2016 Prayer Partners
The 2016 NT-NL Prayer Partners can be found at ntnl.org/2016PrayerPartners, or you can download the PDF here (as of 01/18/16).
Honor Bishop Kevin and Billye Jean Kanouse
There are a few ways to honor their ministries:
Mosaic Endowment Fund (Be sure to fill out the Tribute Information section)
*Monies received so far total over $56,000 (as of April 2016)
NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund (Notate on your check “Kanouse Tribute”)
ELCA Fund for Leaders (Select the Designation “N. Texas – N. Louisiana Synod Fund for Leaders”)
Opportunities for Young Adults
LEVN, the Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network, is looking for young adults (age 21-30) with Bachelors degrees for an 11-month program of non-profit volunteer work and learning about social justice. From the end of August 2016 to the end of July 2017, their corps members will be provided housing, utilities, health insurance, transportation, spiritual direction, and a $400/month food stipend. They also offer a $1000 re-entry grant at the end of the program for moving expenses.
The placement sites for the upcoming program year include faith-based non-profits, secular non-profits, congregations, the Sierra Pacific Synod office, and their campus ministry at UC Davis. They meet each week for worship, dinner, and discussion. The corps members live in intentional community in a 4-bedroom apartment in Davis, CA.
They are an ecumenical program in the Episcopal Service Corps network. Applicants need not be either Lutheran or Episcopal to apply — interest in Christian spirituality is the only expectation. Visit levn.org or contact Program Director Casey Kloehn at 530-756- 1550 or programs@thebelfry.org for more information.
(ELCA Youth Gathering: June 27-July 1, 2018)
The ELCA Youth Gathering is primarily planned and led by amazing volunteers who serve on 15 planning teams. The Gathering is now accepting applications from individuals who would like to participate in the planning. Applications will be accepted until July 1, 2016. Encourage members to apply today. Questions about the application process can be sent to gathering@elca.org.
Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.
An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, an ELCA gathering of youth with disabilities.
Opportunities for Churches
Congregation Observers at the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Take advantage of the opportunity for one member of your congregation to attend the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly as a congregation observer. Click here to read the notice received from the ELCA. Registration required by May 31. (Registration officially closes on Jul. 8.)
(Register by Jun. 15 to save $45 per person. Registration closes Jul. 17.)
The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is an opportunity to rejoice in the life-giving, liberating power of the gospel. As part of the observance, we invite you to attend the ELCA Grace Gathering (Aug. 10-13), in partnership with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly (Aug. 8-13).
Conversations on Creation
The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public ministry/advocacy.
The Lutherans Restoring Creation team invite you to a series of web meetings to talk about creation. Planned as regular monthly meetings, usually held the last Sunday of each month, conversations will be on topics both environmental and theological. Recent meetings were on the State of the Land (Feb. 28), the State of the Plants (Mar. 13), and the State of the Animals (Apr. 24). Upcoming meeting:
- May 29, 6:00 pm – Colby May – Energy Conservation
Please contact Lisa Brenskelle if you would like an invitation.
Host a Book Fair and give families a way to bring faith into everyday life this summer — with a special savings just for them.
The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ is preparing a comprehensive study for use in congregations and across the church. The task force invites individuals, adult forums, and other study groups to join a churchwide conversation about issues related to women and justice in church and society and then to share responses.
Each session in the study will include scripture reflection, activities, discussion points, devotions, and additional resources. The study will be available in early July, both in print and for download. All participant responses will be reviewed by the task force as it works toward bringing out a first draft of a social statement in late 2017. Study response forms will be available in the printed version and online.
The response period runs through August 2017.
(In response to churchwide assembly action, the task force is charged with leading our church in the development of a social statement on women and justice in church and society. Since 2012 the task force has held over 100 Listening Events and heard presentations from nearly two dozen specialists to help it understand the issues.)
Administration Matters
Church property is often underutilized and can be a valuable community resource. The ELCA has resources to help answer your questions about opening your space to community groups and organizations, whether on a one-time basis or for regular use. > More.
Do you receive this important quarterly newsletter from the ELCA? If not, you can subscribe here.
There is timely and relevant information in the May 2016 Issue. Other topics include Called Forward Together in Christ, the new ELCA Federal Credit Union, giving options for congregations, protecting offerings, and more!
Read how others across the ELCA are doing God’s work with their hands in Stories of Faith in Action. Have a story to share about how your congregation or ministry is living their DiscipleLife? Let us know: MissionOffice@ntnl.org.
Opportunities for Musicians
Choral Virtual Reading Sessions are a great way to preview and listen to the newest choral music from Augsburg Fortress.
This summer, Augsburg Fortress invites you to join hundreds of other church musicians in exploring fresh and innovative ways to enliven music in worship. Summer music clinics are designed for everyone involved in creating and planning music for worship. Read through new seasonal music, attend workshops led by clinicians Michael Burkhardt, Kristina Langlois, participate in and attend a hymn festival.
Burkhardt and Langlois will lead a variety of workshops, including “Advent: A Season of Longing and Expectation” (Burkhardt) and “What Tools Are in Your Hymn Playing Toolbox ” (Langlois), along with choral, keyboard, children’s and handbell reading sessions.
Join other musicians and the community for “A Holy Week Journey Festival of Hymns” with Burkhardt and Langlois. You can register for these FREE clinics or get more information at AugsburgMusic.org.
LOCATIONS
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, July 15-16
- Columbia, SC, July 22-23
- Chicago, IL, July 25-26 (preceding the ALCM Region 3 Conference)
- Seattle, WA, July 29-30
- Columbus, OH, Aug. 1-2
- Philadelphia, PA, Aug. 4-5
Save the Date
“Simply Wright: N.T. Wright @ Perkins/SMU”
November 15-17, 2016
Schedule of Events TBA
For your summer reading list, Simply Good News by N.T. Wright, will be the book in common for this event.
Upcoming Events
- May 25: “A Place for All” Webcast with ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
- May 29-Jun. 3: LSPS Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Level I Intensive
- Jun. 12-17: LSPS Building Congregational Capacity for Hispanic Ministry Level II Intensive
- Aug. 8-13: ELCA Churchwide Assembly
- Aug. 10-13: ELCA Grace Gathering
- Sept. 11: “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday (ELCA Day of Service)
- Sept. 17: Installation of the new NT-NL Bishop: Pr. Erik Gronberg
- Oct. 16: Lutheran Hymn Festival
- Oct. 17-19: 2016 Bishop’s Convocation
- Oct. 31: Lutherans, Catholics plan joint commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit them to the Mission Area office (MissionOffice@ntnl.org) for consideration for our next NT-NL News. Remember to include a picture or logo.
Looking for information in past NT-NL News emails? Find NT-NL News archives here!