Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest

09/20/2021

Sunday September 19th my two younger kids and I ventured over to Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria de Guadalupe. We continue to bring Santa Maria back into the NT-NL Synod, ELCA community after the attempts to separate from us were deemed to have been done incorrectly. The leaders who led those attempts have either left or realized their errors and so we are able again to be together and they are being cared for by our synodical administrative team and Pastor Moises Carrasquillo.

Today was a special day because it is the week of celebrations for Latin American Independence. Between September 15 and 19th Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile all celebrate their national independence. For Santa Maria the independence of El Salvador is a primary driver of the festival as many of the key leaders in this congregation have roots in El Salvador. It was good to celebrate with them, enjoy pupusas, pan con pollo, aquas frescas, and other delicacies.

In addition to the church events I had the opportunity to meet the new Consul General to Texas of El Salvador and his staff. He is recently appointed and attended today because of the deep connections of Santa Maria to the Salvadoran community in DFW. We want to partner and be connected to these leaders as we do work on behalf of our NT-NL communities and families particularly given the issues of El Salvador and immigration. I look forward to learning more from the Consul General and growing that relationship.

It was a good morning and afternoon of festivities. My kids were troopers and the hospitality of Santa Maria was warm as was the September weather. But I am grateful to be present for this time together.

While I was there your Bishop's Associate Pastor Totzke was having a weekend first in Abilene doing Leadership for Faithful Innovation training with our Conference out West. Then in Redeemer, Greenville this morning as they are in transition and finally at Walnut Hill, Farmers Branch who is also in transition as Pastora Violeta Del Aguila Siguenza has taken the call to Wartburg Seminary as the Interim Director of the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest.

All our staff has been busy this week as usual. Your DEM Irma Banales was at an ELCA stewardship conference with members of our NT-NL Stewardship team this week, Briarwood Leadership Center director. Bishop's Associate Robert Smith wrapped up our "re-gathering" festivities last weekend and continuing to shepherd the repairs to Briarwood facilities as well as prepare for a council training this fall. MEF Director Linda Ness continues to prepare for the MEF celebration in October. Communicator Jason O'Neill is shepherding a conversion of our phone system that will save us several thousand dollars annually. And your NT-NL Database Manager and Finance leader Jeanne Heggen keeps our books in order and deals with internet outages with grace.

As you can see NT-NL staff have had a busy and productive week of ministry. It is important to acknowledge and give thanks for that labor on behalf of the gospel. I am, as I know you are, thankful for them. We are grateful for this work and the opportunities it brings.

08/18/2021

Our beloved friend, you will always be missed and remembered for your beautiful courage and full-spirited way of living. Our prayers go to your family and our gratitude to God for your presence.

With heavy hearts, we, the faithful of Pláticas de Santa Sophia, announce the death of our beloved Pastor Enedina Vasquez. She walked on into the church triumphant late last night surrounded by her devoted family and the love of God.
Services are being planned, and we will
announce them soon. Thank you for the love and support you have offered to this community of faith. Today we invite you to make something beautiful as Pastor Vasquez taught us.
If you need pastoral care or someone to walk with you as you grieve, please contact Pastor Anna Gordy.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Romans 8:38-39

04/20/2021

Enjoy the culture and song that formed the heart of who we are! Gracias a Diosito!

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03/04/2021

My reflection on Psalm 23 from our Lenten Daily Prayers at Wartburg Seminary:
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” These ancient words have accompanied the weary traveler of faith throughout the ages. They are words of prayerful trust that date back to the rule of King David over the people of Israel. These words would have been heard in Hebrew in the beloved city of Jerusalem, the city of peace, and on the hills where shepherds tended their flocks. Growing up in south Texas, I heard them in the language of my community of faith, El Señor es mi pastor, nada me faltará. I said them as prayer when my beloved parents passed into eternal life. I have recited Psalm 23 in many funerals and memorial services. It is a psalm that transcends cultures, boundaries, and epochs in salvation history. It is claimed by all peoples who place their trust in a loving God who sojourns with us in our earthly pilgrimage.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” These words evoke scenes of tranquility and peaceful restoration from the burdens of life. By praying them we claim the assurance that the Eternal One is the path that leads to fullness of being. We can place ourselves in that pasture where the Lord is the Shepherd who guides our every footstep. We hear his voice above the still waters that quench our thirst. En verdes pastos me hace descansar. Junto a tranquilas aguas me conduce; me infunde nuevas fuerzas. Me guía por sendas de justicia por amor a su nombre. In whatever language you hear these words, the Sheperd is the same one who guides the destiny of nations in rightful living and equitable justice. His guidance and wisdom are impartial to the vicissitudes of time.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” In the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, I heard these words, Aun si voy por valles tenebrosos, no temo peligro alguno porque tu estás a mi lado; tu vara de pastor me reconforta. My community of faith was comforted by these ancient words that were made present to us during times of trial and tempest. We tasted these words in our mouths for they fed the faith of our family when they sojourned in a foreign land.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” The banquet table is prepared as a triumph of faith over adversity. We are anointed with oil that seals us for all of eternity. “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,” y en la casa del Señor habitaré para siempre. The prayer is complete for I know that “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Amen.
¡A Diiosito sea toda la Gloria! Jay Alanis, PhD, JD, www. jayalanis.com

