Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear Partners in Mission:
The celebration of the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Dec. 12) is an important festival in the life of many of our Spanish speaking communities. The day commemorates the visions Juan Diego, an indigenous American convert to Christianity, reported to have had of the Virgin Mary in 1531. In the centuries that have followed Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) has become an extremely important image and symbol in Mexico in particular.
In NT-NL, congregations commemorate this day in many ways. San Gabriel in Alvarado has a large cabalgata (parade) through the neighborhoods around the church with people on horseback, dancing, and singing. Other congregations have worship services remembering the importance of Mary in the life of the church.
This year we are especially honored that Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will be joining us for the Dec 10/11 weekend. On December 10th a worship service will be held at Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Irving (2601 S MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75060) at 5:30pm. This worship will commemorate the reunion of this congregation with our Conferencia Latina and NT-NL. You are invited to join us.
On December 11th Bishop Eaton will join in the festivities at San Gabriel (4029 County Road 610. Alvarado, TX 76009). The cabalgata begins about 10am and lasts for several hours. Again, you are welcome to join in the festivities and walk in the parade if you desire.
Observing traditions from around the world enriches us and our preparations in Advent for Christmas. I encourage you to learn more about the various ways communities in our synod celebrate and honor their heritage of faith.
In Mission Together:
Bishop Gronberg
Message from Rev. Kris Totzke
NT-NL Synod, as with many of our congregations, has a longstanding sabbatical policy for staff who have served more than 4 years. In September, the Synod Council approved a 3-month sabbatical for me for the months of December, January, and February. During that sabbatical time, I will be working on projects with a theme of discernment. My goal is to develop tools and resources to use for those in discernment for call to ordained ministry and for congregations in discernment about their future. The plan is for these tools to be used either in retreat settings or for individual discernment journeys.
While I am on sabbatical, Bishop Gronberg and the rest of the staff will be picking up various responsibilities and processes. Bishop and DEM Irma Bañales will be the primary contacts for congregations and pastors. I am deeply grateful to Bishop Gronberg, the staff, and the Synod Council for allowing me this opportunity to step away and be renewed for the years of ministry still ahead.
CTLM Invitation for Learning Opportunities
.http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/ctlm/.
Featured Resources for November
Lutheran women have a long history of Bible study, discipleship, and desire to deepen their spiritual life and learn about issues.
Women of the ELCA offers FREE downloadable program resources—including many in Spanish—to help you grow in faith and engage in ministry and action:
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:
Nov. 19-26: Thanksgiving Family Vacation
Dec. 4: Midland Lutheran, Midland; Retirement of Pastor Bob Barndt
Dec. 10: Conferencia Latina Celebration Service at Santa Maria, Irving
Dec. 11: Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, San Gabriel, Alvarado
Dec. 18: First Communions, Santa Maria, Irving
Dec. 18: Kyrie Pub Church, Fort Worth
Jan. 7: King of Glory, Fort Worth
Jan. 8: Walnut Hill, Farmers Branch
Jan. 21: PLMA Graduation
Jan. 24: First Call Pastor Check-in, Zoom
Jan. 28: TLU Corporation Board
Feb. 4: Synod Council, Online
Pastor Totzke:
Nov. 19: Candidacy Committee, Briarwood
Nov. 20: First United, Dallas
Nov. 22: First call pastors, Zoom
Nov. 27: Grace, Carrollton
Dec. 1-Feb. 28: On Sabbatical
Pastora Bañales:
Nov. 13-15: Region 4 DEM’s and Latine Leaders Retreat, Briarwood.
Nov. 17: Meetings with Mission Developers
Nov. 19: Visioning Retreat, Grace, Abilene
Nov. 20-27: Personal days and Holidays
Nov. 28:Meeting with Mission Developer
Nov. 29: ELCA Mission Support Strategy Team meeting
Nov. 29: Meeting with Mission Developer
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:
- Nov. 16: Courageous Leadership – Myron Herzberg – Communal Discernment, Zoom
- Nov. 19: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2022, Course 3, Hybrid
- Nov. 23: Courageous Leadership – Christina Costa – The Importance of Gratitude, Zoom
- Nov. 30: Courageous Leadership – Danielle Groth and Vicky Lovell – Reiki and Faith, Zoom
- Dec. 7: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic), Zoom
- Dec. 10: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Dec. 14: Courageous Leadership – Karen Kretschmann – Mission Interpretation and Story Connections, Zoom
- Dec. 21: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Christmas celebration, 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.