In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Wartburg Land Acknowledgement Workshop
2023 Tax Preparation Resources Available
Protecting Your (Particularly Children’s) Eyes in a Solar Eclipse
Upcoming Installations
Upcoming Events
Prayer Requests
Roster Changes
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear NT-NL Leaders:
Christ is Risen!!! Christ is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!!!
I pray your observances of the Triduum and Easter Sunday have been meaningful and joyful. As we move into the 7 weeks of the Easter Festival I pray for all our leaders some rest, renewal, and I hope reinvigoration for the calling we have to move together in mission to proclaim the good news of Christ.
Our 2024 Assembly is fast approaching us. April 19-20th will be here very soon so if you haven’t yet, please register now. There will be NO onsite registration. This is a courtesy to our volunteers and staff who work very hard to ensure we have our credentials correct.
As we approach assembly I want to remind you we will be electing voting members to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly to be held in Phoenix, AZ July 28-Aug 2, 2025. We have been allocated the following voting members Rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament – Female; Rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament – Male; Lay Female (preferably 35 or younger); Lay Female (36 or older); and Lay Male (preferably 35 or younger). If you know someone who should be nominated speak with them and the vita form can be found here.
It is a tradition that our Synod Vice President is a voting member as such the Lay Male (36 or older) is filled by Don Heller. Thank you Don for your service to the synod.
At our assembly we will participate in three keynote learning times led by our speaker Dr. James Hopper. Dr. Hopper has a great deal of experience working in schools and institutions building community across the challenges of our society.
The sessions will be…
- Session “A” – From Chasms to Connections
- How Leaders Create Clarity in a Community of Calamity
- Everyone Communicates – Few Connect
- How Leaders Create Clarity in a Community of Calamity
- Session “B” – The Generations
- Together in Mission for a Multi-Generational Church
- Session “C” – The Cultures
- Together in Mission for a Multi-Cultural Church
I am excited to hear from him and hope you are as well. I look forward to seeing you soon and pray you have a blessed April!
#Juntosenmision, #TogetherinMission,
Bishop Gronberg
Wartburg Land Acknowledgement Workshop
Join Wartburg Seminary via Zoom on April 22nd to learn from Wartburg’s process, how to move toward creating and living out a land acknowledgement in your congregation. You can join via Zoom clicking here.
2023 Tax Preparation Resources Available
Two helpful tax guides are now available for church personnel. Portico provides rostered ministers and congregations participating in the ELCA benefit program with access to no-cost tax guides:
- The Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide by Richard R. Hammar gives special attention to tax-related topics most relevant to ministers.
- Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches helps congregations understand their federal tax-reporting requirements.
Both tax guides are available on myPortico and EmployerLink.
Protecting Your (Particularly Children’s) Eyes in a Solar Eclipse
Many of us are very excited about the rare opportunity to see a solar eclipse next week. Schools are preparing to help students safely see this and congregations can also. Linda Perrin, Parish Nurse at Trinity, Fort Worth, has given us the following resource for learning how best to observe God’s creation in action safely. https://texas.preventblindness.org/solar-eclipse-your-eyes
Upcoming Installations
April 7 at 2pm: Installation of Pr. Jose Rodriguez Paez, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Upcoming Events
With the ever-changing guidelines and recommendations in our world right now, as we maintain physical distance in social solidarity, please keep in mind these events may be moved online, postponed, or cancelled:
- Apr 4: Transitional Pastors Meeting, Zoom
- Apr 13: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2024, Course 2, Zoom
- Apr 13: Public Witness Team Meeting, Zoom
- Apr 16: Synod Assembly Registration Closes
- Apr 19-20: Synod Assembly, Santa Maria, Irving
- Apr 23: First Call Pastors Check-In Call, Zoom
- May 2: Transitional Pastors Meeting, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.