Message from Bishop Gronberg

Dear NT-NL Leaders:

Summer is here! And with it a different style of programming and opportunities. I pray this summer you will both take time for fun and rest but also look forward to the coming year. Particularly those involved in youth and young adult ministry we need to be planning for ELCA Gathering 2024. In coming weeks we will be making some announcements about ways that we will be supporting your congregations in getting youth and young adults to this great event. First off we will again have a Bishop’s group for those with 3 or less youth and no adult sponsor. We also will be providing financial support for the gathering and transportation thanks to our Briarwood Legacy Endowment. And also, below my article see an opportunity for those who may want to work or volunteer at the gathering.

Registration opens Sept 15, 2023. So you need to be making plans now and I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans. If you have questions please contact Janelle Miller at janellemiller@yahoo.com. You can also hear from Janelle and some of our youth at our assembly on YouTube.

Bishop Gronberg

We are extending our application deadline for this to June 9^th!

Introducing LuMin’s Name Gathering Summer Intern

The NT-NL synod would like to introduce you to this summer’s “Name Gathering” seminary intern, Katie Linthicum!

Katie will be contacting you this summer to encourage and assist you in submitting the names of your congregation’s college-bound graduating high school seniors through the LuMin-Network’s secure online student referral form.

Katie just finished up her third year of MDiv. studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Katie and her fiancé, Eric – who is also a seminarian – will soon be moving to Boston, Mass., to complete their Pastoral Internships.

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Katie completed her undergraduate studies in Social Work and Religion at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa in 2019. She is passionate about campus ministry and cites her involvement in Wartburg Spiritual Life and Campus Ministry (SLCM) as what led her to discover her call and consider pastoral ministry.

Katie is hopeful that by spending this summer helping to connect incoming college students to campus ministries, she will not only build upon her own administrative skills, but also help students to find communities that nurture them the way that Wartburg SLCM nurtured her.

Recordings from Synod Assembly

Bishop’s Report:

Worship:

Youth & Young Adults Report:

Keynote Sessions with Deacon Jessica and Rev. Joe Liles

First Session:

Second Session:

Third Session:

Tithe.ly is offering this service for free and it only takes 5 minutes.

Updates from Laura Slezak

Laura Slezak is the current ELCA missionary to Japan, in partnership with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church. Here is her update from May.

Courageous Leadership Series

Dear Faith Leaders,

We are inviting you to bring a spirit of curiosity to these gatherings and to all aspects your life. What are you noticing? Where is Spirit moving? How might you be a part?

ELCA Coaching is experimenting and learning as we continue with our theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. Join us WEEKLY on Wednesdays at 1pm Central. There will be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.

For June 2023:
Week One (Jun. 7) – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic)
Week Two (Jun. 14) – Tammy Devine & Dwight DuBois – Life of Faith
Week Three (Jun. 21) – Presenter(s) and Topic TBA
Week Four (Jun. 28) – Presenter(s) and Topic TBA

The login information can be found on the ELCA Coaching website: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events/courageous-leadership
Recordings from prior gatherings can be found here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media/series/courageous-leadership