Message from Bishop Gronberg
Thank you to all who made our Assembly in Shreveport a successful gathering. We are grateful for the Eastern Conference and all the volunteers who have hosted two consecutive Assemblies (2022 at King of Glory, Dallas, and 2023 in Shreveport, LA). To the synod staff who worked extra hours in the midst of making a transition in office space, we give thanks. To Pastor Joan Iker (Holy Trinity, Shreveport) and Pastor Joel Hicks (St. Stephen, Shreveport), we also give thanks.
As was also announced at Assembly, we are grateful for the 7 years of service Jason O’Neill has given to the NT-NL Synod. In that time, Jason’s role as communicator has expanded to include technology, coaching, assembly planning, and a host of “other duties as assigned.” Jason has been recruited away from us to an exciting Mental Health Coaching position with Lyra Health, with an emphasis on Culturally Responsive Care. For this we give thanks as we also will miss his presence. As Bishop, it is my goal that our staff will grow in their competencies and their capabilities during their time in service to the synod. Jason has done so, and we give thanks that we can send him into new endeavors with God’s blessing and with gratitude for his service.
Over the next few weeks, the staff will be adjusting to a great deal of change. Please excuse a delayed response to email or other requests. For any emergencies, contact me directly at 214-207-1958.
And a friendly reminder to update your records with the synod’s new mailing address:
NT-NL Synod, ELCA
c/o Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
2620 W Grauwyler Rd
Irving TX, 75061
Our phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.
We are…
#InMissionTogether,
Bishop Gronberg
FREE Class: Introduction to the Truth and Healing Movement
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has commenced its Truth and Healing Movement, inspiring us to grow in better and right relationships with Indigenous people and tribal nations on Turtle Island (what many of us call North America). This workshop will explore the truths we seek to learn and the healing we hope to experience, as well as how the movement began, among Indigenous people and within the ELCA. It will also explain the work the ELCA has done recently and how you can participate in this justice movement.
Presented by Vance Blackfox. No pre-registration is required to participate. Just click “join the class” to attend.
May 9, 2023
7 – 8 p.m. Central time
JOIN THE CLASS
May 11, 2023
7 – 8 p.m. Central time
JOIN THE CLASS
What Every Nurse Needs to Know About Spiritual Care
From our partners at Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association (LFCNA):
The 2nd Annual Valborg Tollefsrud Educational Event
What Every Nurse Needs to Know About Spiritual Care
Presented by Sondra Weinzierl, MA, BAN, PHN, Faith Community Nurse
Thursday, May 11 via Zoom
The intentional care of the spirit is foundational to faith community nursing. Yet, many FCNs feel unprepared to identify spiritual needs and provide care in complex situations with diverse clients in a rapidly changing world. This workshop provides information on assessing spiritual needs, spiritual care barriers and interventions.
Click here for full details and to register.
Featured Resources for May
All congregations are encouraged to choose any Sunday in May to share the truths about the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women using the resources provided here (scroll down to Resources). In addition, worship resources will be available for use in services on each congregation’s #MMIW Sunday. We know it will be the first time many congregation members have heard about this crisis, and we hope these resources continue to inspire conversation and learning in ministries and communities across our church. ELCA #MMIW Sunday is also a day to encourage members and guests of your congregation to wear red to bring greater awareness to MMIW. Remember to post a photo on your post social media channels using the hashtags #MMIW and #ELCA.
2023 National Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
The National Partners Work Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the MMIW Family Advisors are organizing a national week of action May 1-7 to call the nation and the world to action in the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. To join in the week’s activities and raise awareness with a social media tool kit, visit the events webpage.
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women #MMIW
Wear red and post. On May 5, we encourage you to join Native people across the United States in wearing red to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Post a selfie or group picture on your social media channels using the hashtags #MMIW and #ELCA. To learn more about the National Day of Awareness and more ways to get involved, read this article from We R Native. More resources can be found on the ELCA MMIW page.
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.
*** May 1-15, synod staff will be moving the offices to our new location at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2620 W Grauwyler Rd, Irving TX, 75061. If you have an emergency, please call our cell numbers. There will likely be a delay in response to emails during this timeframe. ***
Bishop Gronberg:
May 7: 175th Anniversary, Four Mile, Mabank
May 8: Tarrant County Jury Duty
May 20: Ordination of Sean McConathy, Trinity, Fort Worth
May 27: Primeras Comuniones en First Sagrada Familia, Garland (11am) y en Adviento, Arlington (3pm)
Pastor Totzke:
May 4: Transitional / Interim pastors monthly meeting and Region 4 consultation meeting, both via Zoom
May 5-9: Vacation
May 14: Immanuel, Killeen
May 18: Youth Leaders lunch, Rejoice, Coppell
May 20: Candidacy committee meeting, Good Shepherd, Irving, then Ordination of Sean McConathy, Trinity, Fort Worth
May 23: First Call Pastors check-in, Zoom
May 28: Good Shepherd, Irving
Pastora Bañales:
May 4: St. Matthew’s, Fort Worth
May 5: Latinx Men’s Retreat planning team
May 11: Adviento, Arlington
May 15-19: Mission Developers one-on-one meetings
May 21: St Matthew’s, Fort Worth
May 23: Region 9 Boundaries Basic Planning training
May 25: Spanish Coaching
May 30: Quarterly Ministry Review, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
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:
- May 3: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic) – Zoom
- May 4: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- May 10: Courageous Leadership – Mark Molter – Enneagram – Zoom
- May 13: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 1, Course 3, Hybrid
- May 13: Public Witness Team meeting, Hybrid
- May 17: Courageous Leadership – Justin Grimm – Resiliency in Leadership – Zoom
- May 23: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
- May 24: Courageous Leadership – Anna Gordy – Neurodivergent Spectrum – Zoom
- May 25: Cultivating Compassion Session 5: The Righteous Mind, Online
- May 31: Courageous Leadership – Jill Beverlin & Jason O’Neill – Stories from the Veil – 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.