Greetings all, 

I begin this message with sad news that our dear former web master, Martha “Polly” Davis, passed away in early April.  Please keep her family, her church family at St. Paul’s Baytown and her friends in your prayers.

Now that Spring/Summer has arrived in Texas and Louisiana, I’m excited to dream about anything being possible.  Ecclesiastes 3 says: “There is a right time for everything”. I’d like to introduce to you a commitment by our Women of the ELCA Synod for camping ministry at Lutherhill and highlight the April 4^th-6^th “Prayer Pilgrimage Trip”.

 Lutherhill: Over the years maybe your children, grandchildren or even you’ve attended an event at Lutherhill or some other camping ministry.  My own spiritual growth and leadership skills developed over several summers at Camp Nawakwa outside of Gettsyburg, PA.  If you’re not familiar with Camping Ministry, it’s grown into more than just summer camp for kids.  Lutherhill sports a year round ministry with Women’s SPA Days, lodging and events planning for weekend get-away’s, golf tournaments, new Chapel and much more. They loaned us their van and driver for the “Prayer Pilgrimage Trip”.  In October 2008 the Board will hold our meeting there and stay at the “ARK”.  

 Lutherhill’s about to embark on a building expansion phase including a new “Health Center”.  I’m Chair of the Steering Committee for TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod Women of the ELCA.   Executive Director, Evan Moilan, introduced the committee to proposed changes under “A PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE” campaign.  Don’t panic about the amount!  The program will run over 3-4 years with a committee-recommended goal of $50,000.00 over that time frame. Our Project:  Furnishings for “The Nurse’s Office” with naming rights in the new Health Center to uplift the “Health Initiative” of Women of the ELCA.  This commitment is over and beyond what we normally give.  Funds DO NOT come out of our Women of the ELCA Budget.   This should not take away from regular offerings to the synod and church wide.   I’m excited to see how creative our women can be in raising funds. The main focus kick off will be at the 2008 One Day Convention September 13, 2008 at Covenant Lutheran Church, Houston, TX where Evan Moilan will present a workshop.  Lutherhill isn’t just a kid’s ministry – it’s for ALL PEOPLE.

 This is an outstanding spiritual project for our women.  Not only will it give us a “Ministry Project Focus”, but I envision that it’ll work to build our units, create new interest in Women of the ELCA and future generations of camping ministry.  Maybe we can even hold a Synod Convention at Lutherhill someday!  It’s an exciting endeavor!

Parish Prayer Pilgrimage: The purpose of the trip was to support the Women of the ELCA Bayou Cluster at their Spring Gathering Saturday, April 5^th; to participate in a prayer pilgrimage in New Orleans; to enjoy the fellowship of sisters in Christ and to recommend some type of "Service Project" that would benefit hurricane disaster churches and their women's organizations. The tour was coordinated by VP, Ann Nicholson (Please read her message inside) and Pastor Robin Bade from Baton Rouge, LA.  Twelve ladies from all over the Texas portion of our synod, our Pilgrimage Chaplain Pastor Sue Beall, bus driver Arnie Fichtenburg and his wife Mem from Lutherhill made the journey to Peace Lutheran, Slidell LA where we were lodged and hosted for the weekend.  Friday we stopped for brunch at St. Paul, Baytown, TX and an evening meal at St. Paul Baton Rouge, LA.   After attending the Bayou Cluster meeting on Saturday and program by Pastor Barb Simmers on "Plants of the Bible and Spirituality", the afternoon was filled with a tour of New Orleans area making key stops in Chalmette, Lower 9th Ward; Lakeview and other sites including Bethlehem Lutheran where we offered prayers. Dinner in the French Quarter was on our own.  Saturday evening closed with a Communion Service at Peace.  After a brief word of prayer and reflection at Grace Lutheran, New Orleans on Sunday morning, we began the return trip.

Project Ideas: Adopt a Louisiana or East Texas sister congregation to help develop a good relationship with another church in our synod both financially and in prayer support. There’s no end to ideas; see the project lists inside. I’m in awe of how generous our women can be.  Be creative! We plan to sponsor a similar trip to the East Texas area in the future.  Pray for our meetings, our sister congregations in Texas and Louisiana and Lutherhill Camping Ministry.

Peg Swavely