Message from Bishop Gronberg
Partners in Mission:
Across our territory it often still feels like summer. However, all around us are the signs of fall. School has begun again, the sun is setting earlier in the evening, and just this past weekend High School football (at least in our Texas territory) began. Each Friday (and occasionally Thursday) night a precise liturgy is carried out as communities come together to root on their team.
Just as these communal signs of fall are among us so it is in our congregations. Fall programming, rally days, Sunday school, are all in some form being reinstated. Yet, they look very different now than in the past. The collective trauma of the pandemic and continued declines in active participation in Sunday religious activities have impacted how we do this work. We cannot simply “rally” everyone back in. Because if we have learned anything over the past 2+ years it is that they aren’t just going to come.
Yet teaching discipleship is now more vital than ever. While Americans continue to claim religious adherence the reality is more and more do not attend worship or participate in religious formation. There are a number of reasons for this decline in attendance yet claim of adherence to the Christian faith. The reasons people leave church are many, including the well documented failures of church institutions to protect victims of abuse. But this reality is creating a new phenomenon that also has consequences. People claiming to follow Jesus but are doing so with no community of Jesus followers to support and guide them.
So what do we do about this reality? First off, as with church growth there is no magic formula or program. But there is the gospel. I believe what is absolutely required is our communities investing in the basics and one-on-one discipleship. The basics in teaching the way of Jesus. A way of humble service and love for neighbor that does not privilege those the world privileges and has no room for racism, misogyny, violence, or oppression. Self-giving love that speaks to a broken world a message it so desperately needs. And doing this on a small scale, on Jesus’ scale. Activating those connected to our communities and teaching us again how to share our faith. One-on-one, engaging our neighbors.
God rejoices when we share the gospel with others. Not in a flailing attempt to make our churches bigger or fill Sunday school rooms but in honest service and proclamation. So as we enter this fall I invite every member of NT-NL to consider who in their life needs to hear and see the way of Jesus in them. And to invite them to know of the joy of a God who loves us unconditionally.
In Mission Together,
Bishop Gronberg
NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) Updates
The application for 2023 Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) grants will be open starting this Thursday, September 1: https://www.ntnl.org/ministries/mef/grant-application/. Click here to preview the updated grant guidelines. For consideration for funding in 2023, the Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) grant application is due by October 31, 2022.
Grow the Good. The 2022 Seeds That Change annual fundraiser will be held at TWO locations on Saturday, October 1, 6-9pm: Christ Lutheran, Dallas, and Faith Lutheran, Fort Worth.
Job Opening: Director of Communications and Marketing
From King of Glory Lutheran Church, Dallas, TX:
The Director of Communications and Marketing is responsible for developing, managing, and implementing strategic internal and external communication plans for King of Glory; reinforcing the mission, vision and values of our church to promote our ministries in alignment with key goals and objectives.
Click here for the full job description and how to apply.
Featured Resources for August
FREE resources to equip you for the work of ministry.
From increasing giving, managing your congregation, and engaging your church, tithe.ly’s collection of FREE resources will keep you up to date on the latest church and ministry trends.
A final example:
Recurring Giving: A Beginner’s Guide for Churches
Discover why recurring giving is the key to creating a steady stream of giving.
