MEF Updates and Thank You
The 2020 Seeds that Change fundraising and celebration campaign is a success! The Mission Endowment Fund Board offers thanks to the participants, representing just under 30 of the NT-NL Congregations, and especially to our generous donors who have supported this grant-giving ministry. See the donor wall on the MEF page at the NT-NL website, which will continue to be updated. Donations are still being received. We are getting closer! Can you help us reach our bold goal of $50,000? You may donate or pledge online or mail gifts to the Synod office. Current information and details of the campaign and ministry, including the 2021 grant application form, can be found at https://www.ntnl.org/ministries/mef/.
The Gather in Thankfulness collaborative worship service is available on YouTube:
MEF “celebrity” short videos are also available: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1z_uxSxKHZCCD-lV9XRtFDYazUh_KZx. See what Hattie Hammer, Bishop Gronberg, The Rev. Irma Bañales, and many more have to say about this ministry of our synod.
WE ARE THANKFUL!
Set Free | Liberados
In her October column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the liberation we receive in Christ through faith. She reminds us that Martin Luther, in The Freedom of a Christian, made the case that liberation in Christ is both freedom from and a freedom for. Read her column in English: Set Free o lee su columna en español: Liberados.
Journi – Reveal Your Path to Leadership
When someone feels God is calling them to make a difference in the world, the sheer number of questions and options can be overwhelming.
Coming this winter, Journi is a digital tool for everyone who feels called to leadership in this church. Journi will equip future leaders with tools to discover their gifts, practical resources to learn more about opportunities within the church and next steps to move forward in their leadership journey. Watch our video to learn more about our vision for Journi.
We are hard at work making Journi a reality. Be among the first to learn how it’s going — sign up for updates at Journi.faith.
Featured Resources for October
Clergy Appreciation Day is always the second Sunday in October, and all of October is celebrated as Clergy Appreciation Month. The celebration was established in 1992 with a mission of uplifting and affirming pastors and religious workers, so we encourage you to consider including deacons, staff, and volunteers.
Some congregations take up a special offering on this day to bless our ministers. Others use the entire month of October to find different means to bless leaders with meals, gifts, and even paid time off. As an individual, there are several ways to show appreciation:
- Tell others. Tell them how much your church leaders do for the congregation – and let your leaders overhear you.
- Volunteer. Churches offer more opportunities for volunteering than just about anywhere. Don’t wait to be voluntold.
- Pray for your clergy. It should probably be in the first slot, but it seemed so obvious.
- Write a note. Thank your minister for being an excellent leader, for their compassion, or even something specific.
- Ask. Find out where you can help. Some clergy don’t delegate enough or (see volunteer) so few people volunteer, they’ve taken all the burdens upon themselves.
Join your congregation in celebrating your clergy. Recognize them for their leadership, compassion, stewardship, and faith.
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/boy-scout-bankruptcy-faq/ – published Oct. 21)
Where in the world is?
The bishop and staff have resumed limited in-person travel for special events or to tape or livestream worship. The staff will wear masks for all services and anytime they are near people, either inside or outside a facility. All synod business will continue to be conducted online.
Bishop Gronberg:
- Nov. 1: King of Glory, Dallas
Pastor Totzke:
- (No visits planned this week)
Pastora Bañales:
- (No visits planned this week)
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:
- Oct. 27: Living Connected: Creation’s Gift of Material Goods, Online
- Oct. 28: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Risky Business: Preaching in a Polarized Space with Rev. Bridget Jones, Zoom
- Oct. 29: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 29: Public Faith: Evangelicals, Mainline Christians, and the 2020 US Elections, with Shane Claiborne, Conversations at Briarwood via Zoom
- Oct. 31: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 10 (Día 5 de 5), Zoom
- Nov. 4: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 3: TBA with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin, Zoom
- Nov. 5: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Nov. 5: Interim Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 11: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Improv (aka Adaptive Leadership) Techniques to Face the Unknown with Rev. Mike Weaver, Zoom
- Nov. 12: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Nov. 14: PLMA, Fall 2020, Course 3, Online
- Nov. 14: Public Witness Team monthly meeting, Online
- Nov. 18: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Growing Young: Keychain Leadership with Rachel Alley and others, Zoom
- Nov. 19: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Nov. 25: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – TBA with Jory Mickelson, Zoom
- Nov. 26: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, 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 NT-NL News.