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.
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.
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.
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!
2016 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.
Bishop 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.
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.
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.
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:
- Dec. 1: Weapons in Worship? New Gun Laws in Texas and Religious Properties
- Dec. 5-6: Advent Retreat
- Dec. 4-6, 13: TLU Christmas Vespers
- Dec. 6: Briarwood Sunday Brunch
- Jan. 9-10, 2016: Women’s Family Retreat
- Jan. 14, 2016: Wrestling with the Gospel: Preparing for Lent & Easter
- Jan. 14, 2016: Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning
- Jan. 15-17, 2016: NT-NL High School Service Weekend
- Jan. 23-24, 2016: Lumberjack Retreat
- Jan. 25-27, 2016: Tri-Synodical Theological Leadership Conference
- Feb. 19-21, 2016: Peer Ministry Leadership Event
- Feb. 26-27, 2016: Congregational Council Retreat
- Apr. 22-24, 2016: NT-NL Mission Assembly
- May 29-Jun. 3, 2016: LSPS Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Level I Intensive
- Jun. 12-17, 2016: LSPS Building Congregational Capacity for Hispanic Ministry Level II Intensive
- Jun. 20-30, 2016: Lands of Luther Tour
- Sept. 17, 2016: Installation of the new NT-NL Bishop
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