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.
This Draft of a Social Message on Gender-based Violence is not the social statement on Women and Justice that is in the process of being developed; the social message is shorter and narrower in scope, addressing one specific issue (gender-based violence). The development of this draft stems from the information received and compiled by the ELCA’s Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ (which is working on the social statement) after a year of listening events, at which intense concerns were voiced about the growing level of gender-based violence in US society. For information about the full span of work being done by the task force, visit the Women and Justice page.
Revisions to the draft of a social message on gender-based violence will be made after November 26, in light of the whole body of feedback received about the draft, and Church Council will consider it for adoption in April 2015.
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.
Consider holding a listening event at your church to provide a venue for collecting your congregation’s input on the social statement. The task force wants to hear from as many people as possible: men and women, adults and youth. And, of course, address this social message as it being considered for this Spring.
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.
Bishop’s Convocation
October 27-29
Briarwood Retreat Center
Turning Preaching Inside Out:
Preaching & Worship as Faith Formation
Guest Speaker Dr. Rolf Jacobson
2014 Convocation Brochure Registration packet with mail-in registration available here.
(Please note: we were not able to set up online registration this year. Please register by mail. Thank you!)
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
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. Download the registration brochure here.
Our 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.
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!
Help Needed! 1st Annual Mosaic Halloween Party
Volunteers needed Friday, October 24 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. to help decorate the vocational center before the party and/or to help serve, play games, etc. during the party. If you can help, please contact Lori Baum at lori.baum@mosaicinfo.org or 972-866-9989 ext. 322.
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.
Entrenamiento con la Academia
La Academia Ecuménica de Liderazgo ofrece esta oportunidad de entrenamiento de facilitadoras y facilitadores el 24-25 de octubre en Houston.
Los participantes podrán familiarizarse con los cursos, el procedimiento, aclarar dudas, e interactuar con colegas facilitadoras y facilitadores.
El costo del entrenamiento es $55 por persona; cada participante es responsable por sus arreglos de hotel, comida, y viaje. Para más informatción, vea la página de eventos de Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. Por favor, inscríbase en línea.
Volunteer Days at Briarwood: October 20-31
We need volunteers to assist with painting!
The actual painting will be done by our two favorite handymen, Bruce Oslie and Buck Parker, but they will need volunteers to help with hoses and moving things around.
If you are available to help next week, please call Jean at 940.241.2099 or email her at jean@briarwoodretreat.org to let us know of your availability. Thank you!
Mission Endowment Fund Grant Application Now Available!
The deadline for MEF grants is October 31. Please complete the application (save the fillable PDF to your computer, then open your local copy) and submit to Hattie Hammer at hattie.hammer@sbcglobal.net.
Please find the complete grant application guidelines and application forms at ntnl.org/mef-grants.
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!
Peer Ministry Leadership Event (youth in grades 9-12) February 20-22, Briarwood Retreat Center
500 Likes by Reformation Day—Almost there!
Yowza! We’re up to 474 likes on the NT-NL Mission Area Facebook Page. Just 26 more to get us to 500 by Reformation Day!
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 $570 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
Upcoming Events in the NT-NL Mission Area and Beyond:
- Oct. 27-29: Bishop’s Convocation: Turning Preaching Inside Out
- Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Retiro Espiritual: Festival de los Regalos de Dios
- 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 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!