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Botanical Gardens

When I travel I never miss an opportunity to go to botanical gardens. I love flowers, plants, and trees. God has given us such beauty to surround us! Even in desert settings the variety of plants and how they live in that environment is amazing.

It’s azalea time in northeastern Oklahoma and I’m sharing some photos from around our house. Most of our azaleas are 15-20 years old. Apparently, the winter weather we had was just right for them because they are incredible this year. The rhododendrons are just ready to pop open.

Traveling is such an eye-opener to customs, environs, language and food! I want all of you to come to Mobile, Alabama for our LWML convention June 20-23, 2019. We will experience all of the formerly  mentioned eye-openers. Don’t say, “I don’t think I want to go there because I’ve never been there.” Instead say, “Wow, I want to go there because I’ve never been there before!” Experience something different than you have at home!

There are several tours of the area that you can go on while there. You’ll experience some of the southern ambiance at convention and more by going on several tours offered. Go to the website and see what you can sign up for. https://www.baycityconventions.com/lwml-2019-group-tours Thinking of going but not sure? Call your LWML District President and find out what her plans are. Sign up for a tour. Remember, “nothing ventured, nothing gained!”

I have a photo of my mother at the 1973 LWML convention in Mobile in front of Bellingrath Gardens. I hope to have the same photo taken this year!

Enjoy my azalea photos and if you do you will surely want to take this tour: Bellingrath Gardens and Home – Visit one of America’s most beautiful gardens and home built by Coca-Cola magnate, Walter Bellingrath. Gardens, multiple water features and fountains, such as the three-tiered Rose Garden fountain fill the once two-cabin river retreat that has been transformed into an amazing 65 acre estate. The home features antique furnishings collected from all over the world. Also on display is the world’s largest private collection of Boehm porcelains.

Be encouraged! Be engaged! Be Equipped! by attending your convention in Mobile, designed with your Christian growth and mission outreach in mind! And be sure to stop and smell the roses!

Patti

Sing to the Lord all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations  (1 Chronicles 16:23-24a).

In Praise to the LORD!

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More Bible Study! Yes!


LWML Executive Committee members are eager to welcome you to the
Mobile Convention Center, June 20-23, 2019!

One thing comes up on evaluations for all conventions whether it’s a district or national LWML convention or zone events and that’s, “Need more time for Bible study”. I know a lot of districts have Christian Life conferences or retreats. I hope yours does! We have a new women’s day retreat called, “Let’s Grab Our Shoes and Go!”

At our convention in Mobile this June, if you get up early, you can choose from eight Bible studies happening between 6:45-7:45 on Friday and Saturday mornings at the convention center before convention starts. Four each morning. The Saturday one conflicts with the Mission Walk but we know not everyone can do the Walk so why not go study God’s Word? Or you can walk really early or fast and make it to one. Here’s the list of what’s being offered. Thanks to these Bible study leaders who are volunteering their time and sharing their knowledge to lead these studies.

Yes, I know that it will still show up on the evaluations but it’s a great sign that LWML women LOVE to study God’s Word—our mission inspiration!—we never get enough!

Friday, June 21, 2019

  1. An LWML Bible Study, led by Terri Bentley from the new retreat, “Let’s Grab Our Shoes and Go”.
  2. A Spanish-language LWML Bible Study, led by Deaconess Marta Luna.
  3. A CPH-sponsored Bible Study, led by Christina Hergenrader entitled “Create Olive Branches in Your Family Tree”.
  4. An LWML Bible Study, led by Karol Selle entitled “A Missionary? Me?”. 

Saturday, June 22, 2019

  1. Bible study led by author/speaker Donna Pyle, “Perseverance: A Prayer Battle Plan”.
  2. A Bible Study led by the LCMS Black Ministries Director, Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Gray
  3. Ministry to the Armed Forces Bible study by Chaplain Craig Muehler.
  4. A CPH-sponsored Bible Study, led by Deb Burma entitled “JOY! -Philippians, the Letter of Joy”. 

Hoping to see you in Mobile! Patti

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)


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Random Thoughts

I was sick with RSV several days last week and haven’t been up to much so this blog is a little bit random.

