Message from Pastora Bañales
Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod Leaders and DEM Rev Irma Banales have been Juntos en Mision/ Together in Mission for JUSTICE IN ACTION
On Thursday January 30th Six congregations from our Synod, joined thirty other congregations (Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, methodist, Temple Emanu-El and episcopal) and schools at Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas for “A Cry for Justice and a Call to Action.”
The Dallas Area Interfaith assembly launched local strategies to address immigration, housing, and early childhood education. Pastor Vincent Parker; Baptist Church, Bishop Ruben Saenz; United Methodist Church, Rev Dr Charlene Jin Lee; First Presbyterian Church, Bishop Greg Kelly; Catholic Diocese of Dallas, we heard real testimonies from immigrants facing sad moments in their lives.
On February 4-7, 2025 A six Synod project we met in San Diego & Tijuana MX visited a Shelter for single mothers and a Shelter for LGBTQ+ community in Tijuana MX. Sembrando en los Márgenes or “Sowing in the Margins” is the name of our multi-synod Project. The project is being funded by a Holy Innovation Grant and Synod funds.
The purpose is for people on the ground to share their work with people migrating and learning from each other and for synods to recognize the importance of this work and secure funding to support migrant ministries.
Building a network of ministries. The learning exchanges and collaboration work will help us to connect across synods and ecumenical lines so we can better serve newcomers into the United States.
Project Partners: 1. Grand Canyon, 2. Southwestern Synod, 3. Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast 4. Pacifica, 5. Rocky Mountain and 6. Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana
I was invited to attend the Annual Gathering for Latino Christian National Network on February 17 & 18, Washington DC. 45 people from the USA and Puerto Rico gathered to worship and dialogue about our joys and concerns. The Latino Christian National Network is a community of Christian Leaders committed to supporting each other as we seek to be faithful to Christ’s call to be the “salt of the earth”. To be “salt of the earth” means to be an Instrument of renewal and transformation.
Speakers: Bishop Minerva Carcano; California Nevada UMC and UMC’s Immigration Task Force, Delia Catalina Ramirez; Congresswoman Illinois’s 3rd Congressional district. Ingrid Delgado; Policy advisor in the office of Domestic Social Development for the US conference of Catholic Bishops and several other leaders.
It is a joy representing my Latino Community, our NTNL Synod and the ELCA . I am proud to be an ELCA Lutheran, Juntos en Mision! Bendiciones+
Christ the Servant, Allen Seeking Part Time Youth Group Coordinator
Christ the Servant, Allen is seeking a part time Youth Group Coordinator to grow and develop the youth group and assist the Youth and Family Team of the congregation in worshipping and glorifying God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Click here to learn more about the opportunity. If you have any questions please email Marketing@christtheservant.com
Lutheran Men in Mission Winter Ambassador-Gram
You can read about the happenings of Lutheran Men in Mission here.
Featured Resources for February
March 2, 2025
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, 2025
For International Women’s Day and beyond, let’s Inspire Inclusion. When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. The aim of the IWD 2024 #InspireInclusion campaign is to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity. Resources can be found here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
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:
February 25-March 1: Conference of Bishops, Chicago
March 18: Liepzig Thomanerchor; Incarnation Episcopal, Dallas
Pastora Bañales:
February 26-March 1: Fresh Expression Conference, Atlanta, GA
Pastor Fitting-Snyder:
February 25: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
March 2: Trinity Evangelical, Miles
March 4-6: Region 4 Assistant to the Bishops Retreat, Eagle Pass
March 8: Panhandle Retreat, Palo Duro Canyon State Park
March 16: Advent, Arlington
March 22: Candidacy Meeting, Zoom
March 23: First, Temple
March 25: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
March 30: Midland Lutheran, Midland
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:
- February 25: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
- February 28-March 2: NT-NL Youth Weekend, Calvary, Richland Hills
- March 8: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2025
- March 8: Public Witness Team Meeting
- March 18: Boys Choir of Thomaskirche Concert, Church of the Incarnation, Dallas
- March 22: Upper Elementary Spring Retreat, New Hope, Keller
- March 25: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to office@ntnl.org for consideration for upcoming editions of our weekly news.