Northern Texas - Northern Louisiana Synod, ELCA

2014 Briarwood Fall Festival
2014-11-02 14:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States
Please come join us for a fun-filled family day at Briarwood. There will be a variety of games available for children of all ages, wonderful treats, face painting, raffles, tours of the Retreat center and Mission center and Briarwood’s Annual Meeting.
There will be a delicious cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers from 4:00 p.m.– 6 p.m. and a variety of treats like cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and sodas throughout the afternoon.
The Annual Advisory Board meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m.

LCM Trivia Challenge
2014-11-09 16:00 - 20:00 | TX
For more information on Lutheran Campus Ministries’ Trivia Challenge or to register, please contact Pastor Celene Welch at pastor@lcmdenton.org or 817-269-1229.

2014 Junior High Youth Gathering
2014-11-14 19:30 - 2014-11-16 11:30 | TX
Download the 2014 LYO Junior High Registration packet here!
Early registration deadline is October 20th.

MEF Board Meeting
2014-11-15 09:30 - 14:30 | DiscipleLife Center for Mission (NT-NL Mission Area, ELCA), 1230 River Bend Dr. Ste 105, Dallas, 75247, United States
Mission Endowment Fund Board Meeting

NT–NL & Briarwood Joint Staff Retreat
2014-12-09 11:00 - 2014-12-10 15:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States

2014 Advent Retreat
2014-12-13 - 2014-12-14 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States
Briarwood’s annual advent retreat will be on December 13th-14th! Our focus will be on “Gifts.”
More information will be coming soon, but spots are already filling up, so make sure you sign up!
E-mail aaron@briarwoodretreat.org for information, and to register.

Candidacy Committee Retreat
2014-12-19 08:00 - 2014-12-20 15:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States

2015 High School Extravaganza
2015-01-16 20:00 - 2015-01-18 11:30 | TX
3RD ANNUAL NT-NL HIGH SCHOOL EXTRAVAGANZA
January 16-18, 2015
Worship
Social Outing
Service Projects
Fun & Games!
The schedule is for everyone to arrive at Calvary Lutheran Church in Fort Worth between 7:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday. The weekend will end with worship on Sunday morning. Groups will be heading out about 11:30 a.m.
Each group will be asked to bring water bottles for their kids and a couple of snacks to share with the larger group on Friday night. We will send out service project assignments with your confirmation letter so you will know if special tools or attire are needed.
The Extravaganza Hosts will provide continental breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, as well as breakfast on Sunday morning.
Housing will be in the Family Life Center at Calvary so please bring bedding and an air mattress. We have showers so bring towels and shower stuff.
If congregations would prefer to stay at a hotel there are several within a few miles and we can block rooms for you. Please let us know if you would like to stay at a hotel as soon as possible so we know how many rooms to negotiate for. Any hotel costs are in addition to the $45 registration fee and will be paid directly to the hotel.
Registration is due on December 7.
Please send a deposit of $20 per youth to hold your spot. You will notice that we have dropped the cost considerably from last year since everyone is also raising money for the National Youth Gathering and we want to make this event affordable for everyone.
Download the registration packet here.

2015 Tri-Synodical Theological Conference
2015-01-26 11:00 - 2015-01-28 12:00 | TX
The Story is our life blood, yet many have let it flat line.
Join us for theological conference this year as we get the blood pumping again!
Information:

Schedule
Location & Lodging

Speakers:

the Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet
the Rev. Dr. Phil Ruge-Jones
the Rev. Dr. Jana Childers

Registration
Interested in being a displayer? Click here!

Parish Lay Mission Academy Graduation
2015-01-31 | TX

Deans' and Assistant Deans' Meeting
2015-02-06 11:00 - 20:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States

Mission Council Meeting
2015-02-06 18:00 - 2015-02-07 14:30 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States

Briarwood Gala
2015-02-07 18:00 - 23:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States
Details coming soon.

