Message from Bishop Gronberg
Continuing my series of videos leading up to our online synod assembly on Sept 26th (please be sure to have your voting members registered by Sept. 18th) we are highlighting the 50/40/10 anniversaries of the ELCA. elca.org/50yearsofordainedwomen
Today we recognize the 40th (really 41st) anniversary of the ordination of pastors who are women of color. While the first woman was ordained in 1970 it was not until 1979 that the first women of color were ordained to serve Lutheran communities in North America. We give thanks for the gifts these women have brought to our church while also acknowledging that even, and especially, today women of color wait the longest to receive calls and often serve in part time or other non-traditional calls. This is a barrier and a challenge to the growth of diversity in our church.
I also highlight today the first woman of African descent ordained in the NT-NL synod. Pastor Dorris Harris serves St. John Lutheran in Oak Cliff, Dallas. She is currently dealing with some health challenges so we invite your prayers for her as we also give deep and abiding thanks for her faithful witness and service.
Movements in Indian Country
Please note: Advance registration is required.
An invitation from our friends at Other+Wise:
Please join Other+Wise and our promotional partners, ELCA Coaching, New Story Festival, and Briarwood Leadership Center, for the next Indigenous-centered Zoom workshop with our founder and director, Vance Blackfox.
This session will be the perfect follow-up to the webinar you attended with Vance previously [see that information below] – especially for those of you looking to grow your solidarity with Indigenous peoples.
Movements in Indian Country
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. CDT
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsduuoqzMoGNGwQhGfzdtHTRt935gOaOdf
There are countless challenges facing Indian Country today, and Native-serving organizations are constantly working to keep up with the frontline Indigenous leaders, activists, and movements that are responding to these challenges. Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), these movements are usually unknown to the general population because non-Indigenous people either haven’t had to care or don’t know they should care. And those who do care often don’t know where to begin learning and engaging. Movements in Indian Country will provide you with a starting point for supporting a range of justice efforts in Indigenous communities.
This workshop is provided at no cost. Attendees are invited to offer a financial gift in appreciation for our time of learning and listening together: http://otherwise.red/donate/.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Vance at vance@otherwise.red.
For an introduction, you can watch the ELCA Coaching recording from July 8 with Vance Blackfox, Truth and Healing for the Sake of Indigenous People.
You can find here a flyer and social media graphic from Other+Wise with full details for this September 16 workshop, if that’s easier for inviting others.
If you post the social media graphic, please be sure to include the advance registration link and an invitation with the link for folks to donate.
FREE Office Items for Pick Up
“I’m currently in the process of closing my small Dallas office. We have a number of items that we would be prepared to gift to the NT-NL Synod or a church in the synod that could make good use of the items. Here is a list of some of the items: 1) Two wing back chairs and end table; 2) Two 3 x 7 Ft oak book shelves; 3) one 4 x 6 ft White board; 4) one high quality Minolta color copier that also scans, faxes; 5) one Tri pod easel; 6) 1 small solid oak reception desk; 7) two or three work station printers (laser); 8) 30 or so three ring binders of various sizes; 9) several 2 and 4 door lateral file cabinets. I’m guessing I probably missed some additional items like a server and some computer work stations. Have interested parties contact me at 214-906-0750. The office is located at 12005 Ford Road, Suite 530, Dallas, TX 75234. We can arrange to meet interested parties there mutually agreeable times.” – Ron Brakke
Featured Resources for September
Nearly 3,000 people on average commit suicide daily, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). For every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives. About one million people die by suicide each year. There is strong evidence indicating that adequate prevention can reduce suicide rates.
September is National Suicide Prevention (Awareness) Month.
National Suicide Prevention Week is the Monday through Sunday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day, this year September 6-12.
World Suicide Prevention Day, which first started in 2003, is annually held on September 10 as an International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) initiative.
From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): While suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time to come together with collective passion and strength around a difficult topic. The truth is, we can all benefit from honest conversations about mental health conditions and suicide, because just one conversation can change a life. Use #SuicidePrevention or #StigmaFree on social media.
#BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope.
The Jason Foundation has a set of resources around the theme of #IWONTBESILENT.
More resources can be found on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention‘s website.
Save the Date
LCM Denton Presents: Socially Distant Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 24, 7pm
The Board of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Denton has decided that our annual trivia challenge and silent auction this fall will be a virtual event. We typically gather at Briarwood for a festive dinner with themed table decorations, Lutheran-themed trivia, and tables of auction items.
Since caring for our neighbors is an integral part of putting our faith into action, we know that it is our duty to hold a virtual Trivia challenge and silent auction this year. We will have more details coming soon about how the trivia challenge and auction will work, but we can share with you that the trivia challenge will expand beyond the traditional Lutheran-themed questions to include other trivia questions and that our overall theme will be Oktoberfest. And if you have any items to donate for an online silent auction, please contact Brandon Parsons (brandonparsons@mac.com) or Pastor Jim Rowe (pastor@lcmdenton.org).
Start organizing your teams and get ready for a night of fun!
Recent Blog Posts
Bishop Gronberg:
(https://www.ntnl.org/2019-leadership-convo-speaker-named-harvard-fellow/ – published Sep. 9)
(https://www.ntnl.org/giving-thanks-for-elca-schools/ – published Sep. 10)
Where in the world is?
The bishop and staff have resumed limited in-person travel for special events or to tape or live-stream worship. The staff will wear masks for all services and anytime they are near people, either inside or outside a facility. All synod business will continue to be conducted by Zoom, including our synod council meetings and online assembly on September 26.
Bishop Gronberg:
- Sep. 19: Lutheran Men in Mission Board Meeting, Online
Pastor Totzke:
- Sep. 17: Workshop for NT-NL Leaders who are Women, Zoom
Pastora Bañales:
- (No visits planned this week)
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:
- Sep. 16: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – New Life: Introduction to Growing Young with Rev. Dr. Phil Hirsch and TWO Young Adults, Zoom
- Sep. 17: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Sep. 17: Workshop for NT-NL Leaders who are Women, Zoom
- Sep. 22: Orientation for Online Synod Assembly, Zoom
- Sep. 23: Orientation for Online Synod Assembly, Zoom
- Sep. 23: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Untold Story: Black Lutheran History, Part 2 with Dr. Richard Stewart and Dr. Larry Clark, Zoom
- Sep. 24: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Sep. 25-26: Synod Council meetings with Deans, Assistant Deans, and MEF, Zoom
- Sep. 26: Online 2020 Synod Assembly, Zoom (Voting Members) and Livestream (Everyone else)
- Sep. 30: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Preaching in Highly Politicized Times with Rev. George Mason, Zoom
- Oct. 1: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 1: Interim Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Oct. 3: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 9 (Día 1 de 5), Zoom
- Oct. 7: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 2: TBA with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin, Zoom
- Oct. 8: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 10: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 9 (Día 2 de 5), Zoom
- Oct. 10: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Oct. 14: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Preaching in a Polarized Space with Rev. Bridget Jones, Zoom
- Oct. 15: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, 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 NT-NL News.