop Gronberg