A “Generational” Moment
Dear Partners in Mission:
“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24
The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has created a “generational” moment. These are moments—like 9/11, the Challenger explosion, Kent State, the Kennedy assassination—that can be simply referred to in a word or short phrase but evoke vivid memories and emotions.
What is somewhat unique about this moment is that it is being fully shared worldwide. No part of our global community is untouched, either by this disease or its economic and social ramifications. This moment is also unique in that it isn’t an instant event, that then creates reaction; instead, it is unfolding over days, weeks, and months. While along the way there are multiple points of significance, we are going to be living this “generational” moment for quite some time.
This duration is important. This moment is going to be more like a marathon than a sprint.
We honestly prefer the sprint. It is intense, difficult … but over relatively quickly. While both require intense training and discipline, completing the marathon requires the athlete to combine physical and mental strength to have patience, adapt, and learn along the course as conditions and their own body changes.
What does this analogy mean for us as members of the body of Christ in this moment? Continue reading this message from Bishop Gronberg.
COVID-19 Resources
With everything changing so quickly, and so that we’re not continuing to email everyone multiple times per week, we have created a single webpage that we will update as needed:
Items on this page are listed in date order, with the latest post first, so that you can see at a quick glance what you have missed since the last time you accessed the page. We pray this helps us all as we live into a new reality around worship and community.
Important note: We have included resources for how to facilitate online worship and other gatherings. Here’s one example: https://get.tithe.ly/blog/virtual-church-live-streaming. For some of our congregations, moving online for worship is beyond their technical capabilities. As such, we have also created a page with information about congregations that are already offering, or beginning to offer, online options: https://www.ntnl.org/online-worship/. Let’s worship together.
Zoombombing and Why You Should Care
If you are hosting Zoom meetings, please take the time to read this TechCrunch article: Beware of ‘ZoomBombing:’ screensharing filth to video calls.
The world is vulnerable to a new type of trolling as people turn to Zoom video calls to feel connected amidst quarantines. Jerks are using Zoom’s screensharing feature to blast other viewers with the most awful videos from across the internet, from violence to shocking pornography. Continue reading.
This can be a problem in open events, which are likely to be used in Zoom worship and other virtual meetings / gatherings. Only allowing folks to participate by registration lessens the dangers but is also not welcoming the way we likely want to be.
Check out Preventing Zoombombing from our friends in the SEIA Synod for a 5-minute video tutorial to walk you through several recommended prevention steps.
If leaders or congregations are hosting Zoom events, here are a few important notes and suggestions:
- any open Zoom event is truly open, you can be found and entered with no authentication
- the host needs to be sure that taking over presentation mode by any participant is turned off
- especially if the host is presenting during the broadcast, it’s good practice to have someone watching for unacceptable activity, including on camera and in chat; this is good practice anyway to allow for the most engagement by participants
Please note, some of these items are not able to be disabled in Settings. The host will need to click on “Advanced Sharing Options” while in the room and select whether participants can share. It is a good habit to log in early and do this before the official start of each Zoom meeting anyway.
FYI: This is happening with all virtual meeting hosting companies (i.e. GoToMeeting, Skype, etc.), so if you are using something besides Zoom, please adjust your Settings accordingly and have similar protocols in place.
Featured Resources for March | Recursos destacados para marzo
A new landing page for Spanish-language resources is available. Download social statements, communication tools, ELCA brandmarks, bishop messages, and more.
Se encuentra disponible una nueva página de destino para recursos en español. Descargue declaraciones sociales, herramientas de comunicación, marcas registradas de la ELCA, mensajes de obispos y más.
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
Leaders: COVID-19 Resources, ELCA Coaching, Worship Online, and more!
(https://www.ntnl.org/leaders-covid-19-resources-elca-coaching-worship-online-and-more/ – published Mar. 17)
(https://www.ntnl.org/covid-19-guidelines-recommendations-and-resources/ – published Mar. 17)
(https://www.ntnl.org/sunday-morning-going-live-online/ – published Mar. 22)
Pastor Smith:
(https://www.ntnl.org/bw-summer-update/ – published Mar. 19)
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 virtually. 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 postponed or cancelled:
- Apr. 4: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 7 (Día 1 de 5), Argyle, TX
- Apr. 11: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 7 (Día 2 de 5), Argyle, TX
- Apr. 11: Public Witness Team meeting, Arlington, TX
- Apr. 18: PLMA, Spring 2020, Course 2, Zoom
- Apr. 19-24: Ministerial Flourishing: Exploring the Meaning, Means and Practices, Navasota, TX
- Apr. 24-25: 2020 Synod Assembly, Dallas, TX
- May 2: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 7 (Día 3 de 5), Argyle, TX
- May 2: Heart of Texas conference WELCA spring gathering, Waco, TX
- May 9: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 7 (Día 4 de 5), Argyle, TX
- May 9: Public Witness Team meeting, Arlington, TX
- May 16: PLMA, Spring 2020, Course 3, Argyle, TX
- May 16: Briarwood 2020 Gala: Adventure Awaits, Argyle, TX
- May 23: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 7 (Día 5 de 5), Argyle, TX
- May 24-29: Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Intensive I, Austin, 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.