Message from Bishop Gronberg

Dear Partners in Mission:

We are fully into the season of marking time through special events. First Communions, Confirmations, Graduations, all coming together to celebrate. With that comes then the transition into summer events. Events in ways that we hope can mirror previous years before we ever heard of Covid-19. Although traditional summer camp weeks are not being offered at Briarwood, your congregation’s group (of any age, how about a multi-generational group!) is welcome to come and make use of the facilities. With the cancellation of the ELCA Youth Gathering, we also invite your high school age (leaving 8th-12) youth to participate in our NT-NL gathering July 7-10th. We will build on the theme Boundless and enjoy time together.

For congregations with a youth group that is majority youth of color, we also will offer the MYJ2 Event July 21-23. This event will utilize technology to link us to groups around the country including nationally known speakers and worship leaders. It will be a great time in which the voices and experiences of youth of color in our church will be centered and allowed space to share and connect.

As we transition in this time to summer activities, I pray for all a safe, healthy, and faith-filled summer. Summer is a great time for families to share their faith, particularly on summer trips. Take time for bible story telling, worship together, and talk about how your relationship with God has transformed you. For individuals traveling without family, or with, I encourage you to attend another congregation for worship. Experience a different style of liturgy or size of congregation. Explore your faith and engage new people.

Whatever you do this summer, I pray it will be a time when you again recognize the wonder of what God has done for us in Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit upon us in Pentecost, and the call that is then placed on all of us to share the good news.

In Christ,

Bishop Gronberg

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Recorded Sermon from Synod Assembly

We are beginning to go through the two days of recorded materials from Assembly (April 29-30). We will upload videos as we can to the synod YouTube channel. Here’s the direct link to the 2022 Synod Assembly playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1z_uxSxKHaZ9KveCd_L6R6y2nIkXiMl

The first recording uploaded is the sermon from Friday’s worship by Rev. Richie Butler, Senior Pastor of the historic St. Luke Community UMC in Dallas and Founder of Project Unity:

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The Cost of Poverty Experience

(This event scheduled for June 4 has been postponed until the Fall.)

Invitation from King of Glory, Dallas, to all NT-NL leaders (rostered and lay) and churches:

For those of us who have never “walked in their shoes,” we probably have a hard time understanding what life is like for a person who lives in poverty. The Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) is a 2-hour interactive event that offers a glimpse into the lives of low-income individuals and families living in the community.

COPE offers a snapshot of the obstacles that are faced, the decisions that are made, and the consequences that impact families every day. COPE also reveals how the policies and systems within our community help, or hinder, the progress of these families.

COPE represents the lives of REAL families who live in poverty and have graciously shared their stories so that people across the country can be exposed to REAL people, REAL situations, and REAL barriers that exist.

Make plans now to attend this major justice awareness event! The COPE event will begin at 10:00 am and continue with lunch provided for all participants, children in childcare and volunteers at noon. Sponsored by KOG Rebels with a Cause and underwritten by Debbie Jacob Life Enrichment Series and the King of Glory Lutheran Church Foundation and lunch provided by Thrivent, this event is free to attend but space is limited.

Registration required (but closed for now): https://www.kingofglory.com/cope/.

For any questions, please call (972) 661-9435.

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:

Jun. 4: First Communions and Confirmations, First Sagrada, Garland
Jun. 5: Retirement of Gus Vinejeras, Santa Maria in Exile/Santisima Trinadad, Irving, and Confirmation, Trinity, Fort Worth
Jun. 6: Ordination Service with North Central Conference United Methodist Church, Richardson
Jun. 13-14: Visit to Wartburg Seminary
Jun. 15-17: Visit bishops/staff
Jun. 18: LMM Annual Meeting
Jun. 19-24: Family Vacation
Jul. 7-10: NT-NL Youth (High School) Gathering 2022, Briarwood
Jul. 21-23: MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022, Briarwood
Jul. 24: 100th Celebration, Central, Dallas
Jul. 31: Installation of Rev. Erin Swenson-Reinhold, Preston Meadow, Plano
Aug. 5-6: ELCA Latinx Young Adult Gathering, Briarwood
Aug. 7-12: ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Columbus, OH

Pastor Totzke:

Jun. 2: Transitional Pastors Meeting (Zoom/Hybrid?)
Jun. 5: Pr. Gus Vinajeras’ retirement celebration, Holy Trinity, Irving
June 14: First Call pastors (Zoom)
June 28: First Call pastors (Zoom)
Jul. 7: Transitional Pastors Meeting (Hybrid)
Jul. 10: Bethel, Ericksdahl (Avoca)
Jul. 12: First Call Pastors (Zoom)
Jul. 17: Mt. Olive, Dallas
Jul. 24: Central/Bethany Anniversary & New Beginnings celebration, Dallas
Jul. 31: Installation of Pr. Erin Swenson-Reinhold, Preston Meadow, Plano

Pastora Bañales:

May 24: Conversation Brazilian Evangelical Church
May 26: DEM’s planning team
May 27: ELCA candidacy working group
May 28: First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Jun. 3: Planning Team, Latinx Young Adult Encounter
Jun. 4 & 5: St Paul, Levelland, and Trinity, Clovis, NM
Jun. 6: Woman’s Retreat planning team, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Jun. 7: Ministry Review, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Jun. 8: Leadership Formation Training, Santa Maria, Irving
Jun. 9: DFW Ecumenical Group
Jun. 11: Quinceañera XV, Little Rock, AR
Jun. 14: ELCA Spanish Coaching and SEMLA, MX
Jun. 16: St Matthews, Ft Worth
Jun. 18-24: Vacation
Jun. 25: Quinceañera XV, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Jun. 26: Umoja International Chapel, Ft Worth
Jun. 30: Three Shared Ministries Quarterly Review – Community of Hope, King of Glory, Umoja – Fort Worth