Every year, the North American Lutheran Church gathers for Lutheran Week! The week is more than a conference, more than a church festival and much more than a business meeting. The NALC Lutheran Week is all of that and more! This year’s theme is God the Father Creates.
The 2021 Lutheran Week of the North American Lutheran Church will draw our attention to the person of God, the Father. Continuing the six-year cycle focusing on the persons and work of the Holy Trinity, the Braaten-Benne Lecture series and the NALC Mission Convocation will each aspire to point to the nature and being of God, the Father, who is creator of heaven and earth!
Lutherans will necessarily remember Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, affirming the first article of the Apostle’s Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
And the subsequent question: What does this mean?
The Catechism explains:
I believe that God has made me and all that exists. He has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. He provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil. All this he does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true. (The Small Catechism, Martin Luther, Augsburg/Fortress, 1979.)
At first glance, Luther’s explanation of this article appears to focus attention on the “work” of God the Father, that He has made me and all creatures, providing for us richly and daily with all that we need! The Father does all this, however, because of who He is — because it is His nature not only to create, but also to provide, and all this, He does, “out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it.”
Dr. Luther was always careful to emphasize that all we have and are, indeed, our justification and eternal salvation are not because of us and our words or deeds, but solely the proper work of God, growing out of the heart and being of God. For God the Father not only creates, but also redeems and sanctifies us, through the gift of His Son and Holy Spirit. Luther writes in the Large Catechism:
He has created us for this very purpose, to redeem and sanctify us. Moreover, having bestowed upon us everything in heaven and on earth, he has given us his Son and his Holy Spirit, through whom he brings us to himself. As we explained before, we could never come to recognize the Father’s favor and grace were it not for the Lord Christ, who is a mirror of the Father’s heart. Apart from him we see nothing but an angry and terrible judge. (Apostle’s Creed, Article III, Book of Concord, Tappert, Fortress Press, 1959)
As we focus on the person, nature and being of God the Father, we understand Him fully through the Lord Jesus Christ, mirror of the Father’s heart, revealed by the Holy Spirit, because of the Father’s divine goodness and mercy! Join us for Lutheran Week 2021!
There is a room block available at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. Make your reservation by either calling (361) 887-1600 or clicking here.
Please Note: We are contracting a service to assist with a shuttle between the airport and. the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel.
It will run continuously throughout the day for pickups and departures — 8 to 11. Expect a shuttle every hour.
A shuttle service will be provided for transportation between the hotel and the convention center.
Monday, August 2 — No shuttle service on Monday, August 2
Tuesday, August 3 — 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes)
Wednesday, August 4 — 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes)
Thursday, August 5 — 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes)
Friday, August 6 — 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes)
Please note that federal law requires masks be worn on the shuttles
We have a number of amazing speakers this year
Each year, many parachurch ministries, seminaries, publishers and mission organizations attend Lutheran Week to provide a wealth of resources and partnership opportunities for our churches and leaders. Here is a short list of some of our partners who have attended in the past.
Workshops available:
— Living and Giving Stewardship (with the Rev. Dona Johnson)
RESET is a highly interactive seminar that helps individuals and congregations reset and sharpen their vision of stewardship. Participants will explore their family of origin and how those experiences have shaped their own story with money. You will also reset biblical understandings about Jesus, money and possessions, challenge assumptions, write a spiritual biography on giving and learn a new vocabulary that when shared with others will help change the culture of giving in your life, family and congregation. You can learn more here.
