Message from Bishop Gronberg
Considerations for Christmas in Covid-time 2020
The Covid-19 Pandemic continues to impact our lives in many and various ways across the territory of NT-NL. It is also clear that this pandemic will continue to be a part of our lives through the end of 2020 and into 2021. As a result I have had questions from many of you as you continue to learn and modify preparations for Advent and Christmas. What is most obvious is that there is no way to make worship this Christmas “feel” the way Christmas has in the past. Even if you worship in person the requirements of social distance, masks, muffled or no singing, will impact the experience. You could spend a lot of energy trying to recreate that experience and inevitably fall short, or you can practice adaptive leadership and lean into how to make Advent/Christmas of 2020 one that is in future years remembered fondly because it was NOT like other years…
1. Advent is to be a season of preparations. 2020 provides us an excellent opportunity to focus on Advent and developing faith practices in the home. Provide families the supplies to make simple at home advent wreaths. Provide them access to daily devotionals online or connect via Facebook Live or Instagram story. Have musicians record and share Advent hymns and the scripture texts behind them. Do the Las Posadas or the stations of the Nativity in your home or outside at church. Participate in an outdoor, masked, procession of the Virgin of Guadalupe with one of our Conferencia Latina congregations. Teach the stories of St. Nicholaus and Santa Lucia.
2. As mentioned above, even if you are worshipping indoors at this time it will not be the same Christmas Eve experience. So learn and modify. For those doing online worship have a small group provide that traditional service for those worshipping online. But then move outdoors for a socially distanced, masked carol sing, and candle lighting (weather permitting). Do something new like an outdoor manger scene or outdoor Christmas tree to witness to your community the church is celebrating. If you are in an urban setting do a neighborhood walk of the stations of the Nativity (mentioned above). For those who are home alone the congregation members could deliver cookies or Christmas treats with contactless delivery and preparation. The more technologically savvy can also offer a Zoom gathering time to provide needed fellowship during this season. Emphasize the 12 days of the Christmas season with different online devotions or activities.
3. To assist our leaders I will again be recording sermons that can be utilized by our congregations. I will provide both a sermon for the Nativity of our Lord (utilizing the John texts) that could be used on Christmas Eve or Day as well as a sermon for the Sunday after Christmas (Dec. 27th). These sermons will be posted by December 10th. It is my goal with these offerings to again provide respite and assistance to our leaders in this time.
No matter how hard we might try there is no way to make Christmas 2020 feel the way other Christmas celebrations have. And owning that truth should set us free to be creative and adaptive in our preparations. I have great trust that the leadership of our NT-NL congregations will continue to make wise and faithful decisions that enable our communities to celebrate the incarnation of God among us in away that serves and loves our neighbor and keeps them and us safe.
2021 Synod Assembly
Here’s the official 6-month notice for our Synod Assembly next year:
Save the Date
April 23-24, 2021
Location: TBD
Join Us This Thursday
Adelante! The Future of Latinx Lutheran Leadership
Thursday, October 22, 4pm
English
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la ELCA, and Domestic Mission – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have partnered together to offer a dynamic panel presentation.
The presentation, entitled Adelante! The Future of Latinx Lutheran Leadership, will be moderated by LSTC Adjunct Professor Rev. Dr. Rubén Durán. Panelists will include:
- Jen DeLeon, Director of Justice for the WELCA; President of Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la E.L.C.A.
- Joseph Castañeda Carrera, Mission Developer, Adore LA; Assistant to the Bishop for Authentic Diversity and Ethnic Specific Ministries, SW California Synod
- Aura M. Suarez, Deacon, ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod; Director, Latino Lutheran Lay Academy
- Erik Gronberg, Bishop, ELCA Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod
Espanol
Honrando el Mes de la Herencia Latinx (del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre de 2020), la Escuela Luterana de Teología en Chicago, la Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la ELCA, y Misión Doméstica de la ELCA se han unido para ofrecer una presentación dinámica en un panel de discusión programado para el 22 de octubre desde las 4 – 5:30 pm.
Bajo el tema: Adelante! El Futuro del Liderazgo Luterano Latinx este panel de discusión será moderado por el profesor adjunto de LSTC y Director para Vitalidad Congregacional, ELCA, el Rev. Dr. Rubén Durán.
Los panelistas serán:
- Jen DeLeón, Directora de Justicia de WELCA; presidenta de la Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la ELCA
- Joseph Castañeda Carrera, Pastor Desarrollador de Misión, Adore LA; Asistente de la obispa para Diversidad Auténtica y Ministerios étnicos específicos del Sínodo del suroeste de California
- Aura M. Suarez, Diácona del Sínodo de la ELCA de Florida-Bahamas; Directora de la Academia Laica Latina Luterana
- Erik Gronberg, obispo del Sínodo Norte Texas-Norte Louisiana de la ELCA
Event Flyers: English and Spanish
Advance registration required: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=MOpVQX9vnUeNLt395eZpth9g2P2Whx1HjN5oEIqED1NUNldCQUJaOUVZRDYzODVZVFEyWUg1OExLSi4u
Or you may access the livestream: https://www.facebook.com/LSTChicago (no facebook account required)
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.
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:
- Oct. 22: “¡Adelante! The Future of Latinx Lutheran Leadership” Panel, Zoom
- Oct. 24: LCM Denton Online Fundraiser
- Oct. 25: 35th Anniversary Celebration, Preston Meadow, Plano
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. 21: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Growing Young: Be the Best Neighbor with Rachel Alley and others, Zoom
- Oct. 22: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 22: “¡Adelante! The Future of Latinx Lutheran Leadership” Panel, Zoom
- Oct. 22: Public Faith: Evangelicals, Mainline Christians, and the 2020 US Elections, with Hunter Baker, Conversations at Briarwood via Zoom
- Oct. 24: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 10 (Día 4 de 5), Zoom
- Oct. 24: Living Connected: Creation’s Gift of Material Goods, Online
- Oct. 24: LCM Denton Presents: Social Distant Oktoberfest, Online
- Oct. 27: Living Connected: Creation’s Gift of Material Goods, Online
- Oct. 28: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – 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
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.