Saturday Sept 11, 2021 started early for the NT-NL Synod, ELCA Executive Team. We gathered online and in person at Briarwood Leadership Center at 7:30am to prepare for the full synod council meeting at 8:30am. It was a productive morning of work and fellowship. Facilitated online with 11 members in person and 11 online. We were joined during the morning by our ELCA churchwide council member the Rev. Nick Billardello to help us understand how we are better connected as a church.
Having done our business we adjourned promptly at 11am to grab a bite of lunch before our “re-gathering” worship as synod at noon. there 150 members of our synod came together to worship, celebrate, lament, and give thanks that we could be together in this time. ELCA Director of Chaplaincy the Rev. Christopher Otten preached a challenging and hopeful word. Remembering and honoring the 20th anniversary of Sept 11, 2001.
Outside, masks recommended, we celebrated the Eucharist, led by our DEM the Rev. Irma Banales En Espanol. We honored those who have had milestone anniversaries of ordination and who are new to our synod. We also welcomed a new ministry, Kindom, which is an ecumenical partnership in McKinney.
Of significant note was welcoming members of Iglesia Santa Maria De Guadalupe Irving back into our fellowship as synod. This congregation is now under synodical administration as we seek to ensure we have accountability and clarity on our life together. We once were separated but now we are glad to be #EnMisionJuntos.
After worship there was time for games and frivolities. Frios Gourmet Pops, the Dallas franchise, was on hand to provide sustenance for an afternoon of games, rock climbing, archery, zip lining, and fellowship. We are grateful for our partnership with Frios through Paul Quinn College, the site for our 2022 Synod Assembly. Frios, Dallas is a black owned business and so it was a joy to enjoy gourmet popsicles and also live into our commitments to support and uplift minority owned businesses in our community.
It was an amazing day. The climbing wall, zip line, archery, field games led by Aaron Colwick and Katrina Colwick were busy all afternoon. NT-NL folks enjoying Briarwood Leadership Center. It was so good to be together again. Thankful for the staff and leadership at Briarwood for their labor in making this happen. We are #InMissionTogether #EnMisionJuntos #NTNL #BWTX