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NT-NL News: July 2020, Second Monday

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Message from Bishop Gronberg

With so many communities remaining online for the sake of their neighbor, it is more important than ever to have online content to assist individuals and families in their discipleship journey at home. The good news is you don’t have to create it on your own, as Briarwood’s Summer Staff is providing that content each week. Bible studies (for both Elementary and Middle/High School), crafts, games, silly songs, live worship on Wednesdays at 6:30pm, and online live zoom game times at 11am on Tuesdays. As one parent said about these online experiences…

“Last night’s youth worship and this morning’s songs/games with Avery/Briarwood really put a smile on my face and my kiddos. Please check it out. Briarwood does not disappoint!”

For all the information, to see me on TikTok, and for even more fun, please check out the Briarwood website, Facebook page, and YouTube Channel.

Click here to continue reading this message from Bishop Gronberg.

July 19 Sermon Recording Options

Pastor Kris Totzke recorded a sermon for July 19 using Matthew 13:24-30,36-43.

Vimeo (download): https://vimeo.com/user118660328/download/437258629/838f1f4e75

Vimeo (watch): https://vimeo.com/437258629

YouTube: https://youtu.be/H4sT6aSmz30

Click here for a Spanish transcript.

Opportunity for Young Adults

LEVN, the Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network, is looking for young adults (age 21-30) for an 11-month program of non-profit volunteer service and learning about social justice. From the end of August 2020 to the end of July 2021, their corps members will be provided housing, utilities, health coverage, spiritual direction, and a $535/month living stipend. They also offer a $1000 re-entry grant at the completion of the program. They are designing and implementing COVID-19 protocols for everyone’s safety.

The placement sites for the upcoming program year include faith-based non-profits, secular non-profits, congregations, outdoor ministry, and their campus ministry at UC Davis. These service sites address issues of homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment, children and youth ministries, and other important social justice issues facing our communities.

They gather each week for evening prayer, dinner, and formation. The corps members live in intentional community in an apartment attached to their campus ministry center in Davis, CA. They’re an ecumenical program in the Episcopal Service Corps network; applicants needn’t be either Lutheran or Episcopal to apply—interest in Christian spirituality is the only expectation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2020.

Visit levn.org or contact Program Director Casey Dunsworth at 530-756-1550 or pastor@thebelfry.org for more information.

“In countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and among Tribal nations in the U.S., it is commonplace, even policy, to open events and gatherings by acknowledging the traditional Indigenous inhabitants of that land. While some individuals and cultural and educational institutions in the United States have adopted this custom, the vast majority have not. Together, we can spark a movement to change that.

We call on all individuals and organizations to open public events and gatherings with acknowledgment of the traditional Native inhabitants of the land.

Acknowledgment is a simple, powerful way of showing respect and a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture and toward inviting and honoring the truth. Imagine this practice widely adopted: imagine cultural venues, classrooms, conference settings, places of worship, sports stadiums, and town halls, acknowledging traditional lands. Millions would be exposed—many for the first time—to the names of the traditional Indigenous inhabitants of the lands they are on, inspiring them to ongoing awareness and action….

Acknowledgment by itself is a small gesture. It becomes meaningful when coupled with authentic relationship and informed action. But this beginning can be an opening to greater public consciousness of Native sovereignty and cultural rights, a step toward equitable relationship and reconciliation.”

Continue reading for more details.

Click here for an Interactive Native Lands Map.

(Credit for these recommendations and resources, as a starting place, goes to Vance Blackfox, Other+Wise, and The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.)

Save the Date

Living Connected: The Spiritual Discipline of Creation Care

The Gift of Water

In August 2020, the NT-NL Public Witness Team for Peace and Justice is sponsoring a Living Connected workshop on creation’s gift of water. The Living Connected project helps people reflect on the gifts of creation and equips them to make choices that bring healing and wholeness to creation.

In the Living Connected – Water workshop, you will discover ways your daily use of water connects you to God, your neighbor, and all life on this planet. The workshop offers ideas and resources for bringing spiritual practices into your water use. Over time, the practices build upon each other and become the spiritual discipline of creation care.

Living Connected – Water is offered online twice in August:
Saturday, August 22, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM CDT
Tuesday, August 25, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM CDT

Register at katrinamartich.com to receive the pre-workshop information and Zoom link.

The workshops are offered at a reduced cost thanks to a grant from the NT-NL Synod Mission Endowment Fund. For any questions about the workshops, or to host a Living Connected workshop for your congregation, send an email to Deaconess Katrina Martich at contact@katrinamartich.com.

The workshop presenter is Katrina Martich, a Lutheran deaconess and environmental engineer. She currently serves as a green shepherd for Lutherans Restoring Creation and on the ELCA Sustainability Table.

Click here for a bulletin insert for August.

Recent Blog Posts

Bishop Gronberg:

Briarwood Creativity: Lip Sync Battles

(https://www.ntnl.org/briarwood-creativity-lip-sync-battles/ – published Jul. 9)

The Bishop on TikTok

(https://www.ntnl.org/the-bishop-on-tiktok/ – published Jul. 10)

Where in the world is?

Based on recommendations from public health officials, and to live out our call to love and protect “the least of these,” Bishop Gronberg, Pastor Totzke, and Pastora Bañales are suspending all congregational visits, in-person meetings, and travel until further notice. They will continue to meet with individuals and groups online. Though many buildings are closed, the church is all of us, and ministry continues.

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:

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 NT-NL News.