Message from Pastora Bañales

The Stewardship of Life Institute (SOLI), founded in 1994, is headquartered at United Lutheran Seminary, with campuses in Philadelphia and Gettysburg, Pa. The Institute’s mission is to serve stewardship in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Institute carries on the vision and work of its founder and benefactor, the late Arthur L. Larson, who died in 2000. The institute is a nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) status, which enables it to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.

I have participated at SOLI as a board member since 2020. They provide stewardship grants for synods, individual congregations twice a year. https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/grants/

You are welcome to contact me, irma@ntnl.org, or the Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Martin Zimmann, mzimmann@uls.edu. 

It has been a blessing for me as DEM been part of SOLI, in addition there is a weekly article including bible text about how to continue growing in our stewardship daily live. I’m sharing the upcoming Lectionary Reflection for this coming Sunday. 

By Rob Blezard  (Rev. Sharron R. Blezard)

But [the older son] answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Luke 15:29-30

In the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” can’t you just hear the venom and indignation in the older son’s voice when he realizes his “scummy” younger sibling is getting something he’s not? It’s an issue of deserving, of paying your dues, earning your keep, and toeing the company (or in this case, family) line. This “plenty party” for the wayward son defies all good order; it’s just not the way things are done–at least in the eyes of the angry first born.

This is such a rich story with so many ways to approach it. It touches on grace, abounds in hope, and drips with love. It also serves as a powerful story about stewardship. Yes, stewardship. Jesus tells a tale that offers a fine comparison between living with an abundance mindset and nurturing a sense of scarcity. This is definitely a lesson for both individuals and congregations in how we view, use, and share what we have been given.

The lesson for us–both individually and corporately as the Body of Christ–is to hold loosely, love lavishly, and welcome everyone to the table. There is always room for one more, always reason to celebrate and have a party, and always, always enough in God’s economy. So go ahead, welcome sinners and eat with them, and don’t settle for a measly kid goat. Your father in heaven wants so much more for you.

---

Online Discernment Groups – exploring God’s call to lead

Do you ever get a sense that God is tapping you on the shoulder?

Are you wanting to learn more about church leadership and wondering whether it might be for you? Have you ever thought about enrolling in seminary, or even just wondered what seminary study is like today? 

You are not alone! The ELCA, in partnership will all our seminaries, is once again offering online groups where you can share your curiosity with others across the church. Over three sessions, explore how God might be calling you to lead in the ELCA. Sign up by visiting elcaseminaries.org and filling out the contact form, or by emailing recruitment@elca.org.

Are you a rostered minister interested in leading such a group? Email Rick.Summy@elca.org to learn more. 

---

---

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 28: Academy 4 with Fort Worth Congregations
April 13: First Lutheran, Temple
April 24-25: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Lubbock
May 4: Emanuel, Dallas
May 18: Messiah, Weatherford
May 18: Trinity, Sherman

Pastora Bañales:

March 25: Sowing in the Margins, NT-NL Team Meeting
March 26: Cultivating a Culture of Generosity
March 30: Faith, Fort Worth
April 3: DEM Advisory Team Meeting
April 6: Adviento, Arlington
April 7-11: Stewardship of Life Institute Board Meeting, Chicago
April 12: Spanish Parish Lay Ministry Academy
April 20: Emanuel, Dallas
April 25-26: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Lubbock
April 29: Latinx Couples Retreat Planning Team Meeting

Pastor Fitting-Snyder:

March 25: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
March 30: Midland Lutheran, Midland
April 5: Dallas Area Metro North WELCA Conference, Christ the Servant, Allen
April 6: Grace, Carrollton
April 13: Gloria Dei, Garland
April 20: St. Matthew’s, Fort Worth
April 24-26: NT-NL Synod Assembly, Lubbock