Blog

Spiritual Directors met and discussed the current difficulties in  finding SDs for the weekends.  They discussed the importance of support from the national church offices and how that can be increased.  Dave Lambert was asked to share about the book he wrote about the 3-day church retreat movements.  Respectfully Submitted Pastor Tami Wolfson

The Agape Dinner was catered from a local Mexican restaurant.  We held an auction for the cross that was made during Thursday’s Evening Vespers, and a rooster platter that was made in Italy donated Gene and Kathleen Holiman.  We raised a combined total of $335 from the auction.       It was announced that during the silent cross auction, also donated from the Holimans, we were able to raise over $1300!. Pastor G Karl was honored and...

Carolyn Witham lead the discussion on Hosting an Annual Gathering.  After opening in prayer she walked through things to think about before deciding to host.  Some of these things are the budget, the host team, fundraising, a site big enough to accommodate not only sleeping arrangements, but the rooms needed for the various things. There were many good questions and discussions about what to expect.  A few secretariats are in prayer about hosting in the...

Reporter: Martha Steele The Exchange of Information session entitled “Ways To Pray” – Session 1, was presented by Leslie Herd of North Texas Via de Cristo to an audience of 12 attendees. Leslie began by giving a short personal history of how she grew from an embarrassed “I know nothing” pray-er of “911 prayers” to a well-versed teacher of methods and approaches to prayer, which was a total life-changer for her.  Referenced in her talk...

23 people attended. Sponsorship is a critical element of Via de Cristo, and does not end when you drop off or pick up your candidate. The process of sponsorship begins long before a candidate even gets asked: first with prayer, then with connection. You should have already begun making and being a friend before that friend can be brought to Christ and then a Via de Cristo. While sponsorship for a candidate includes other responsibilities...

1. Concern that old video made about VdC is too long. We need something updated and shorter. 2. We need to talk with pastors and try to establish a point person at churches where we have the pastor’s support. 3. Determination the support we are getting and can get with Synod offices. 4. Contact Bishops to determine where they stand to see if he/she supports VdC. Prepared by Daniell Leonard

Twenty attendees gathered for an engaging workshop on Grouping led by Sharon Dobbs and Barbara Rodgers. Both presenters shared personal stories from their own experiences with Group Reunion over the years before inviting participants into a meaningful discussion about how we can strengthen and improve grouping, as well as the challenges many communities face. Attendees shared how their own groups meet, support one another, and even serve together through projects, providing practical ideas and encouragement...

The second session of Ways to Pray was presented by Leanne Cosentino from Duncanville Texas. There were over 20 participants. Leanne explained that Martin Luther prayed the traditional Catholic rosary, however he created a model of praying using beads to focus on the life of Christ.  Leanne was asked by her father to create a set of Lutheran prayer beads for use in his church. Leanne created a set of beads for each participant to...

This morning Michael Rinehart was our pastor.  He spoke about when Mary was visited by Gabriel and was told that she would become pregnant.  He then went on to talk about grace is God’s work of art.   Becky Rodgers read from Isaiah, the Psalm and Ephesians.  The Gospil was from Luke going along with our weekend theme of God being our creator.  Pastor Micheal spoke on God creating us. He reminded us of all that...

What a wonderful review of the 3-legged stool of the VDC program! Piety is having an active relationship with God.  Studying God’s Word is essential to growing in that relationship with our Lord and we walk our 4th day adventure with eyes wide open looking for any opportunity that we can to share our faith with anyone we meet. Reported by Pastor Tami Wolfson

Piety, Study, Action can you remember the definition? Piety is the active relationship you have with God. Study is actively seeking the truth. Action is sharing.  We all know our catch phrase; Be a friend, Make a friend, bring a friend to Christ.     Wendie asked us what did Luther say about BRING?  No one can come to God but through the Holy Spirit.  So, she asked us to think of bring as doing an introduction. ...

Attended by everyone that could be there.     Marilyn Potter started by remining us that we are all creators in our own way.  Whether we are artists, writers, quilters, singers, cooks, bakers, or a plethora of different abilities.  Creating brings joy, but giving away your creations brings even greater joy.  Then she asked us to write a list of our Outreach Programs at our churches or ones that we are involved in.       Marilyn told us about...