Message from Bishop Gronberg
This note was sent to our NT-NL Synod Council, Officers, Conference Deans and Asst. Deans, on July 1, 2022…
Happy New Year!!! Today, July 1st marks the beginning of your new term year as a member of the NT-NL Synod council. We are so grateful for your service and in particular to welcome the new members to this team who were elected at our 2022 Synod Assembly. One of the grounding principals of the ELCA and our polity is that we are a church not ruled by bishops and clergy but governed by a gathering of an assembly of lay and rostered people, who discern together the direction of our institution and elect leaders like you for this work. This is frankly rather rare in the history of Christian community and is something we should not take for granted.
Click here to continue reading.
NT-NL Featured in Living Lutheran
Called to service: Trained lay leaders enrich the church with expertise, energy
From Bishop Gronberg:
“NT-NL has been a pioneer and leader in lay ministry education for decades. As bishop it has been a joy for me to carry that on and help grow these opportunities. We are grateful for the work of the Secondary School of Latinx Theological Education which is gaining interest around the country.
In fact our DEM Irma Bañales will be consulting with the New England Synod of the ELCA this month on how they can utilize that program. Ministry multiplication made possible by resources and stewardship.“
Featured Resources for July
Being Church | Courageous Leadership
Nearly 100 Recordings with Faith Leaders from Across the Church
When most of us became aware of COVID-19 in March of 2020, ELCA Coaching (including our very own synod communicator, Jason O’Neill) began hosting weekly gatherings with faith leaders (rostered and lay) from around the nation to discuss ways we could envision (and take action toward) BEING CHURCH more like Christ taught and modeled. After taking part of the summer of 2021 off to rest and listen, they began hosting these weekly gatherings again around COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. These gatherings continue to meet weekly on Wednesdays at 1pm Central, and anyone may participate. (Login information can be found here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events/courageous-leadership) Recordings are typically posted by the next day and often include links to additional resources: https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/elca-coaching-media/series
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/nt-nl-first-call-cohort-and-latinx-young-adult-retreat/ – published Jun. 30)
(https://www.ntnl.org/nt-nl-lay-leader-training-programs-highlighted-again/ – published Jun. 30)
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:
Jul. 21-23: MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022, Briarwood
Jul. 24: 100th Celebration, Central, Dallas
Jul. 31: Installation of Rev. Erin Swenson-Reinhold, Preston Meadow, Plano
Aug. 5-6: ELCA Latinx Young Adult Gathering, Briarwood
Aug. 7-12: ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Columbus, OH
Pastor Totzke:
Jul. 7: Transitional Pastors Meeting (Hybrid)
Jul. 10: Bethel, Ericksdahl (Avoca)Jul. 12: First Call Pastors (Zoom)
Jul. 17: Mt. Olive, DallasJul. 24: Central/Bethany Anniversary & New Beginnings celebration, DallasJul. 31: Installation of Pr. Erin Swenson-Reinhold, Preston Meadow, Plano
Pastora Bañales:
Jul. 8-10: Women’s Retreat, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Jul. 11-16: Vacation
Jul. 17: Central, Dallas
Jul. 18: ELCA Candidacy Working Group, and Meeting with Mission Developer
Jul. 21: ELCA CCL Staff Meeting, Online
Jul. 23: Grace, Abilene
Jul. 24: Mount Olive, Dallas
Jul. 27: VBS at Central, Dallas
Jul. 28: Meetings with Ecumenical Group and NT-NL Renewal Team
Jul. 30: First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Jul. 31: New Hope, Keller
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:
- Jul. 6: Courageous Leadership – Dianne Johnson – Organic Faith Communities
- Jul. 7: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Jul. 9: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Jul. 13: Courageous Leadership – ELCA Young Adults – Topic TBA
- Jul. 20: Courageous Leadership – Presenter and Topic TBA
- Jul. 21-23: MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022, Briarwood
- Jul. 27: Courageous Leadership – Nathan Swenson-Reinhold – Team Facilitation
- Aug. 3: Courageous Leadership – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic)
- Aug. 4: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Aug. 5-7: ELCA Latinx Young Adults Gathering, Briarwood
- Aug. 10: Courageous Leadership – Presenter and Topic TBA
- Aug. 13: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Aug. 17: Courageous Leadership – Presenter and Topic TBA
- Aug. 24: Courageous Leadership – Presenter and Topic TBA
- Aug. 31: Courageous Leadership – Presenter and Topic TBA
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.