Message from Pastora Bañales
Monday December 15, 2025; 2025 Celebrating the Angel Tree!!!
Emanuel Lutheran Church, in the Dallas area in partnership with other ecumenical congregations had their annual Angel Tree, sharing their generosity with over 100 Children from the community.
Emanuel, Dallas is going through a leadership transition, nevertheless they continue to be in good spirit. Grateful to Office Administrator Blanca Illades & Community Center Director Michelle for organizing and planning this event with the help of volunteers. Emanuel is a historic multicultural/multilingual congregation in the heart of the city of Dallas. Emanuel is the first NTNL Congregation who started a Spanish speaking service since 1990. Emanuel’s Community Center helps and supports homeless and immigrant communities with their food pantry, clothes closet, computer room to assist them with legal documents and emotional and spiritual support.
We, the NT-NL Staff and the Conferencia Latina, will continue accompany them as we are “Juntos en Mision/Together in Mission”
Bless Advent Season!
Cross Trails Ministry Updates
High School Gathering
Connections are important! Come to camp to build new connections and discover how healthy connections can help you answer who God is calling you to be! Camp fun and interactive, faith-filled learning with other high schoolers are all a part of The Gathering experience. Visit our website today to register! www.crosstrails.org
High School Gathering
February 20-22, 2026
Camp Chrysalis
For Youth in Grades 9-12
Group Reservations Only
Cross Trails Ministry is Hiring Summer Staff for the 2026 Season!
At Cross Trails Ministry, we value the growth of our summer staff just as much as our campers. As a staff member, you get to join the camp community and gain valuable leadership experience while living out your faith every day!
We are looking for counselors, ropes coordinators, wranglers, support staff, and more! Those who supervise campers must be college age. We also have Camphand support positions available for young leaders who have completed grade 11. All must commit to training plus 4-8 weeks of summer camp.
Visit our website at www.crosstrails.org/employment for more information and to apply.
Via de Cristo Weekends & Annual Gathering at Texas Lutheran University
Featured Resources for December
Our friends at Compassionate Christianity offer an extensive array of FREE resources, such as Personal Nourishment and Spiritual Practices, Family and Pastoral Resources, Compassion in Action (including a partnership with How to Heal Our Divides), and so much more:
Resources for the Compassionate Christian Community
“Inclusive, welcoming, and affirming resources, reflecting the compassion Jesus modeled for us.”
Where in the world is?
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:
December 17: Cantor Retirement Service, Trinity, Fort Worth
December 27-January 1: Family Vacation
January 4: Central, Dallas
January 5-7: Region 4 Bishops Gathering, Omaha, NE
January 18: Central, Dallas
January 24: Parish Lay Ministry Academy Graduation Service, Good Shepherd, Irving
January 31: Texas Lutheran University Corporation Board Meeting, Seguin
Pastora Bañales:
December 16: First Sagrada Familia, Garland
December 18: ELC and UMC Fresh Expressions 2026 Planning Team
December 22-January 2: Vacation
Pastor Fitting-Snyder:
December 21: Rejoice, Frisco
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:
- December 18: NT-NL Youth Leader Lunch, Rejoice, Coppell
- January 2-4: NT-NL Peer Ministry Leadership Event, Calvary, Richland Hills
- January 10: Public Witness Team Meeting
- January 15: NT-NL Youth Leader Lunch, Rejoice, Coppell
- January 24: Parish Lay Ministry Academy Graduation, Good Shepherd, Irving
- January 27: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Save the Date
- April 24-25, 2026: Synod Assembly
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to office@ntnl.org for consideration for upcoming editions of our weekly news.