  • Our Mission Goal for 2017-2019 is still short. We need to have electronic donations by March 25 and mailed donations by March 29 so that all can be in the bank by March 31. We are SO close!! Please check your Mite Boxes and take the $5 per member challenge!
  • Early discounted registration for the 2019 Mobile convention ends on the 13th (this Wednesday). Save $20 by registering before then!
  • The new LWML history book by Carolyn Blum will be available at convention. This book covers from 2005-2017. It has gone to print!
  • Several new Bible Study/Devotionals will be available at convention. Bring some funds from your congregational group to buy and save shipping by putting them in your suitcase!
  • There are some great Lenten devotions out there, many by our various mission grant recipient organizations. Be sure you are using several! See how they all blend together but present some different ways of looking at certain scriptures. LWML was asked to write one for the Lutheran World Relief series if you care to find it.
  • Plan an Easter dinner and ask some people who might be alone this year. It follows to say, “Hey, why not go to church with me before we have dinner!”
  • If you know women in your group who can’t attend convention in Mobile, make sure they know it will be live streamed on our website. Also, ask them to donate to your Pledge Walk! We are doing it early morning again this year with a BAND to lead it! Should be a lot of fun! The pledge walk donations make up 9% of our Mission Goal during a biennium so your walk is worth a lot!

That’s it for this week. I’m hoping to feel stronger this week and get back into gear!

Love, Patti

Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations (1Chronicles 16:23-24a).

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Looking Ahead Toward Convention

We have a convention every two years as prescribed in our LWML Bylaws. We meet to conduct business by our delegates who represent our membership from our 40 districts. Over the years it has grown into much more than that. We now enjoy servant events, tours around the convention city area, entertainment, mission speakers, worship services, and exhibits. You can learn a lot at convention.

This June 20-23 in Mobile, Alabama we are going to have a couple special recognition opportunities. We need your help getting the word out. LWML would like to honor our overseas missionaries, those currently serving and those who have served in the past, and give them an opportunity to visit with old friends and be recognized for their service. A Friday night reception will be held for overseas missionaries. There will be a table in the registration area for them to sign up for the reception and to receive a special recognition ribbon for their name badge so that they can be recognized by convention goers.

The other special group we would like to recognize is our LWML women active duty and veteran military. As I traveled to different district conventions I found we had quite a number of LWML women who had served in the military or were currently serving. We’d like to hear from them and are asking them to check in at a special table near the registration area at convention and receive a special ribbon for their convention badge.

We need your help to spread the word that we are looking for these people attending the convention and that we have special sign up tables for them to find when they register. Thanks for your help!

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24).

Love, Patti

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District Conventions

The year of district conventions is concluded. The final conventions were the LWML Florida-Georgia convention in Orlando and the LWML Southern Illinois convention in Centralia, Illinois. Forty districts held conventions this year with 40 different themes, 40 different Bible studies, and many different guest speakers, servant events, worship services, and elections of officers.

Patti and  FL-GA President Trish 

Much like the body of Christ is one but composed of different parts with different functions, we celebrate this reflection also in our LWML districts. Differences come with geographic location, population differences, historical settlement patterns, and emphases of LCMS districts. We bring these districts together in our national organization and benefit from the differing input we receive from all of them. Not only do we benefit from the combination of our Mite Box offerings for grants but also in the talent that is brought to our various committees, our production of Bible studies and devotions, and our work in the area of mission service and gospel outreach.

Taking figures from the reports that the Executive Committee Representatives to the district conventions turned in here is what I see.

Attendance at conventions was 9,517 people

Young Woman Representatives were a total of 312

District grants for 2018-2020 totaled $3,469,997.92

I hope you were able to attend your district convention, the time spent together is never wasted. There is something for everyone at a convention. That something is not the same for each person. Remember to show appreciation to those who worked on your convention. Support your officers and work to fund your mission grants over the next two years. It’s a great time to be in LWML! It’s a great time to Serve the Lord with Gladness!

Engage, Encourage, Equip and Enjoy!

Patti

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing (Psalm 100:1-2 KJV).


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SOS

Hurricane

LWML Carolinas District

Little did they know when they chose their district convention theme months ago how that theme would echo circumstances surrounding this past weekend’s weather events! President Carolyn Smith and LWML friends went ahead with their convention at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. I’d like to share a report submitted by LWML Parliamentarian, Barbara Volk, a member of the Carolinas district. We are so thankful for their convention taking place and the safety of all attendees. Thank you, Barbara, for this report:

The Lord was watching out for our Carolinas District LWML this weekend, so we were able to hold our convention even as Florence moved in. The LWML Carolinas District women were determined to hold their 66th convention at Lake Junaluska Christian Conference and Retreat Center in Western North Carolina on Sept. 14 and 15. 103 women and men (of the 116 preregistered) braved the storm and celebrated under the theme “SOS – Serving Our Savior.” Gifts from the Heart benefitted Haywood Pathway Center, which provides emergency services to the homeless, addiction recovery support, and crisis pregnancy assistance. Servant Activities were filling backpacks with school supplies for Orphan Grain Train and sending cards of encouragement to seminary students.