— Youth Ministry (with Gary and Laurie Pecuch of faithwebbing.com)
Now What? - Life after COVID-19
In the book ``Canoeing the Mountains``, President Jefferson commissioned Lewis & Clark to find a water route to the Pacific. On the way they found themselves in the Rocky Mountains. They were in uncharted territory. They were off the map. The familiar was gone! As the pandemic subsides we find our youth ministry world to be off our maps. Our normal game plan has been disrupted. So, Now What? Come join the conversation
— NALC Life-to-Life Discipleship (with the Rev. Phil Gagnon)
I read a saying a long time ago that said, “we should walk so close to the master that we wear the dust of his footsteps upon our robes ...” (paraphrase). I remember it because it describes well what following our Lord Jesus ought to look like. In this chaotic and thorn-filled world, it is easy to be distracted and lulled away from intimacy with the Lover of our souls. It is always healthier and life-giving when we walk alongside each other in mutual edification and consolation. It is always better to have a fellow traveller with you. I hope you will take the opportunity to come and learn what our Life-to-Life Discipleship Team has been up to, how the discipleship guide training fits in with our CREDO model and how both can be useful in creating a faithful, joyful, disciple-making culture in your congregation. Hope to see you there!
Join Women of the NALC (WNALC) gathered from across North America for a day of fellowship, Bible study and business. Amy Carpenter will be our guest speaker. There will be time to engage and share ideas with women from other churches and mission districts. Our time together will also include: selection of the Mission Bank recipients for 2021-2022, selection of new members for the WNALC Council, and approval of the WNALC budget. A visit from Bishop Dan Selbo is also planned to share his wisdom with us. Join in this day-long annual gathering to be filled with strength and hope to bring back to your congregation and women's groups.
The Carl E. Braaten and Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology have been an integral part of Lutheran Week since 2009. The event originated as the Lutheran CORE Theological Conference, and came under additional sponsorship from the North American Lutheran Church in 2010. In 2015, it was renamed in honor of Carl E. Braaten and Robert D. Benne, prominent Lutheran theologians who organized and conducted the theological lectures for the first five years (2010-2014). The Lectures reflect a commitment on the part of the North American Lutheran Church, the organizers of Lutheran Week, and the series steering committee to the significance of theology for the future of North American Lutheranism. Each year the series brings together leading theologians, biblical scholars and ethicists from across confessional and ecumenical boundaries to address key issues of Christian faith and practice. While the papers are scholarly in nature, presenters are asked to keep the local Church in mind. Each paper is followed by a question and answer session, with audience members determining the course of the discussion. One of the highlights of the annual event is the roundtable panel session at the close of the lectures. This yearly event gathers an audience composed of laypersons, students, pastors, professional scholars and denominational leaders.
The Carl E. Braaten and Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology have been an integral part of Lutheran Week since 2009. The event originated as the Lutheran CORE Theological Conference, and came under additional sponsorship from the North American Lutheran Church in 2010. In 2015, it was renamed in honor of Carl E. Braaten and Robert D. Benne, prominent Lutheran theologians who organized and conducted the theological lectures for the first five years (2010-2014). The Lectures reflect a commitment on the part of the North American Lutheran Church, the organizers of Lutheran Week, and the series steering committee to the significance of theology for the future of North American Lutheranism. Each year the series brings together leading theologians, biblical scholars and ethicists from across confessional and ecumenical boundaries to address key issues of Christian faith and practice. While the papers are scholarly in nature, presenters are asked to keep the local Church in mind. Each paper is followed by a question and answer session, with audience members determining the course of the discussion. One of the highlights of the annual event is the roundtable panel session at the close of the lectures. This yearly event gathers an audience composed of laypersons, students, pastors, professional scholars and denominational leaders.
The NALC is committed to the renewal of all our congregations, working to develop and deliver resources that challenge and open the NALC to the work of the Holy Spirit in our ministry and mission. During Lutheran Week in Corpus Christi, the Mission Convocation is designed to inspire and serve as a resource to congregations for mission and discipleship. Key components include plenary sessions, business reports, elections of officers, worship, Bible study, panel Q & A, mission district meetings and breakout sessions focusing on specific areas of mission and discipleship relating to our theme.
