Week of August 31, 2014

Mission of the Month: Abby in South Africa

While serving in South Africa through the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program, Abby Henderson has witnessed the courage and resilience of young South African women, particularly as they face difficulties on an everyday basis. Sexual harassment and violence are ongoing concerns.

Abby is one of 59 young leaders who are working with the ELCA’s companion churches around the world, an opportunity made possible by the support of generous ELCA members and congregations. As a Teen Life Coach at Proudly Female, a program for 140 teen girls from two schools in Bellville, Abby mentors young women and encourages them to stay in school.

“Many of the girls come from homes where they do not receive as much love and attention as they deserve, so the Teen Life Coaches serve to show the girls that they are wonderful and worthy, just as they are,” Abby says.

Bishop Kanouse gets iced, and challenges you…

UPDATE on Emergency Medical Relief Response for the West Africa Ebola Crisis

Last weekend, volunteers from NT-NL and the IDEA Foundation gathered at the MediSend International headquarters to prep boxes for shipping. That container is already on its way to Sierra Leone, to provide the doctors and nurses there with much-needed medical equipment.

Bishop Kanouse has also been in contact with Brother’s Brother Foundation, and we have now sent a second 40-foot container of medical supplies to Sierra Leone. Thanks to you and your generous donations!

As the Ebola epidemic continues, a new hardship on the people of West Africa has been access to food. Many towns are quarantined, to help avoid spreading the disease, and some areas are running out of food as a result of the quarantines and the limitations on travel and mobility.

We have also sent $15,000 to Sierra Leone this week for a food project being run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone. Thanks to your donations, 250 families will receive a big bag of rice, a gallon of cooking oil, and a half carton of tomato paste!

While this is good news, there is still so much more to be done.

Please consider making a donation (or another donation) or taking a special offering in your congregation, and also spreading the word to friends and family.

Donations can be made through PayPal or by mail: NT-NL Mission Office, P.O. Box 560587, Dallas TX 75356-0587.

Please read the full statement on the Emergency Medical Relief Response for the West Africa Ebola Crisis here.

NT-NL Table Talk: Moral Injury

September 23 • 9:30-3:30
Briarwood Retreat Center

How can we be better equipped to walk with those facing difficult decisions or who have lived through morally challenging events, such as withdrawing life support?

Join the Rev. Dr. Rita Brock, Co-Director of the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School, to learn about pastoral care and moral injury.

Outstanding Educator Diana Smith Named ELCA Early Childhood Director of the Year

Pastor Kendra Mohn, Bishop Kevin Kanouse, TLCC Director Diana Smith, and Pastor Erik Gronberg at Trinity, Fort Worth.

Last Sunday, Trinity Lutheran Church (Fort Worth) celebrated 5o years of ministry with Trinity Lutheran Children’s Center.

Diana S. Smith, director of TLCC, was selected last month as the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association’s 2014 Early Childhood Director of the Year—out of the entire ELCA!

“Director Smith was nominated by a colleague, and selected by her fellow administrators through a national search process conducted by the ELEA,” said Gayle Denny, Ececutive Director of the ELEA.

Diana Smith has served as Director of TLCC since 1990. She has a long list of accomplishments there, including the addition of infant care, which provides a much-needed service in their community. TLCC has a steady six-month waiting list for enrollment, and experiences minimal teacher turnover.

“Diana ALWAYS puts the teachers and children above all other needs. It is this devotion that gives TLCC its strength,” said TLCC Board Chair Scott Trout.

Diana Smith will be honored at the February 24-25, 2015 ELEA National Administrator & Pastor Conference held at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, NV, along with the recipients of the 2014 ELCA Elementary Principal of the Year Award and ELEA’s Donald A. Vetter Educational Service Award.

Save the Date!

Bishop’s Convocation
October 27-29
Briarwood Retreat Center

Turning Preaching Inside Out:

Guest Speaker
Dr. Rolf Jacobson

2014 Convocation Brochure Registration packet with mail-in registration available here. Online registration coming soon!

Two New Continuing Education Courses Offered by Wartburg Theological Seminary

Christian Spiritual Tradition

Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth A. Leeper
(Online; September 8 – October 31, 2014)

As Christians we have a rich heritage of foremothers and fathers to whom God has spoken and given divine knowledge and insight. Through reading and pondering their words, God invites us to learn from them and grow ourselves in knowledge and love of God. In this online course we will study and discuss a number of these Christian spiritual writers and guides. Tuition is $355. Click here to register now!