Because the rain and winds were moving into the area by afternoon, some of Saturday’s business and presentations were condensed, but attendees were still able to hear both parts of the keynote address by Dr. Gregory Seltz, Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty—“Called by God to BOAST of Him (1 Cor. 1:26-31)” and “The LCRL and You—Engaging the culture as God’s people for the sake of the Gospel.” Devotions and prayers were led by Senior Pastoral Counselor John Fair. Because the flights for LWML Representative Carol Von Soosten were cancelled, LWML Parliamentarian Barbara Volk introduced the video greetings from President Patti and provided an overview of LWML products and services.

Business included voting for officers, with Cheryl Wulfert elected district president for 2018-2022; selection of a mission goal of $67,000 and district mission grants for 2018-2020; invitation to the 2019 LWML convention in Mobile; and thanks to all who worked on the convention, particularly Donna Kleister, convention host committee chairman and Western Zone President.

I salute the LWML Carolinas District and their guests who braved the ire of their uninvited guest, Florence, to come together to talk about serving our Savior as we serve others through our work in LWML.

Love, Patti

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Delays

My blog is late this week because I was late getting back from Mobile today (15 hours). The LWML Convention Programming Committee and the LWML Executive Committee met in Mobile, AL last week to start planning the 2019 LWML 38th Biennial Convention for next year, June 20-23. On the way home Sunday, Houston and Atlanta had storms and things became interesting. LWML Convention Manager, Marguerite Christman, and I were traveling together. We ended up getting the last flight out of Mobile to Houston, spent the night in Houston, had our morning flight to Oklahoma City delayed a couple hours and then when we got to OKC I had to rent a car and drive to Tulsa since all Houston to Tulsa flights were full. We met some interesting people along the way. Fellow travelers, fellow tired travelers.

I thought Marguerite and I traveled well together. The gate assistant, Maria, in Mobile went out to the plane and re-tagged our bags when we changed flights. The LWML travel agent, Tammy Hemsath, at Midwest Managed Travel interrupted her Sunday evening to rearrange our travel. The steward on our flight out of Mobile ended up being on our flight from Houston to OKC. Meeting Manager, Leslie Jaseph kept an eye on everyone’s travel. One big happy family.

There are some really nice people out there. As you travel this summer, take time to notice them, thank God for them and of course, thank Him for His travel mercies He extends to you. Ask Vice President of Christian Life, Jennifer Huecker, about her “witnessing” experiences on her way to Mobile last week.

Oh, by the way, Mobile is a really cool city! So much to see and do I hope we can keep you all interested in being in the convention hall! Lutheran Women in Mission there are already working hard on the Host Committee to make it a great experience for you next summer. Thanks to all of them who made last week so pleasant and thanks to the Circuit 11 pastors and wives who shared dinner with us while there!

Can’t wait to travel back there. Think I’ll drive next time!

This Memorial Day weekend we remember those who gave their lives for our country.

Love, Patti

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Checking out Mobile, Alabama

Bags are packed and as of 6:50 a.m. Monday I will be on my way to Mobile, Alabama, site of our 2019 LWML Convention. It will be our 38th Biennial Convention and the second time a national convention has been held in Mobile. The last one was in 1973. I did not attend but my mother did and I have some photos from her visit there.

June 20-23, 2019—put it on your calendar and start saving up to come praise the Lord with your LWML family. The theme is from 1 Chronicles 16:23-24a, Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations.

This week the Convention Programming Committee (CPC) and the LWML Executive Committee (EC) will be meeting in Mobile. In addition to our regular business meeting we will be able to tour the convention center, visit the hotels, look at possible field trip locations, and tourist areas to recommend and meet some of the convention center personnel. This is always an exciting initial glimpse and vision of how the convention may look.

The Convention Programming Committee plans the business, worship, entertainment, speakers, audio-visual, activities, and what needs to happen. The Host Committee, which is made up of members of the Louisiana-Mississippi, Gulf States and Florida-Georgia LWML districts, plans the transportation, decorations, ushers, servers, gets the musicians, handles the banners, offerings, works in the exhibit hall, and many other duties. It takes several hundred volunteers from now until next June to create a friendly and efficient environment to make your convention experience as pleasant as possible.

Thanks be to God for these wonderful volunteer workers! Please include them in your prayers and give them encouragement between now and next June. And come check out their handiwork in Mobile next year!

Love, Patti