Save the Date
SMU Perkins School of Theology 2022 Convocation
Monday-Tuesday, November 14-15
Combine three engaging keynote speakers with a menu of workshop options and what do you get? This year’s Perkins Fall Convocation — “Food and Faith.” The two-day event, scheduled for November 14-15, will feature Food Network personality Aarti Sequeira exploring how the simple act of breaking bread is a sacred, transformational experience. It offers continuing-education opportunities through engaging lectures — with author and theologian Norman Wirzba and interdisciplinary artist Jin-Ya Huang — and worship.https://www.smu.edu/Perkins/PublicPrograms/Perkins-Fall-Convocation-2022
Early registration at a discounted rate continues through TOMORROW Wednesday, August 31. For more information and to register:Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/candidacy-committee-august-meeting/ – published Aug. 25)
(https://www.ntnl.org/bishop-momoh-arrives-and-visits-hot-conference/ – published Aug. 25)
(https://www.ntnl.org/bishop-momoh-visits-christ-dallas/ – published Aug. 28)
(https://www.ntnl.org/bishop-momoh-visit-at-advent-adviento-arlington/ – published Aug. 28)
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:
Sep. 7: Synod staff meeting with Portico rep, Zoom
Sep. 10: Meeting with Synod Council, Deans, Assistant Deans, and MEF, Briarwood, then Ordination and Installation of Veronika Czutor, Central, Dallas
Sep. 18: Lutheran Hymn Festival, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas
Sep. 24-25: 75th Anniversary festivities, Beautiful Savior, Amarillo
Sep. 28-Oct. 1: Conference of Bishops
Oct. 1: MEF Seeds That Change, Fort Worth and Dallas
Oct. 2: King of Glory, Dallas
Oct. 6: Lutheran Men in Mission annual board meeting, Online
Oct. 16: 75th Anniversary festivities, Calvary, San Angelo
Oct. 22: Memorial service for Dr. Peter Hendrickson, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 5: Memorial service for former Bishop Phil Wahlburg, Gethsemane, Austin
Nov. 13: Abiding Grace, Southlake
Pastor Totzke:
Sep. 1: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
Sep. 10: Meeting with Synod Council, Deans, Assistant Deans, and MEF, Briarwood, then Ordination and Installation of Veronika Czutor, Central, Dallas
Sep. 17: Panhandle Conference meeting, Trinity, Lockney
Sep. 18: Immanuel, Posey, and Grace, Slaton
Sep. 26-28: First Call Pastors Retreat, Lutherhill, LaGrange
Oct. 1: Conference Out West meeting, Grace, Abilene
Oct. 9: Worship and call committee orientation, Christ the Servant, Allen
Oct. 22-23: Shreveport ministry conversation, Holy Trinity
Pastora Bañales:
Aug. 30: Meeting with Mission Developer
Aug. 31: Meeting with Mission Developer
Sep. 1: ELCA Mission Developer Screening Process meeting
Sep. 3: Spanish Preaching workshop, Adviento, Arlington
Sep. 4: Dinner with Latino pastors and Professor Moises Perez (from Mexico)
Sep. 6: Latinx Couples Retreat planning meeting, then ELCA Spanish Coaching planning meeting, then First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Sep. 7: Synod staff meeting, then meeting with Rev. Moises Carrasquillo, Santa Maria, Irving
Sep. 8: ELCA pre-gathering Mission Developers planning team, then meeting with Executive Committee, Santa Maria, Irving
Sep. 10: Meeting with Synod Council, Deans, Assistant Deans, and MEF, Briarwood, then Ordination and Installation of Veronika Czutor, Central, Dallas
Sep. 11: First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Sep. 12: Region 4 Latinx and DEMs planning team meeting
Sep. 13: ELCA Violence Prevention training
Sep. 14-16: Stewardship of Life Institute Board meeting, Minneapolis, MN
Sep. 17: Teaching Spanish class, PLMA
Sep. 20: Ecumenical Group meeting, then Conferencia Latina meeting, Adviento, Arlington
Sep. 21-24: ELCA Mission Developers training (English and Spanish)
Sep. 25-28: Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference, Savannah, GA
Sep. 29: NT-NL Renewal Team meeting
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:
- Aug. 31: Courageous Leadership – Coaching Real and Current Topics for Attendees, Zoom
- Sep. 1: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Sep. 7: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic), Zoom
- Sep. 10: Synod Council and MEF Board meetings, Hybrid (Briarwood and Zoom)
- Sep. 10: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2022, Course 1, Hybrid (Briarwood and Zoom)
- Sep. 14: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Sep. 17: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Sep. 21: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Sep. 28: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
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.