Message from Pastor Fitting-Snyder

As we made the drive back from Amarillo to Waco my husband Jon made the comment “They [the churches] all look the same.” To which I replied “Yeah…they are all Lutheran…” While Jon has not been with me on all of my church visits, I am grateful that he has been with me on some of the long drives. And while I might not share the same sentiment as Jon that “they all look the same” I will acknowledge there is a familiarity for me (a life long Lutheran) stepping into each and every one of these spaces, which for me provides a great comfort. 

A space may look the same, but we know that it is the people that make the community. it is the people that make the church not the building, and because of that each worshiping community has a different feel and personality. I love having the opportunity to meet the people of NTNL and over the past couple of weeks I have gotten to experience so much of Texas (and Oklahoma). 

In February I was the people of Our Saviour’s in Durant, OK. The night before Jon and I got a tour of Durant with council president and the next day I lead worship and shared in a potluck. 

The first weekend in March I got to experience the hospitality of the folks of Trinity in Miles. Lead by their SAWL  and Seminarian Bryan Swecker, I had dinner with the some of the folks on Saturday. On Sunday I attend Bible Study and worship in the morning, followed by a potluck and conversation. 

I spent March 4-6 on retreat with the Assistants to the Bishop for Region four in Eagle Pass Texas. We stayed at Benedictine retreat center and were hosted by Sister Ursula. It was an impactful few days. It was great to be with my colleagues in person to learn and ask questions about the work we do. We spent time with Emma and Pastor Julio and learned about Frontera Ministries (a ministry of the Southwestern Texas Synod) and worshiped on Ash Wednesday with the people of Inglesias Luterana San Lucas led by Pastor Julio. While I am learning Spanish slowly, the familiarly of the liturgy and the ritual of Ash Wednesday made worship for me an impactful experience. If you want to learn more about Frontera Ministries you can find more info on their website https://www.eaglepassfrontera.net/ 

Most recently I spent time in the Panhandle for a Lent retreat hosted by the pastors of the Panhandle conference. I got to experience Palo Duro State Park (just before it snowed), and enjoyed worship and fellowship. On Sunday I preached and worshiped with the congregation of Beautiful Savior in Amarillo. In the fellowship time following the service I met a gentlemen who had served as the council president of my internship congregation in the early 90’s. The Lutheran world is small, and you never know who you are going to run into. 

Building relationships, being with people, and walking along side people, is what ministry is about at its core. Being given the opportunity to meet people from across the state and synod I have come to appreciate even more that we really are together in mission. 

In the work of Christ,

Pastor Kelsey

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You can read about the happenings of our Synodical Women’s Organization here.

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NT-NL synod staff are excited to engage in-person on Sundays for worship. As good stewards of time and travel dollars, we will be utilizing online meeting formats in our new hybrid reality when possible. If you would like to schedule a meeting with the bishop or Synod staff please contact them directly.

Bishop Gronberg:

March 18: Liepzig Thomanerchor; Incarnation Episcopal, Dallas

Pastora Bañales:

March 10-12: Region 4 DEMs Retreat
March 13: DEM Advisory Team Meeting
March 16: First Lutheran, Temple
March 17-20: ELCA DEM Gathering, Chicago
March 22: Community of Hope, Fort Worth
March 23: Adviento, Arlington
March 25: Sowing in the Margins, NT-NL Team Meeting
March 26: Cultivating a Culture of Generosity
March 30: Faith, Fort Worth

Pastor Fitting-Snyder:

March 16: Advent, Arlington
March 22: Candidacy Meeting, Good Shepherd, Irving
March 23: First, Temple
March 30: Midland Lutheran, Midland