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

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Hope in Springtown Dedicates “Sarah’s Orchard”

The mission of Hope Lutheran Church in Springtown is to “Grow relationships with God and our neighbors everywhere.” They are doing this by growing fruits and vegetables in their Garden of Hope Community Garden, and in the new orchard they dedicated in September!

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It’s October!

Did you know October is National Pastor Appreciation Month?

Buy your favorite pastor or SAWL a pumpkin spice latte* to show your appreciation!

*Disclaimer: some pastors are known to have strong opinions about their coffee. Please check with your local pastor or SAWL as to whether it is acceptable to add pumpkin, spice, or both to their coffee. NT-NL cannot be held responsible for altercations resulting from improperly-caffeinated clergy responding poorly to poorly-chosen offerings.

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October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Partner violence is a reality of our world, and it is something that is happening in our congregations.

Violence is not always physical; there are many ways to be abusive. Please consider talking about this very important but often “taboo” topic in Sunday school classes, Bible studies, youth events.

For more information and for resources, please visit:

• the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
• the National Domestic Violence Hotline
• NT-NL Domestic Violence Awareness & Resources for Clergy

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Guess what? October is also Fair Trade Month!

Fair Trade your Halloween, or find other ideas on how to celebrate on the Equal Exchange Fair Trade blog!

Thinking ahead to your Holiday Bazaar? Request your 2015 Holiday Sale Kit now!

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Refugee Sunday: November 22, 2015

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2015 Lutheran Campus Ministries Trivia Challenge

Sunday, November 15
Briarwood Retreat Center

A fundraiser and fun-raiser for NT-NL Lutheran Campus Ministries!

For more information or to register for the Trivia Challenge, click here!

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Save the Date! Congregational Council Retreat

February 26-27, 2016
Briarwood Retreat Center

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Did you miss last week’s Table Talk?

 You can watch it here: ntnl.org/NTNLTalkVideos

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Join us in person or online for this special presentation by ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.

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 2015 Seeds that Change Dinner & Fundraiser

Saturday, October 17
Iglesia Luterana Santa María de Guadalupe, Irving

Please consider a donation for the silent and live auctions!

For more information, or to donate  contact Hattie M. Hammer, Executive Director at hattie.hammer@sbcglobal.net.

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2016 Mission Endowment Fund Grants due October 31!

Find more information at ntnl.org/mef-grants

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Have you seen the new Stories of Faith in Action?

Find them here!

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Brown Distinguished Lecture: Garrison Keillor

Texas Lutheran University, Jackson Auditorium
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 • 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

For more information click here.

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Emergency Offering Opportunity

We are still seeking donations for the Mosaic offices in Corsicana, TX after they lost all of their computer equipment during a storm.

You can make a donation through your congregation or send your checks to the mission office (Christ Evangelical Lutheran Mission Center, 680 Copper Canyon Rd., Argyle, TX 76226), designated for “Mosaic in Corsicana.”

Let’s help Mosaic replace their office equipment so they can continue serving people with intellectual disabilities and providing them with opportunities to live a full life!

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

• Oct. 9: Briarwood Invitational Golf Outing
• Oct. 9-10: NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization Fall Retreat
• Oct. 17: MEF “Seeds that Change” Dinner
• Oct. 21: TLU Brown Distinguished Lecture: Garrison Keillor
• Oct. 23-25: Lutheran Men in Mission’s One Year To Live Retreat
• Oct. 25: Social Media Sunday #SMS15
• Oct. 26: An Evening with Presiding Bishop Eaton
• Oct. 26-28: 2015 Bishop’s Convocation: NT-NL Welcomes Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton 
• Nov. 2: Portico Pre-Retirement Seminar
• Nov. 3: Portico Early/Mid-Career Financial Wellness Seminar
• Nov. 13-15: Divergent – Jr. High Gathering 2015
• Nov. 15: Lutheran Campus Ministry Trivia Challenge
• Dec. 4-6, 13: TLU Christmas Vespers
• Jan. 15-17, 2016: NT-NL High School Service Weekend
• 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

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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