Message from Pastor Kelsey Fitting-Snyder
There is a moment in the church year that can feel easy to overlook. It comes quietly between the
alleluias of Easter and the rushing wind of Pentecost. It does not carry the drama of the empty tomb
or the vivid imagery of tongues of fire. Yet for the church, it is a deeply important day: the
Ascension of Our Lord.
Celebrated on the fortieth day of Easter, Ascension marks the moment when Christ returns to the
Father. In Luke’s Gospel we hear, “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands,
he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into
heaven.” (Luke 24:50–51)
I often wonder what the disciples must have felt in that moment. After the grief of the cross and the
joy of resurrection, Jesus is suddenly no longer standing beside them in the same way. They could no
longer gather around a fire and share a meal with him. They could no longer reach out and touch
the wounds that proclaimed resurrection was real. The world had changed again. And yet, Ascension
is not ultimately about absence. It is about calling.
As the disciples stand there looking upward, trying to make sense of it all, they are given a promise:
the Holy Spirit will come. They will not be abandoned. They will be empowered to continue the
ministry of proclaiming good news, healing the brokenhearted, and embodying Christ’s love in the
world.
I sometimes think of Ascension as the beginning of a great relay race of faith. Christ places the
baton into the hands of the disciples and says, in essence, “Now you carry it forward.” The mission
of proclaiming hope, mercy, justice, and resurrection becomes theirs to continue. And generation
after generation, that baton has continued to be passed from hand to hand.
As I travel throughout our synod, I see that relay still unfolding. I see it in congregations navigating
transition with courage and faithfulness. I see it in pastors and deacons walking alongside people
through grief and uncertainty. I see it in seminarians discerning calls to ministry, in lay leaders
stepping into new forms of leadership, and in communities finding creative ways to serve their
neighbors.
The church today stands in a world that is changing quickly. There are moments when it may feel
easier to stand still, gaze upward, and long for certainty. Ascension reminds us that Christ sends us
outward, not inward. We are called to recognize Christ’s presence not only in heaven, but among
God’s people and in the work of ministry happening right here and now. The baton is now in our
hands.
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are entrusted with sharing the good news of Christ in word
and deed. We are part of a living tradition of discipleship stretching across centuries and worshiping
communities.
So as we move from Easter toward Pentecost, may we remember that Ascension is not an ending. It
is an invitation. Christ calls the church to keep running the race with hope, courage, and love.
Running the race with you,
Pastor Kelsey
Drawing Water: Leadership Reflections from Pastor Nathan Swenson-Reinhold
Drawing Water is a short monthly reflection for congregational leaders across the Northern Texas–Northern Louisiana Synod. These reflections attend to the lived realities of leadership—clarity, fatigue, conflict, discernment, and resilience. Like windmills on the plains that quietly draw life from below the surface, this series invites leaders to slow down, reflect, and remember that leadership was never meant to be carried alone.
May’s article is “When Everything Feels Urgent, Nothing Is Discerned”. You can read the reflections in English and Spanish here.
Each year, the IRS reminds traditional IRA owners over the age of 70 that they can make charitable gifts directly from their accounts. This type of gift is known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). For those who have reached age 73, a QCD offers the added benefit of fulfilling part or all of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year.
Learn more about this process here or reach out to NT-NL Synod’s Gift Planner, Kirk Barrett at kbarrett@lfsw.org
Featured Resources for May
Upbring is a Texas-wide organization implementing generational innovation to advance child wellbeing. They are a faith-based organization with deep Lutheran roots and have served children and families in Texas for over 140 years.
For more than a century – from the service-minded Lutherans who dreamed of building an orphanage in the 1860s to the vital programs in place today throughout Texas – Upbring has proudly grown and adapted to the changing needs of society. Their story is marked by the continual practice of generational innovation, each moment in history building upon the next to impact the next generation of children, families and communities.
Learn more about Upbring and their mission by reading “9 Thing You May Not Know About Upbring“.
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:
May 16-19: Wartburg Seminary Board of Directors
May 23: First Communions/Confirmations, First Sagrada Familia, Garland
Mary 24: Affirmation of Baptism, Trinity, Fort Worth
May 30: First Communions/Confirmations, San Gabriel, Alvarado
Pastora Bañales:
May 12: Ecumenical Network
May 12: Dallas Area Metro North (DAMN) Conference Gathering
May 14: Region 4 DEMs meeting
May 19: Community Project, East Dallas
May 19: Conferencia Latina and Solace AI Meeting
May 21: NT-NL DEM Advisory Team Meeting
May 31: First Communion and Confirmations, Adviento, Arlington
Pastor Fitting-Snyder:
May 17: Good Shepherd, Irving
May 24: Covenant, Temple
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:
- May 21: NT-NL Youth Leader Lunch, Rejoice, Coppell
- June 13: Public Witness Team Meeting
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.