Two page newsletter: Chapter Chatter| Two page newsletter: Chapter Chatter | | |
| Fort Bend-Wharton County Chapter, Plans and Activities for 2012 |
| First Chapter Meeting January 23rd |
Our newly elected chapter leaders will meet January 23, 6:30 pm at the Lodge in Beasley to review our goals and results for last year and plan for 2012. We looked back at the Care Abounds in Communities projects and the goals we had set in 2011 for the chapter at our annual meeting at the Swinging Door in Richmond. If you did not attend you missed some great BBQ and a good social time. We exceeded all of our goals in 2011 and also received the Chapter of Excellence Award for 2010. We had special presentations from the leaders of three community groups: Basket of Hope; Fort Bend Family Promise and The Pregnancy Resource Center. These three agencies will have a special focus on them by the chapter.
| Project Funding Requests for 2012 |
We will begin accepting, reviewing and choosing Care Abounds in Communities activities in January. We have at least ten on the list for consideration already and there are several others that we commonly do each year. Please begin formulating your plans and submitting your requests as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to go onto the Thrivent website, down load the care project request for funding form and send it via email to: txlohr@gmail.com. The leadership team usually gives preference to church team generated projects for the first part of the year. Coordinate with your Thrivent Congregation Advocate in all your efforts.
| Choice Dollars Designations |
We are entering the third year of the Thrivent Choice Dollars Program. Each year it has grown significantly in the level of participation. Churches have benefited for the program well above the level of previous Thrivent programs. Some churches have received over $4000 to carry out the religious, charitable, or educational purposes of their church. If you are eligible, please participate in the Thrivent Choice Dollars program again this year and encourage others to do the same.
| Basket of Hope Basket Tote Filling Party |
The first Basket of Hope tote filling project this year will be January 21st at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 5315 Main Street Houston between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. We will pack 200 tote bags that go to the parents of the critically ill children at Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital. The wonderful baskets for the children will be assembled in St. Louis and shipped directly to the Hospital. Families and children are welcome to participate in the joy of bringing joy to these children. Call Jerry Lohr at 979-387-2329 or email at txlohr@gmail.com if you plan to help or need additional information or assistance. The NFL partners with Basket of Hope and the players and coaches will deliver the baskets to the children. I was blessed to tag along on a basket delivery last year and it is something I will not soon forget. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, in partnership with Riley Children's Foundation is funding 7000 baskets this year to be distributed in each NFL city hospital. You will see Basket of Hope highlighted at Super Bowl XLVI as their Super Bowl Charity of Choice. It doesn't get much better than that.
Also in January, the children at Westlake Prep. will be designating their chapel offerings for Basket of Hope. They did the same last year and I was privileged to witness the children's joy in filling the baskets especially with the cute teddy bears.
For members, by members.
This newsletter was written by volunteer leaders of your local Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Chapter to keep you informed of chapter news. If you have any questions and/or comments about the content of this newsletter or would like to learn more about chapter activities being planned in your area, please contact one of your chapter leaders. Go to Thrivent.com, click on Locate a Chapter, enter your ZIP Code and click on your chapter's name.
| 
print