MEF Announces 2022 Grant Recipients
CONGRATULATIONS! Since 1996, the NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) has been awarding grants to deserving but underfunded ministries across our Synod. The 2022 Grant allocations include 22 ministries with a total of $84,600. With these funds, the MEF has now EXCEEDED ONE MILLION DOLLARS in grant-giving. The MEF Board is grateful for the financial support that we have received, as well as for the wise management of the investment which has now brought the account to almost TWO MILLION DOLLARS! Please take a moment to think about the blessings these funds have made to our NT-NL congregations and the impact of our Christian faith on all of the recipients though the ministries and services that have been provided over the 26-year history of MEF grant giving!
Please pray for these 22 ministries, for those who have conceived the programs, those who will implement the programs, and those who will receive the blessings of each ministry:
Christ the Servant LC/Denton – Improving online technology for worship
Church of the Damascus Road – Prison and Recovery Ministry
Community of Hope LC/FW – DayCare Vitality Center
Emanuel LC/Dallas – Ministry Neighborhood Outreach
First LC/Longview – The Success Center: Expansion
First Sagrada Familia LC/Garland – Family Retreat
Four Mile LC/Mabank – Youth – Preparing food to feed the less fortunate
Four Mile LC/Mabank – WELCA – feeding the elderly, handicapped & homeless on weekends
Holy Trinity LC/Shreveport – Feeding the neighborhood homeless
Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria de Guadalupe/Irving – Christian Education to develop Lutheran identity
kin-dom community/McKinney, TX – kin-dom community (mission of NTNL) creating a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community
King of Glory LC/FW – Dinner and conversation for partnering ministry exploration
Latinx Conference – Women’s Retreat
Latinx Conference – Couples Retreat
New Hope LC/Keller – Enhancing a Hybrid Church
Rejoice LC/Frisco – The Table – A community of faith to share God’s love by gathering around a table for food and drink.
St John LC/Bartlett – Community garden
St John LC/Dallas – Neighborhood addiction and recovery ministry
St John LC/Wilson – Mobile food pantry
St. Luke’s LC/Richardson – Community breakfast
Trinity Evangelical LC/Miles – Virtual services enhancement
Via de Cristo – 2022 Via de Cristo Annual Gathering – Seguin TX
Senior Smart Series
From our friends at Trinity, Fort Worth:
Join us every Sunday in March immediately following the 10:30 am service: Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3621 Tulsa Way, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
This is for all TLC Members and Friends who are interested in discussing aging-related topics. Topics will include downsizing your home, personal in-home safety & internet safety, funeral planning, and a conversation with Morgan Schmidlin from the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest about estate planning & giving.
For additional details, contact Elizabeth Trout at etrout@retireeasemovemanagement.com or 214-354-0214.
A Smart Senior knows it’s never too early to start planning for the future.
Director of Children’s Ministry Job Posting
Faith Lutheran Church in Flower Mound is searching for a Director of Children’s Ministry. Please click here for the job description. If you or someone you know may be interested in the position, you may contact Pastor Nick: n.schmidlin@faithce.com or 419-262-0581.
Featured Resources for March
From our partners at Vanderbilt Divinity School | Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice:
Offering a number of FREE training options on important and relevant topics that you can participate in at your convenience. Some recent examples still accessible: Redefining Essentialness, Organizing Church, and more! You may access the trainings here: https://www.religionandjustice.org/exchanges
You may also access this recording of their recent Churches and Cooperatives: Building a New Economy:
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/texas-governors-statements-regarding-trans-people/ – published Feb. 25)
(https://www.ntnl.org/mt-olive-dallas-celebrating-black-history/ – published Feb. 27)
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:
Mar. 2-5: Conference of Bishops, Chicago, IL
Mar. 6: Central, Dallas
Mar. 20: Immanuel, Killeen
Mar. 24: Texas Lutheran University Choir, Trinity, Fort Worth
Pastor Totzke:
Mar. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
Mar. 5: Lubbock area council retreat, Shepherd King
Mar. 6: Trinity, Lockney
Mar. 26: Shreveport combined councils retreat
Mar. 27: Combined worship with Shreveport congregations, St. Stephen
Mar. 29-Apr. 1: Leadership Edge Training Phase 2, Zoom
Pastora Bañales:
Mar. 1: ELCA DEM’s & Deans of Latinx Communities conversation
Mar. 2: Ash Wednesday service, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Mar. 3: Ecumenical Gathering, Catholic Charities Dallas Central services
Mar. 4-6: Latina Women Gathering, Galveston
Mar. 7: NT-NL Renewal Team meeting
Mar. 9: Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Irving
Mar. 10: Walnut Hill, Farmers Branch
Mar. 12: Spanish Parish Lay Ministry Academy
Mar. 13: Grace, Ft. Worth
Mar. 14-20: Vacation
Mar. 27: Immanuel, Killeen
Mar. 29-31: ELCA Candidacy Task Force, Chicago, IL
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:
- Mar. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Mar. 4-6: Together We Welcome: A National Faith Gathering to Strengthen Support for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants, Online
- Mar. 12: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2022, Course 1
- Mar. 12: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Mar. 18: LAST DAY to register with REDUCED PRICING for Synod Assembly (April 29-30)
- Apr. 2: Dallas Area Metroplex North Conference Retreat, Plano
- Apr. 7: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Apr. 9: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2022, Course 2
- Apr. 9: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Apr. 17: LAST DAY to register online for Synod Assembly (April 29-30)
- Apr. 29: Synod Council Meeting, Dallas
- Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
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.