The 2019/2020 year began with a time of celebration, as some 30 members flew to Perth to join our LWWA sisters for their 50th Annual Convention. I trust our time with them gave them support and encouragement.
Our 53rd Convention, on 18 May 2019, met with the theme Radiant with Hope. It’s special to see the joy on this day, as some 200 travel from all over the state to be together. Bishop of LCA-SA-NT, David Altus, joined us, together with Assistant Bishop for Mission, Steven Schultz, whose ongoing support for LWSA-NT and also for our Spiritual Advisor, Pastor Mark Welke, is much appreciated. We welcomed LWA President Wendy Habel on her first visit to SA in this role.
Guest speakers: Tessa Joppich and Andrea Konigsmann spoke passionately about the work Lutheran Community Care (LCC) does for foster children and their families and Pastor Richard Fox, Director of Lutheran Media, shared how a message of hope travels across the airwaves, uplifting people whose lives are devoid of hope.
I praise God for the executive members diligently attending to their assigned tasks. Joan Schiller, secretary and Tidings newsletter editor, gives many hours, while Ruth Kaesler, as treasurer, receives memberships and donations to projects, distributing monies, totalling just over $110,000 in this last year. Tracy Smith has confidently stepped into the assistant secretary’s role, along with organising and hosting group travel. We farewelled Heather Zimmermann and welcomed Debbie Borgas.
Grace Bock, second vice president, is also on the editorial committee of the Lutheran Women magazine. We are indeed blessed to be the recipients of this publication, providing devotions, Bible studies, updates on LWA projects, and an insight into activities of fellowships/guilds across Australia. Please show your appreciation of this publication by an email or note.
The closure of boarding facilities at ALC in North Adelaide, tasked our Retreat Committee to find a new venue for this annual event and Immanuel Lutheran College proved to be very accommodating. With In Stitches as the theme, Retreat Chaplain, Pastor Reid Matthias, pieced it all together with his personal presentations and Bible studies. It was indeed special to have Karina Napangardi Penhall, from Alice Springs, attend Retreat. Karina presented a beautiful dot-painting as a thankyou to Lutheran Women of SA for the support given to the projects in Alice Springs.
Zone Fellowship Days – All were inspiring, and all hosts are to be commended for their planning, which God truly blessed. Some milestone anniversaries were celebrated among our fellowships, indicative of our sisters before us, gently instilling a mission to come together, to share, and to pass the extra blessings on to our communities and mission projects.
Thank you to the various long-serving auxiliaries of Tanunda, Glynde and Fullarton Lutheran Homes. Staff, and residents, certainly appreciate the “extras” provided with funds raised at functions, and contributions made via our state project list.
May God give you the strength to participate in your fellowships and in turn, receive many blessings to sustain you during the coming year.
Grace Kroehn, President.
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