In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Synod Assembly Updates
MEF Celebrates 25 Years!
Season of Creation
Celebrate & Meditate: Biblical Women, Art, and Archetypes of Power!
Growing Generosity Through Legacy Planning
Workshop for Leaders Who Are Women
Recorded Worship Service for September 20
Weekly Online Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
Upcoming Ordination
Upcoming Events
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear NT-NL Leaders:
September is upon us and we look towards a fall unlike any we have previously seen. Across our territory the situation is different but we continue to see how leadership, clarity of communication, and openness to learning are critical. I have been grateful as I have observed the vast majority of our communities navigate this time wisely. We do not all agree on what is the next best step. So we must work together with our leaders, honoring each other, listening closely, to discern what is the best way for us, as the church, to witness to love of neighbor and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we look forward to fall I want to highlight some ways our staff in the synod office and at Briarwood Leadership Center are equipping and connecting with you…
- Our 2020 online Synod Assembly Sept 26th will highlight the anniversary of the ordination of pastors who are women (and a sermon from Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, Chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops) as well as our ELCA Federal Chaplaincy programs. Remember voting members MUST REGISTER BY SEPT 18th.
- There are a multitude of resources for online video creation and online bible studies and kids activities from Briarwood
- Support our NT-NL Prison Ministry through the Church of Damascus Road Golf Outing September 14th.
- The NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund Seeds that Change Online celebration and worship will be held October 17th. I will be providing a video sermon for this event using the Reformation Sunday texts.
- Our Fall Leadership Convocation (Oct 19-20 online) will focus on a critical theme of Religious Freedom in America. Register now! Open to lay and ordained.
- Resources for gathering, education, and leadership continue to grow at ntnl.org
As we find ways to come together it is also important we remember our primary purpose is to be sent out into the world. Just as the apostles were sent so we also now are being sent. Our 2020 assembly verse reminds us “The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” Psalm 126:3. This verse was chosen by our partners in Sierra Leone (ELCSL) for their 30th anniversary in 2018 and I thought it appropriate for us in 2020. Little did we know when this verse was chosen that 2020 would turn out to be the year it has been. Yet as we are challenged to lead, as we support those dealing with the outcomes of Hurricanes, Pandemic, confront realities of systemic racism and look upon a nation deeply divided, we can remember that God has and does great things for us. You, our NT-NL leaders, inspired by the Holy Spirit are doing great things in this time and I believe we, as Lutheran Christians, have an important word of Law and Gospel in this time. Reliant on God’s grace we can and will move forward #InMissionTogether.
Synod Assembly Updates
Join us Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 1-4:30pm
Each voting member must be registered by Friday, September 18. No exceptions, no late registrations, and no “walk-ins” will be allowed this year.
We will hold two orientations prior to Assembly: Tuesday, September 22, 7-8pm, and Wednesday, September 23, 11am-12n. We highly recommend every voting member attend at least one orientation to help us avoid being overwhelmed with requests the day of Assembly.
We ask that all Assembly, including technology-related, questions be routed to jason@ntnl.org. Especially starting Friday, September 18, and through Assembly on Saturday, September 26, the rest of synod staff and the Council executive team will be largely unavailable to answer questions as we plan for this new way of doing Assembly. Jason will be available to answer questions for you. We highly recommend each voting member start now on learning their device with Zoom and ask questions sooner rather than later. Please know we will do our best to support everyone, and if folks wait until the day of, we cannot guarantee their full participation (including being able to vote) in this year’s Assembly if we are inundated with requests.
Let’s have fun with this. We’re all experimenting and learning. We appreciate your grace, and we are praying for each of you.
Full details can be found here. And this page will continue to be updated throughout this month.
MEF Celebrates 25 Years!
The NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) is celebrating 25 years!
An AMAZING total of over $900,000 has been awarded.
Are you wondering if your church or ministry has been a recipient? Click here to see the history.
In celebration of its 25th Anniversary, the MEF Seeds that Change event on October 17 has become an online campaign that will conclude with a worship service of thankfulness and celebration featuring multiple churches, pastors, and members from all across our Synod.
Season of Creation
Season of Creation 2020, a series of weekly devotions for September 1 – October 4, is now available! The season, which begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, is a time to join with the global Christian community in renewing, repairing and restoring commitments to God, to one another and to all creation. For the four churches that prepared the resource — the ELCA, The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada — this is also a time for strengthening relationships with one another. Through Scripture, hymns, advocacy and action, these weekly devotions, which begin September 6, invite people to live out their vocations as stewards of creation.
Celebrate & Meditate: Biblical Women, Art, and Archetypes of Power!
Join us as we celebrate the 50-40-10 ordination anniversaries of women, women of color, and LGBTQ people in the ELCA, with these online, inspirational, educational events featuring the paintings of Biblical artist, Sara Novenson (saranovenson.com), and spiritual director and pastor, the Rev. Linda Anderson-Little (soulstorywriter.net). With Sara’s paintings of Biblical women, learn the spiritual depths behind their stories as Sara shares her Torah (Old Testament) study and spiritual experiences in the creative process. As we meditate, study, and embody one woman each week, their sacred paths will be revealed, igniting our own Source of power and wisdom to help guide ourselves and others through these challenging times. You may want to use a journal/notebook. Classes will be recorded. Please register to receive the Zoom link and the replay recordings for weeks missed. Generously provided to all lay and clergy members of our Synod through an NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund grant!
