Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear Partners in Mission:
Holy Week is central to our faith. It is also a time of intensity and work. As leaders, lay and rostered, labor so that the people can engage in the liturgies of this sacred time know your work is appreciated, and that you are in my prayers as bishop and those of your synod staff.
May God bless us with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do so that our faith may again be kindled by the power of Christ’s passion and resurrection.
In Christ:
Bishop Gronberg
Synod Assembly Deadlines THIS WEEK
To guarantee the reduced rate in our hotel room blocks, you must book by this Friday, April 15. You can find updated hotel details here: https://www.ntnl.org/event/2022-ntnl-synod-assembly/. If the hotel lets you know our room block is full and they still have availability that weekend, you can ask if they will honor the reduced rate and include the room block negotiations (complimentary self-parking, breakfast, and wifi). There is no guarantee they will, and it does not hurt to ask. If neither hotel has availability, you will need to find your own hotel. There are a number of other hotels near our host church: King of Glory Lutheran Church, 6411 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75240.
Online registration closes Sunday, April 17. If you think you may need help with online registration, please note there may not be staff available this weekend to assist you, so you may want to register by this Thursday, April 14. You may register for Assembly here: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/4840947. Please note: We are limiting Visitors this year due to COVID protocols and space. Due to higher than expected registration numbers, we will not be able to allow for any Visitors to register on-site.
We only have room for one more Displayer to share an 8-foot table with another Displayer. That registration link is the same as above and will also close on Sunday, April 17.
Bible Study Leader for Synod Assembly
Dr. Terra Rowe, an Asst. Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Texas, will be leading our bible study/theological reflection presentations. Dr. Rowe is a well respected theologian of the protestant tradition and particularly the intersection of protestant/Lutheran theology and environmental theology. As we reflect on our synod scripture “The Lord has done great things for us,” she will challenge us to think about our understandings of God’s creation, how that intersects with our responsibilities to steward this creation, and how our theology of free gift might cause us to take creation for granted. She is also married to our UNT Campus Pastor, the Rev. Jim Rowe. We are grateful to have Dr. Rowe on our territory and willing to share this time with us.
Featured Resources for April
We are church together, working toward a just world where all are fed.
ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants accompany congregations and their partners throughout the United States and Caribbean as they draw on the strengths of communities to address local issues such as food security, clean water, housing, job readiness, human rights, policy change, leadership development and more. Together, these ministries are part of a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger — for good.
To learn more about ELCA World Hunger and to apply, check out the resources on this page: https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/ELCA-World-Hunger/Get-Involved/Domestic-Hunger-Grants.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for updates about ELCA World Hunger.
Para obtener información sobre la solicitud en español, contáctenos en hunger@elca.org.
Application Timeline:
- Registration open: March 18, 2022 – May 6, 2022
NOTE: Applicants must be registered in ELCA GrantMaker to access the application. Allow up to three days for registration approval. If you have not registered by May 6, you will not be able to start a new application. If you have already registered in ELCA GrantMaker, you do not need to register again. Starting April 11, 2022, you can log in directly at elca.fluxx.io using the Google Chrome browser to start your application.
- Application open: April 11, 2022 – May 20, 2022
- Application review: June 2022 – October 2022
- Awards recommendations announced: November 2022
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/nt-nl-synod-assembly-presenter-dr-terra-rowe/ – published Apr. 7)
(https://www.ntnl.org/palmsunday2022jaysplace/ – published Apr. 10)
Where in the world is?
Across a context as wide and different as NT-NL, the reality of Covid-19 is very different. As such, NT-NL synod staff are doing more in-person Sunday visits for worship and occasional meetings. However, as good stewards of time and travel dollars, we will be utilizing online meeting formats into our new hybrid future. Given the rise of breakthrough infections and in order to protect those gathered, the synod staff will choose to wear masks as is deemed appropriate unless preaching or presiding and sufficient social distancing can be provided.
Bishop Gronberg:
Apr. 17: Easter Worship
Apr. 24: Our Savior’s, Norse: Retirement celebration for Rev. Bill Metting
Apr. 29: Synod Council meeting, Dallas
Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
May 13-14: Lutheran Men in Mission Board Meeting
May 15: “Getting to Know the MEF” Sunday
May 22: Hope, Springtown 40th Anniversary
Pastor Totzke:
Apr. 17: Easter worship, Immanuel, Killeen
Apr. 23: Faithful Innovation training for COW conference, Calvary, San Angelo
Apr. 24: Trinity, Miles
Apr. 29: Synod Council meeting, Dallas
Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
May 5: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
May 6-11: Vacation
May 15: Our Savior’s (Norse), Clifton
May 21: Candidacy Committee, Briarwood
Pastora Bañales:
Apr. 14: Maundy Thursday service, Santa Maria de Guadalupe, IrvingApr. 15: Holy Friday service, First Sagrada Familia, GarlandApr. 17: Easter Sunday, Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Irving, and First Sagrada Familia, GarlandApr. 19-21: Stewardship of Life Institute Board Meeting, Gettysburg, PAApr. 24: San Gabriel, AlvaradoApr. 25: DEM’s Gathering planning teamApr. 27: Evangelical Seminary in Mexico, Zoom
Apr. 29: Synod Council meeting, Dallas
Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
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:
- Apr. 15: LAST DAY to book one of the Synod Assembly hotels as part of guaranteed room block (unless they sell out before)
- Apr. 17: LAST DAY to register online for Synod Assembly (April 29-30)
- Apr. 29: Synod Council Meeting, Dallas
- Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
- May 5: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- May 14: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2022, Course 3, Zoom
- May 14: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- May 15: “Getting to Know the MEF” Sunday
- May 19-21: 21st Annual Bonhoeffer Lectures in Public Ethics: Everyday Ethics for Exceptional Times, Various locations
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to Jason (jason@ntnl.org) for consideration for upcoming editions of our weekly news.