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Beloved people of God of the Southwestern Texas Synod:
Here we are at the end of a particularly painful and polarizing election season. We as a nation have chosen a president, and many new leaders around the country, and there are those who are rejoicing and those who are weeping today as we look to the future.
As people of faith, here is what we know and trust:
- Jesus is still Lord and promises to bring about the reign of God; it has already broken into our world!
- Jesus is still inviting us, every day, to participate in this reign of God right now with its values of justice, mercy, compassion, love, and inclusion.
- We are still called to love one another, even in the midst of disagreements.
- We are still called to be compassionate, knowing that everyone has a story that we know little about.
- We are still called to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
- We are still called to boldly advocate for the marginalized and the oppressed.
- We are still called to welcome the stranger.
- We are still called, in the words of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, to be vigilant guardians of truth, refusing to perpetuate lies or half-truths that further corrode the fabric of our society.
- We are still called to denounce violence of any kind, whether in speech or action.
- We are still called to build bridges of understanding rather than erect walls of intolerance.
- We are still called to participate in civic life, holding our leaders accountable to serve the common good.
May we not tire of doing good.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, we lift before you all who have been given permission to govern. May those who hold power understand that it is a trust from you to be used, not for personal glory or profit, but for the service of the people. Drive from us cynicism, selfishness, and corruption; grant in your mercy just and honest government; and give us grace to live together in unity and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Love,
Bishop Sue
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SCAM ALERT
It's that time of year again, when scammers start increasing their targeting of churches and church organizations. Please be vigilant with any emails or texts you get that may seem suspicious. Pastors and Synod staff will never personally ask for money or gift cards. Please delete any such emails or texts, and don't reply back or click on any links contained within the message.
For more information from the FCC on these types of messages,
please click the link below.
How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams - FCC
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Thank You for Voting! Resources for after the election
Links to training “When we wake up on Wednesday”
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Called and Sent Videos
As part of this year's Called and Sent theme, we created videos showing how congregations live out their calledness and sentness. If you have a story from your congregation, we'd love to work with you on it! Email us at info@swtsynod.org.
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How to Live to be 100
Research and theories and large investments abound on practices that support a long and healthy life. Nutrition, mindset, and exercise rank high in recommendations. Blue zones are heavily studied areas where people thrive into their eighties, and appear to have common lifestyles that combine physical activity, low stress, rich social interactions, and a local whole-foods diet.
Similarly, the 100-year history of St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church, may crystallize the practices for long-lived spiritually healthy communities.
Like a good memoir, their freshly-written history reflects on the Rio Grande Valley church's life and teases out meaning and lessons for the future. It reminds readers that "people have the opportunity every day to be open and respectful to those around them, to share with others, to tell stories of their faith, to listen, to encourage, to model what they believe, to share what they have, to be in community and in relationship with each other, to reflect the love of God."
Their story begins not with the mission's official induction into the larger church, but years earlier on the back steps of the home of Laura Mellenbruch, a dairy farmer's wife, mother of nine children, and formally educated teacher. Around 1917 she began offering help to families she saw struggling and she left behind a scrapbook explaining how it unfolded:
"My three younger boys did not put their lesson cards away when they came home from Sunday School. So...I put them aside to give to the Mexican children when they came for milk.
There was one little girl who could speak English quite well, so I would tell her the story on the lesson card and she would repeat it to the others in Spanish. The children were very much interested and...said they wished they could have Sunday School too. When I asked them if they would come if we could arrange it, they all freely promised to come."
Years later when established as an official church, St. John's first members were those children and adults who had gone to the Mellenbruch family farm to get milk, food supplies, Bible stories, and songs. Their next generation embraced the Mellenbruch faith practices as well.
“For as long as I can remember us kids were always sent to take extra food to our neighbors, to our tias and abuelas, to those who had less than we did.” That is one of the repeated sentiments shared by older, current members of St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church who grew up in the 1940s. Even though the families were struggling, “there was always more than enough…. more that could be shared with others,” they said. And 'us kids' were the designated deliverers of that “more than enough.”
In an uncomplicated way, the Mellenbruch family simply lived the Gospel daily. Their ministry flowed from their worship, Sunday School, and conversations which naturally led them closer to God, and renewed their everyday lives.
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St. John's Chapel in its early years. | |
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The St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church history unwittingly documents a model for all churches, thanks to Lois Eichman with the Rev. Dr. Javier Alanis, Pastor Sylvia De La Garza, and Marcia Fabricius.
Studying faith communities like this one, the ELCA has designed a support system and pathway for similar churches. The program invites people of faith to be transformed in their faith, and bring the vitality of God’s Spirit into the communities and churches in their areas.
This "Blueprint to Support Small Town and Rural Ministries" program offers online training with the goal of growing participants in groups like councils, women's groups or individuals to cultivate their faith, support and care for one another, and to listen for ways to serve their neighbor. In addition, it provides grant money for retreats (food and lodging), publicity, material costs, travel, speaker fees, and training fees.
Not surprisingly, St. John's-San Juan demonstrates that a church's long life depends on many of the same practices necessary for the wise and well life of the humans who form them. We require healthy spiritual practices that nurture our souls and the souls of those around us. Maybe we can create long-lived zones-of-many-colors, enlarging the blue zone.
