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NT-NL News: Week of Nov. 23, 2015

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This week we pray for:

Oslo in Gruver (Pr. Arlen Lloyd)
Faith in Sagerton
NT-NL Hispanic Youth Leadership Team

The 2015 NT-NL Prayer Partners can be found at ntnl.org/2015PrayerPartners or you can download the PDF here.

Living our DiscipleLife

ERRATA: Divergent: Junior High Gathering

Last week’s email included a quick blurb about the Junior High Gathering at Calvary Lutheran Church in Richland Hills, and I only mentioned Janelle Miller (Calvary, Richland Hills) and Jonathan Lys (Shepherd of Life, Arlington) as the organizers, as they are the “official” NT-NL Youth Leaders. Please see the following correction from Janelle:

“Jonathan sat this one out, but the team was Elizabeth Holschuh, Christian Marbach, Thane McCann, Michael Newbrough, and Chelsea Cooper. Elizabeth and Christian were the driving force making sure this weekend happened. Christian also emceed the event. None of us want or expect public thanks, and makes us a little uncomfortable that only two of us were listed when it was a big event.”

I apologize to those of you I left out! Thank you all for your hard work to put the weekend together, and for being with our youth especially during such an unexpectedly challenging and painful time.

Advent: waiting. expectation, preparation, hope

Churchy Stuff: the Season of Advent

Despite what every store and ad in the nation is trying to tell you, it is NOT Christmas yet!!

This Sunday marks the first of the four weeks of Advent. Want to find out more about what Advent is? Read the first in our new blog series on “Churchy Stuff”, where we’ll talk about that churchy stuff like what the church seasons are, what the different colors mean, and why we do some churchy stuff like we do. (Do you have a question about  a churchy-type thing? Email me at criss@ntnl.org and I’ll get you an answer!)

Looking for ways to observe Advent at home? Check out some Advent 2015 activities and devotionals, for families, groups, and individuals!

Read how others across the ELCA are doing God’s work with their hands in Stories of Faith in Action. Have a story to share about how your congregation or ministry is living their DiscipleLife? Let me know! criss@ntnl.org.

NT-NL News heading News & Opportunities

Giving Tuesday logo [Image description: a white heart made out of intersecting lines on a red background. December 1 is written in block letters underneath the heart.]Giving Tuesday: Mosaic

Tomorrow, we give thanks. Then we have three days dedicated to shopping… Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back.

After Black Friday, Small-Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, make sure to support Mosaic in Dallas, Waco, Temple, and Killeen on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1!

Mosaic aims to provide a lifetime of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities. This Tuesday, give possibilities!

Grace Gathering August 10-13, New Orleans2016 Grace Gathering

August 10-13, 2016 • New Orleans, LA

The Grace Gathering will take place during the four days of Churchwide Assembly, August 10-13, 2016. This event will give you an opportunity to experience the ELCA when it is gathered as the Churchwide Assembly and to learn about the breadth and depth of our ministries.

Find more information and register at elca.org/GraceGathering.

2016 Bishop Election NT-NL Mission AreaBishop Election Committee Updates

Please visit BpElection.ntnl.org for information about the bishop election process, and for discernment materials such as Bible studies and prayers to help guide congregations through the process.

If you would like to contact the Bishop Election Committee, please email BpElection@ntnl.org.

Mark Your Calendars:

Sunday Brunch, Aug. 23 [Image description: photo of a plate with an omeletstuffed with red and green peppers, and a side of hash browns. Text reads :Sunday Brunch" over the plate of food in green text, and "August 23" in green text on the top right corner. There is a solid white circle overlay with the text "Email RSVP for brunch!" in red text on the middle right side of the image.]Briarwood Holiday Brunch

Sunday, Dec. 6 • 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Briarwood Retreat Center

Reservations are encouraged but not required. For reservations, call 940-241-2099 or e-mail bw@briarwoodretreat.org.

[Image description: headshots of Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and William B.Horne III]Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 • 8:00 CST

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton and William B. Horne II, an ELCA member from Clearwater, Fla., will continue their conversation on racism in another live webcast on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at 8 p.m. (CDT).

Please go to elca.org/webcast for more information.

[Image description: Stained glass window with images of angels.]Texas Lutheran University Christmas Vespers 2015

Dec, 4 & 5 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 6 at 4:00 p.m.
Jackson Auditorium, TLU

Tickets available now! Visit tlu.edu/christmas-vespers-2015 for more information.

Upcoming Events in the NT-NL Mission Area and Beyond:

Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit them to Criss Forshay (criss@ntnl.org) for consideration for our next NT-NL News. Don’t forget to include a picture or logo! p