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Home | Blog

NT-NL News: June 2019, Third Monday

June 17, 2019 | NT–NL News By Jason O'Neill

Little Steps, Big Faith

Can the science behind children’s brain development inform faith formation? Author Dawn Rundman discusses this on the “Little Steps, Big Faith” Three Sides podcast. Dr. Rundman provides daily practices for parents and ideas on how congregations can create inviting spaces for children to experience God.


Life of Faith Initiative

The heart of Luther’s theology was driven both by the doctrine of justification and by the power of the Gospel to set us free. This freedom becomes active in love through service to the neighbors God gives us, the people we encounter in our daily lives. This issue of Currents in Theology and Mission explores the ELCA’s Life of Faith Initiative as a movement to activate the latent potential of the Reformation focus on the universal priesthood making it the primary focus of mission in a post-Christian age. The initiative insists on a radical paradigm shift, making the service of the baptized in daily life the primary focus.

The Life of Faith Initiative is a grassroots effort within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). All advocates of equipping all God’s saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12) are welcome to participate in the initiative, whether you are part of the ELCA or not.

The purpose of the Life of Faith initiative is to stir up a culture change that frees us to make the service by the baptized in the arenas of daily life the central focus of the church’s mission.

This initiative intentionally builds on the premise and success of the ELCA’s Book of Faith initiative, which pioneered a grass-roots movement embracing a common vision in which all are invited to open scripture and join the conversation. The Life of Faith initiative connects the Book of Faith initiative to the many and varied forms of service to neighbors through family, workplace, school, local community, and world. Each expression of the church is encouraged to develop approaches and resources in order to make the Life of Faith initiative a vital part of its reason for existence.


Gender-based Violence

“Gender-based violence is an ancient sin that for thousands of years has harmed countless women, children and men. It is a sin that Christians need to recognize, understand and confront, for our religious history also bears its stain.” – ELCA’s Social Message on Gender-Based Violence

New study guides are available for leaders and participants. Download both for free!


Featured Resources for June

LIRS invites you and your congregation to infuse new meaning into the phrase welcome the stranger.

New resources for observing Migrant and Refugee Sunday are now available at lirs.org/migrant-refugee-sunday. Consider how you might use some of these resources in the weeks of June:

  • On Pentecost Sunday, June 9, we hear a story of how diverse peoples, from the far reaches of the earth, are gathered into one people and speak one language through the gift of God’s Spirit.
  • June 9 is also designated as Children’s Day. June 16 is observed as Father’s Day. Both days are times to consider families who are on the move, and to respond to Christ’s call to care for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • On World Refugee Day, June 20, celebrations throughout the United States and the world commemorate the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict, and persecution.

The all-new resources for Migrant and Refugee Sunday include commentaries written by former refugees for preaching on the lessons for Pentecost, a Pentecost/World Refugee Day Litany, Prayer Petitions for June, and other worship and education materials that will be updated each month. You can also find images, language, and stories to enrich and support your congregation’s call to welcome the stranger and to celebrate our oneness in the body of Christ.


Recent Blog Posts

Bishop Gronberg:

150 Years of Our Savior, Norse TX

(https://www.ntnl.org/150-years-of-our-savior-norse-tx/ – published Jun. 12)

What time is it? It’s time for camp!!!

(https://www.ntnl.org/what-time-is-it-its-time-for-camp/ – published Jun. 13)


Where in the world is?

Bishop Gronberg:

  • Jun. 14-20: Vacation

Pastor Totzke:

  • Jun. 17: Interim Pastors meeting
  • Jun. 19: St. Matthew, Waco
  • Jun. 20: Lord of Life, Glenn Heights
  • Jun. 23: First Sagrada Familia, Garland

Pastora Bañales:

  • Jun. 18-20: Region 4 DEM’s Gathering, Kansas City
  • Jun. 21-22: NTNL Latino Women’s Annual Retreat

Upcoming Events

  • Jun. 22: Worship Together Summer Experience, Richland Hills, TX
  • Jun. 29: Better Conversations workshop, Arlington, TX
  • Jul. 13: Public Witness Team monthly meeting, Arlington, TX
  • Aug. 5-10: ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Milwaukee, WI
  • Aug. 8-11: Via de Cristo weekend, Argyle, TX
  • Aug. 10: Public Witness Team monthly meeting, Arlington, TX
  • Aug. 12-15: Intentional Interim Training, Argyle, TX
  • Aug. 17: WELCA Annual Women’s/Girl’s Retreat, Grand Prairie, TX
  • Aug. 31: ELCA Generosity Project workshop, Keller, TX

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.

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