The NT-NL Synod is a community of congregations, members, lay and rostered leaders.  And within our community there is a lot to know and a lot that is taking place.  This bulletin board is one way to keep abreast of what is happening within the synod. A partial listing is offered below. If you have a specific announcement you wish to see posted here, please contact Stan.Meyer@ntnl.org for assistance.

Group Publishers Video
VBS Video - "Scuba"

Christ the King, Fort Worth is looking for the old VBS video called "Scuba" by Group Publishers around 2002. If you know of this video, contact Delores Donohue at 817-788-1511.

Info Contact:

Pews Available
Bethany, Dallas

Bethany Lutheran Church, Dallas, has pews available. Contact Steve Claussen at 214-535-3216 for more information.

Info Contact:

Organ Available
Yamaha F35 Home Type

This organ is in operating condition and is available for immediate pickup at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Irving. Contact the Church Secretary, Beverly Craft or Pastor Brad Carroll at 972-790-2121.

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Fund for Leaders in Mission Receives Gift
St. John Lutheran Church, Grand Prairie

The cost of attending seminary ~~ which once was paid for in large measure by the denomination and synods ~~ has shifted to the seminarians themselves. Many students complete their college and seminary studies with debt in excess of $30,000. The NT-NL Synod recently gave $450 gifts to each of 11 seminarians as a token of our synodical support. The synod is also moving to expand its Scholarship Fund by investing in the ELCA`s Fund for Leaders in Mission which will professionally manage the endowment on our behalf and enable us to give scholarships to students from our synod. This seminary scholorship fund jumped to over $50,000 recently when a gift from St. John, Grand Prairie, was added. Your support is welcome.

Info Contact: Fund for Leaders: Leadership Rising (matching gifts program) and information regarding the NT-NL Synod’s Fund for Leaders in Mission

Journey to the Churchwide Assembly
50 Days of Prayer

Bishop Mark Hanson has invited the people of the ELCA to join him in 50 days of prayer beginning June 29.He encourages congregations, groups, and individuals to study and pray for and along with the assembly using prayers, Scripture, and song drawn from the assembly's daily worship. Go to the website listed below for these resources.

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Make It Simple LIVE
A Congregation Resource

This link weblink is for new stewardship materials for congregational use in the fall. It will allow congregations to do some planning for their fall stewardship emphasis. The link is posted on the synod's website under "Congregations".

Info Contact: Make It Simple congregational resources

Child Protection eGuide
Weekly eGuide for Parents and Grandparents

This weekly eGuide will show you how to protect your children from child predators, whether in person, at school, at church, on the internet and even on their cell phones and gaming consoles. You can sign up for a complimentary copy at this website: http://www.childprotectionguide.org/email_signup.php.

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"Spread the Spirit
Reserve the DATES NOW!

"Spread the Spirit's Fire" events will be held on: September 19 at Trinity, Miles, October 17 at Shepherd of Life, Arlington, October 31 at Trinity, Clifton, November 7 at Holy Trinity, Shreveport, and November 14 at Trinity, Sherman. These events are sponsored by DiscipleLife Goal Team A. After August 1 registration and more details will be available.

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The Leadership Program for Musicians - Texas
2009-2011 Courses

Leadership Program for Musicians-Texas will hold an open house Saturday, September 26 First Lutheran Church, Temple. LPM prepares capable and confident worship leaders who will enable their congregations to sing well and take ther part in the liturgy of the church.

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Church Women United in Texas
Annual Assembly

CWU Annual Assembly to be held at Embassy Suites Hotel-Love Field September 11-13, 2009. The Assembly theme is "Women Making a Difference. Contact 214-357-4500 for more information.

