In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Loss of The Rev. Dave Anfenson, Chaplain at Lutheran Sunset Ministries
Lunch with Guest Lecturer Rev. Khader El-Yateem
The 12th Annual Herbener Lecture: Who is My Neighbor?
Cost of Poverty Experience
Mission Endowment Fund Grant Application Window Now Open
NT-NL Synod Gift Planner Concluding Service
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest is Hiring
Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-gram
Portico “Ready for Annual Enrollment?”
Upcoming Events
Prayer Requests
Message from Bishop Gronberg
NT-NL Leaders:
We have now entered the last quarter of 2024. What a year this has been thus far. New ministries have been blessed. We had a great time in New Orleans at the ELCA gathering. We have said goodbye to Pastor Kris Totzke and welcomed Pastor Kelsey Fitting-Snyder on our synod staff. Your synod council has met and we had a powerful assembly at Santa Maria in Irving. Through it all you and your communities have been faithful in your support of our mission together.
As we begin October I am very aware that in our context anxiety is high. As we get ever closer to our local, state, and national elections it will frankly get even higher. And in the midst of this anxiety the 8th commandment and the truth are often ignored in the grasping for power.
At our Conference of Bishop’s meeting this past week (Sept 24-28) we agreed to sign on to an encouragement to all of us to speak the truth. To refuse to normalize lies, deceit, and hate speech. To check our facts and most of all to remember that as followers of Jesus Christ, we know that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. In so doing we have freedom to seek to understand our neighbors, to listen and learn, and live into being followers of the our Lord who was crucified by empire but by God’s power was raised to life and sends us forth. The servant leader who calls us to lives of discipleship.
In this month I encourage you as leaders in NT-NL to be people of the truth. To rest in the promise of your baptism and know that in Christ your future is secured. And having that security we seek the welfare of our neighbor and resist those ideologies that would claim any worldly leader can provide that promise for us. To know that we are sent into this broken world to bring peace and we do so #Juntosenmision #Togetherinmission
Bishop Gronberg
Loss of The Rev. Dave Anfenson, Chaplain at Lutheran Sunset Ministries
The Rev. Dave Anfenson, chaplain at Lutheran Sunset Ministries, died on Friday. Dave was not rostered in the NT-NL Synod. He was a Baptist pastor who served our Lutheran ministry in Clifton with distinction. We are grateful for his service and mourn his death with his many family and friends. Particularly our leaders in the Heart of Texas Conference and LSM CEO Rodney Rueter. Below is the statement from Lutheran Sunset Ministries…
Announcing the loss of a cherished employee
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our colleague and friend, Dave Anfenson, affectionately known as Chaplain Dave, who passed away on Friday.
We are devastated by this sudden and unexpected loss of such a wonderful friend and team member of 8 years who has been such an integral part of the care we provide here at LSM.
We’ll be sharing more information, like ways to help the family, in the coming days.
Residents will be informed by the director of their programs this afternoon.
As we and our residents process this tragic loss, grief counselors will be available at Sunset on Monday. Please let us know if you want to talk to someone or need any additional support.
We hope we can rely on one another during this difficult time.
Please keep Dave’s family, including his wife Chelsea and their three daughters, in your prayers.
– Rodney
Lunch with Guest Lecturer Rev. Khader El-Yateem
Join Bishop Gronberg for lunch with guest lecturer Rev. Khader El-Yateem ahead of his lecture on October 10th.
Lunch will be served at 11:30am on October 10th at King of Glory, Dallas (6411 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Dallas, TX 75240).
RSVP for this opportunity here. RSVPs due by October 4th.
The 12th Annual Herbener Lecture: Who is My Neighbor?
Join The Luther Center of North Texas for an enlightening event at King of Glory, Dallas on October 10th at 7pm. The question of Who is my Neighbor is very challenging in the context of the Israeli war on Gaza. It challenges the core of our theological understanding of this biblical story and the essence of our faith. How can I love my neighbor when my neighbor is my enemy? How do we move from political polarization to be the peacemakers?
