Message from Bishop Gronberg

Dear Partners in Mission:

From October 14-17, 2021 our partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone will be having their General Assembly. This assembly, like ours in 2022, will include the election of a bishop. Bishop Moses Kobba Momoh, who was elected in 2015 has stated his willingness to serve a second term. In previous times it was the practice that the NT-NL Bishop or representatives from the Bishop’s office would attend the assembly. However, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions that is not possible. I regret not being there to show my support to the people of the ELCSL and gratitude for Bishop Momoh’s steady and faithful leadership in this time.

While the physical presence of a delegation from NT-NL will not be possible this year it is appropriate for NT-NL to make a sizeable offering to our partners both in gratitude for their work and to support the costs of having this assembly in 2021. Funds will be wired to the ELCSL this week as a thankoffering for their assembly. If you would like to make a contribution to that offering, you can do so on our website (choose ELCSL from the dropdown menu).

We give thanks for the good work of the ELCSL to train and educate women and children, develop youth empowerment programs, do hygiene and medical education and most importantly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities. Bishop Momoh has served well in a deeply difficult time, and I pray we will continue to work together into the future.

#InMissionTogether

Bishop Gronberg

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Gifted and Giving… How Grace Works

Gifts are now being accepted for the NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund 2021 Seeds that Change Campaign

Romans 12: 6-8

Gracious Partners

Congregations giving $2,000 or more | Individuals giving $1000 or more

Gracious Supporter

Giving $300 – $999

Gracious Friend

Gifts of any size

Oct. 16, 10:00 am – Celebration of Gifted and Giving premiers on Facebook, Homily by Bishop Erik Gronberg

20 Short Inspirational Videos available now: https://giftedandgiving.org

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Accessibility with Images

When you post photos / images / memes / gifs to social media or to a website, “…you have the option to compose a description of the images so the content is accessible to more people, including those who are blind or low-vision. Good image descriptions are concise and descriptive, helping people understand what’s happening in an image.”

Learn more in these articles:

How to make images accessible for people (Twitter help article)

6 ways to make your social media posts accessible for people with a visual impairment (Life of a Blind Girl blogger)

How to write better alt-text descriptions for accessibility (The Big Hack)

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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. Until we can assure everyone in attendance at a meeting are vaccinated, in order to protect those gathered, the synod staff will continue to wear masks unless preaching or presiding and sufficient social distancing can be provided.

Bishop Gronberg:

Oct. 17: Immanuel, Killeen
Oct. 18-20: Leadership Convo (Briarwood and Online)
Oct. 31: Confirmation Celebration, Abiding Grace, Southlake
Nov. 7: Installation Service at Zion, McGregor
Nov. 9: Speaker for White’s Chapel United Methodist, Southlake Men’s Group
Nov. 21: Retirement celebration for Rev. Gordon Illausky (Christ the Servant, Allen)
Nov. 28: Gloria Dei, Garland

Pastor Totzke:

Oct. 6-7: Continuing education “Leadership Edge” online training
Oct. 14-20: Vacation
Oct. 31: Walnut Hill, Farmers Branch
Nov. 1-3: Region 4 Bishops’ Associates Retreat, Galveston
Nov. 7: Installation of Pr. J. T. Miller, Zion, McGregor
Nov. 13-14: Lubbock for meetings at both Shepherd King and Gloria Dei
Nov. 21: Hope, Comanche

Pastora Bañales:

Oct. 6: Santa Maria, McArthur, Irving
Oct. 7: Stewardship of Life Institute Board meeting, and ELCA Mission Developers Training (both online)
Oct. 9 : The Generosity Project Workshop, Community of Hope, Ft. Worth
Oct. 11: New Start, Adviento, Arlington
Oct. 12: NT-NL Synod Mission Developers and Redevelopers Gathering, and Leadership Formation workshop: PLMA, SSTE, TEAM program with Latinx Conference
Oct. 14: ELCA Mission Support Strategy Team, ELCA Christian Community & Leadership meeting, and ELCA Mission Developers Training (all online)
Oct. 16: PLMA
Oct. 18-20: Leadership Convo (Briarwood and Online)
Oct. 21: Meetings with pastors, ELCA Mission Developers Training, and NT-NL Congregational Council Session
Oct. 22: NT-NL Renewal Team meeting
Oct. 25: ACC Coaching Training
Oct. 26: DEM Meeting
Oct. 28: ELCA Mission Developers Training, and NT-NL Congregational Council Session
Oct. 30: Quinceańera (XV) at First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Oct. 31: Reformation Sunday, Emmanuel, Granbury
Nov. 1-3: Region 4 DEM’s Retreat hosted by NT-NL Synod
Nov. 4: NT-NL Congregational Council Session
Nov. 5-8: Personal Days
Nov. 11: NT-NL Congregational Council Session
Nov. 13: Quinceanera (XV) at First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Nov. 14: New Start, Adviento, Arlington
Nov. 16: Latinx Conference Gathering, Adviento, Arlington
Nov. 18: NT-NL Congregational Council Session
Nov. 20: PLMA