2016 Prayer Partners
The 2016 NT-NL Prayer Partners can be found at ntnl.org/2016PrayerPartners, or you can download the PDF here (as of 01/18/16).
Assembly Banquet Recordings
If you missed the banquets this year at Assembly or would like to re-live any moments, the recordings have been condensed and uploaded to the NT-NL YouTube page.
For quick access, here are those direct links:
Assembly Feedback
The ELCA tried a new format with this year’s Churchwide Report video. They would love to get feedback on what people thought of it and how they might improve. In case you do not recall, here is a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IGct76lKJM
If you attended this year’s Assembly, please consider giving your feedback:
https://surveys.elca.org/scripts/rws5.pl?FORM=savideo16
Ministry Openings
The NT-NL Mission Area (Synod) office is accepting applications for a Bishop Associate for Leader Formation and Congregational Care and a Director for Evangelical Mission (in conjunction with the ELCA).
Briarwood Retreat Center is seeking an Administrative Assistant to jointly serve with the staff of Briarwood and the NT-NL Mission Area (Synod). This position will encompass a variety of duties similar to receptionist, hospitality, retreat host, secretary, office assistant, and others as needed. Please submit the signed job description and completed employment application to Sharon@BriarwoodRetreat.org for consideration.
Hosanna Lutheran in Mandeville, LA, is seeking a Youth Ministry Director. Hosanna is a congregation of the ELCA, with a worship attendance around 220 and a membership of about 600, located in a growing suburban area of New Orleans, just across Lake Pontchartrain.
Request for the Bishop Installation
We are inviting all churches in the NT-NL Mission Area to submit photos to Jason@NTNL.org from “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday (ELCA Day of Service on September 11) or some day of service prior in order for us to recognize during Bishop-Elect Erik Gronberg’s installation service all the amazing work around our mission area. Please submit by Monday, September 12, with all pertinent details (church name, location, type of service, date, number of volunteers, response from community, etc).
Survey Opportunity for Texans
Texas Impact is a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include individuals, congregations, and governing bodies of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
Please take 2-3 minutes to complete this brief anonymous survey, Faith Priorities for the 2017 Legislative Session.
In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, Texas Impact’s Board of Directors will convene this fall to determine their legislative agenda for 2017-2018. Data from this survey will allow them to assess the interests of the faith communities they represent.
The survey will close on July 15.
Opportunities for Young Adults
The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service. As they offer themselves in service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the witness of our global neighbors. They share in the journeys of companion churches and organizations in one of nine countries around the world.
Earlier this year, nearly 90 young adults accepted the call to partake in an international year of service. These young adults will work in a variety of fields in one of 11 country programs – Argentina/Uruguay, Australia, Cambodia, Central Europe (Hungary), Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, Southern Africa and United Kingdom – beginning this August.
Mark your calendars: Applications for the program open on December 1, and are due February 15 each year, for service beginning that same August.
We are a church that believes God is calling us into the world – together. Come, imagine yourself in the world!
Visit their sponsorship page to learn how you can support Young Adults in Global Mission.
(ELCA Youth Gathering: June 27-July 1, 2018)
The ELCA Youth Gathering is primarily planned and led by amazing volunteers who serve on 15 planning teams. The Gathering is now accepting applications from individuals who would like to participate in the planning. Applications will be accepted until July 1, 2016. Apply today. Questions about the application process can be sent to gathering@elca.org.
Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.
An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, an ELCA gathering of youth with disabilities.
Opportunities for Churches
The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ is preparing a comprehensive study for use in congregations and across the church. The task force invites individuals, adult forums, and other study groups to join a churchwide conversation about issues related to women and justice in church and society and then to share responses.
Each session in the study will include scripture reflection, activities, discussion points, devotions, and additional resources. The study will be available in early July, both in print and for download. All participant responses will be reviewed by the task force as it works toward bringing out a first draft of a social statement in late 2017. Study response forms will be available in the printed version and online.
The response period runs through August 2017.
(In response to churchwide assembly action, the task force is charged with leading our church in the development of a social statement on women and justice in church and society. Since 2012 the task force has held over 100 Listening Events and heard presentations from nearly two dozen specialists to help it understand the issues.)
In this 10th anniversary year of the publication of “Evangelical Lutheran Worship,” you are invited to attend an event focusing on Lutheran worship in our current context.
Pastors, musicians, lay leaders, and worship committees: whether you have extensive experience with ELW, are exploring it for the first time, or use other materials for your community’s worship, you will find a place at these gatherings.
Events will include:
- Introduction – for those engaging ELW for the first time.
