Northern Texas - Northern Louisiana Synod, ELCA

Chapel and Staff Meeting
2013-12-11 10:00 - 23:00, 2013-12-18 11:00, 2014-01-08 11:00, 2014-01-15 11:00, 2014-01-22 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)

Staff Christmas Luncheon
2013-12-11 11:30 - 13:30

PLMA Board Meeting
2013-12-12 10:00 - 12:00

Candidacy Committee
2013-12-20 - 2013-12-21

NT-NL Regional DiscipleLife Celebration
2014-01-11 10:00 - 14:00, 2014-01-25 10:00

Bishop Assistants Meeting
2014-01-14 - 2014-01-16

Mission Assembly Planning Team
2014-01-18 10:00 - 12:00

Lunberjack Weekend
2014-01-24 - 2014-01-26

Tri-Synodical Theological Conference
2014-01-27 - 2014-01-29

First Call Theological Education
2014-01-29 - 2014-01-31

Executive Committee - Mission Council
2014-01-31 16:00 - 18:00

Mission Council
2014-01-31 18:00 - 2014-02-01 14:00

Welcome to Coaching Training
2014-02-03 11:00 - 2014-02-04 18:00
What is a Coach?
A Coach is someone who comes alongside to help you discover what God wants you to do, and do it. A Coach helps you answer three basic questions:
Where am I?
Where do I believe God wants me to go?
How will I get there?
This important training is being co-sponsored by the synods in the Region IV South (including Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas). It is, however, open to anyone who is willing to become a coach and use those skills effectively in ministry. Successfully completing this two-day training leads to certification as a coach in the ELCA.
For more information and to register, please go to https://community.elca.org/Region-IV-South-Welcome-to-Coaching-Training-Feb2014

A People for God's Name: The John Tietjen Speaker Series
2014-02-22 16:00 - 18:00
Saturday, Feb. 22
Reception at 4:00 p.m.
Conversation at 5:00 p.m.
How do our varying cultures separate and bind us as Christians?
Is this a new question for the church?
Come hear the Rev. Dr. Eric Baretto discuss how race and ethnicity affects our lives as Christians and how God interacts with and through us in these differences.
Trinity Lutheran Church, as part of The John Tietjen Speaker Series, presents the Rev. Dr. Eric Baretto.
He is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He was ordained by Peachtree Baptist Church in 2006 after completing a bachelor of arts degree in religion at Oklahoma Baptist University and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned a doctoral degree in New Testament from Emory University.
A more intimate time of conversation with Metroplex Area clergy will be offered on Sunday, Feb. 23rd at 3:00 p.m.
Also, Trinity is offering this in conjunction with Brite Divinity School, and on Feb. 24th Advanced Program students at Brite will have an opportunity to meet with Dr. Baretto.
The Rev. John Tietjen Speaker Series was established upon the retirement of Pastor Tietjen from Trinity Lutheran Church. It is intended to carry on the legacy of John Tietjen and his interest in scholarship, ecumenism and Lutheran confessional teaching and preaching. Prior Tietjen Series speakers include the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber (2012) and the Rev. Clint Schnekloth (2013).

NT–NL Deans' Retreat
2014-02-24 11:00 - 2014-02-25 13:00
Join us for the 2014 Winter Deans’ Retreat!
We will discuss the future Mission Area structure and finalize details of the nominations for elections for the Assembly.

2014 Congregational Leadership Academy
2014-02-28 12:00 - 2014-03-01 12:00
This year, the Congregational Leadership Academy will be held over one weekend, with additional, follow-up Skype sessions, rather than three weekends. We hope this makes it easier for those traveling!

Gather your team (at least two lay people and the pastor or SAWL from the congregation, maximum of 6 people per team), or, if your congregation does not have a pastor or SAWL, you may register as an individual.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Howard Johnson hotel, 5108 Interstate 27, Lubbock TX 79404, under the name Jane Mar. Please call 806-741-1600 to book your reservation.

Equipping Clergy to Become Allies in the Fight Against Domestic Violence
2014-03-06 10:00 - 14:00
1 in 3 women in Dallas who do not attend church will be victims of abuse.
1 in 3 women in Dallas who do attend church will be victims of domestic violence.
Despite widespread agreement that domestic violence is a bad thing, the church rarely speaks to the issue. When clergy learn about or suspect domestic violence in their congregation, it is oftentimes difficult to know how to respond because pastors rarely learn about domestic vioelence in seminary.
The Family Place and Union Coffee are looking for clergy allies to help reduce domestic violence rates in Dallas. On March 6th, we want to offer training and resources so that you will be more confident raising awareness in your congregation and responding to the needs of both abusers and victims.
$25 registration fee includes lunch, two drinks, a USB drive full of resources for your congregation and a donation to the Family Place.

Clergy Women's Retreat
2014-03-07 16:00 - 2014-03-08 16:00
Come to Briarwood and Be Renewed
in Fellowship & Collegiality

Cost is $75 per person/double room which includes dinner, breakfast, and lunch.
Bring your art materials, your knitting, your journals & poetry, and your Bible.
Bring your favorite snack to share and your favorite beverage.
Space is limited so RSVP to Pastor Deb Loudin McCann at pastor_mccann@yahoo.com or text to 817-713-0130.

