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A Network of Christ-Centered,
Outwardly-Focused, Faith-Growing Communities for the Sake of
the World
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By Invitation:
Scheduling a Bishop’s Visit
by Bishop Tracey Breashears Schultz
During the Bishop’s Tour, a piece of
feedback I regularly received is members of our synod want to
be more connected, both to each other (conferences, area
churches) and to the Office of the Bishop. At one gathering,
someone mentioned they had been a member of a particular
congregation for a long time, and they could not ever
remember the bishop visiting. I responded by wondering aloud,
“Did the bishop know they were invited?”
Although there are congregations I have
never visited, even while I was a bishop’s associate, I don’t
presume they want me to stop in and see them. In this new
year, I will be reaching out to particular congregations with
which I have never worshiped to see if a visit would be
possible, but I want to encourage you to also reach out
to me.
I heard the story one time of a family
that had moved to a small town. Everyone was talking about
the town dance and potluck, but this family that was new to
the area waited for an invitation that never came. Then, the
night before the event, a friend called the mother (of this
new family) and asked what she was bringing to the potluck.
The woman replied, somewhat awkwardly and sadly, “I was never
invited.” “What do you mean?” the neighbor asked, “Everyone
is invited!” Invitations were never sent because news of the
event was passed along by word of mouth. Still, how were the
newcomers to know?
Read more...
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CaSTLE Project Grant
by Deacon
Aimee Elles, Bishop’s Associate Candidacy
& Education, and Pastor Jen
Kindsvatter, Pastor Shared Lutheran
Ministry of Fayette County
We
have exciting news to share! Our Synod
was awarded a generous grant through the CaSTLE
Project. The $20,000
grant will support lay leadership and
celebrate baptismal living in our
small-town and rural congregations.
CaSTLE
stands for Country and Small Town Lived
Ecclesiology. The grant is administered
through
Wartburg Theological Seminary. Wartburg
received a $7.4 million Lilly Endowment
grant to support and renew small-town and
rural congregations and their leaders.
This grant enables Wartburg to be a hub
for ELCA synods to equip congregations
for renewal.
So
what does this mean for our synod?
Our grant monies will be put to excellent
use, fortifying and extending the work of
our emerging Lay School. Our synod’s
project encourages faithful followers of
Jesus to affirm their baptismal covenant
to: live among God’s faithful people,
hear the word of God and share in the
Lord’s supper, proclaim the good news of
God in Christ through word and deed,
serve all people, following the example
of Jesus, and strive for justice and
peace in all the earth (Evangelical Lutheran
Worship, Affirmation of Baptism).
Read
more...
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Celebrating the
Spirit’s Movement in a Joint Installation Service
by The Rev. Cassandra Nagle
Throughout the synod, the past few weeks
have been filled with much joy and excitement, as we have
gathered to celebrate:
- The ordination
of John Vickery on November 8, 2025, at Faith
Lutheran in Bellaire, TX. Pastor Vickery has been called
as Pastor of Christ the Servant in Houston, TX.
- The ordination
of Aquilino “John” Perez on November 23,
2025, at Holy Comforter in Kingwood, TX. Pastor Perez
has been called as Pastor of Lutheran Church of Our
Saviour and St. Paul Lutheran in Baton Rouge, LA.
- The installation
of Pastor John Vickery on November 30, 2025,
at Christ the Servant in Houston, TX.
- The ordination
of Amber Harbolt on December 13, 2025, at
Spirit of Joy! in The Woodlands, TX. Pastor Harbolt has
been called as Pastor of Faith Formation at Faith
Lutheran in Bellaire, TX.
- The installation
of Pastor Sue Schneider and Deacon Kinnon Falk
on December 14, 2025, at Living Mosaic in Houston, TX.
Pastor Schneider has been called as Pastor of Living
Mosaic and Deacon Falk is the called Deacon
& Program Director of Kindred
Kitchen.
Since joining synod staff in
mid-November, one of my first special projects was to partner
with Pastor Schneider and Deacon Falk to plan this joint
installation service. I found this to be quite an enjoyable
liturgical challenge! The final liturgy strives to celebrate
the Ministries of Word & Sacrament and Word &
Service. It acknowledges the unique calls of a pastor and a
deacon, as prescribed in the installation rites, and it
honors the unified work of these rostered ministers, both in
the Church and at Living Mosaic.
Read more...
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Lisa’s Pieces:
Creation Care Tips from the Synod
Lutherans Restoring Creation Team
by
Lisa Brenskelle
The mission of Lutherans
Restoring Creation is to
promote incorporation of care for
creation into the full life and mission
of the church, working in five areas:
worship, education, discipleship,
building & grounds, and public
ministry/advocacy.
Read
more...
January & Early
February Creation Care Events
- Living the Change –
January-May, dates/times individually
scheduled, online
- Faith Perspectives Panel:
Faith & Water – Sunday,
January 11, 3 p.m. online
- Faithful Resilience: A Study
on Climate Resilience for Faith
Communities – Mondays,
January 12-February 16, 6 p.m., online
- Climate Solutions 101
– Tuesdays, January 13-February 17, 6
p.m., online
- Harris County Voter
Registration Event – Sunday,
January 25, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Christ
the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice
Blvd., Houston 77005
- Cool Congregations Cohort
– monthly on the 4th Monday at 7 p.m.,
online (January-November)
- Harris County Climate Justice
Plan – Sunday, February 1, 2
p.m., online
- The Earth and
Spirituality: Organized Religion and
Earth Church – Sunday,
February 1, 6 p.m., online
Contact
gcs.lrc@gmail.com
for details on any of these events.
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