The Weekly Five

Five Things to Know This Week in the Southwestern Texas Synod

Strengthening Mission Support: An Invitation to Move Your Giving Online

(see below for Spanish version)

Dear partners in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from our shared ministry in the synod office. We hold you and your congregations in prayer, especially as you lead God’s people in generosity and faithful stewardship. Our new synod stewardship team and the Financial Sustainability Task Force have been working since Synod Assembly to strengthen our synod’s financial health and to support congregations in this work as well. From time to time, we plan to share best practices with congregation presidents, treasurers, and other leaders for stewarding the funds entrusted to them. Today, I am sharing with you a best practice for Mission Support (benevolence).

At present, only 11 of our 107 congregations send Mission Support through online giving. While we gratefully receive payments in any form, encouraging more congregations to give online, preferably through ACH direct bank transfer, will help us steward our shared ministry of Mission Support more securely, efficiently, and consistently.

Why shift to online Mission Support? Click here to keep reading.

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Fortaleciendo el Apoyo a la Misión: Una invitación a trasladar sus aportes a las donaciones en línea

Estimados colaboradores y colaboradoras en Cristo,

Gracia y paz a ustedes desde nuestro ministerio compartido en la oficina del sínodo. Les tenemos a ustedes y a sus congregaciones presentes en nuestras oraciones, especialmente mientras guían al pueblo de Dios en la generosidad y la mayordomía fiel. Nuestro nuevo equipo sinodal de mayordomía y el Grupo de Trabajo para la Sostenibilidad Financiera han estado trabajando desde la Asamblea del Sínodo para fortalecer la salud financiera de nuestro sínodo y también para apoyar a las congregaciones en esta labor. De vez en cuando, planeamos compartir con presidentes de congregación, tesoreros y otros líderes algunas buenas prácticas para administrar responsablemente los fondos que les han sido confiados. Hoy quiero compartir con ustedes una buena práctica relacionada con el Apoyo a la Misión (benevolencia).

Actualmente, solo 11 de nuestras 107 congregaciones envían su Apoyo a la Misión mediante donaciones en línea. Aunque recibimos con gratitud los pagos en cualquier forma, animar a más congregaciones a hacer sus aportes en línea, preferiblemente mediante una transferencia bancaria directa ACH, nos ayudará a administrar nuestro ministerio compartido de Apoyo a la Misión de una manera más segura, eficiente y constante.

¿Por qué trasladar el Apoyo a la Misión a las donaciones en línea? Haz clic aquí para seguir leyendo.

REMINDER:

Congregational Vitality & Stewardship Survey

If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to complete the Congregational Vitality & Stewardship Survey.

As congregations of the Southwestern Texas Synod, we share in God's mission in many different ways—through worship, service, generosity, community engagement, and our partnership with one another.

This survey is designed to help us better understand the opportunities and challenges congregations are experiencing so that we can learn together, develop helpful resources, strengthen our shared ministry, and better accompany one another in Christ's mission.

This survey is about listening, not evaluating. We encourage more than one person from each congregation to complete it so we can hear a variety of perspectives.

Deadline to complete the survey is August 14th.

SUMUD Update

ELCJHL college student - held in an Israeli prison without charge for two months now - will be held at least until a September 23 court date.

• Click for more information
• Advocate for her release

Earlier this month, ELCA Sumud began premiering “Stolen Stories,” a 5-part video series featuring Palestinian Christian pastors, bishops, and scholars offering Palestinian perspectives on the history, theology and realties that shape life in Palestine and Israel today. The first 10-minute video, the Nakba, about the Palestinian Christian experience of 1948, was released last week on the ELCA Sumud youtube channel. A new video will be released this week and each week for the following three weeks. 

Support Upbring on God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday

Support Upbring on “God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday” by creating Care Kits for our Health For Friends Clinic or Family Connection Kits for our Head Start, Foster Care, and Child Wellbeing Zone families.

Care Kits: Create kits by packing one of each item in a clear quart-size plastic bag: Band-Aides, bar of soap, tissues, lotion, sunscreen, Shampoo, Toothpaste All items should be travel-size

Family Connection Kits: Each kit should serve a family of 4 and include a family-friendly recipe, shelf-stable ingredients, a grocery gift card to purchase perishable ingredients, family friendly questions and conversation starters, and a family-friendly game or activity

Next Steps: Contact Katie Evans for more information and to coordinate your donation delivery/pick up

LeadConnects Fall Learning Opportunities 

LEAD Love Our Neighbors Cohort - Dig into the practice of holy listening to God through your neighbors with practical skills to do this important work right away.

The LEAD Exchange - Bounce ideas off of others, stay connected to creative thinkers, and truly have the support you need. 

LEAD Communications Audit - Get clarity on your church communications.

LEAD Strategic Planning - Take time to discern Spirit-led purpose, values and vision for the future of your congregation. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ministry Partners