Dear Partners in Ministry:

It is hard to believe but we are already halfway through 2021. This half-way point is a good time to stop and check in with ourselves and our communities. To reflect on our goals and hopes for the year and how we have adapted to new things we did not anticipate. And to reassess our expectations for the next six months.

One of the ways your synod staff is doing this is by engaging in intentional coaching relationships. Through a grant from the Mission Endowment Fund, coaching has been made available to our synod staff. This is just one of the ways we try to support our staff as they work to serve you and the church as a whole.

Looking ahead we have several significant events on our synod time table. Please join us at Briarwood on Saturday Sept 11th from 11am-4pm as we gather for a time of fun, food, and worship. All ages are welcome, and we will have games and activities for the kids as well as great food and worship. Our Synod Leadership Convocation will be October 18-20. This will be a hybrid event with presenters both in person and online. In so doing we will model how our congregations are going to be invited into this hybrid future we are living in now.

We also must take time to acknowledge and grieve our losses. As Bishop Mike Girlinghouse reminded us at our Assembly in April, taking time to grieve is vital and important so we can move with hope into God’s future. This week we will do so for two faithful leaders in our synod. On Friday July 2nd the community of St. John, Coryell City will gather to give thanks for the life and witness of Mrs. Sarah Gohlke. Sarah was a leader in her community, the Heart of Texas Conference, and was President of our NT-NL WELCA. On Saturday July 3rd the community of Trinity, Clifton will gather to give thanks for the faithful ministry of the Rev. Allen Johannes. Blessed be the memories of Allen and Sarah. They were examples to us all of faithfully living their baptism.

We look back and forward knowing that Christ, the Alpha and Omega, is always with us.

In Christ,

Bishop Gronberg