TLU's College Bound Workshop
2015-02-15 14:00 - 16:00 | TX
Workshop Topics

How do I search for the school that is right for me?
How do I fill out a strong college application?
How does Financial Aid work and what is the FAFSA?
Can you give me some tips on the Do’s and Don’ts of this process?
Plus time for your individual questions.

Our Presenter
Tom Oliver is an “insider” to the college admissions process having spent 25 years in Admissions work for several schools: SMU, Southwestern, TCU and Trinity. He is currently Vice President for Enrollment Services at Texas Lutheran University.
His workshop is offered free of charge as a service to our partner congregations.
Registration Information
This workshop is offered by the Center for Servant Leadership at Texas Lutheran University (Pastor Stanley J. Meyer, Director of Church Relations) as a service to congregations. There is no registration fee. The workshop is open to all; walk-ins are welcome.
To guarantee a space you may sign up in advance by contacting the Center for Servant Leadership: RHruza@TLU.edu; 830.372.8160; www.TLU.edu/church
Download the 2015 College Bound event flier here

Peer Ministry Leadership Event
2015-02-20 20:00 - 2015-02-22 13:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States
Leadership training, service, and lots of fun!
Peer Ministry I, II, & III
February 20-22
8:00 p.m. Friday-1:00 p.m. Sunday
Briarwood Retreat Center
For youth in grades 9-12
Three Peer Ministry Tracks offered:
PEER MINISTRY I
You will enhance your skills of listening,
helping peers and communication. You
will discover how caring relationships are
a vital ministry.
PEER MINISTRY II
For those who have completed PM I. You
will learn more skills for sharing your
faith, addressing sensitive issues and
dealing with difficult people.
PEER MINISTRY III
For those who have completed PM I &
PMII. They will apply their skills in real world
scenarios, will help lead worship and will have
discussions on “now what?”

What will we be doing during this weekend…

Attending peer ministry sessions
Worship
Service project
Great food and fellowship

What your registration includes…

2 nights lodging (bring linens/sleeping bag)
Saturday meals (3), Sunday breakfast & lunch
Materials

Download the 2015 Peer Ministry registration brochure here.
Questions?
Call Janelle Miller at 817-726-7031 or email NTNLYouthLeaders@yahoo.com.

MEF Board Meeting
2015-02-21 09:30 - 14:30 | TX

POSTPONED: Table Talk: Reviving the Congregation
2015-02-24 09:30 - 15:30 | TX
This event has been postponed due to the weather. The event will now be held Tuesday, April 14.
See the new event page here.
How do congregations thrive and grow? How do pastors and lay leaders experience the on-going presence of the Holy Spirit in ways that renew them personally while giving them vision for the future?
With more than 40 years of ministry in a wide variety of settings, Pastor Michael Foss has come to believe that the answers to these and other related questions emerge from within the soul of leaders and create partnership opportunities. As leadership thrives, with individuals and teams, the congregation experiences energy, focus and momentum – three gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The presentations and conversations will focus on leadership, partnerships, and building a culture of energy, focus and momentum.
Reviving the Congregation: Pastoral Leadership in a Changing Context by Pr. Michael Foss is available for purchase as a paperback or ebook here.

Table Talks are open to all: pastors, church staff, and congregational members. All Table Talks are live streamed; the recordings are available on our YouTube channel, DiscipleLifeMission.
Table Talks are funded by the DiscipleLife Alive! Leadership Formation Fund.
Follow @NTNLMission and join the conversation by using hashtag #NTNLTalk!
To find out more about the 2015 Table Talk series, click here.

Peer Ministry Adult Facilitator Training
2015-03-05 09:00 - 2015-03-06 17:00 | TX
Peer Ministry is a vital ministry in congregations throughout the country and several right here in the NT-NL Mission Area!
We are bringing in a national trainer to train more adults to be facilitators. We are fortunate to be able to keep the training cost low since Tom Schwolert, a certified trainer of Peer Ministry facilitators, lives in the area!