12/07/2020

Thought for the day: I did not grow up Roman Catholic but over the years I have learned to appreciate the Mexican narrative of indigenous Juan Diego and the visitations he had from our Lady Maria de Guadalupe. Next week will be her feast day and Juan Diego features prominently in the narrative. Why do you suppose Saint Juan Diego is so loved by the indigenous Mexican people and why do you think his story continues to speak to thousands of the faithful? I have my own views and perspectives as a Protestant theologian and have learned to appreciate his significance in the life of the church and the faithful throughout both the U.S. and Mexico. I would appreciate hearing some of your own perspectives. I may just incorporate your ideas in a homily I will deliver on the saint next week! Gracias for sharing! A ¡Diosito sea toda la Gloria! Jay Alanis, PhD, JD, www. jayalanis.com

12/01/2020

Thought for the day: Today is Giving Tuesday. As so many in our world today are hurting and finding it difficult to make ends meet, be encouraged to give "for God loves a cheerful giver!" The Source of our supply owns the universe, but we often think with a spirit of scarcity rather than a spirit of generosity. We are often limited by our own imagination. As the psalmist reminds us,the Spirit continually supplies our needs: "You open your hands and supply the needs of every living creature," or as we say in Spanish, "a manos llenas!" We are seeing it at every food line and at every charitable cause. People show up to do good and serve others in a time of need. Be one of those today as you give to your favorite charity and be blessed to be a blessing to others!" ¡A Diosito sea toda la Gloria! Jay Alanis, PhD, JD, www. jayalanis.com

10/31/2020

Thought for the week: Tomorrow is All Saints Sunday. The All Saints Altar and the importance it makes for the remembrance of our departed loved ones. We cannot make altars this year at churches, but we can make our own altar in our homes. We can display photos of our departed loved ones and other items of recollection. This year as a spiritual practice I will be writing letters to my departed relatives and friends thanking them for the difference they made in my life. I will recall and write down things I remember about them and how they influenced my faith and the direction of my life. Many by their wisdom helped me to make decisions that shaped the course of my life. Looking back I can see the value of their words and how they contributed to my sphere of influence today. I will also write notes to the living saints thanking them for the influence they continue to make in my life. You may have your own spiritual practices to remember your loved ones. I encourage you to take time to pause daily this week to remember and give thanks for lives well lived in the faith. Remember, some day your photo will be on that altar and someone will be giving thanks for the difference you made in their life! ¡A Diosito sea toda la Gloria! Jay Alanis, PhD, JD, www. jayalanis.com

10/13/2020

Have you shared the Condemnation of White Supremacy in your community?

10/05/2020

We celebrate today that Joel Hicks is a called and ordained minister in Christ! We rejoice at another ordination of an NT-NL Synod, ELCA leader to serve the people of God. Congratulations! Pastor Joel Hicks.

Our lay leadership formation, partnered with strong congregational support, continues to lift up leaders for our communities. Particularly those who traditional leadership pathways would be challenging. The Parish Lay Ministry Academy and Secondary School of Theological Education, housed at Briarwood Leadership Center, are critical components to this work often leading to TEEM candidacy and often partnership with Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest and other ELCA institutions of higher ed.

We also rejoice as Bishop Virginia Aebischer was installed in our South Carolina Synod today.

And yes. We wore masks. One quick picture with our breath held for posterity. And one with masks to remind us of 2020.