So More People May Know the Way of Jesus
On February 1, the ELCA churchwide organization implemented Future Church, a new working structure focused on motivating the entire church to actively share the way of Jesus with more people so that they might experience community, justice, and love. The design emphasizes the belief that members, congregations, synods, the churchwide organization and its partner organizations all have important roles in the church’s mission. The church’s three expressions (congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization) will remain, but the Future Church design is centered on a “One Church” identity that will bring greater collaboration to the mission of sharing the gospel and God’s grace in the world. Living Lutheran talked about Future Church and what it means for the life of the ELCA with Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton; Phil Hirsch, executive director of ELCA Christian Community and Leadership; Mikka McCracken, executive director of ELCA Innovation; and Bill Horne, ELCA vice president. Read the interview here.
A Deeply Spiritual Act | Un Acto Profundamente Espiritual
Stewardship: In her June/July column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on what we’ve learned from the Apostle Paul about the deeply spiritual act of stewardship. Read her column in English: A Deeply Spiritual Act o lee su columna en español: Un Acto Profundamente Espiritual.
Seeking a Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry
Abiding Love Lutheran Church (abidinglove.org) in Austin, TX is seeking a Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry to lead a vibrant ministry with our children and youth. The Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries plans, coordinates and executes programs for the spiritual formation of children and youth, from birth through the 12th grade. Working with ministry teams, sponsors, teachers, and parents, the Director is responsible for setting and accomplishing programmatic goals, calendaring, budgeting, communicating, and interfacing with staff and congregational leadership. The Director’s work involves recruiting and equipping volunteers and cultivating relationships through direct involvement with children, youth and parents. The Director takes a holistic approach to the ministry area: developing curricula, planning age-appropriate events, and celebrating milestones (Baptism, First Bible, First Communion, Confirmation, and graduations). The Director will innovate as well as build on current programming, working toward growth, improvement, and deepening engagement for our young people in spiritual life and service. Current programming includes ongoing weekly and monthly activities, some travel for periodic events, retreats, and camps. Click here for the full job description. For more information, contact info@abidinglove.org
Featured Resources for June
LIRS (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) invites you and your congregation to infuse new meaning into the phrase welcome the stranger. Join us in celebrating the resilience and courage of refugees and migrants in America — and in your own community!
Migrant and Refugee Sunday (pick a Sunday in June)
World Refugee Day – June 20
2021 theme: Together we heal, learn and shine
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
World Refugee Day was held globally for the first time on June 20, 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day, before the United Nations General Assembly officially designated it as an international day in December 2000.
If you have questions or would like to share your plans for World Refugee Day, please contact hqwrd@unhcr.org. Access the World Refugee Day toolkit here.
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/commemoration-of-the-emanuel-9/ – published Jun. 17)
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. Until we can assure everyone in attendance at a meeting are vaccinated, in order to protect those gathered, the synod staff will continue to wear masks unless preaching or presiding and sufficient social distancing can be provided.
Bishop Gronberg:
Jun. 27: Ascension, Garland
Pastor Totzke:
Jun. 17-22: Vacation time
Jul. 1: Interim/Transitional Pastors monthly meeting
Jul. 4: St. Matthew, Waco
Pastora Bañales:
Jun. 22: LIRS Virtual Advocacy Day for World Refugee Day
Jun. 24: ELCA Congregational Community & Leadership all staff meeting
Jun. 27: Umoja International Chapel, Fort Worth
Jun. 29: Joy, Rockwall
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:
- Jun. 22: White Supremacy & Racism: Facing Reality, Taking Responsibility – Selections from Bernestine Singley, ed., When Race Becomes Real: Black and White Writers Confront Their Personal Histories, Zoom
- Jul. 1: Transitional (Interim) Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Jul. 6: White Supremacy & Racism: Facing Reality, Taking Responsibility – Derrick Bell, “The Space Traders,” Zoom
- Jul. 10: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Jul. 20: White Supremacy & Racism: Facing Reality, Taking Responsibility – Kimberlé Crenshaw, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex,” Zoom
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.