Have you registered for Synod Assembly? What about reserving your hotel room? Tomorrow, April 27 is the last day to reserve your room at the discounted rate. 

Join us as we reimagine spirituality from the edges. 

Who is most vulnerable? How can we be the church in the wake of a disaster?  Resources:

• Response
• Houston Community Toolbank
• Flood Cleanup and the Air in Your Home
• Debris Removal Guidelines
• Watershed Information
• Register with FEMA & Crisis Cleanup
• Impacted residents may register with FEMA: 800.621.3362 or 800.462.7585
• Individuals can request volunteer agency help with clean up: 800.451.1954
• Volunteer
• Red Cross Bulk Distribution Sites
• Volunteer Houston
• Volunteer with Red Cross
• Donations
• Harris County Dropoff Points

Last year, our congregations took part in a five-week spiritual growth initiative. This fall, we are doing a series called " Committed to Christ," a six-week stewardship program that presents giving as a lifelong journey in Christian discipleship. The goals are to engage the entire congregation in praying and growing together in faith, develop small groups, welcome newcomers, and grow in faith and generosity. Read more. 

The LEAD Congregational Assessment is a 20-question online tool that uses four growth indicators to help your congregation find its place on the leadership landscape. These growth indicators represent behaviors that are stronger among congregations that are growing than those that are stalled or out of breath. 

Gulf Coast Synod congregations can take the assessment at no cost between April 27 and May 16. Read more. 

Pastor Chris Christopher will be installed at Grace in New Orleans on Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 pm. Rostered leaders are invited to vest (the color of the day is red). 

Have you heard of this new podcast, To Hell with the Hotdish?

Three pastors working to move the perception of the church beyond its cliched casserole culture. They don't shy away from questions you felt couldn't be asked. With a bit of laughter and a heart for community, these friends tackle the task of discipleship and mystery of faith to challenge the faithful from being too comfortable. 

Acts of Wisdom is hosting a Golf Tournament on May 6 at the Houston National Golf Course starting at 1:30 pm. Cost is $110, which includes free range balls, cart, green fees, and slider buffet for dinner. All proceeds benefit Acts of Wisdom and help expand their presence in rural Africa, providing more children with the materials they need for school.  Register today!

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is hosting a lecture on the historical view of Guadalupan faith, origin, and development on May 10 at 6:30 pm. Anthropologist Dr. Ana Rita Valero de Garcia Lascurain will describe the political, economic, and social environment and the historical elements which incited the miracle of the 16th century. Read more. 

Hands of Faith Fair Trade Ministry at Lord of Life in The Woodlands celebrates its third anniversary. Join the celebration on Friday, May 13 from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm with food, drink, and shopping. 

Union Presbyterian Seminary has a few upcoming continuing education opportunities:

• May 17-19: Not by Bread Alone: Faith and the Politics of Food
• July 19-26: Church Business Administration 

Mark your calendars for a Catholic & Lutheran clergy gathering on May 26 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Cathedral Center in Houston. This will be an opportunity to meet and greet with one another, while also learning about the important dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics. 

Interfaith Ministries' Dinner Dialogues are back and starting in June. The theme this year is " Expanding the Circle: Interfaith Dialogue Needs You, Houston Needs Interfaith Dialogue."  Join and help interfaith relations expand the circle of understanding on Thursday, June 2 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. 

" In the Name of Jesus: Baptized and Called, Fed and Sent" on June 5 - 8 in an inspiration event that offers participants, both clergy and lay persons, who are serving their neighbors, a time for personal renewal, spiritual practices and discernment, education, Bible study, and spirited worship. Feed your faith, think more deeply about following Jesus, and meet people who share this journey. Read more about schedule, speakers, and registration. 

The eFormation Conference is an education event for leaders who want to learn the skills of ministry and faith formation in a digital world and who want to connect with other leaders in a shared commitment to 21st century ministry and faith formation. On June 6 - 8 in Alexandria, Virginia, experience workshops, keynote, application sessions, and a community of people committed to using digital tools and media in faith formation and ministry. 

St. Martin's in Sugar Land has opened registrations for its summer day camp, scheduled from June 20 - 24. At the cost of only $75, Lutherhill brings the traditional camp experience to your child. Professional camp counselors run this Christ-centered camp. Kids play, sing, do crafts, and have a blast; each day holds another adventure. This day camp is geared for children who have completed kindergarten through eighth grade. Please contact St. Martin's, 281.451.9059, should you have any questions. 

	Grace Gathering Invitation

Reserve your spot for the Grace Gathering on August 10 - 13 in New Orleans. It will bring people together from across the ELCA as the concurrent event to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. In addition to experiential learning, worship, and presentations from special guests, a unique feature of the Grace Gathering will be the variety of workshops offering to participants to help prepare for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Register today. 

Join this cross-cultural experience on September 2 - 12, where you will walk the 108 kilometers (67 miles) of the Camino de Santiago allowing you to receive the Compostela - the official certificate of completion for this journey. Read more. 

Lifelong Faith is hosting a three-day exploration of what is means, in vision and in practice, to make families the center of Christian faith formation. You will explore 21st century practices for nurturing faith in families from childhood through emerging adulthood. Read more.

• September 29 - October 1 in Avon, CT
• October 20 - 22 in Minneapolis, MN

In this 10th anniversary year of the publication of Evangelical Lutheran World, you are invited to attend an event focusing on Lutheran worship in our current context. Pastors, musicians, lay leaders, and worship committees: you will find a place at these gatherings. Come open anew the gifts of God at the strong center of worship in word and sacrament. Explore how to open more widely the doors that welcome the world to these gifts and the doors that send us with these gifts into God's beloved and needy world. There will be three identical events:

• October 7 - 8 at Bethany in Englewood, CO
• October 14 - 15 at Zumbro in Rochester, MN
• November 4 - 5 at Trinity in Lansdale, PA

The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ is preparing a comprehensive study for use in congregations and across the church. The task force invites individuals, adults forums, and other study groups to join a churchwide conversation about issues related to women and justice in church and society and then to share responses. Read more. 

The Taking Root curriculum helps you explore hunger and poverty. There is a fundamental connection between our Christian faith and the injustice of hunger and poverty. The activities and discussions proposed in the curriculum will help you understand the causes of hunger, imagine a world without hunger, and foster a deep commitment to solutions for hunger. Read more. 

Join us for this intentional, cross-generational leadership school, on June 20 - 24, for 8th graders through adults. The Disciple Project is a learning community where youth and adults can stretch their imaginations and increase their capacity as leaders. Early bird registration ends on May 15.  Read more. 

Chad Brekke, one of the pastors of Prince of Peace in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, was attending a Mumford & Sons concert last Thursday when musician Prince died. When the band did one of Prince's songs as tribute, Brekke had the idea to put this lyric up on the church's main sign. He texted one of the congregation's tech guys, who put the message up immediately. The image on Facebook was shared hundred of times and seen by more than 100,000. Continue reading...

First Taiwanese in Houston has 125 chairs for sale at $7.50 each or all 125 for $900. Please contact Lee Cheng if you're interested.