Message from Bishop Gronberg
Partners in Mission:
As you read this a group of seven leaders from NT-NL Synod should be touching down in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. We are going there for our first partnership meeting between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone, the NT-NL Synod, and the Lutheran World Federation since 2018. During this time we will be learning about the work of the ELCSL and to spend time in worship, scripture, and fellowship. During this time we will be breaking ground on several new projects they are undertaking to grow their sustainability as a church. These projects particularly focus on education for children and job programs for women.
We will participate in the ground breaking of a new school in Faila Village, Bo checkpoint and also see the work done to complete the 2nd floor of the Jubilee center so it can house the church offices. We will visit a rural health clinic and participate with them as they dedicate St. Marks Lutheran-CalabaTown and celebrate graduation for students.
Certainly much more will happen as we travel and learn together. Please pray for us on this journey. The participants are myself and Mr. Don and Belinda Heller (Synod VP), DEM Pastora Irma Banales, Rev. Ben Dueholm (Christ-Dallas), Soren Dueholm, Rev. Nicholaus Chove (Community of Hope-Fort Worth and Umoja-Fort Worth). We pray to return safely October 30th.
#TogetherInMission:
Bishop Gronberg
Trinity, Sherman Fundraising Challenge to support Lutheran Disaster Response
Trinity, Sherman is challenging the NT-NL synod to raise $1,000,000 from congregations and individuals for Lutheran Disaster Response’s hurricane relief efforts on the east coast.
If you would like to show your support, please send donations to the NT-NL synod office. Checks should be made out to NT-NL synod with “LDR-Hurricane” in the memo line.
You can find more on Lutheran Disaster Relief and their work here. As always we are #TogetherInMission & #JuntosEnMision
September Mission Support Memo
The September 2024 Mission Support Memo gives you the opportunity to hear Rahim and Cecelia Brown’s faithful journey of candidacy with the North Carolina Synod and the surprising and bounteous support they were given. You can also check out their new ELCA Mission Support: Deep Dive to learn how our churchwide organization stewards Mission Support dollars. They additionally celebrate “God’s work. Our hands.”
NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization’s September Newsletter
You can read about the happenings of our Synodical Women’s Organization here.
Featured Resources for October
Clergy Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in October (October 13 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?
NT-NL synod staff are excited to engage in-person on Sundays for worship. As good stewards of time and travel dollars, we will be utilizing online meeting formats in our new hybrid reality when possible. If you would like to schedule a meeting with the bishop or Synod staff please contact them directly.
Bishop Gronberg:
October 21-30: Synod Trip to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone
Pastora Bañales:
October 21-30: Synod Trip to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone
Pastor Fitting-Snyder:
October 22: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
October 27: Christ, Dallas
November 2-3: Trinity, Lockney
November 5: HOT Deanery
November 7-11: Vacation
November 17: St. Paul, Crawford
November 26: First Call Pastors Check-In, Zoom
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:
- October 22: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
- November 9: Public Witness Team Meeting
- November 9: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2024
- November 9: Upper Elementary Retreat, Resurrection, Plano
- November 26: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to office@ntnl.org for consideration for upcoming editions of our weekly news.