Dear NT-NL Leaders:
We are fully into the fall now with the passing of Labor Day. It may not feel like fall weather-wise. But all the fall activities are firing up again, in the new ways of course these are done in our time. As I have commented before, we are not going back to simply the same things. Life has changed, we have been changed. But change is not the enemy. We have a God who makes change. Who brings life from death. Who changes hearts and calls us to lives of service and love.
As we move into September I want you to be aware of a few key things…
- Our partners in Sierra Leone are in need of our support. Flooding has wrecked devastation in communities. Please consider a special gift to our disaster response.
- We are grateful for your mission support faithfulness. So far in 2022 we are tracking at almost 2021 levels. For your gifts, know we are grateful and those gifts go directly to fund mission and ministry.
- On Saturday Oct 1st we will celebrate and give thanks for our Mission Endowment Fund. Please join us for this evening and give thanks for the way we have stewarded these resources for mission.
- On August 29th we received a surprise visit from Pastor/President Pedro Bullon of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru. Pastor Bullon was stranded at DFW airport due to cancelled flights. Our Conferencia Latina stepped up to assist, and we provided lodging and an opportunity for DEM Irma Bañales and I to meet and get to know Pastor Bullon. Thank you for your generosity that makes us able to offer such immediate hospitality.
- We will be taking this fall off from having a Leadership Convocation. Please note Synod Assembly (April 28-29, 2023) will be held in Shreveport, LA. Location TBD.
- This fall we will be celebrating the 75th Anniversaries of Beautiful Savior-Amarillo and Calvary-San Angelo. I look forward to being present with them on these joyful weekends and encourage your prayers as we give thanks.
As your synod council meets this weekend (Sept 10th) know we will be grateful for your continued faithfulness that enables us to continue to do the mission we share. Thank you for that work, and I pray your fall brings a harvest of abundance. Please consider joining us September 10th at 4pm at Central in Dallas for the ordination of Veronika Czutor. Ordinations remind us again of the new things God is doing in our midst.
In Christ,
Bishop Gronberg