For more information on the Blueprint program, contact Rebecca Guengerich, Southwestern Texas Synod Leadership Chair.
For the full Centennial History of St. John Lutheran Church, ELCA, San Juan, Texas, 1924-2024, Faithful Unity Unfolding/Unidad Fiel Creciendo write to Lois Eichman.
Future issues of this e-newsletter will curate stories about churches' effective efforts to study and address neighborhood needs through "holy curiosity." Send your ideas to info@swtsynod.org.
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Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram
Looking for information about Lutheran Men is Mission? Then check out the latest edition of the Ambassador-Gram for news, events, and other announcements. Read it here.
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CONGREGATIONS/ROSTERED MINISTERS | |
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Congregations In Transition:
In Transition:
Gethsemane, Austin
Abiding Love, Austin
Holy Cross, Austin
St. Paul, Nordheim
St. Paul, Mason
Christ the Victor, Victoria
Faith, Beeville
Interviewing:
St. John, Marion - Pastor
First English, Austin - Pastor
Galilean, Corpus Christi - Pastor
Primary Candidates Named:
Zion, San Antonio - Associate Pastor
Christ, Elm Creek - Pastor
Newly Called:
Shepherd of the Hills, Austin - Pastor Ryan Dockery (from Gulf Coast Synod)
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Prayers for Healing
Pastor Rosemarie Doucette, who is hospitalized with multiple health issues.
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Of Thanksgiving
Prayers of thanksgiving for a successful ingathering for Lutheran World Relief by the SWT Synod Women of the ELCA!
- Quilts-7,541
- School kits -4,350
- Personal Care kits-2,616
- Baby care kits-773
- Fabric kits-233
2,303 boxes were loaded!
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Of Celebration
Congratulations to Pastor Ann Graham, who was installed as pastor on Sunday, November 3, at Faith Lutheran Church, McDade.
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4-Day Mindful Advent Challenge
Before the rush begins, let’s pause together, creating space to breathe, reflect, and draw near to the heart of God. The 4-Day Mindful Advent Challenge offers you a retreat to a sacred space for contemplation through a daily delivery of devotionals straight to your inbox. Starting Monday, December 2nd, you’ll receive a daily email with an art-filled video devotional. Learn more and sign up here.
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Thanksgiving Prayer Honoring Our Ancestors and Native Peoples’ Land
This Land Belongs to No One: A Thanksgiving Prayer Honoring Our Ancestors and Native Peoples' Land by Hila Ratzabi is intended to be said at the beginning of a Thanksgiving meal. For many of us, Thanksgiving can be a complicated holiday: on the one hand, we may feel drawn to the nostalgia of family meals and traditions we grew up with, but at the same time, we feel conflicted celebrating a day that for many Native peoples is a day of mourning. This prayer takes its inspiration from the verse in Psalm 24, “The earth is God’s.” Click here to continue reading.
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Job Opportunities
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Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock is hiring a Director of Children and Young Family Ministries. Click here to learn more.
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Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest is hiring a Gift Planner, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod. Click here to learn more.
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Bethany Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg is hiring a Director of Christian Education. Click here to learn more.
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Advent Reflections on Peace
Monday Evenings - December 2, 9, 16, 23
7pm
Zoom
As we light the candles on our Advent Wreaths, we focus on four core values of our Christian faith: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. Over the years we have assigned slightly different significance to each of these candles, but they have become pillars of our faith in God through his word that became flesh and dwelt among us 2000 plus years ago now. This year, we invite you to spend extra time focused on the second candle, the Peace candle. Through reflection, prayer and discussion we will dive deeply into what it means for Jesus to be called the Prince of Peace—in our hearts, in our homes, in our communities and in the world. Join us online via Zoom here.
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Equipping the Saints: Flipping the Script
Febuary 1, 2025
8:30am-3:30pm
United Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church and Zoom
Our living Triune God keeps pulling God’s people towards God’s preferred and promised future through many challenges and into the opportunities of our time. This year’s Equipping the Saints event will have two keynote speakers, Rev. Dr. Craig Nessen from Wartburg Seminary and Pastor Jon Anderson from Luther Seminary, who will engage the way we are being invited, encouraged, and sometimes driven by God’s Spirit to shift our ways of doing Church towards a more lay-led and clergy supported approach to mission and ministry in the coming years. This shift will take reimagining, patient listening, many experiments, and open sharing about what we learn to serve better our communities of faith and the communities where God has placed us. Learn more and register here.
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Understanding Who “Guadalupe” Is
November 16, 2024
9am-12pm
Zoom - in English
The Virgin of Guadalupe and Lutherans - Latine perspective. Click here to learn more.
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Latine Ministry Training
December 12,13, & 14, 2024
5pm-8pm (Thursday & Friday)
9am-12pm (Saturday)
Zoom – in English
You are invited to join a group of learners and practitioners wanting to enhance their cultural and ministry competence to help start or strengthen Latine, Bilingual or Multi-Ethnic worshipping communities. Click here to learn more.
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Save the Date for 2025 Synod Assembly
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Abiding Presence Lutheran Church San Antonio
Hybrid option available
Assembly Offering: Cross Trails Ministry in Honor of their 75th Anniversary. More details to come soon!
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