Dec 6-8th is another busy and exciting weekend at NT-NL Synod, ELCA and Briarwood. Friday the synod candidacy committee met for interviews with candidates. Three were approved for ordination with several entranced and also endorsed (steps along the process). Then we gathered Friday evening for “evening with the bishop” time of getting to know one another and sharing in the Eucharist and Holden Evening prayer.
I was again impressed with the questions and concerns of these candidates. They grasp the macro level issues our church and society are facing and understand they are heading into a future that in which they will constantly be learning and teaching the fundamentals of the faith.
Saturday the candidates are spending the day with our NT-NL stewardship team taking part in the generosity project process. This is part of our ongoing NT-NL stewardship plan for teaching multi-generational and culturally competent stewardship. This work was featured in the Living Lutheran magazine recently.
Friday our Briarwood Leadership Center director Dr. Robert Smith and I were blessed to spend some time with Clarie Streng Broste and her spouse Dennis Broste. Dennis and Clarie have been very generous supporters of Briarwood and the leadership center over the years. It was wonderful to be able to share with them the continuing unfolding of the vision and thank them for their faithful and continued support. They were excited to hear the work being done and made a connection in that our Community Engagement Coordinator, Avery Hawley, and Clarie both have connections to Green Lake Bible Camp in SW Minnesota.
Sunday December 8th is the quarterly Briarwood Brunch. Be sure to head over if you are in the neighborhood and enjoy wonderful food prepared by our great Chef Carlos.
Lots going on in the life of our synod and its ministries. Exciting to see all the activities taking place in our congregations as we see to work #InMissionTogether and celebrate the Advent season. #NTNL #BWTX