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A Journey Toward Peace
A Trip to the Holy Land

Pastor Steve Quill invites you to a trip to the Holy Land from Nov. 3-12, 2009. This is a trip designed to not only see the relics of the Holy Land, but to engage the people of that land who are actively working toward Peace and Reconciliation. We will meet with parents of children killed by suicide bombers, leaders of our Lutheran churches such as Mitri Raheb, Archbishop Elias Chacour of the Melkite Catholic Church, and several others. Cost is estimated to be $4000 per person, double occupancy including air fare. An excursion to Egypt at the end of the trip is an option.

Info Contact: Steve Quill, 713.249.8470.

Care for Returning Veterans
Do you know how to be helpful?

As military personnel return from serving their (sometimes multiple) assignments, they may have needs and concerns requiring your assistance. Everyone that returns from combat is changed, they live in a new reality. What can you do? First, know them and their needs. Second, keep an eye on the family members for their needs. Third, be sensitive. Finally, know the resources - like the chaplain's office within VA Hospitals, web sites and other available resources. The NT-NL Synod's contact person to learn more about resources and ministry approaches is Pastor Mike Masterson at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Fort Worth.

Info Contact: read more at Care for Returning Veterans, or contact Pastor Mike Masterson, 817.292.1338.

Emotional Intelligence & Human Relation Skills
Offered by Roy Oswald

Roy Oswald, a long-time leader in leadership development and church life through the Alban Institute, is promoting training on Emotional Intelligence and Human Relation Skills. A workshop is planned for August 24-28 in Louisville. This training is especially designed for clergy and professional church workers.

Info Contact: Emotional Intelligence Conference

Personal and Private Documents to Shred?
Free service available from Mosaic in Dallas

Mosaic is in the initial stages of offering a document destruction (shredding) program. They offer to pick up documents from churches that need to be destroyed. The service is free of charge. The work is directed by Mr. DarronBrewer, Vocational Coordinator at the Dallas Mosaic Vocational Center.

Info Contact: Darron Brewer

Doing a World of Good
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest

Each year we are remidned of the generous, thoughtful, and caring people who left gifts for Briarwood and the NT-NL Synod and its ministry in their life estate through the Lutheran Foundation. Gifts for 2007 totaled $26,155 for Briarwood and $46,450 to NT-NL Synod. Since 1994, Briarwood has received $138,656 and NT-NL Synod $528,538 for ministry to help our synod expand its various missions. Without this help, some of the extra programs would not be available. If you are interested in the possibilities of leaving some of your legacy for future ministry contact the Lutheran Foundation at 1-800-424-0447. The consultation is free.

Info Contact: Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest

Stewardship of Creation
Promoted by Texas Impact

Texas Interfaith Power and Light (TXIPL) is part of a national movement with branches in 23 states devoted to helping people of faith recognize and fulfill their responsibility as stewards for creation. To achieve this goal, IPL has created Shop IPL which offers an array of inexpensive, energy efficient products, including compact fluorescent light bulbs, rechargeable batteries, programmable thermostats, educational kids’ books, solar ovens, water faucet aerators, and more at competitive wholesale prices. We want to make it as easy as possible for people and faith communities to take concrete steps toward preserving our environment.

Info Contact: Shop IPL

The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering
New Orleans, Louisiana

Start planning (it’s not too early): the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering event will be in New Orleans July 22-26 under the theme Jesus, Justice and Jazz.

Info Contact: Sign up for the Youth Event newsletter

Help in a Disaster
Red Cross Online Training

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded the American Red Cross a grant to offer a training program that will increase awareness of Weapons of Mass Destruction / Terrorism incidents. The program is for non-governmental and volunteer groups. The goal is to help people respond to the humanitarian needs following WMD/T incidents. You can take the training online.

Info Contact: Red Cross Training

Worship Works
New Web Resource

The synod`s Worship Committee has put together a new web site to provide resources and information about worship forms and worship planning. The site is especially important now as the ELCA begins to introduce the new worship resource, Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Use this site to learn more, but also as a place to log in your questions and comments. You can access the site from the NT-NL Synod`s home page or by clicking on the link below.

Info Contact: Worship Works