Discover and Invite: Telling the Story of your congregation using the Ministry Site Profile
Congregations in the call process are often intimidated by the form we call the Ministry Site Profile. It’s important to the process as the tool that is used to find potential matches for a new pastor, and for those pastors to determine their interest in pursuing the call. But it is also a tool that allows opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to your congregation about who you are and who you are called to be.
Even if your congregation is not in the call process, engaging in the work of the MSP can be useful in self-study for your vision and mission as a congregation. Because it asks you to spend time in reflection about your neighborhood and your congregation as well as goals and expectations, this could be helpful in determining the direction your congregation needs to take for growth.
NT-NL has access to a new resource designed to help congregations use the Ministry Site Profile to its fullest for that hoped for growth and guidance. Our transitional pastors will be engaging in training for Discover and Invite during their monthly Zoom meetings for October and November, but any other pastors interested in this resource are also welcome to participate. The training will be from 11:00-Noon on October 5th and November 2nd. Please let Pastor Kris Totzke know (kris@ntnl.org) if you are interested and she will send you the workbook and the Zoom information.
NTNL WELCA “I Am She” Conference
The 2023 NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization Convention well be held on October 13-14 at Grace, Carrolton. More information can be found here or on the NT-NL SWO webpage.
Featured Resources for September
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month —a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. September is used to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide. The goal of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and other advocacy groups is to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
For more information and resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988, go to 988lifeline.org/chat or text NAMI to 741-741
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:
Sep 23rd: Ordination of Cheryl Herreid, Rejoice, Coppell
Sep 25th: King of Glory-Dallas 65th Anniversary
Sep 26-30th: Conference of Bishops
Pastor Totzke:
Sep 23: COW Conference Gathering
Sep 24: Grace, Slaton 100th Anniversary
Sep 25-27: Tri-Synodical First Call Pastors Retreat, Gonzales, TX
Pastora Bañales:
(As she transitions back from her sabbatical, which ended on August 31, visits are being added almost daily that may not be noted in the weekly news through September.)
Sep 18-19: Meeting with Mission Developers and Redevelopers
Sep 20-23: Women of the ELCA Tri-Annual Gathering, Phoenix, AZ
Sep 23-24: Conferencia Latina: Couples Retreat, Burleson, TX
Sep 24-26: ELCA Candidacy Working Group, Chicago, IL
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 26: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
- Sep 28: Cultivating Compassion Session 9: Unsettling Truths, Online
- Oct 5: Transitional Pastors Meeting, Zoom
- Oct 7: Seeds That Change, Calvary, Richland Hills
- Oct 13-14: WELC Conference, Grace, Carrolton
- Oct 14: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2023, Course 2, Zoom
- Oct 14: Public Witness Team Meeting, Zoom
- Oct 24: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
- Oct 26: Cultivating Compassion Session 10: A People’s History of the United States, Online
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.