Ahh, summer. Full of sunshine, travel, friends, family, and, for LWR staff and many of you — events! This past summer, we had the privilege of attending two of our favorites — the national gatherings for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) and the Women of the ELCA.
These events are always full of faithful conversations, fellowship and fun. We love the opportunity to meet so many of you face-to-face, to hear your stories, answer your questions, and share in the mutual joy of the ministry we all do together. This year, everyone who visited LWR’s booth in the exhibit halls also had the chance to taste our brand new LWR Farmers Market Coffee!
In June, the LWML’s Biennial Convention took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The organization celebrates its 75th anniversary this year — what a wonderful milestone! LWML members came together under the theme Jesus Christ Above All, based on Philippians 2:9. LWR is incredibly grateful to have been part of the servant event time, which included stations for women to make Personal Care and School Kits, as well as to tie Mission Quilts and Fleece Tied Blankets. We were also very excited to give away a beautiful quilted banner, designed by Trish Williams, a dear friend of LWR, in honor of LWML’s 75th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
In July, 3,300 Women of the ELCA joined together in Minneapolis, for their Triennial Gathering under the theme All Anew. Participants rallied around the concepts of reformation and transformation through worship, service, fellowship, and study. In the beautiful exhibit hall, the LWR booth was placed right across from the popular Quilting Cottage, led by the fierce, faithful, and talented Trish Williams (who also custom made the beautiful banner we gave away at the exhibit). LWR continues to be deeply thankful for the “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3) as lived out through both of these organizations. We thank God for our partnership together as we work, hand in hand, toward “a world in which each person, every community and all generations live in justice, dignity and peace” (LWR’s Vision). It’s a gift to be together with all of you, and we look forward to the next time!