500 Likes by Reformation Day—Almost there!
Yowza! We’re up to 487 likes on the NT-NL Mission Area Facebook Page. Just 13 more to get us to 500 by Reformation Day (Friday, Oct. 31)!
Thank you to all of you sharing our page, liking and commenting on posts, sharing posts and articles from the page! So far, you’ve raised $700 for Ebola relief via Facebook likes—remember, for every new “like” on our page from today until October 31st, I will donate $10 to Ebola relief.
And don’t forger the #SundaySelfieNTNL and #ntnlife hashtags!
Find us online! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders—Early registration deadline extended!
This 32-hour training, offered by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, is useful for clergy who are looking for continuing education opportunities in addition to honing their mediation skills.
The next MSTI will be in Georgetown, Texas, November 17-21, 2014 at First United Methodist Church. Early registration extended to November 3! Download the registration brochure here.
Their complete calendar can be found on their website, LMPeaceCenter.org.
“Only Four Things Grow Churches” Tour
Losing sleep at night trying to figure out how to grow your church into the 21st Century? Join us at one of our Only Four Things Grow Churches event, get the tools you need, and sleep better!
Saturday, Nov. 1 • Central Christian Church
4711 Westside Dr., Dallas, TX 75209
This one-day seminar is based on the Four Core Processes outlined in the book Effective Staffing for Vital Churches: The Essential Guide for Finding and Keeping the Right People. This event will help you get the church growth ball rolling and provide the momentum to break through the barriers that are holding your church back.
For more information, visit effectivechurch.com/four-things/. To register for the November 1st event, click here.
Draft of a Social Message on Gender-Based Violence
As you may know, there is a recently posted Draft of a Social Message on Gender-based Violence available for reading and for public comment on the ELCA website until November 26. Both the draft and the feedback form can be found here; an additional FAQ sheet is available through that link, that talks about the purpose of a social message and how it is developed and approved. Esta información también está disponible en español.
For information about the full span of work being done by the task force, visit the Women and Justice page.
If you have not discussed the issue of women and justice in your congregation, please consider doing so. Both the social message and the social statement are avenues for highlighting a pervasive issue in our church and our society. There are resources available on the ELCA website for study and discussion.
The task force wants to hear from as many people as possible: men and women, adults and youth.
If you have any questions about how to hold a listening event, what materials are available, or how to provide feedback to the Task Force, please email criss@ntnl.org or call 214-637-6865.
2015 Tri-Synodical Theological Conference
January 26-28
New Braunfels, TX
The Story is our life blood, yet many have let it flat line.
Join us for theological conference this year as we get the blood pumping again!
West Africa Ebola Crisis: Donations Still Being Collected
There is still so much to be done to help our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone and west Africa. Please visit ntnl.org/ebola-crisis for updates.
Please consider making a donation or taking a special offering in your congregation, and also sharing that link with friends and family. Donations can be made through PayPal or by mail: NT-NL Mission Office, P.O. Box 560587, Dallas TX 75356-0587.
Briarwood Fall Festival
November 2 • 2:00-6:00
Join us for a fun-filled family day at Briarwood! There will be a games, treats, face painting, raffles, tours of the Streng and Trester Centers, and Briarwood’s Annual Meeting.
There will be a delicious cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers from 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. plus cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, and sodas throughout the afternoon.
The Annual Advisory Board meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. Please see briarwoodretreat.org for more information.
Run for the Hills
Join us on Saturday, Nov. 8 for the Second Annual Run for the Hills, an exciting 1 mile and 5k Fun Run/Walk, benefiting Foster in Texas, Lutheran Social Services of the South and the animal services center in the City of Richland Hills. The run/walk is hosted by Calvary Lutheran Church in Richland Hills.
The race kicks off at 8 a.m. You can park at Calvary (7620 Baker Blvd. in Richland Hills) and catch a shuttle to the starting line. Stay after to enjoy music, food and fellowship!
