Message from Bishop Gronberg

Dear Partners in Mission:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  -1 Corinthians 1:18

A blessed Holy Week Tuesday to you all. During this week there are many preparations and much busyness in our congregations. All of which is appropriate and understandable. Parish workers, rostered leaders, musicians, custodians, lay volunteers, copiers, etc… are being tested as we prepare for the Triduum (the great three days).

In the midst of this busyness however it is vital we take time to reflect. To worship, pray, and meditate on the wonder of what God is doing for us in Jesus Christ on the cross. The cross, an instrument of imperial power. The cross, meant to maintain the Pax Romana by instilling fear in any who would object. The cross, meant to create shame in those, and their families, subjected to its torture.  The cross, the foolishness of God.

God’s foolishness is shown in the cross because in Jesus’ time and ours, god’s don’t die. The gods of the Greeks and Romans and of America today don’t suffer. They are glorified in their financial wealth, privilege of status, and political power. They are not trustworthy because we know they are only in it for themselves. But our God is not that. Our God chooses to suffer, to experience our pain and loss, and our death. That is a God you can trust. A God who knows you fully and whose foolishness is the power that saves us.

My prayers are with you all this week as you experience again this wonder and power of our God.

Together in Mission,

Bishop Gronberg

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Synod Assembly Registration Closes Tomorrow, April 16th

 

Rev. Way will be giving one presentation to orient us to the Panhandle context. The history of the land, the peoples, and more recent history. Click here to learn more about Rev. Edson.

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The Panhandle conference desires that this assembly be an interactive opportunity for our voting members and visitors. Rather than a single speaker there will be four opportunities to listen, communicate, and learn from one another.

Our DEM Advisory Board (led by our DEM Irma Banales) will lead two panel conversations with leaders from across our synod. These conversations will be intended to stimulate our thinking more deeply about how we do mission in our contexts and what best practices we can learn from one another.

The Panhandle conference will be leading the other two in breakout session form. Encouraging our conferences to meet together and have guided conversation. We are excited to have these opportunities for our assembly to engage one another.

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Our ELCA Churchwide Representative will be Rev. Phil Hirsch.

The Rev. Dr. Philip C. Hirsch is working to bring about the revitalization of ELCA congregations in the United States by recruiting, training, and supporting leaders. He has a passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for helping new people find faith and Christian community. He believes the church can and will grow younger and more diverse and that there is nothing more powerful than God’s love because it can transform first the human heart and then the world.

Pastor Hirsch is the Executive Director of Christian Community and Leadership (USA) for the ELCA (since February 2019). His responsibilities include starting new churches, developing congregational vitality, leadership and candidacy, seminaries and colleges, youth and young adult ministries including the national youth gathering, multicultural ministries, disability ministries, and the directors for evangelical mission who work in synods for congregations.

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NT-NL synod staff are excited to engage in-person on Sundays for worship. As good stewards of time and travel dollars, we will be utilizing online meeting formats in our new hybrid reality when possible. If you would like to schedule a meeting with the bishop or Synod staff please contact them directly.

Bishop Gronberg:

April 24-25: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Lubbock
May 4: Emanuel, Dallas
May 18: Messiah, Weatherford
May 18: Installation of Pastor Adam Stockton, Trinity, Sherman

Pastora Bañales:

April 20: Emanuel, Dallas
April 25-26: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Lubbock
April 29: Latinx Couples Retreat Planning Team Meeting

Pastor Fitting-Snyder:

April 20: St. Matthew’s, Fort Worth
April 24-26: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Lubbock
April 27: Rejoice, Coppell
May 3: COW Conference, Miles
May 4: Bethel, Acova
May 5-9: Vacation
May 11: Emmanuel, Dallas
May 18: First Lutheran, Waco
May 18: Installation of Pastor Adam Stockton, Trinity, Sherman
May 25: Emmanuel, Dallas