LLRA has a number of opportunities in which team members can participate within the next year.
First comes our annual conference/meeting the weekend of August 7 - August 10th here in Pleasant Hill, CA at the home of Dick and Bev Brown. This will be the seventh year that this wonderful gathering has been held here. Each year we have a wonderful presenter who challenges us with opportunities to think beyond the box as we look at the church, renewal, leadership, the call of the Holy Spirit, and what God is asking of us. This year we are once again honored to have Bill Oehlschlager, former Executive Director of Faith Alive as our keynote presenter. Bill and Joanne were last here in 2004, but Bill has been a key supporter serving on a number of Renewal teams over the past several years. It is still not too late to make plans to attend. For further information you can contact Dick Brown at llra@comcast.net.
In September we have a Renewal weekend scheduled at Lord of Life Lutheran in Moreno Valley, CA. This will be their third weekend. Taylor Avery is serving as the coordinator for this weekend and has been diligently working with the planning team at Lord of Life. The dates are September 26-28th. If you are interested in serving as part of this team you can contact our office at 925-229-4528 and we will put you in contact with Taylor.
In April 2009 we are scheduled to go to St. John's Lutheran in Beatrice, Nebraska. We will need a big team for this renewal. It will be their second Renewal Weekend. We were last there about 7-8 years ago. The exact weekend date has to be firmed up with Pastor Kramer, but we are looking at the last part of April.
Lastly, but certainly of great importance is leadership. Our President, Dick Brown, is stepping down after serving 11 years as President of LLRA. If this ministry is to survive we must have new leadership take over the realm. Dick will still remain as an active team member as long as God calls us to serve congregations. If no one steps forth, then the Board and active team members will have to decide what action to take regarding the continuance of this valuable ministry.
We have some good news and some sad news. On the good side, we have received word that Kathy Peterson, our former Executive Director was married on July 1st. Her loving husband, Pete, passed away some time ago. More good news: The Gorhams have adjusted to life in Jacksonville, North Carolina and are doing great after their move east a year ago. They miss their California family and friends, but this was a decision they had to make to be closer to their daughter and family.
On a sad note: Helen Weber's daughter was shot and killed by her husband in the church office where she worked. They were going through a divorce and why this happened no one knows. Needless to say this sent shock waves throughout the community of Oconto, Wisconsin. Helen wrote us in late January and apparently this took place sometime last fall. Our thoughts and prayers have been with her in this tragedy.
A number of our members have gone through surgeries, and illnesses during the past year and for some it is taking a long time to recuperate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Jean Kmonk, Beverly Erck, Doris Thompson, Elaine Schomaker, Ken Thompson, Lois Allbeck, Barbara Norton, Bill Gorham and probably many others that we do not know about. May the Lord continue to watch over them.
Well, that is "What's New" for now. We will be in touch after the summer conference in August.