Rev. El-Yateem’s is a Palestinian-American Lutheran Pastor born in Bethlehem and Executive Director for Service and Justice at the ELCA. His presentation will challenge our understanding of our discipleship in the context of war, migration, and displacement as we respond to our neighbor’s needs. It is a call to live as liberated people of faith to serve our neighbor freely.
For more information or to register click here.
Cost of Poverty Experience
The Cost of Poverty Experience is a 2.5 hour simulation that explores the lived experience of poverty firsthand through the eyes of real families. The experiential nature of this training helps organizations and communities more deeply understand the human and systemic impacts of poverty.
This event is offered by NT-NL Public Witness in collaboration with Unite DFW. It is open to anyone who would like to participate free of charge.
If you’d like to, a tax-deductible, donation of $30 will cover the cost of one person’s participation. Additional donations will be used to cover the cost for other participants, as well as additional Public Witness activities.
If you would like to volunteer or you have questions please reach out to Todd Porter, publicwitnessntnl@gmail.com
Register as a participant or a facilitator here
Mission Endowment Fund Grant Application Window Now Open
The Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) is pleased to announce the opening of its annual grant application window on October 1, 2024. This opportunity provides funding for congregations engaged in innovative projects that align with the mission and vision of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana (NT-NL) Synod.
The Mission Endowment Fund exists to support initiatives that promote outreach, growth, and sustainable change in local communities and beyond. Grants are awarded to programs that foster spiritual growth, social justice, leadership development, and creative ministry models that reflect the mission of the NT-NL Synod.
Who Can Apply:
Applications are open to all congregations within the NT-NL Synod who are seeking financial support for mission-driven projects that address urgent needs, create lasting impacts, and engage the community in meaningful ways.
How to Apply:
The application form and detailed guidelines are available at NTNL.org/ministries/MEF. Applicants are encouraged to review the criteria and requirements carefully before submitting their proposals. The submission deadline is October 31, 2024.
Key Focus Areas for Funding Include:
- Community outreach programs
- Leadership and ministry development
- Educational projects
- Youth and family ministry
Questions?
The Mission Endowment Fund team is available to assist with any questions or clarifications. Interested applicants can reach out to mef@ntnl.org for further information and support during the application process.
Don’t miss this opportunity to make a significant impact in your community through the Mission Endowment Fund!
NTNL Synod Gift Planner Concluding Service
Morgan Schmidlin, gift planner for the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod with Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, concluded her service as a gift planner effective Sept. 30.
Schmidlin, a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Flower Mound, joined the foundation staff in 2020. During her tenure, she has enjoyed productive relationships with congregations and their members that have led to furthering ministry capacity and sustainability in the synod.
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest is Hiring
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest has a full-time position opening for a gift planner for the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod. The gift planner will be responsible for cultivating legacy gifts and presenting opportunities for long-term ministry investments in the LFSW Multi Asset Fund and ELCA Ministry Growth Fund.
The gift planner will report to Deacon John Dellis, director of legacy planning, and will be expected to reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. For more information contact Deacon Dellis at (830) 305-2758 or jdellis@lfsw.org.
Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-gram
Find updates about Lutheran Men in Mission and upcoming events here.
Portico “Ready for Annual Enrollment?”
Watch for an email from Portico when your Annual Enrollment window is open. This is your opportunity to make decisions about health coverage, pre-tax and Roth retirement contributions, vision care services, supplemental life insurance, beneficiaries, and more. Questions about coverage or have a change of call pending? The Portico Customer Care Center, 800.352.2876, is always here to help.
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:
- October 5: Seeds That Change Banquet, Advent, Arlington
- October 10: 12th Annual Herbener Lecture “Who is My Neighbor”, King of Glory, Dallas
- October 12: Cost of Poverty Experience, Calvary, Richland Hills
- October 12: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Zoom
- October 11-12: WELCA Women’s Retreat, King of Glory, Dallas
- October 22: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.