Join Us This Saturday
Join Bishop Erik Gronberg and King of Glory, Dallas, as we host our ELCA Missionary to Jerusalem for a short presentation, Q & A, and meet & greet on Saturday, August 18, 2-4pm.
The Rev. Carrie Ballenger Smith serves as pastor of the English-speaking congregation at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem’s Old City. She also serves as special assistant to
Bishop Ibrahim Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).
“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday
God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday will be September 9, 2018. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.
You will find the resources you need to plan your activities and worship, invite your neighbors, and promote within your community. There are videos to watch and share for inspiration. New this year are Spanish-language postcards, door hangers, and social memes.
You also can order yellow “God’s work. Our hands.” T-shirts. We realize that many congregations wear their T-shirts throughout the year and do various service projects in addition to the designated day of service.
Please remember to email office@ntnl.org with your photos, videos, and links to your newsletter and social media posts about your activities this year!
With “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday approaching, the Life of Faith Initiative offers a new document to expand “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday from being a single day of service to a way to equip our people for a life of faith so that “every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”
Women and Justice
“We know that the Church of Christ in every age is beset by change, but as Spirit led, is called to test and claim its heritage.”
– “Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice,” paraphrasing the hymn “The Church of Christ in Every Age”
Participants at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering read and respond to the draft through “thumbs up” and post-it comments.
The “Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice” interweaves a confession of faith, theology, Scripture, history, science, sociology, and even hymnody. The Women and Justice: One in Christ social statement task force needs your feedback in order to revise this text and then to send a proposed social statement to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2019.
Because social statements speak on behalf of the ELCA as a whole church, the task force would like to hear your thoughts on the draft. Is it readable and clear? Is this what the church is being called to say about what women and girls need?
The task force will read and consider all feedback it receives through September 30. Feedback can be sent through an online survey form or through letters and emails. For more information and resources, go to ELCA.org/womenandjustice.
Thank you to those who have already read the draft and responded, and thanks in advance to those who will!
Featured Resources for August
Planning ahead… Rostered Ministers Appreciation (celebrated in October)
Doing God’s work in the world calls for leaders who bring a variety of training, skills, interests, and life experiences to the work they do in congregations, communities, and partner organizations. Whether serving as a pastor or deacon, rostered ministers carry out the work and mission of this church, sharing God’s love with the world through the good news of Jesus Christ.
This fall, please join us for Rostered Ministers Appreciation to thank our leaders for all they do! Using new resources, including an online peer-to-peer fundraising tool, host a Rostered Ministers Appreciation event to thank your pastor or deacon for all they do and ensure future leaders can respond to the call to serve, just like them. This is a great opportunity to show your pastor or deacon your congregation’s appreciation — all while supporting the next generation of leaders through the ELCA Fund for Leaders and Youth and Young Adults.
Save the Date
September 21-23
The retreat will be using the “This Changes Everything” theme. The weekend is for 6th-8th grades
Recent Blog Post
Pastor Totzke:
(https://www.ntnl.org/back-on-track/ – published Aug. 6)
Where in the world is?
Bishop Gronberg:
- Aug. 18: Meet & Greet with The Rev. Carrie Ballenger Smith, ELCA Missionary to Jerusalem, King of Glory, Dallas
- Aug 19: St. Andrew, Hurst
Pastor Totzke:
- Aug. 17-18: Candidacy Committee, Briarwood
- Aug. 19: Bethany, Dallas, for visiting Pr. Carrie Smith (serving in Jerusalem)
Pastora Bañales:
- Aug. 13: NT-NL New Starts team, Rejoice, Coppell
- Aug. 19: Adviento, Arlington
Upcoming Events
- Aug. 18: Meet & Greet with The Rev. Carrie Ballenger Smith, ELCA Missionary to Jerusalem, Dallas, TX
- Aug. 28-30: “Undoing Racism” Training, Arlington, TX
- Sep. 1: Bishop Installation for the Southwestern Texas Synod, San Antonio, TX
- Sep. 7: The Bolder Board Training, North Texas
- Sep. 9: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday
- Sep. 15: PLMA Fall 2018, Course 1, Briarwood
- Sep. 20-22: Synod Council meetings, Briarwood
- Sep. 21-23: Middle School Retreat, Briarwood
- Sep. 22: MEF Board meeting, Briarwood
- Sep. 24: The Church of the Damascus Road Golf Outing and Fund Raiser, Fort Worth, TX
- Sep. 24-26: 2018 First Call Retreat, Briarwood
- Sep. 28-30: Addiction & Faith Conference, Bloomington, MN
- Sep. 29: Panhandle Fall Conference: An introduction to The Generosity Project, Wilson, TX
- Oct. 4: OLOGY The Symposium: A Dialogue Between Psychology and Theology, Richardson, TX
- Oct. 6: Fall Festival & Thrivent Cook-Off, Briarwood
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to the Synod office (office@ntnl.org) for consideration for upcoming NT-NL News.