2022 Prayer Partners
Our Prayer Partners list for next year has been uploaded to the synod website: https://www.ntnl.org/resources/prayer-partners/
LSPS Collaboration Requested
Dear Pastors and Lay Leaders,
We are glad to share with you that five months ago our dear colleague, The Reverend Violeta Siguenza, became our new Interim Director at LSPS / WTS (Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest). She is a gift to our Seminary, and a proud representative of LSPS as a graduated student.
We are tirelessly working on rediscovering the new mission for LSPS, a process for which we need your collaboration and enthusiasm to achieve this important discernment; which continues to impact the lives of God’s people and his church. We are inviting you to a meeting on December 11 where we want to listen to your ideas, concerns, suggestions, etc., allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into the future in unity with LSPS, your synod and the ELCA, leading our work to where it is needed most.
We gratefully invite you to attend on this date:
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Option #1
Place: Advent Lutheran Church
3232 S Cooper St. Arlington TX 76015
Schedule: 10:00am – 2:00 pm (lunch provided)
Option #2
Virtual Meeting by Zoom
Schedule: 10:00am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE RESERVE by email lsps@lsps.edu or text at 469-360-4706
Note: If you have questions or concerns, please contact Rev. Violeta Siguenza at (469) 360-4706.
Have a beautiful time and may our good Heavenly Father be blessing you with enthusiasm, and strength in you, family, ministry, and community.
Sincerely,
Consuelo E. Reid
Administrative Assistant of LSPS
& Journey Together
PS: For the safety of all, we will continue with anti-COVID protocol: Keep distance and wear a mask.
Disposable face masks and antibacterial gel will be available at the meeting room.
God has given us a mission | Dios nos ha dado una misión
Our mission: In her November column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that God has given all of us a mission to invite more people into the way of Jesus. Read her column in English (God has given us a mission) o en español (Dios nos ha dado una misión).
Featured Resources for December
Called to Lead: A galactic-themed journey of discovery for youth and young adults
While watching galactic science fiction films, we might feel the urge to grab a laser sword and join the universal battle, fighting evil and standing for all that is good. These stories resonate strongly because they tap into our desire to rise above what we know and challenge us to become more than we think we can be. For young people who love science fiction and pop culture but struggle to talk about God and the Bible, the new, interactive “Called to Lead” guide offers young people a starting place for discussion of their inner selves, their vocation and their call to lead.
The “Called to Lead” spiritual gifts interactive activity was first offered at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas. Participants traveled to a distant galaxy where they identified their specific leadership gifts and abilities. Then they were sent to planets that offered them specialized training — so they could become the best protectors of the universe they could be!Now “Called to Lead” has been adapted into a set of downloadable resources that can be used in person or online. The materials include a five-part Bible study guide as well as instructions and supplies for leading the spiritual gifts interactive activity in a variety of contexts. These resources were designed for middle school and high school youth, but they can be adapted for use with young adults.Our church needs leaders of all kinds as we look toward the future. The “Called to Lead” guide will give youth and young adults a new way to explore their baptism, spiritual gifts and call to lead.
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/giving-tuesday/ – published Nov. 30)
(https://www.ntnl.org/elca-youth-gathering-early-bird-registration-exceeds-10000/ – published Dec. 2)
Pastor Totzke:
(https://www.ntnl.org/a-saturday-full-of-leadership-formation/ – published Dec. 6)
(https://www.ntnl.org/christ-the-servant-in-allen/ – published Dec. 6)
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:
Dec. 12: St. Matthew Lutheran/St. Christopher Episcopal Celebration
Dec. 19: Family Sunday
Jan. 16: Bethany, Dallas – Closing Liturgy
Pastor Totzke:
Dec. 12: Covenant Anniversary Celebration, Temple
Jan. 2: Immanuel, Killeen
Jan. 6: Transitional Pastors meeting, Zoom
Jan. 9: Mt. Olive, Dallas
Jan. 16: Bethany, Dallas
Jan. 22: Faithful Innovation with COW Conference congregations at Bethel, Avoca (Ericksdahl)
Jan. 23: Bethel, Avoca (Ericksdahl)
Pastora Bañales:
Dec. 12: Community of Hope, Fort Worth
Dec. 19: Emmanuel, Granbury
Dec. 20-31: Holidays and time off
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:
- Dec. 9: Leading for God’s Future: Service on the Congregational Council – Session 7, Zoom
- Jan. 6: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Jan. 8: Public Witness Team meeting, 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.