Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear Partners in Mission:
One of the most difficult parts of leading in these times is the pace of change. Change that we bring upon ourselves. Change that comes to us from outside. And the reality that it is usually both the internal and external that move change.
Change can be experienced as a negative. Things we thought we knew no longer are true, a relationship we valued may end, a job might be lost, etc. But it also can be an immensely positive thing. We make changes for healthy lifestyles, prioritize sabbath rest, learn new skills, end a relationship that was unhelpful, etc.
Change also inevitably, even when positive, brings grief, and grief is often tied up in what we thought would be. The future story we had created about how things would turn out. And we all have these stories and, given the realities of the time in which we live, we all have grief. In our synod we grieve when congregations choose to faithfully end ministry, even when that ending will help bring new beginnings. We grieve as Briarwood changes from what we knew, even as we give thanks for the new thing it will be. Continuing to serve our synod and able to bless ministry and support its constitutionally defined purposes. Remembering that the church or any ministry of the church is not made up of property, but the people of God proclaiming the gospel.
During Lent we are called to consider changes. Changes in our focus perhaps manifesting in different worship practices or daily devotions. Making a discipline of prayer or fasting. Intentionally changing our lifestyle to remind us of the suffering Christ will undergo in Holy Week. Suffering that caused Jesus to grieve and weep. But suffering that ultimately brings the greatest change of all to the world. That death no longer has the last word. That change to which we are joined in baptism so that we too might live a new life. Our weeping will turn to joy. But first we must continue this season of Lent. Taking seriously our changes and looking with hope to God’s action on Easter.
In Mission Together:
Bishop Gronberg
FREE Webinars: Challenges and Opportunities of Online Worship
From our partners at Wartburg Theological Seminary:
FREE Webinars: Thursdays, March 9 and 23
The January 2023 issue of Currents in Theology and Mission focuses on the challenges and opportunities of online worship, including the meaning of assembling as online or digital communities, digital communion, and more. Several authors of those articles will reflect on the lenses through which they consider these issues and what they learned from reading one another’s articles. Available via Zoom, we hope these will be the first of several webinars on these topics. You may access the journal here.
MIF Updated Investment Rates
From our partners at the Mission Investment Fund (MIF):
Invest with MIF. Solid rates. Lasting impact.
There’s more good news. Our Demand Investments are now earning as high as 2.50% APY*. These Demand Investments, which allow you add and withdraw funds from your savings whenever you like, are worth a look too. At the same time it’s helping you build your savings, your investment in the Mission Investment Fund will help fund loans to ELCA congregations and ministries so they can continue doing God’s work in the world. That’s two compelling reasons to connect with us.
To open a new account, visit us at mif.elca.org or call 877-886-3522.
*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates effective March 6, 2023, and subject to change without notice. Mission Investment Fund investments are subject to certain risks. See “Risk Factors” in MIF’s Offering Circular. MIF’s investments are not bank accounts. As securities issued by a nonprofit institution, the investments are not insured by FDIC, SIPC or any other federal or state regulatory agency. The securities are sold only by means of the Offering Circular. This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described here.
Featured Resources for March
Are you ever looking for images or music that doesn’t feel or sound “stock” and is available for FREE to use in newsletters, services, and so on? Here are two (of a number) of sites that offer these options direct from content creators!
“Over 2.7 million+ high quality stock images, videos, and music shared by our talented community.”
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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. 5: Rejoice, Coppell
Mar. 11: Parish Lay Ministry Academy (PLMA)
Mar. 15-18: Spring Break Vacation
Apr. 15: Parish Lay Ministry Academy (PLMA)
Apr. 21-22: Lutheran Men in Mission Annual Meeting
Apr. 23: 100th Anniversary Celebration, First United, Dallas
Apr. 28-29: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Shreveport, LA
Pastor Totzke:
(As she transitions back from her sabbatical, which ended on February 28, visits are being added almost daily that may not be noted in the weekly news through March.)
Mar. 20-23: Bishop’s Associates Gathering, Minneapolis, MN
Mar. 28: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
Apr. 6: Interim/Transitional Pastors, Zoom
Apr. 28-29: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Shreveport, LA
Pastora Bañales:
Mar. 7-12: ELCA Mission Developers training
Mar. 13: ELCA DEM’s People of Color meeting
Mar. 15: Executive Committee, Santa Maria, Irving
Mar. 16: ELCA all staff meeting
Mar. 20: NT-NL Latino Pastors Meeting
Mar. 22-23: Latino Christian National Network, Dallas
Mar. 27: ELCA Candidacy Development Working Group
Apr. 28-29: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Shreveport, LA
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. 8: Courageous Leadership – K. C. Davis – Mental Health, Illness, and Difficult Seasons, Zoom
- Mar. 11: Parish Lay Ministry Academy (PLMA), Spring 1, Course 1, Hybrid
- Mar. 11: Public Witness Team meeting, Hybrid
- Mar. 15: Courageous Leadership – Tim Brown – Where Your Heart Is, Zoom
- Mar. 22: Courageous Leadership – Jeff Linman – Living and Leading with Resurrection Faith, Zoom
- Mar. 23: Cultivating Compassion Session 3: Practice – Disproportionality, Online
- Mar. 28: First Call Pastors Check-in, Online
- Mar. 29: Courageous Leadership – Bishop Mike Girlinghouse – Embracing God’s Future, Part 2, 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.