Parish Lay Ministry Academy Graduation

You are invited to join us on Saturday, January 27th as we celebrate the graduation of our candidates. Service will begin at 2pm at Good Shepherd, Irving. A light reception will follow our graduation service. Previous graduates of the Parish Lay Ministry Academy are invited to attend and vest in their collars.

More information can be found here. 

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Nominate Students for Lutheran Summer Music

Each year, the primary way that music students find their way to LSM is through the encouragement of their church musician! LSM offers opportunities for musicians of all kinds: brass, winds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, harp, guitar, handbells, and more! Students receive advanced musical instruction through large ensembles (Festival Choir, Band and Orchestra), chamber music, private lessons with collegiate-level faculty, and elective classes (such as conducting, composition, church music, intro to the pipe organ, jazz band, musical theatre, music therapy). In the evenings, students attend recitals and Evening Prayer services, and social events with their friends. LSM 2024 takes place at Valparaiso University in Indiana from June 30-July 28 (Full Session) or June 30-July 14 (Half Session) and is open to students who have completed grades 8-12. Know a musical young person who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate.

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Lutheran World Federation Lay Leaders’ Seminar Participant  Report

In June 2023, Chelsey Johnson (Trinity, Fort Worth) participated in a Lay Leaders Seminar hosted by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland and Germany. Chelsey was nominated to represent the ELCA as one of 17 participants from member churches across the LWF. The seminar focused on Lutheran perspectives of leadership and vocation, key areas of the LWF’s work, and first-hand encounters with Lutheran historical sites.

“The Lay Leaders Seminar was an incredible opportunity to meet other lay people from around the LWF who are passionate about the ways their church shows up in the world. Hearing the perspectives of new friends from places like Zambia, India, Chile, and Singapore gave me an appreciation for the issues facing churches in different contexts – and how many issues we as Lutherans around the world are addressing together – including global displacement of refugees, climate change, and economic empowerment of under resourced communities.”

Read more about Chelsey’s experience here

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:

Jan 21: Beautiful Savior, Amarillo
Jan 27: PLMA Graduation, Good Shepherd, Irving
Feb 3: Synod Council Meeting, Zoom
Feb 4: Rejoice, Coppell
Feb 27-Mar 2: Conference of Bishops

Pastor Totzke:

Jan 21: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
Jan 26-27: Discernment Retreat, Synod Office
Jan 27: PLMA Graduation, Good Shepherd, Irving
Feb 3: Synod Council Meeting, Zoom

Pastora Bañales:

Jan 26-27: Discernment Retreat, Synod Office
Jan 27: PLMA Graduation, Good Shepherd, Irving
Feb 3: Synod Council Meeting, Zoom