Workshops available:
— Living and Giving Stewardship (with the Rev. Dona Johnson)
RESET is a highly interactive seminar that helps individuals and congregations reset and sharpen their vision of stewardship. Participants will explore their family of origin and how those experiences have shaped their own story with money. You will also reset biblical understandings about Jesus, money and possessions, challenge assumptions, write a spiritual biography on giving and learn a new vocabulary that when shared with others will help change the culture of giving in your life, family and congregation.
During the Wednesday evening workshop only, NALC Treasurer Michael Johnson will be presenting: ``Finding Charitable Contribution Dollars`` — What your leadership and congregation needs to know about tax advantaged alternative giving strategies and legacy giving.
— Youth Ministry (with Gary and Laurie Pecuch of faithwebbing.com)
Now What? - Life after COVID-19
In the book ``Canoeing the Mountains``, President Jefferson commissioned Lewis & Clark to find a water route to the Pacific. On the way they found themselves in the Rocky Mountains. They were in uncharted territory. They were off the map. The familiar was gone! As the pandemic subsides we find our youth ministry world to be off our maps. Our normal game plan has been disrupted. So, Now What? Come join the conversation
— NALC Life-to-Life Discipleship (with the Rev. Phil Gagnon)
I read a saying a long time ago that said, “we should walk so close to the master that we wear the dust of his footsteps upon our robes ...” (paraphrase). I remember it because it describes well what following our Lord Jesus ought to look like. In this chaotic and thorn-filled world, it is easy to be distracted and lulled away from intimacy with the Lover of our souls. It is always healthier and life-giving when we walk alongside each other in mutual edification and consolation. It is always better to have a fellow traveller with you. I hope you will take the opportunity to come and learn what our Life-to-Life Discipleship Team has been up to, how the discipleship guide training fits in with our CREDO model and how both can be useful in creating a faithful, joyful, disciple-making culture in your congregation. Hope to see you there!
The NALC is committed to the renewal of all our congregations, working to develop and deliver resources that challenge and open the NALC to the work of the Holy Spirit in our ministry and mission. During Lutheran Week in Corpus Christi, the Mission Convocation is designed to inspire and serve as a resource to congregations for mission and discipleship. Key components include plenary sessions, business reports, elections of officers, worship, Bible study, panel Q & A, mission district meetings and breakout sessions focusing on specific areas of mission and discipleship relating to our theme.
The NALC is committed to the renewal of all our congregations, working to develop and deliver resources that challenge and open the NALC to the work of the Holy Spirit in our ministry and mission. During Lutheran Week in Corpus Christi, the Mission Convocation is designed to inspire and serve as a resource to congregations for mission and discipleship. Key components include plenary sessions, business reports, elections of officers, worship, Bible study, panel Q & A, mission district meetings and breakout sessions focusing on specific areas of mission and discipleship relating to our theme.
At the end of the Mission Convocation, we will worship together as the North American Lutheran Church, commissioning those officers elected.
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Omni Corpus Christi Hotel
900 N. Shoreline Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
and
American Bank Center
1901 N. Shoreline Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Women of the NALC Annual Gathering
Tuesday, August 3rd, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $80 (includes Tuesday lunch)
Carl E. Braaten-Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology
Tuesday, August 3rd, 1 p.m. to Wednesday, August 4th, 12 p.m.
Cost: $150 (includes Wednesday lunch & a copy of the book to be published)
Carl E. Braaten-Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology (Wednesday only)
Wednesday, August 4th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $75 (includes Wednesday lunch & a copy of the book to be published)
Mission Convocation
Mission Convocation, Wednesday, August 4th, 1:30 p.m. to
Friday, August 6th, 5 p.m.
Cost: $250 (includes Thursday lunch and dinner, Friday lunch)
The 2021 NALC Budget includes funds to assist congregations with the expense of sending lay delegates to the annual convocation. If your congregation would like to apply for assistance, please contact your mission district dean. Congregations will be eligible for a grant for sending one lay delegate to the convocation. However, if there are unused funds we will consider requests for an additional grant.
You can find the 2021 Lay Delegate Assistance form here.