Cost is $200 for each adult (includes the training, materials, and lunch)
$500 flat fee for churches who bring 3 or more adults

You can go to www.everydayllc.org to learn more about Peer Ministry.
Download the Peer Ministry facilitator training registration form here. Please contact NTNLYouthLeaders@yahoo.com for more information.

Lutheran Men in Mission 2015 Annual Assembly
2015-03-07 09:00 - 15:30 | TX
This is the Lutheran Men in Mission of the NT-NL Mission Area’s Annual Business Meeting. They will elect new Officers, summarize the past year’s accomplishments, and set goals for the 2015-2016 year.

Eucharist
2015-04-01 11:00 - 12:00, 2015-04-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2015-04-15 11:00 - 12:00 | TX
All are welcome to join the NT-NL and Briarwood staffs every Wednesday for Eucharist. Come worship with us in the new Anderson Chapel, under our beautiful stained glass window!

Senior Citizen's Retreat: What a Wonderful World
2015-04-07 16:00 - 2015-04-09 13:00 | Briarwood Leadership Center, 670 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX, 76226, United States
“What A Wonderful World” will be the theme for this year’s Seniors’ Retreat, happening April 7-9!
Seniors, on this retreat, you will be exploring the Wonderful world God has created, God’s promises that have been fulfilled in your lives, and the promises He has for your future!
We have our traditional Bible studies, which will be led by Bishop Kevin Kanouse, bird watching, and nature walks lined up, as well as some workshop sessions designed just for you. There will also be a surprise entertainment activity in our BRAND NEW Streng Leadership Center on Wednesday evening!
Register online at https://briarwoodretreat.campbrainregistration.com. If you have questions please contact Lauren Roller at lauren@briarwoodretreat.org or call 940-241-2099.

Deadline to submit Assembly Resolutions
2015-04-10 | TX
Friday, April 10 is the deadline to submit resolutions for the 2015 NT-NL Mission Assembly.
Submit resolutions electronically using this form.
Mission Assembly Resources

Metroplex North WELCA Retreat: Bless It or Block It!
2015-04-11 08:00 - 17:00 | TX
The women of the Metroplex North Conference invite you to their Women’s Retreat: Bless It or Block It!
Guest speaker Jill Miller will explore the idea of letting go of our own agendas to truthfully seek out God’s will and purpose for our lives. Only by seeking His guidance with hearts open to the idea that we might not get what we think we want or need can we truly walk in faith. God calls us to submit to His plan and purpose and honestly lay our lives at His feet, getting our personal wants and desires out of the way. This presentation is all about surrendering to God’s will and learning how to celebrate the “No’s” in life as well as the “Yes’s”!
Jill Miller is a singer/songwriter and speaker who went into full-time music ministry as a way to touch, encourage and inspire people on life’s journey. Through her songs and the stories behind them, she connects with her audiences in a real and honest way. Jill’s musical sound has evolved into the sophisticated crossroads between Francesca Battistelli’s gritty, velvet clad vocals and the urban pop sounds of Amy Grant. Jill fuels her sound with liberal doses of uninhibited emotions that authenticate her lyrics and captivate her audience.

Legislative Briefing
2015-04-11 10:00 - 15:00 | TX
Do you wonder if our Texas legislators are aware of the issues important to Lutherans? Would you like to help them out? Here is your opportunity learn how to have an impact on the legislative process!
Texas Impact will present a briefing event at Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington on April 11. The briefing will begin at 10:00 a.m. Cost for the event is $10. Lunch will be provided.
Since the 2015 session is underway, we will start with an update on the nature and progress of bills currently under consideration. Director Bee Moorhead and the Texas Impact staff will focus on five key areas: immigration, education, criminal justice, medical care, and water management.
Participants will learn how they can make an impact during this legislative session and what should be done to prepare for the 2017 session. It is important to be thinking about 2017 now, so we hope to see you on April 11.
Texas Impact is a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include church bodies, congregations and individuals of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. The NT-NL Mission Area has a longstanding membership in the organization. For more about Texas Impact, see the website: http://texasimpact.org
For more information, contact: Pastor Franz Schemmel at franzschemmel@gmail.com or 817-613-7906, or Pastor Chuck Hubbard at 214-395-6978.