Session I: Mondays, 7 pm, August 17-September 21: Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Miriam
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvduGgrj0jE91_JDrDVjx7SsALOHLNZYn0
Session II: Saturdays, 10 am, October 10-November 14: Deborah, Hannah, Ruth, Naomi & Ruth, Esther, Judith
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEscOCorTMsG9eVX44ea4ieC54MMEUnMP_Q
Growing Generosity Through Legacy Planning
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest (LFSW) will offer “Growing in Generosity–Legacies That Last,” a webinar on legacy planning for family and ministry. The webinar will be offered at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on two Wednesdays – Sept. 9 and Sept. 23 – and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13. Please sign up for the one that works best for you using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FAnTBa1rRyaP-E6ZSGT4Cw
This webinar is open to all congregational members to learn more about the foundation’s comprehensive legacy planning services for family and ministry. The foundation is a partner ministry of the three ELCA synods in Texas and offers its services at no cost and no obligation.
A congregation member may say, “I like the idea of leaving a gift to my church when I pass away, but I’d like to know more about how to create a plan for family and ministry.” The church has a dedicated ministry for just this kind of support through LFSW. A gift planner is available in each synod that can guide you to clarify your goals and objectives in planning. Any congregation member can establish a robust personal legacy plan with the guidance of the synod gift planner. Those with existing plans should consider reviewing their plans to make sure they continue to meet their goals for family and ministry.
All members of ELCA congregations are invited to participate in these webinars. Those who may have additional questions or need assistance with registration are invited to contact our NT-NL gift planner, Morgan Schmidlin, at mschmidlin@lfsw.org or 440-785-3363.
Workshop for Leaders Who Are Women
Barbara Keller, Misconduct Prevention Consultant for the ELCA, will be conducting an online workshop for rostered leaders and SAWLs who are women in the NT-NL Synod. The workshop focuses on dealing with harassment and control issues, which women in ministry frequently experience from colleagues, congregational leaders, and members. The workshop will be on Thursday, September 17, at 1:00pm and will last about an hour. Advance registration is required: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqfuiqqTMiH9YT9xJtk0X0KXrXIkeqSlY_. If you have questions or situations that you would like to have addressed, please email Pr. Kris Totzke: kris@ntnl.org.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Each registration requires approval before this confirmation email is sent, so we appreciate your patience if this does not occur immediately.
Recorded Worship Service for September 20
Utilizing the lectionary texts for Pentecost 16 (September 20), Lutherans Restoring Creation is preparing a creation-focused worship service for congregations to download. The service will include participants from all over the country, including Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, the Rev. Barbara Rossing, the Rev. Lenny Duncan, Rebekah Bruesehoff, rostered ministers, and members of the Lutherans Restoring Creation Board of Directors. Music will be provided by Marty Haugen, the Rev. Leah Schade and Pastor John Tirro. A bulletin and a recording of the service will be available for free download on September 14. For details and to register: https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/creation-focused-worship-service-available-for-download-9-14/.
Weekly Online Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
BEING CHURCH
Wednesdays, 1PM Central
The September schedule:
September 2 – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 1: Rituals of Renewal – Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin
September 9 – What If I Said Yes? The House That Love Built – Sarah Jackson from Casa de Paz
September 16 – Growing Young – Rev. Dr. Phil Hirsch
September 23 – The Untold Story: Black Lutheran History, Part 2 – Rev. Dr. Richard N. Stewart and Rev. Dr. Lawrence J. Clark, II
September 30 – TBA
You are invited to join this weekly online gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church. Participants will hear topical presentations related to how we are called to be Church, as well as have an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation. This is where the magic happens. All of this is designed to help us process our emotions and thus create a space where we can each name our next most faithful step forward in our unique context. You are welcome to share this invitation with any other ELCA leader, rostered or lay. #ELCAChurchTogether
How have we been church, with individuals and with communities? How are we being church? How are we called to be church with all people, with creation, and in an ever-changing world?
We understand a number of folks are unable to make this day and time each week. We record the main session and the wrap-up time. We share each recording with supporting documents here by the following week: https://www.
You can find the login information and a list of upcoming topics and presenters on the home page of the ELCA Coaching website: https://www.
Upcoming Ordination
Thomas Walter Schwolert, called to serve Gloria Dei, Garland, will be ordained on September 12.
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:
- Sep. 2: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 1: Rituals of Renewal with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin, Zoom
- Sep. 3: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Sep. 9: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – What If I Said Yes? The House That Love Built with Sarah Jackson from Casa de Paz, Zoom
- Sep. 10: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Sep. 10: Interim Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Sep. 12: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2020, Course 1, Zoom
- Sep. 12: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Sep. 13: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday
- Sep. 14: The Church of the Damascus Road Golf Outing and Fundraiser, Fort Worth, TX
- Sep. 16: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Growing Young with Rev. Dr. Phil Hirsch, Zoom
- Sep. 17: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Sep. 17: Workshop for NT-NL Leaders who are Women, Zoom
- Sep. 22: Orientation for Online Synod Assembly, Zoom
- Sep. 23: Orientation for Online Synod Assembly, Zoom
- Sep. 23: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Untold Story: Black Lutheran History, Part 2 with Dr. Richard Stewart and Dr. Larry Clark, Zoom
- Sep. 24: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Sep. 25-26: Synod Council meetings with Deans, Assistant Deans, and MEF, Zoom
- Sep. 26: Online 2020 Synod Assembly, Zoom (Voting Members) and Livestream (Everyone else)
- Sep. 30: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – TBA, Zoom
- Oct. 1: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 1: Interim Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Oct. 3: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 9 (Día 1 de 5), Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events in, and important to, our Synod, you can access our Calendar of Events online.