Click here to register and for more event details.
ELCA Good Gifts
It’s never too early to start planning for Advent and Christmas. This year, rethink the traditional Christmas gift-giving in your congregation by hosting an ELCA Good Gifts fair.
Get creative, set fundraising goals and “shop” the ELCA Good Gifts catalog together! Get started by ordering your free ELCA Good Gifts Fair Planning Guide and find additional free resources to help support your efforts.
Youth Events
The NT-NL Lutheran Youth Organization leaders are collecting preliminary information from congregations planning on attending the Gathering in Detroit. Please fill out this quick form to let us know your plans!
Registration for Rise Up Together: 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering is Now Open!
Are you on NT-NL’s Youth Ministry email list? To update your email profile to be included in Youth Ministry emails: If you are reading this on the NT-NL website, use the sign-up form in the sidebar on the right (MailChimp will redirect you to the correct page; If you are reading this in your email inbox, use the link in the box below (after Upcoming Events).
Peer Ministry Leadership Event (youth in grades 9-12) February 20-22, Briarwood Retreat Center
National Conference of Sacred Music
The National Conference for Sacred Music is a unique conference designed to provide the practicing Church Musician with fresh new ideas to help create a vital, growing music ministry. The emphasis of this conference is to provide a wide variety of new approaches to revitalize and reinvigorate the Church’s passion for music in worship.
For more information, see the registration link (scroll down for event details).
Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Intensive
Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest will be hosting their Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Intensive on May 24-29, 2015.
The Intensive is a resource for Lutherans and those of other denominations who recognize the growing need for competency in the Spanish language and an understanding of Hispanic culture in light of the increasing Hispanic population in this country and in the church. The course focuses on the study of the Spanish language and on different aspects of Hispanic culture, ranging from cuisine to dancing.
Download the informational flier here. Download the registration form here.
Please contact Consuelo Reid at lsps@lsps.edu with any questions.
New! Level II Intensive
Building Congregational Capacity for Hispanic Ministry:
Misión en Comunidad/Mission in Community
This new Level II Intensive is designed for congregational leaders in those congregations where consideration is being given to starting Hispanic Ministry in their community. Teams from congregations are encouraged to attend. During this week teams will learn:
- To increase capacity for doing Hispanic ministry
- To learn several models for engaging in Hispanic ministry in congregational settings
- To improve facility in Spanish language, especially liturgical Spanish
- To build a cohort of colleagues preparing for Hispanic ministry within their community
The main presenter is the Rev. Rubén Durán with several outstanding guests sharing models for Hispanic Ministry.
Download the Level II Intensive flier here. For more information about LSPS, visit lsps.edu.
Upcoming Events in the NT-NL Mission Area and Beyond:
- Nov. 1: Only Four Things Grow Churches
- Nov. 2: Briarwood’s Fall Festival
- Nov. 8: Run for the Hills 1 mile and 5K run
- Nov. 9: Lutheran Campus Ministries Trivia Challenge
- Nov. 14-16: Junior High Youth Gathering
- Dec. 7: Briarwood’s Christmas Brunch
- Dec. 13-14: Advent Retreat at Briarwood
- Jan 7-9: National Conference of Sacred Music
- Jan 16-18: High School Extravaganza
- Jan. 24-25: Lumberjack Retreat at Briarwood
- Jan. 26-28, 2015: Tri-Synodical Theological Conference
- Feb. 20-22: Peer Ministry (for youth in grades 9-12)
- Apr. 21-May 8, 2015: In Search of Paul: An Aegean Odyssey A LEAD pilgrimage for rostered leaders and church professionals
- Apr. 24-26, 2015: NT-NL Mission Assembly
- May 24-29, 2015: LSPS’s Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Intensive
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit them to Criss Forshay (criss@ntnl.org) for consideration for our next Briefings. Don’t forget to include a picture or logo!