RESCHEDULED: Table Talk: Reviving the Congregation
2015-04-14 09:30 - 15:30 | TX
How do congregations thrive and grow? How do pastors and lay leaders experience the on-going presence of the Holy Spirit in ways that renew them personally while giving them vision for the future?
With more than 40 years of ministry in a wide variety of settings, Pastor Michael Foss has come to believe that the answers to these and other related questions emerge from within the soul of leaders and create partnership opportunities. As leadership thrives, with individuals and teams, the congregation experiences energy, focus and momentum – three gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The presentations and conversations will focus on leadership, partnerships, and building a culture of energy, focus and momentum.
Reviving the Congregation: Pastoral Leadership in a Changing Context by Pr. Michael Foss is available for purchase as a paperback or ebook here.
Click here to register!
Please note: even if you had registered for the Feb. 24 event, please register (again) for the April 14 event.

Table Talks are open to all: pastors, church staff, and congregational members. All Table Talks are live streamed; the recordings are available on our YouTube channel, DiscipleLifeMission.
Table Talks are funded by the DiscipleLife Alive! Leadership Formation Fund.
Follow @NTNLMission and join the conversation by using hashtag #NTNLTalk!
To find out more about the 2015 Table Talk series, click here.

CANCELED: Tent of Nations: Daoud Nasser
2015-04-19 18:30 - 20:30 | TX
We are deeply disappointed to inform you and members of your community that we have had to make the difficult decision to shorten the Spring 2015 tour of Tent of Nations. We are always very reluctant to cancel any Tour. We know how important these moments are for strengthening your community’s understanding of the struggle, and how important the support is that Daoud receives from the people gathered at such events.
As you know, the Nassar family has been fighting in the Israeli courts since 1991 to retain their ownership of the family’s land which was originally purchased and registered in 1916. The local authorities in the Gush Etzion Settlement area, in which the Tent of Nations is located, are now requiring the land be re-registered for the fourth time, and have placed new requirements on the family to provide additional evidence in their application. The deadline for doing so is April 21st.
Continually shortened times allowed for response to these requirements are making it more difficult for Daoud to be away from the land, and the family is fearful that some kind of unforeseen action will be taken against the land, and think this is more likely if he is out of the country.
As you know, life under the occupation is not only oppressive, but unpredictable for Palestinians. The rules often change on the spur of the moment. It’s amazing how resilient the Palestinian people have been under such circumstances. We hope you will continue to lift up the Nassar family and all Palestinians in your prayer and action.
We also would an invitation to come to your community in the Fall. If there is interest in such an opportunity, let us know. Beth Moore, our Tour Director, will be contacting you in the near future about this possibility.
Again, on behalf of the Steering Committee of The Friends of Tent of Nations North America we are grateful for your willingness to host the tour, acknowledge the tremendous amount of work you have put in to making it happen, and hope that in the near future, we might be invited to join you in your work for peace with justice in Palestine/Israel.
Gratefully,
Bill Plitt, Executive Director
Friends of Tent of Nations North America

Daoud Nasser from Tent of Nations
Presented by the NT-NL Public Witness Team–Peace Not Walls
Palestinian Lutheran Daoud Nasser will share the message of Tent of Nations April 19, at 6:30 P.M., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth and April 21 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Dallas. Mr. Nasser is from Bethlehem and a member of Christmas Lutheran Church there. He is a leader in the Tent of Nations organization.
Tent of Nations seeks to prepare young people in Palestine to make positive contributions to their society through the values of understanding and peaceful coexistence. The organic farm where the education and work camps take place is under threat of confiscation by the Israeli military. It is about 33 miles southwest of Bethlehem.
In May 2014, the Israeli military bulldozed 1,500 productive fruit trees growing on the Nasser farm. Daoud Nasser will explain the challenges facing his family’s farming efforts from the military and surrounding Israeli settlements. Read more about it here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/emergentvillage/2014/11/we-refuse-to-be-enemies/
Daoud Nasser’s presentation is part of NT-NL’s participation in the ELCA strategy: Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land.
For more information, contact Ann Hafften at 817-613-7906 or Laura Hunt at 817-705-6282.

