Tonight we had the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Denton celebration, trivia night and fundraiser. It was a lovely evening hosted and catered by the Briarwood Retreat Center/Briarwood Leadership Center food service crew. We had a fun time of fellowship and Rev. Russell Vardell, PhD (First United, Dallas) led us in trivia. We have a new interim leader at the campus ministry in the Rev. Jim Rowe. He has already connected well and is bringing new energy and ideas. His spouse is a professor at UNT and it was great to get to know her better as well. Her areas of interest are in Environmental Science/Ethics/Faith. I look forward to getting to know her better.
I took our youngest with me up early so he could play on the playscape at Briarwood. It also allowed me to connect with folks from the NT-NL Synod, ELCA Via de Christo who were having a women’s retreat gathering. They filled the Leadership Center for worship and learning over the weekend. Grateful for their work.
Part of the personal fun for me was having my youngest meet a member of Christ the Servant, Denton who was a member of Faith, Wichita Falls when my father was serving his first call there from 1967-1972. John was stationed at Shepherd Air Force Base during that time and was a key part of redeveloping that congregation which continues to be a presence in that community today served by the Rev. Ernie Barr.
First off I was grateful for John this Veterans Day Weekend for his service. We remarked that those were certainly interesting times to be people of faith. In the midst of the Vietnam War and the culture shifts of that day. We yet live in continued adaptive learning and changes. I am grateful that so many years later we can connect and share a moment supporting the vital ministry on our campuses.
Last night Briarwood was featured at the Texas Legends (Dallas Mavericks G-LeaguG-League team) basketball game. Director Robert Smith was there as we honored the Trestor family represented by Nicki and Brandon Cooley. We are grateful to Thrivent for lifting up this ministry of our church and the opportunity to say thank you (and apparently there was much bbq). #NTNL #LCMDenton #InMissionTogether