- Deeper Exploration – for those who know the treasures well, but long for renewed energy or a deeper understanding.
- Newer Resources – for those interested in the many print and online resources in the ELW family that have been produced since 2006.
- Foundations – for those who want to connect with the core principles of worship in the ELCA while engaging the culture, gifts, and practices of a local community.
- Synodical Leadership – for those who want to offer ELW introductions and/or refreshers in their synod.
…plus worship, singing, networking, creative brain-sailing, and more.
Click here for full details and to register.
(Birthing Cross+Gen Ministries Conference, October 3-6, Estes Park, CO)
Cross+Gen pioneers from across the country will present case studies, sharing their successes, failures, challenges, and blessings. These new models include education, service, seasonals, special events, worship, and more! Dr. David Lose, President of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, will speak on the theology of the Cross+Gen Movement. CrossGenConference.com
Read how people across the ELCA are doing God’s work with their hands in Stories of Faith in Action. Have a story to share about how your congregation or ministry is living their DiscipleLife? Let us know: MissionOffice@ntnl.org.
Opportunities for Musicians
This summer, Augsburg Fortress invites you to join hundreds of other church musicians in exploring fresh and innovative ways to enliven music in worship. Summer music clinics are designed for everyone involved in creating and planning music for worship. Read through new seasonal music, attend workshops led by clinicians Michael Burkhardt, Kristina Langlois, participate in and attend a hymn festival.
Burkhardt and Langlois will lead a variety of workshops, including “Advent: A Season of Longing and Expectation” (Burkhardt) and “What Tools Are in Your Hymn Playing Toolbox ” (Langlois), along with choral, keyboard, children’s and handbell reading sessions.
Join other musicians and the community for “A Holy Week Journey Festival of Hymns” with Burkhardt and Langlois. You can register for these FREE clinics or get more information at AugsburgMusic.org.
LOCATIONS
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, July 15-16
- Columbia, SC, July 22-23
- Chicago, IL, July 25-26 (preceding the ALCM Region 3 Conference)
- Seattle, WA, July 29-30
- Columbus, OH, Aug. 1-2
- Philadelphia, PA, Aug. 4-5
A multi-denominational training event for contemporary worship musicians
Faith Lutheran Church, Bellaire, TX
August 20, 2016
The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Worship Excellence Team invites you to join them for the “TUNE UP worship band gathering” in Houston. For those who have never experienced this event, it is an opportunity for contemporary worship musicians to learn and grow with specific learning tracks for pastors, worship leaders, vocalists, drummers and percussionists, guitarists (all varieties), keyboardists, and sound and video techs.
There will also be sessions available on Collaborative Worship Design, Making Worship Contextual, Live Streaming Your Worship, and Worship and Culture. Worship bands, praise teams, directors of music, and pastors will all take away techniques and strategies that they immediately can implement.
The cost is just $25 per person with a maximum per congregation of $150, which includes lunch.
To learn more and/or to register, visit http://tuneupgathering.org.
Save the Date
February 25, 2017
The 2017 SeniorFest
8:30am-3pm
Resurrection Lutheran, Plano, TX
Upcoming Events
- Aug. 8-13: ELCA Churchwide Assembly (Registration closes July 17)
- Aug. 10-13: ELCA Grace Gathering (Registration closes July 17)
- Sep. 11: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday (ELCA Day of Service)
- Sep. 17: Installation of the new NT-NL Bishop: Pr. Erik Gronberg
- Sep. 23-25: Junior High / Confirmation Retreat (Briarwood)
- Sep. 30-Oct. 2: One Year to Live Men’s Retreat (Lutheran Men in Mission)
- Oct. 4: Table Talk: Recalibrating Expectations for Clergy
- Oct. 8: Briarwood Fall Festival (details forthcoming)
- Oct. 15: “Seeds That Change” Dinner / Fundraiser (Mission Endowment Fund)
- Oct. 16: Lutheran Hymn Festival
- Oct. 17-19: 2016 Bishop’s Convocation
- Oct. 27-Nov. 7: Holy Land Tour with Bishop-Elect Erik Gronberg & Rev. Kendra Mohn (only a few spots left)
- Oct. 29: Briarwood Golf Outing
- Oct. 31: Lutherans, Catholics plan joint commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation
- Nov. 15-17: Simply Wright: N. T. Wright @ Perkins / SMU
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit them to the Mission Area office (MissionOffice@ntnl.org) for consideration for our next NT-NL News. Remember to include a picture or logo.
Looking for information in past NT-NL News emails? Find NT-NL News archives here!