RE:formation – Reimagining New Ministries
Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
October 20 at 7:00 p.m. Central via Zoom
A virtual evening of inspiration for congregational leaders in the NT-NL Synod
How do you know if God is calling you to do something new? Who do you talk to when the Holy Spirit nudges at your heart? Do you have a passion to see new ministries emerge but aren’t sure what the next steps are to live into it?
You are invited to experience an evening of inspiring voices to help you envision what God is calling you to FORM. Bishop Erik Gronberg and DEM Irma Bañales, along with the Revs Sandy Chrostowski & Ruben Duran from the churchwide office, will host a one-hour web event to help you transform your ideas into action. Hear from fellow leaders who share a heart for the gospel and love for the people of God. Plan on walking away equipped to serve.
Goals:
· Hear stories from leaders who are forming new ministries
· Teach practical steps to start something new (ministry, event, worshiping community)
· Share specific leadership examples and traits that are helpful to get new things going
· Begin fostering a culture of planting new ministries
Please RSVP to irma@ntnl.org by THIS Thursday, October 13. The Zoom link will be sent once we receive your confirmation.
10th Annual Herbener Lecture
Becoming More Human Through Worship
Sunday, October 30
Guest Lecturer: Rev. Peter W. Marty
Those who make a practice of committing their lives to worship discover, over time, something interesting. When they leave worship they see an “outside world” that is smaller and more paltry than they had thought. Its politics are puny, its consumerism is hollow, its care for the weak is peripheral. The very assumptions of what constitutes the “Real World,” assumptions that typically guide our lives as shoppers, scientists, social workers, and sales associates suddenly become undone once we realize how the grandeur and mystery of God make us more whole than the more cramped outside world. We can do all kinds of things on our own, quite independently and self-sufficiently, thank you very much. But what we can never become without worship is fully human. Worship is where we figure out who we get to be in the presence of a God who gives and gives, and always out of love.
Begins at 4pm
Dinner by reservation begins at 5:30pm
Sung Evening Prayer begins at 6:30pm
FREE ADMISSION: Free-will donation will cover dinner
For full details and to register: http://www.luthercenter-northtexas.org/
MEF Grant Application Process Closes October 31
The 2023 Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) grant application process opened on September 1: https://www.ntnl.org/ministries/mef/grant-application/. Click here to review the updated grant guidelines. For consideration for funding in 2023, the Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) grant application is due by October 31, 2022.
Featured Resources for October
Clergy Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in October (October 9 this year).
Clergy Appreciation Month is celebrated annually in October.
How might you honor the faith leaders in your community to show your gratitude for their faithful leadership, especially in these times? When was the last time your community encouraged and supported your faith leaders in observing a regular Sabbath? How might that support be sustained going forward?
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. Given the rise of breakthrough infections and in order to protect those gathered, the synod staff will choose to wear masks as is deemed appropriate unless preaching or presiding and sufficient social distancing can be provided.
Bishop Gronberg:
Oct. 16: 75th Anniversary festivities, Calvary, San Angelo
Oct. 20: RE:formation – Reimagining New Ministries, Zoom
Oct. 22: Memorial service for Dr. Peter Hendrickson, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 5: Memorial service for former Bishop Phil Wahlberg, Gethsemane, Austin
Nov. 13: Abiding Grace, Southlake
Pastor Totzke:
Oct. 13: Lutheran Campus Ministry cookout, UNT, Denton
Oct. 22: Shreveport Ministry Task Force, Shreveport, LA
Oct. 23: Shreveport combined worship service, St. Stephen, Shreveport, LA
Oct. 25: First call pastors, Zoom
Oct. 30: New Life in Christ, Duncanville
Nov. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
Nov. 6: Zion, McGregor, for 100th anniversary of the building
Nov. 15: Synods and Seminaries summit, Zoom
Nov. 19: Candidacy Committee, Briarwood
Nov. 22: First call pastors, Zoom
Pastora Bañales:
Oct. 10-13: Directors for Evangelical Mission (DEMs) Gathering, Chicago, IL
Oct. 14: Spiritual Retreat, Santa Maria, Irving
Oct. 17: ELCA Implicit Bias training
Oct. 18: Walnut Hill, Farmers Branch
Oct. 19: ELCA Candidacy Working Group
Oct. 20: RE:formation – Reimagining New Ministries, Zoom
Oct. 21: ELCA Latine Young Adult Network
Oct. 22: Visioning Retreat, St. Matthew’s, Fort Worth
Oct. 23: St. Matthew’s, Waco
Oct. 27: Oregon Synod: Learning Garden Holy Innovation, online
Oct. 27: NT-NL Renewal Team
Oct. 29: Central, Dallas
Oct. 29: Three Shared Ministry Review: Community of Hope, King of Glory, and Umoja, Fort Worth
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: Courageous Leadership – Deacon Jess Liles and Rev. Joe Liles – Digital Ministry, Zoom
- Oct. 15: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2022, Course 2, Hybrid
- Oct. 17: Implicit Bias Training, Online
- Oct. 18: Implicit Bias Training, Online
- Oct. 19: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Oct. 20: RE:formation – Reimagining New Ministries, Zoom
- Oct. 26: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Oct. 30: The Tenth Annual Herbener Lecture: Becoming More Human Through Worship, Dallas
- Nov. 2: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic), Zoom
- Nov. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 5: Celebration of Life: Bishop Philip L. Wahlberg, Austin
- Nov. 9: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Nov. 12: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 16: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Nov. 19: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2022, Course 3, Hybrid
- Nov. 23: Courageous Leadership – TBA, Zoom
- Nov. 30: Courageous Leadership – TBA, 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.