CANCELED: Tent of Nations: Daoud Nasser
2015-04-21 19:00 - 21:00 | TX
We are deeply disappointed to inform you and members of your community that we have had to make the difficult decision to shorten the Spring 2015 tour of Tent of Nations. We are always very reluctant to cancel any Tour. We know how important these moments are for strengthening your community’s understanding of the struggle, and how important the support is that Daoud receives from the people gathered at such events.
As you know, the Nassar family has been fighting in the Israeli courts since 1991 to retain their ownership of the family’s land which was originally purchased and registered in 1916. The local authorities in the Gush Etzion Settlement area, in which the Tent of Nations is located, are now requiring the land be re-registered for the fourth time, and have placed new requirements on the family to provide additional evidence in their application. The deadline for doing so is April 21st.
Continually shortened times allowed for response to these requirements are making it more difficult for Daoud to be away from the land, and the family is fearful that some kind of unforeseen action will be taken against the land, and think this is more likely if he is out of the country.
As you know, life under the occupation is not only oppressive, but unpredictable for Palestinians. The rules often change on the spur of the moment. It’s amazing how resilient the Palestinian people have been under such circumstances. We hope you will continue to lift up the Nassar family and all Palestinians in your prayer and action.
We also would an invitation to come to your community in the Fall. If there is interest in such an opportunity, let us know. Beth Moore, our Tour Director, will be contacting you in the near future about this possibility.
Again, on behalf of the Steering Committee of The Friends of Tent of Nations North America we are grateful for your willingness to host the tour, acknowledge the tremendous amount of work you have put in to making it happen, and hope that in the near future, we might be invited to join you in your work for peace with justice in Palestine/Israel.
Gratefully,
Bill Plitt, Executive Director
Friends of Tent of Nations North America

Daoud Nasser from Tent of Nations
Presented by the NT-NL Public Witness Team–Peace Not Walls
Palestinian Lutheran Daoud Nasser will share the message of Tent of Nations April 19, at 6:30 P.M., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth and April 21 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Dallas. Mr. Nasser is from Bethlehem and a member of Christmas Lutheran Church there. He is a leader in the Tent of Nations organization.
Tent of Nations seeks to prepare young people in Palestine to make positive contributions to their society through the values of understanding and peaceful coexistence. The organic farm where the education and work camps take place is under threat of confiscation by the Israeli military. It is about 33 miles southwest of Bethlehem.
In May 2014, the Israeli military bulldozed 1,500 productive fruit trees growing on the Nasser farm. Daoud Nasser will explain the challenges facing his family’s farming efforts from the military and surrounding Israeli settlements. Read more about it here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/emergentvillage/2014/11/we-refuse-to-be-enemies/
Daoud Nasser’s presentation is part of NT-NL’s participation in the ELCA strategy: Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land.
For more information, contact Terry Guy at 214-348-9690 or churchoffice@bethany.net.

Mosaic's Earth Day Open House
2015-04-22 18:00 - 19:00 | TX
Mosaic celebrates Earth Day with an open house and free paper shredding!
In honor of Earth Day and to thank you for your support, Mosaic will provide complimentary paper shredding for up to three banker-size boxes during their open house of Mosaic’s Document Destruction Center!
Appetizers and refreshments will be provided.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Lori Baum at lori.baum@mosaicinfo.org or 972-866-9989.
