Light Shines in the Darkness

"On September 4^th 2011, strong winds drove a wild fire through the field and woodlands of camp Lutherhill, north of La Grange.

The strong winds of dedication led firefighters and neighbors to give special care to much that is precious to the Lutherhill community – the Carby Chapel, the dining hall, the new cabins. Even before the firefighters arrived, neighbors took it upon themselves to cut through the back fence and wet down around buildings.  Tree Chapel, a special place to many at Lutherhill, was in the direct path of the fire running through the field- but remains standing due to a back burn being lit by the firefighters to protect this special place.  Through the night one volunteer fire department after another drove through the site, returning to report that minimal structural damage had occurred.

The strong winds of love for Lutherhill led volunteers to help.  The day after the fire, over 60 volunteers showed up to help clean up, to contain hot spots that still burned, and to express their love for this place and its ministry through their actions.  Two additional workdays saw over 270 people give their time and energy to clear out burned areas, to create defensible space around cabins, and to clean up areas that had already been cleared by bulldozers.

The winds of moisture laden clouds brought rain, again and again, to produce new growth in stressed trees, to fill the pond, to create a beautiful green field instead of the charred grass and to prepare the land for the planting of donated trees later this spring.

The winds of the Spirit has sparked the imagination of many to envision new programs and structures made possible by the destruction of the fire – a new canteen structure to serve the pond and ropes course areas replaces a grove of trees, a new pump shed houses the pond pump to replace the one that was destroyed, and new worship and bible study sites wait to be discovered.

Yes, as our retreat and summer theme suggests – the Light shines bright at Lutherhill.”

-Matt Kindsvatter and Lawrence Bade

As the strong winds of grace blow over, around, and within us this Easter season, we remember that through Jesus’ resurrection, sin has lost its power and Light forever shines in the darkness.

Through your faithful and generous gifts to our synod, Lutherhill is able to touch the lives of over 8,000 children, youth, and adults every year in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else! Thank you!

To find more about Lutherhill, visit www.lutherhill.org

We cannot be quiet about what we have seen and heard! Acts 4:20

Christine Donahue

TLGCS ELCA Mission Interpreter Coordinator

Welcome Pastor Tracey Breashears Schultz!

Pastor Tracey grew up in the Southwest, having lived in San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston. She was baptized at Trinity Episcopal in Escondido, CA at the age of seven months.

As a child, she loved attending non-denominational worship services with her paternal grandmother. In high school, she was active in the youth group of her Baptist church. She met her first husband through Baptist Campus Ministry. After his untimely death in 2000, she became a Lutheran (LCMS), largely influenced by the ministry of a chaplain who had cared for her family. She joined an ELCA congregation in 2002 and says of her faith journey, “it has been a growth in grace.”

Pastor Tracey is a graduate of Cypress Creek High School (1992), the University of Arkansas (B.A. English/Spanish 1996), and Wartburg Theological Seminary (MDiv 2007). She is a student in the ACTS (Association of Chicago Theological Schools) Doctor of Ministry Preaching Program (Class of 2014).

After college, Pastor Tracey worked as a trainer for a medical software company in Little Rock, AR. In 2000, she completed her teacher certification courses and left the software field to pursue a teaching career. She taught junior high Spanish at Christ Lutheran School (LCMS) in Little Rock. As a teacher, she led mission trips to Mexico and served as a translator for a number of medical mission teams.  In 2003, she moved to Iowa to begin her seminary education. She completed her internship at Zion Lutheran Church in Limon, CO in 2006. Pastor Tracey was ordained in July 2007.

Since her ordination, Pastor Tracey has served as Associate Pastor of MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio (www.macparkelca.org). She finds joy in all aspects of ministry, but her passions are worship, preaching, education, and service. She also enjoys cooking, baking, Broadway musicals, reading, doing yoga, drinking coffee, and going to the movies.

Pastor Tracey is married to Chris Schultz, an architect and life-long Lutheran. Chris is a San Antonio native. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and holds degrees in Architecture and Engineering. He has worked as an architect in Boston and in San Antonio. Pastor Tracey and Chris recently celebrated their second anniversary. They hope to make the Heights their home.