Why We Should Care About Luther: Martin Luther on the Holy Spirit
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) is hosting an upcoming faith-based learning series. This is a FREE spiritual enrichment opportunity you don’t want to miss!
This series is directed by esteemed Luther scholar and LSTC faculty member Dr. Candace Kohli. Together via Zoom, parishioners from Lutheran churches nationwide will deeply investigate what it means to call ourselves Lutherans and find out more about how Luther’s ideas changed the world.
This dynamic course will be held over four (4) Sundays, beginning February 26, 6:00-7:30pm CST, or you can join a facilitated session using Sunday’s recording on Wednesdays, beginning March 1 on from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Register here.
(While participation in these events is of no cost to participants, there is an opportunity to become a subscriber to LSTC’s Learning Communities. Click here for more information about the LSTC Learning Community, subscriptions, and their formation programs.)
Mission Investment Fund’s Latest Term Investment Rates
From our partners at the ELCA’s Mission Investment Fund:
Competitive rates (as of February 1, 2023) are one reason to consider a new Term Investment from MIF:
Here’s another:
At the same time it’s helping you build your savings, your investment in the Mission Investment Fund will help fund loans to ELCA congregations and ministries so they can continue doing God’s work in the world. That’s two compelling reasons to connect with us.
To open a new account, visit us at mif.elca.org or call 877-886-3522.
Kindling Faith: Our Muslim Neighbors
Almost two billion people on Earth are adherents to Islam, yet many American Christians know little or nothing about this faith.
The Rev. Dr. David D. Grafton is the Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations on the faculty of the Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford International University. The Duncan Black Macdonald Center is the oldest center of its kind in the United States. Dr. Grafton holds a PhD in Islamic Studies, from the Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, University of Birmingham, England, an MDiv from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, and a BA from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Grafton’s academic interests focus on the history of Christian-Muslim relationships, Lutheranism and Islam, Christian theological perspectives on Islam, the history of Christianity in the Middle East, American Christian perspectives of religion and society in the Middle East. He is the author of numerous articles, and chapters of books on Christian-Muslim relations, as well as The Christians of Lebanon: Political Rights in Islamic Law (I.B. Tauris, 2004), and Piety, Politics and Power: Lutherans Encountering Islam in the Middle East (Wipf and Stock,2009), The Contested Origins of the 1865 Arabic Bible: Contributions to the Nineteenth Century Nahda (Brill, 2015). His most recent publication is More Than a Cup of Coffee and Tea: a generation of Lutheran-Muslim Relationships (2021).
Zoom dates: March 2, 9, 23, 30 at 7:00PM EST.
Click here for a flyer with more details. | Click here for full details online and to register (for just $30).
Featured Resources for February
March 5, 2023
Celebrate the bold women in your life. Bold Women’s Day–observed the first Sunday of March–celebrates all Lutheran women who have acted or are acting boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Some women are bold in their unceasing prayers. Other women are bold in their service to those in need. Still other women are bold in their advocacy or through their hospitality. Whether we live out our bold story of faith in the workplace, family, home, or community, our faith compels us to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s all about living out our baptismal call, about being a disciple of Christ. Resources can be found here: https://www.womenoftheelca.org/bold-womens-day
March 8, 2023
For International Women’s Day and beyond, let’s all fully #EmbraceEquity. Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity. Resources can be found here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
Save the Date
Online book club for only $10. Facilitator: Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, President of United Lutheran Seminary (ULS). February 28, March 28, and April 25 at 7 pm EST via Zoom. Dr. Erwin discusses Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI and his perspective on Osage culture in this novel based on true events. The film version directed by Martin Scorcese will be released in May of 2023.
Click here for a flyer with more details. | Click here for more details online and to register.
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:
Feb. 28-Mar. 3: Conference of Bishops
Mar. 11: Parish Lay Ministry Academy (PLMA)
Pastor Totzke:
Dec. 1-Feb. 28: On Sabbatical
Pastora Bañales:
(Awaiting calendar updates)
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:
- Feb. 22: Courageous Leadership – Rev. Nic Peñaranda, Rev. Brenda Smith – Our Shared History, Zoom
- Feb. 23: Cultivating Compassion Session 2: Nonviolent Communication, Online
- Mar. 1: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic), Zoom
- Mar. 1: DEADLINE to register for Synod Assembly at Early Bird Pricing, Online
- Mar. 2: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Mar. 8: Courageous Leadership – Jill Beverlin & Jason O’Neill – Stories from the Veil, Zoom
- Mar. 11: Parish Lay Ministry Academy (PLMA), Spring 2023, Course 1, Hybrid
- Mar. 11: Public Witness Team meeting, Hybrid
- Mar. 15: Courageous Leadership – Tim Brown – Where Your Heart Is, Zoom
- Mar. 22: Courageous Leadership – Jeff Linman – Living and Leading with Resurrection Faith, Zoom
- Mar. 23: Cultivating Compassion Session 3: Practice – Disproportionality, Online
- Mar. 28: First Call Pastors Check-in, Online
- Mar. 29: Courageous Leadership – Bishop Mike Girlinghouse – Embracing God’s Future, Part 2, 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.