Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear Partners in Mission:
Sunday night a fast moving line of storms crossed over the NT-NL territory. With it came rain, lightning, and thankfully very few other weather related issues. It also brought lower temps and hopefully fall is now here to stay. As we are fully into the fall activities in our churches and communities it can be hard to think about next year. Yet that is important as well. 6 months from now we will be gathering for assembly, we pray the first one in person since 2019, at the campus of Paul Quinn College in Dallas, April 29-30, 2022.
We also are planning for and working on the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering. This amazing event occurs usually every 3 years, this time delayed to 2022 but again happening in Minneapolis, MN. As we did in 2018 we will have a bishop’s group for congregations with 3 or few youth attending. We will provide the planning, adult sponsors, and transportation for a fixed cost to allow these young people to attend. Information about that and the gathering is included below.
But before we get to that, this Saturday we have a big event to celebrate and raise funds for our Mission Endowment Fund. Over the past few weeks you have seen 20 inspirational videos shared by leaders across our synod encouraging you to be generous in supporting this mission and ministry of the NT-NL synod. We are blessed to have an endowment that enables our synod to be innovative and adaptive. This resource helped us in 2020 by supporting congregations unable to get PPP loans in the wake of the pandemic. It annually supports over $80,000 in mission and ministry new offerings as well. I encourage you to take part in this online event Saturday and be generous in your gifts. https://giftedandgiving.org/
Fall reminds us to give thanks. This fall I give thanks for you and the work we do together.
In Mission Together,
Bishop Gronberg
2022 Gathering Info Sheet | Bishop’s Group info page
A People of Hope: Until All Are Fed
You’re invited to celebrate World Food Day with “A People of Hope: Until All Are Fed,” featuring Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves. This online benefit for ELCA World Hunger will take place on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Central time. Special guests include the Rev. David Beckmann, who is being honored for his lifelong service to end hunger; the Rev. Rebel Hurd; Willie and Anne Langdji; and the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla. There will also be performances by Rachel Kurtz, Peter Mayer, and the St. Olaf Choir.
As a church, we remain focused on supporting our neighbors near and far as the pandemic continues disrupting and impacting lives. At this event, you will learn about the ways ELCA World Hunger is responding. Register today.
MEF Grant Applications
Applications (due October 31) are now being accepted for 2022 Grants to support NT-NL projects and ministries. Information is available at https://www.ntnl.org/ministries/mef/grant-application/. Contact Linda Ness for more information: mef@ntnl.org or 682-429-3446.
Featured Resources for October
October is National Clergy Appreciation Month
Clergy Appreciation Day is always the second Sunday in October (October 10 in 2021), and all of October is celebrated as Clergy Appreciation Month. The celebration was established in 1992 with a mission of uplifting and encouraging pastors, missionaries, and religious workers.
Here are just a couple of sites with recommendations for celebrating and honoring our faith leaders:
11 Pastor Appreciation Day Ideas for 2021
The Ultimate Guide to Pastor Appreciation Day
Save the Date
Monday, October 25
Hackberry Creek Country Club
1901 W. Royal Ln. | Irving, TX 75063
8 a.m. Registration | 9 a.m. Start
You’re invited to Upbring’s annual golf tournament! The 18-hole, four-person scramble benefits the children and families they serve through their Foster In Texas program.
Would you like to promote your business or organization at the tournament? Please email Events@Upbring.org to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Recent Blog Posts
Pastor Totzke:
(https://www.ntnl.org/holy-trinity-irving/ – published Oct. 5)
(https://www.ntnl.org/advent-adviento-arlington/ – published Oct. 5)
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. 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. 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
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. 12: White Supremacy & Racism: Facing Reality, Taking Responsibility – Cornel West, “A Genealogy of Modern Racism,” Zoom
- Oct. 16: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2021, Course 2, Zoom
- Oct. 16: MEF Seeds That Change, Online
- Oct. 18-20: NT-NL Leadership Convocation, Briarwood and Online
- Oct. 21: Leading for God’s Future: Service on the Congregational Council – Session 1, Zoom
- Oct. 23: NT-NL WELCA Virtual Convention, Online
- Oct. 28: Leading for God’s Future: Service on the Congregational Council – Session 2, Zoom
- Nov. 4: Transitional (Interim) Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 4: Leading for God’s Future: Service on the Congregational Council – Session 3, Zoom
- Nov. 11: Leading for God’s Future: Service on the Congregational Council – Session 4, Zoom
- Nov. 13: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 18: Leading for God’s Future: Service on the Congregational Council – Session 5, Zoom
- Nov. 20: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2021, Course 3, 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.