Message from Bishop Gronberg

Dear Partners in Mission:

The 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held in Minneapolis on July 24-28. In more regular times congregations would be well on their way with planning, fundraising, and solidifying their groups for this transformational event for our young people. However, we are not in usual times.

If you may feel behind in your preparations or aren’t even sure where to start we have resources for you on our synod website. Additionally the gathering has published a helpful blog with 10 things to know as you prepare. Finally, as members of the NT-NL Synod you have a unique opportunity in the ELCA to send youth via our “Bishop’s Group.” I will be the lead sponsor for youth from congregations with 3 or less youth attending and no adult sponsor. If there is a young person (entering 9th grade-through 2022 grad) who should have this experience we need you to connect with them, their family, and get them connected to us. Please take on this leadership role and ensure our NT-NL young people have this experience. To learn more you can contact me at BpGronberg@ntnl.org, read the attached information pages, and you can register for the group here.

In Mission Together,

Bishop Gronberg

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Thrive: Your Impact on Lutheran Disaster Response

Thrive: Your Impact on Lutheran Disaster Response is a new publication that shares stories of ongoing responses to disaster and of people around the world affected by your gifts to LDR.

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Do you see God in me? How Lutherans engage in difficult conversations

“It goes beyond the general surface—it’s getting down to the dirty and doing the work to understand each other.” In Living Lutheran’s September lead feature, Lutheran leaders talk about what is needed for people to have discussions that bring them together rather than tear them apart. Read more about the ways these leaders have been having difficult conversations in their communities and how these conversations have brought understanding and compassion.

Throughout September, Living Lutheran shared a number of stories on this theme of difficult conversations. You can find these stories on the Living Lutheran facebook page using #LLConvos to read more about the discussions being had within this church.

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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. 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. 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