TXD Ellipsis had a fantastic time at the Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival on April 9. We were joined by a wonderful group from South Texas also. We saw the work of artists from around the world -- some who have had exhibits in national and international museums -- and a few of us brought home a few pieces to add to our own collections.

We enjoyed art of all kinds. Since the festival features culinary arts as well, we sat in on a live demonstration by the executive chef at the Black Walnut and sampled some southwestern hummus and a cajun-style pasta dish. We went home with the recipes so if you happen to see one of these ladies ... well, maybe don't ask them to make the dishes for you since they involve crawfish and some of us (OK, me) are a little bit afraid of trying to cook them. 

We also got to listen to some live music and see some pretty impressive acrobatic performances. But the best part of any SAM event is always the fact that you get to meet some incredible people and spend time learning their stories. That's where the real art comes in. 

Thanks so much to all of the people who came! We hope to see you again next time. 

Photos by Mary Lockheart and Cheri Grissom.

This, in a nutshell, is the experience of Texas Singles Conference. It is a time to connect with people - to meet new friends and reacquaint yourself with, well, not old but let's call them "vintage" ones. It is a time for friends and fun but it is also a place for something deeper. For some it is a place to find healing. For some it is a place to find confirmation. For some it is where they finally grasp the phrase "ye are complete in Him" and find the completion they are so desperately seeking. For others it is a place where ministries are launched. All of these things happened at Texas Singles Conference this year. 

We were blessed by the music of Tina Moore and Texas Bible College. In addition, it was such a privilege to have our incredible group of keynote speakers. The conference opened with a beautiful message by Karen Harding in which we were introduced to a heart of worship. The next morning was a time for sharing testimonies, stories, and experiences - a touching yet informal session that Cheryl Carter called "Coffee on the Couch." That evening we were ministered to in a deep way by Janice Sjostrand. The next day began with split sessions where Karen Harding addressed the ladies over age 40, Gary Carter addressed the men over 40, and Thomas and Kimberly Letwinch spoke to the Ellipsis group (20s and 30s). The conference ended with a session in which Janice Sjostrand provided a powerful message of hope, healing, and transformation. 

The conference was also a time for fun and fellowship. We set out for two different restaurants for lunch on Friday and enjoyed the company of friends. After that evening's service, we enjoyed a beautiful banquet - complete with a violinist and photo booth - and an evening of fun and games at the Marriott that lasted into the morning hours. We met for lunch again after service on Saturday and filled the restaurant to the brim. Saturday evening concluded with a group that explored downtown Lufkin and enjoyed coffee and pastries. 

We would like to thank everyone who came out to Lufkin this year for the conference. It is our honor to share this experience with you and we hope to see you again next year! If you weren't able to make it this year, please join us in 2017 for our 10th anniversary. In the meantime, though, please check out some of our conference sessions here.

You can also learn more by visiting our conference website: www.aheartofworshipconference.com.
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