"Turning the Mirror Inward"—Institutionalized Racism: Root Causes of Racial Inequities
2014-03-15 09:00 - 13:30
Racial Equity Consultant Joyce James
This workshop, presented by 2014 Mission Assembly Keynote Speaker Joyce James, will be a unique opportunity for leaders in the church, through facilitated dialogue and reflection, to analyze the structure and relationships that exists across systems and institutions that contribute to racial inequities.
Workshop participants will:

Understand the historical context for how U.S. institutions came to be and who they have been designed to serve;
Understand why people are poor and the role of the Church and other institutions in the oppression of the same populations;
Examine the attitudes and assumptions that have shaped the response of systems and institutions placing the burden and responsibility for poor outcomes on individuals, rather than on systems.
Begin the journey toward understanding institutionalized racism as the underlying cause of all racial inequities and recognizing systems transformation as the cure.

Registration: $15 per person, includes lunch. To register, please call Bethany Lutheran Church at 214-348-9690 or email churchoffice@bethany.net.
For more information, please contact:
Pastor Cheryl Walenta Gorvie, Bethany Lutheran Church (214-348-9690)
Pastor Chuck Hubbard, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (972/442-6405)

Table Talk: Death of the Mainline—NOT!
2014-03-18 09:30 - 15:30
Is the announcement of the death of mainline churches premature?
Join Dr. Ted Campbell, Associate Professor of Church History at Perkins School of Theology, to learn why he thinks mainline churches are alive and well and what that means for your ministry.

To register, email Pastor Jane Mar at jane@ntnl.org. Cost is $12 which includes lunch.
Click here to find out more about the 2014 Table Talk series.
Livestream links:
Morning session
Afternoon session

Score One for Christ! Lutheran Men in Mission Tri-Synod Gathering
2014-03-21 12:00 - 2014-03-23 15:00
The featured speaker for the event is LMM President Rich White and Bishop Kevin Kanouse will provide the Friday evening Devotional.
Download the registration form.
Download the event agenda.
For more information, email LMMNNTNL2013@gmail.com or contact Peri Segaran at 214-287-4812.

"Little Purpose, Little Peace, Little Freedom" Retreat
2014-03-29 09:00 - 15:30
The North Central Texas Conference of NT-NL is offering a retreat entitled Little Purpose, Little Peace, Little Freedom on March 29th, 2014, from 9:00 to 3:30 at Rejoice Lutheran in Frisco.
Take a journey into spirituality and experience different paths to God. The speakers are Pastor Jane Mar from the NTNL Mission Office and Sandra Gass.
The cost is $10. Lunch is provided. Please return the registration form by March 15th. For more information, please contact Ginny Grundei at ggrundei51@gmail.com or 469-222-9359.

Growing in Faith Together: How Your Church Family Works
2014-04-04 13:00 - 2014-04-05 12:15
On Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, 2014, members of congregations throughout the region are invited to “Growing in Faith Together,” presented by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Worth.
This workshop is the first of two to offer congregation and diocesan leaders the opportunity to learn foundations of healthy, vital communities of faith and explore topics such as:

How your congregation works and how to keep it healthy
Why some working relationships in your congregation seem to be “stuck”
The emotional roots of church conflict & irresponsible behavior
Creative ways to embrace change… and grow!

The second workshop will be June 20 and 21, also at Trinity Lutheran Church; please save those dates in June.
Schedule
Friday, April 4
1-5:30pm Clergy only
5:30-9pm Clergy & laity together – dinner & presentation

Saturday, April 5
8:30am-12:15pm – Laity only
Presenters- Peter L. Steinke and Ana Hernandez
Peter Steinke is a congregational consultant working with the Alban Institute, a former Lutheran pastor, a therapist for clergy, author and educator.
Ana Hernandez, an Episcopalian, is a musician, composer, and congregational consultant.
Registration
The event cost is $25.00/person and includes dinner.
Online registration is available by clicking here; mail-in registration will be facilitated through congregations.
Registration deadline is Monday, March 31.

Understanding College Admissions & Financial Aid: A workshop for Parents
2014-04-06 14:00 - 16:00
Workshop Topics:

How to do a search for the college that is right for you
How to fill out a strong application
Understanding Financial Aid and the FAFSA
Some Do’s and Don’ts to remember

Texas Lutheran University’s Vice President of Enrollment Services, Tom Oliver, will present this free workshop. Oliver is an “insider” to the college admissions process having spent 25 years on Admissions staffs for SMU, Southwestern, TCU, and Trinity. He will be available after the workshop for individual consultation.
There is no registration fee. To sign up, contact TLU Church Relations: Becky Hruza at RHruza@TLU.edu or 830-372-8160. For more information, visit TLU’s website or download a promotional flier here.

Senior Citizens' Retreat: Sleuthing the Psalms
2014-04-08 16:00 - 2014-04-10 14:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States
What is it that has made the Psalms the most beloved hymnbook in the world?
Why has its wisdom found its way into countless everyday expressions?
This book is brimming with truths about God, about life, and about us. It is filled with comfort, honest searching, and glorious praise for our Creator God. It is the only book whose focus is to teach us how to talk to God in ways that are balanced and not centered on self. Bonhoeffer is so bold as to profess that in praying the Psalms, Christ is praying right along with us.
So join us at Briarwood for a relaxing and rejuvenating time as Carolyn Knudsen leads us in a fresh look at this always timely book. There will also be a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to participate in throughout the weekend. You won’t want to miss it!
Senior Citizens’ Retreat Brochure and Registration 2014
