Message from Pastor Fitting-Snyder

This past week I had the privilege of preaching at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lebanon, PA. This is the community that raised me in the faith. As I looked out into the sanctuary, faces both familiar and new filled the pews—people who had sung hymns beside me as a child, taught me Sunday School lessons, prayed for me through youth group years, and encouraged me as I began discerning a call to ministry. As I continued to look out, I could also picture those who died in faith, like my Nana, in the same pew she was in each Sunday. They are all part of what the writer of Hebrews described in the lectionary reading this past week, as the “great cloud of  witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1)—those who, by their love and faithfulness, make it possible for us to keep running the race of faith.

I have been in the role as the Bishop’s associate for a year now, and I am blessed to experience another kind of cloud of witnesses week in and week out. As I find myself in a different congregation just about each week—worshiping, preaching, and observing the Holy Spirit at work in communities across the NTNL Synod—I see the vast expansion of this great cloud. In each congregation, I see people who love God and their neighbors, who show up with faith, and who quietly cheer one another on as they run the race. Week by week, I get to glimpse the breadth of Christ’s church and the many ways God’s people are living out the gospel.

The gift of the Church is that our clouds of witnesses stretch wider than we often realize. While I am literally 1500 miles from the faith community in which I was baptized, confirmed, and married, we come to learn that our cloud of witnesses not only extends to those who raised us in faith, but also to those who walk beside us now, and even those yet to come, who will one day look back and see us as part of their own cloud.

I am continually reminded that no matter where we worship or where we live, that we keep running the race, not alone, but cheered on by saints past and present. Thanks be to God for every congregation, every witness, and every reminder that we never run this journey of faith alone.

Peace,
Pastor Kelsey

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Watch Bishop Gronberg’s Report to Synod Assembly here.

Upbring has put together a video to highlight just a few of their programs across the state of Texas. You can watch it here to see the impact your support has on the children, families and communities they serve.

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:

Aug 3- Sep 1: Sabbatical

Pastora Bañales:

August 19: Rostered Women Leaders online Course: “Stepping Up to Supervision”
August 22-24: Conferencia Latina Annual Couples Retreat, Cedar Hill
August 28: Dallas Area Interfaith Meeting
August 28: DEM Advisory Team Meeting
August 31: Emanuel, Dallas

Pastor Fitting-Snyder:

August 28: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom