This week we pray for:
Rejoice in Frisco (Pr. Neil White)
St. Luke’s in Richardson (Pr. Kris Totzke)
ELCA Churchwide Staff
The 2015 NT-NL Prayer Partners can be found at ntnl.org/2015PrayerPartners or you can download the PDF here.
Lenten calendar
How about observing the time of Lent not by “giving up” something, but by giving thanks for something?
During the forty days of Lent, each square on the Lenten calendar 2015 (based on one developed by Rhonda Kindig of St. John Lutheran Church in Abingdon, Virginia) gives a chance to give thanks for something in our lives we may take for granted (“How many sinks are in your home? Give thanks for fresh water!”)
As you count, place an equal number of coins in a bank, as part of your Lenten offering.
Bishop Kanouse has asked that congregations consider dedicating their Lenten offerings for Ebola relief in Sierra Leone, to help with feeding programs and other needs as the country continues to struggle with the disease and tries to rebuild in the wake of the epidemic.
Thanks to Abiding Grace (Southlake) for the Lenten calendar and the coin bank idea!
Tomorrow’s Table Talk with Pr. Michael Foss has been postponed due to the weather.
We will announce the new date for this event as soon as it is scheduled.
Please note: Date change!
Our next Table Talk, The Use of the Means of Grace with The Rev. Kevin Strickland, has been moved to Tuesday, September 29. Mark your calendars!
Table Talks are funded by the DiscipleLife Alive! Leadership Formation Fund. To find out more about the 2015 Table Talk series, click here.
Grant opportunity through Wheat Ridge Ministries
Wheat Ridge’s Burst Grant Program exists to support young leaders as they plan and implement a ministry or program that brings health and hope to their community.
Burst Grants are one-time grants of up to $5,000 for a health or human care ministry project designed and led by young adult leaders between the ages of 20-35 in the Lutheran community.
Contact Anya Knodt, Assistant Director for Ministry Programs, at anya@wheatridge.org for assistance in developing a proposal or questions about eligibility. For general eligibility info, check Wheat Ridge’s website here.
Be sure to share this message with the young adults in your network!
Transforming Congregations Through Spiritual Practice: Creating a Discipleship Community
The North American Association for the Catechumenate’s 2015 Annual Gathering
July 30-Aug. 1, 2015 • Baltimore, MD
The conference is for pastors, seminarians, musicians, and lay leaders who wish to gather for stellar worship, stimulating lectures on spiritual practice, workshops on various aspects of the Catechumenate, and a chance to network with ministry practitioners from all denominations across North America.
Featured speakers are the Rev. Dr. Jessicah Duckworth and the R’ ev. Paul Hoffman.
For more information and to register, please visit NAAC’s website.
2015 NT-NL Assembly Registration is now open!
Please go to ntnl.org/2015assemblyregistration to register for the ¡SINAI!, the 2015 NT-NL Mission Assembly, April 24-26 in Lewisville.
You will need to create an account by entering your email address and a password.
The same weekend as the assembly, Briarwood will be hosting a Family Retreat: Mountains & Valleys. The retreat and assembly are two separate events, though we will come together on Saturday, April 25, for the Dedication of the new Center for Mission at Briarwood.
The family retreat will be a time for families to explore together how they can support each other in their faith formation. The retreat will focus on Rich Melheim’s FAITH5 (Faith Action In The Home), and how those tools can help families as they embark on their faith journeys together.
Registration for the family retreat is now open!
For more information on the retreat, contact Briarwood Program Director Aaron Colwick at aaron@briarwoodretreat.org.
Churchwide Assembly Voting Members
NT-NL will send seven voting members to the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. If you are interested in being a voting member, find more information, and the vita form, here. Nominees will be voted on at the 2015 Assembly.
The mission office has moved!
The new address for all mail is:
680 Copper Canyon Rd.
Argyle, TX 76226
Phone: 940-241-2099
Please note we will also be discontinuing the use of the P.O. Box; all mail will need to come directly to the above address.
There are still giving opportunities available to finish out the landscaping around the building and to furnish the Streng Leadership Center.
Please visit NTNL.org/donate-now for more information on the new special gifting and naming opportunities for the Center for Mission at Briarwood.
NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization
Have you seen the new NT-NL Women of the ELCA website? Check it out at ntnllutheranwomen.com!
Keep up with news and events from the NT-NL SWO by subscribing to The Tapestry, their online newsletter. If you or anyone you know who would like to get a copy, please send an email request to ntnlwelca@gmail.com with the subject line “Subscribe Tapestry”. In the body of the email, include your name and the name of your congregation and city. You will be added to the mailing list.
Submit items to be included in future issues of the Tapestry to Marie Williams at mjwilliams@wcsonline.net. The Tapestry is published bi-monthly with the March/April issue being released March 1st. Articles should be sent to Marie by February 22, 2015.
Like their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ntnl.welca1 for announcements; join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ntnlwelca for sharing and discussion.
Upcoming Events in the NT-NL Mission Area and Beyond:
- Feb. 24-25: DO WHAT MATTERS! Faith Formation for a New Age
- Feb. 28: Eighth Annual North Texas Senior Fest
- Mar. 7: Lutheran Men in Mission Annual Assembly
- Mar. 22: Brunch at Briarwood
- Mar. 27-29: Into The Wilderness: Men’s Family Retreat at Briarwood
- Apr. 7-9: Senior Citizen’s Retreat
- Apr. 21-May 8: In Search of Paul: An Aegean Odyssey A LEAD pilgrimage for rostered leaders and church professionals
- Apr. 24-26: NT-NL Mission Assembly
- Apr. 24-26: ¡SINAI! Family Retreat: Mountains & Valleys at Briarwood
- May 2: Briarwood Gala
- May 24-29: LSPS’s Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Intensive
- Jul. 15-19: 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering: Rise Up Together!
- Sep. 13: “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday
- Sep. 29: Table Talk: The Use of the Means of Grace with Pastor Kevin Strickland *PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN THE DATE*
- Oct. 17: MEF “Seeds that Change” Dinner
- Oct. 26-28: 2015 Bishop’s Convocation with special guest Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton!
- Nov. 2: Portico Pre-Retirement Seminar
- Nov. 3: Portico Early/Mid-Career Financial Wellness Seminar
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!