Message from Bishop Gronberg

Dear Partners in Mission:

Your synod council met last Saturday morning to do the business of the synod as well as engage in conversation and leadership formation. We offered the meeting in a hybrid format which, while not ideal, enabled us to include over 30 participants including most of our conference deans, as well as save significant travel costs. It is a part of our new reality and I am grateful for your synod council’s time.

We started our time together with some reflection and prayer. I asked them a question…”What decade immediately comes to mind when I say 30 years ago?” Some quickly did math and said “the 90s.” But others recognized that honestly their immediate thought was “the 70s” or “the 80s.” The reality is that when we look back on history our sense of time often becomes distorted. Oftentimes I am shocked when a Facebook memory pops up and that event was 5 or even 10 years ago.

So why does this matter? Our perception of time often shapes our worldview and impacts our interactions with others. As one commentator I saw recently said, “Contemporary Worship is now traditional.” For many church goers in America worship with a band is their experience of worship but the music is often based in the style of a particular era of popular music that now is decades old and formed in the “worship wars” of the 90s.

My point however isn’t a commentary on worship music. It is that if we desire to be a multi-generational church we need to recognize that time continues to pass and the world continues to change. Sunday morning worship is now something experienced by a distinct minority of people in our contexts. Online and hybrid experiences help us connect but have limitations in reaching new people. And so as we lead into this reality we must be honest and clear about the opportunities and challenges this new world brings. We also should be encouraged because we know that through all the changes God’s people experience, that the early church experienced, God was present and inspiring it by the Holy Spirit.

I give thanks for your synod council and their faithful service. Be encouraged in your work. And know God is ever with us and we do this…

#InMissionTogether,

Bishop Gronberg

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Mount Olive (Dallas) 74th Anniversary Celebration

Invitation from Mount Olive, Dallas:

Sunday, September 25, 3pm

Come help us celebrate! We would love to have you. Help us to know how many to expect. You can register here: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/5887026

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Job Openings with St. Luke’s, Richardson

St. Luke’s, Richardson, is growing and has two new positions open: A Family & Community Ministries Director and an Administrative Assistant. Please contact Pr. Linda Anderson-Little (314-581-6365 or landersonlittle@gmail.com) with questions.

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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. 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:

Sep. 18: Lutheran Hymn Festival, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas
Sep. 24-25: 75th Anniversary festivities, Beautiful Savior, Amarillo
Sep. 28-Oct. 1: Conference of Bishops
Oct. 1: MEF Seeds That Change, Fort Worth and Dallas
Oct. 2: King of Glory, Dallas
Oct. 6: Lutheran Men in Mission annual board meeting, Online
Oct. 16: 75th Anniversary festivities, Calvary, San Angelo
Oct. 22: Memorial service for Dr. Peter Hendrickson, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 5: Memorial service for former Bishop Phil Wahlburg, Gethsemane, Austin
Nov. 13: Abiding Grace, Southlake

Pastor Totzke:

Sep. 17: Panhandle Conference meeting, Trinity, Lockney
Sep. 18: Immanuel, Posey, and Grace, Slaton
Sep. 26-28: First Call Pastors Retreat, Lutherhill, LaGrange
Oct. 1: Conference Out West meeting, Grace, Abilene
Oct. 9: Worship and call committee orientation, Christ the Servant, Allen
Oct. 22-23: Shreveport ministry conversation, Holy Trinity

Pastora Bañales:

Sep. 13: ELCA Violence Prevention training
Sep. 14-16: Stewardship of Life Institute Board meeting, Minneapolis, MN
Sep. 17: Teaching Spanish class, PLMA
Sep. 20: Ecumenical Group meeting, then Conferencia Latina meeting, Adviento, Arlington
Sep. 21-24: ELCA Mission Developers training (English and Spanish)
Sep. 25-28: Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference, Savannah, GA
Sep. 29: NT-NL Renewal Team meeting