In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest Holy Closure Video
NT-NL Youth Summer, 2025 Newsletter
LuMin Connect Your Graduates
May Mission Support Memo
Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
Upcoming Via de Cristo Weekend Retreats
Lutheran Men in Mission Spring Ambassador-Gram
NT-NL WELCA June Newsletter
Conclave Bible Study with Pastor Kathryn Saunders-Allen
Trinity Lutheran Children’s Center, Fort Worth is Hiring
Faith, Flower Mound is Hiring
Rejoice, Frisco is Hiring a Part-Time Administrative Assistant
Upcoming Ordinations and Installations
Upcoming Events
Prayer Requests
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Partners in Mission:
A blessed Pentecost to you all! The spirit is moving amongst us in the midst of challenge and disruption. I pray this note finds you well and preparing to once again be inspired by the telling in Acts of the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. Sending it forth throughout the world.
In our synod we are feeling the winds of the Holy Spirit as Pentecost Sunday will the the third Sunday in a row in which we will ordain a new pastor. Three pastors, raised up by the NT-NL Synod. Educated, trained, and now being sent to serve. Three pastors also raised up by the congregations they will serve.
This is a new thing the Spirit is doing amongst us. Congregations raising up leaders. Recognizing they cannot depend on other communities to send them leaders but identifying the leaders in their midst. A new things the 10 years ago we didn’t really do. But God is always about doing new things.
So this week I invite you to prayer and thanksgiving for these leaders and their congregations…
-Trenton Ormsbee-Hale (Messiah, Weatherford)
-Connie Ortega (Adviento, Arlington)
-Christine Cracchiolo (Abiding Grace, Southlake)
And as you do so look around. See the people in your midst. Wonder who, maybe you, are being called to service in the church. It may not be in your current context, the ELCA has need for pastors around the country. But it starts with the invitation, the question, to the individual.
God is moving in our midst. Disrupting our complacency and sending us forth to proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the sake of the world.
#Juntosenmision,
Bishop Gronberg
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest Holy Closure Video
The NT-NL Synod has partnered with the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest to create a video resource for congregations discerning their future. How as hope filled Joyful people we can look at the possibility of Holy Closure as a way to seed new ministry and honor the past.
NT-NL Youth Summer, 2025 Newsletter
If you have any questions about NT-NL Youth activities please reach out to Maddie Franklin or Janelle Miller.
Links to resources in the newsletter:
NT-NL Youth Leaders Monthly Lunch
3rd Tuesday Conversation
Dollar Store Children’s Sermons
St. Matthews, Fort Worth quarterly newsletter
LuMin Connect Your Graduates
Click here to learn how to connect your graduating youth with campus ministries across the country!
May Mission Support Memo
The May 2025 Mission Support Memo is all about the resiliency of a small-town ministry. Immanuel Lutheran Church, in rural, central Texas, faced a variety of challenges, a vacancy in pastoral leadership and the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Yet, they saw opportunity when they called Katie Rode under a special program that allowed her to serve part-time while attending seminary full-time. Under her leadership and the church’s open, community-focused attitude, they went from about 25 attending to over 80 active members and substantially grew their feeding ministry and water stewardship initiatives. Immanuel’s inclusive philosophy of ministry—working “with” the community, not “to” it—embodies their belief in God with us. Explore the memo to find out how you can participate in the September Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference in New Orleans and learn about the 2024 Mission Support outcomes.
Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
Registration for the Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy is now open. You are invited to join other rostered leaders, musicians, and scholars August 13-15 in Minneapolis. The first Seminar will welcome Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson (Notre Dame), Lizette Larson-Miller (University of Huron), Ed Foley (Catholic Theological Union), Audrey West (LSTC/Yale), and a host of other workshop leaders under the theme “Let it Be With Me According to Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing.”
Intended to foster conversation about the liturgical formation of pastors, deacons, and musicians in the ELCA, the Seminar will also welcome a host of musicians and ensembles, including the Minnesota Boychoir, the Summer Singers, Daniel Schwandt, Chad Fothergill, Andrew Schaeffer, and Kevin Vaughn. You can register at www.seminarliturgy.org.
Learn about upcoming Via de Cristo weekend retreats here.
The movie Conclave may be about the Catholic practice of choosing a new Pope, but the movie brings forward questions about choosing leaders and being leaders within a community of faith that can apply to all – Pope or not. You are invited to join Pastor Kathryn Saunders-Allen, Good Shepherd, Irving, over three weeks to watch this movie and discuss the ideas about church leadership that it highlights. This study will meet online, watch a portion of the movie and then engage in discussion each week. They will meet July 10th, 17th, and 24th at noon. Meetings will last about an hour and a half.
To register please email Pastor Saunders-Allen directly at pastorkathryn@gslcirving.com.
For over 60 years, Trinity Lutheran Children’s Center (TLCC) in Fort Worth, TX (www.tlcfw.org/childrens-
TLCC is currently seeking the next Director who will build on a strong foundation of church/school partnership, well-respected history, and reputation for a nurturing, collaborative community that provides exemplary care and fosters personal growth and a love of learning among the staff, children and families.
The Director is responsible for all aspects of the daily operation of the TLCC, including staff hiring, development, and management, family, church and community relations, budget development and oversight, licensing and safety standards, and other duties that may be identified on an ongoing basis.
Trinity Lutheran Children’s Center is licensed by the State of Texas Health & Human Services Commission. For more information and a full job posting, visit https://tlcfw.org/employment/ All inquiries should be sent to Pastor Kendra Mohn at mohn@tlcfw.org.
Faith, Flower Mound is Hiring
Please send resumes to Kari Voight at K.Voight@faithce.com
Rejoice, Frisco is Hiring a Part-Time Administrative Assistant
This part time position requires strong interpersonal communication skills in both spoken and written communications and a positive attitude. The ability to interact with a variety of people in a friendly and professional manner as well as a commitment to confidentiality is critical.
Upcoming Ordinations and Installations
Christine Cracchiolo will be ordained and installed on June 8th at 3pm at Abiding Grace, Southlake
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:
- June 8: Ordination and Installation of Christine Cracchiolo, Abiding Grace, Southlake
- June 14: Public Witness Team Meeting
- June 24: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
- July 12: Public Witness Team Meeting
- July 22: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.