Introducción al Antiguo Testamento
(Introduction to the Old Testament, taught in Spanish)

Instructor: Dr. Gregory Lee Cuellar
(Onsite at LSPS in Austin, TX; October 23 – 25, 2014)

Este curso brinda una visión panorámica del Antiguo Testamento (AT). Los grandes temas, en los que se estructura toda la materia del curso, son los siguientes: La Critica Bíblica Moderna del AT, el Pentateuco, los Profetas, los Escritos. De carácter más general, el curso dar a conocer al estudiante el origen, proceso de composición, las características literarias y redacción final del Antiguo Testamento. Otros elementos que dan contenido al curso son los aspectos históricos, políticos, culturales y sociales en que la retorica del AT fue desarrollada. Por último, el curso se ocupa del contenido teológico del Antiguo Testamento planteando las cuestiones más relevantes para nuestro tiempo y situaciones ministeriales. Costo es $250 (más costos adicionales de comida y alojamiento en Austin) ¡Regístrese aquí!

This course offers a panoramic vision of the Old Testament. Structuring the course are the following key themes: Modern Biblical Interpretation, the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Writings. From an introductory perspective, students examine the origin, the process of composition, the literary characteristics and the final redaction of the OT. Other elements considered in the course are historical, political, cultural and social aspects underlying the rhetoric of the OT. In the end, the course also analyzes theological content in the OT with a view toward relevant questions and current ministry situations. Tuition is $250 (plus additional fees for lodging and food in Austin). Click here to register today!

Yellow: Wear it, Share it!

September 7 is “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday. We know what Presiding Bishop Eaton will be doing that day! What about you?

What does your congregation have planned? Are you partnering with your Macedonia Cluster for a joint project?

Looking for resources? Visit elca.org/dayofservice to download a toolkit, bulletin inserts, and more—be sure to check out the media outreach section to get the word out in your community!

Already have your project planned and ready to go? Let us know! Register your congregation’s project with the ELCA, and email criss@ntnl.org so we can (humbly) brag about you. Make sure you tag your photos and social media status updates with #ELCADayofService!

Whether you’re wearing your yellow “God’s Work. Our Hands.” shirts or not, we want to see you! We want to share your stories! Please contact Criss at criss@ntnl.org if you would like to document of your congregation’s activities through the NT-NL Instagram account on that day!

Briarwood Retreat Center will host its annual Invitational Golf Outing at Bridlewood Golf Club, Flower Mound, TX on Friday, September, 12, 2014.

Funds raised from this Invitational Golf Outing are used to make camp affordable for all children and youth, and provides camperships for those with specific needs. Thank you very much for your support of this endeavor and for your continued support of the ministry at Briarwood!

Golfer Registration Includes:

Light Breakfast
Range Balls
2 Drink Tickets
1 Raffle ticket (more tickets available for sale)
Longest Drive Contest
Closest to the Pin Contest
1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Low Gross Scores plus Last Place Awards

Not a golfer? Purchase raffle tickets, donate auction items, or become a sponsor!

The NT-NL Mission Area will observe Global Church Sunday on Sunday, Sept. 21

Congregations are invited to celebrate our church’s connection and common mission within Christ’s global church by sponsoring a Global Church Sunday. Celebrate by taking a special offering for an ELCA missionary or global ministry, hosting a coffee hour with treats from around the world or including global songs in your worship service.

A toolkit of these and other ideas for congregations can be found here (click on the “Global Church Sunday” tab). For more information, contact globalchurch@elca.org.

The Fourth Annual Luther Lecture: Luther Then, Bonhoeffer Now
Dr. Larry Rasmussen

Presented by the American Luther Research Center and the NT-NL Mission Area, ELCA

October 2, 2014
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
8011 Douglas Avenue
Dallas, Texas

RSVP by Monday, September 15 to Sandra Bauer at 972-241-3545 or sbauer@international-capital.com

Download the promotional flier here.