LWR Ukraine Gift Match
Lutheran World Relief received tremendous news last week: Nelsonville Lutheran Church in Wisconsin will double all gifts from congregations – up to $100,000 – for our neighbors suffering in the Ukraine crisis. Right now, Lutheran World Relief teams are working with partners in and around Ukraine. Your congregation’s gift will deliver urgent support and care, like: food, shelter, and other critically needed items; Mission Quilts and Kits for families who fled their homes; and medicine and supplies for clinics.
Gifts will be matched through March 15. You can give online at lwr.org/match or by mailing to LWR, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061. Please write “Ukraine Match” in the memo line.
Opportunity for Dallas Area Congregations to Host Delegation
Outreach to the USA on Strengthening Christian Presence and Promoting Peace in the Holy Land
From our friend Dr. Mitri Raheb:
Greetings from Bethlehem. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hospitality during my short visit to Dallas in November of last year. I will be coming to the US (with stops in D.C., LA, and Dallas) again leading a Christian delegation to meet with religious and political leaders raising the issue of the situation of the Palestinian Christians in the Jerusalem and Bethlehem area, and seeking way to promote a just peace to our country. We are scheduled to arrive in Dallas on March 18th and to leave on the 21st. We would love an opportunity to meet with you and other religious leaders from the church or community during any of these days. We look also for possibilities to worship and/or speak at different congregations on Sunday.
Here are short bios of the members of the delegation.
Contact Dr. Raheb directly if interested: mraheb@daralkalima.edu.ps
MEF Executive Director Job Posting
Still have questions about what the Executive Director of the Mission Endowment Fund does? Feel free to contact current Executive Director Linda Ness at mef@ntnl.org or MEF Board Chair Pastor Donna Wright at prdonnawright@gmail.com. Click here for the complete description for this part-time job, including how to apply. Applications are due by TOMORROW, March 9, 2022. (If you are interested and need more time, please email BpGronberg@ntnl.org to let the bishop know.)
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:
What’s Going on In Ukraine (Conversation recorded Feb 17, 2022)
(https://www.ntnl.org/whats-going-on-in-ukraine-conversation-recorded-feb-17-2022/ – published Mar. 1)
(https://www.ntnl.org/celebration-of-ecumenical-partnership/ – published Mar. 5)
(https://www.ntnl.org/march-2022-conference-of-bishops/ – published Mar. 5)
Pastor Totzke:
(https://www.ntnl.org/a-return-to-the-panhandle/ – published Mar. 7)
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. 20: Immanuel, Killeen
Mar. 24: Texas Lutheran University Choir, Trinity, Fort Worth
Apr. 29: Synod Council meeting, Dallas
Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
Pastor Totzke:
Mar. 20: Grace, Fort Worth
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
Apr. 2: Closing worship, DAMN Conference WELCA retreat
Apr. 3: Shepherd of Life, Arlington
Apr. 7: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
Apr. 17: Easter worship, Immanuel, Killeen
Apr. 23: Faithful Innovation training for COW conference, Calvary, San Angelo
Apr. 24: Trinity, Miles
Apr. 29: Synod Council meeting, Dallas
Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
Pastora Bañales:
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
Apr. 29: Synod Council meeting, Dallas
Apr. 29-30: 2022 NT-NL Synod Assembly, Dallas
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. 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.