Festival of Agape

Festival of agape

When: June 28, 2025 at 5:30pm

1001 Woodcreek Dr.

College Station, TX 77845

Dear Via de Cristo Friends,

Hello once again from the Texas Gulf Coast Via de Cristo Secretariat. This letter is a small update about our Fund Raising Ultreya happening June 28, 2025, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in College Station. There is a small change from the previous letter you received. Janet Crouch apologizes for her muddled brain (yes, she asked me to share that) as she named the wrong team for the Astros’ tickets in the raffle.

So, just as a reminder, there are four great items available:

(1) A white gold and diamond cross – Donated by Montelongo’s Jewelry Store (Value $1300)
(2) A Yeti Roadie Cooler – Donated by Ideal Poultry ($400)
(3) A 30 CD boxed set that includes all of Elvis Presley’s Music along with a coffee table book – Donated by Mike Rutledge ($600)
(4) 4 tickets to the Astros vs. Athletics Baseball game on July 26, 2025 – Donated by Danhil Container

All items for the raffle have been donated.

All raffle tickets are being sold for $5.00 each or five tickets for $20.00. When purchasing your tickets, be sure to put either the letter A – for AOK, N – for North Texas, T for Texas Lutheran, or G – Texas Gulf Coast on your payment. You can use the actual tickets in this email. Just download and print them out, and then bring money or checks to the Ultreya. Or you can sell them and have the purchaser Venmo to TGC-Via de Cristo@TGCVDC where the money will be directly deposited to TGCVDC’s bank account. When sending the Venmo be sure and designate which raffle item(s) you want your tickets to go for. You can purchase all for one item or split up your ticket purchase, but be sure to note which raffle item(s) you want. Money and completed tickets can also be mailed to Janet Crouch, 805 East 17th Street, Cameron, TX 76520, by June 20, 2025. If you have any questions, call Janet Crouch (254-482-0614) or Tami Wolfson (618-604-1464) and they will clarify any of this for you.

We are asking for the A, N, T and G designations because the proceeds from the raffle will be divided among those Secretariats that sell the most tickets on each individual item. For example, if Texas Lutheran sells $1000 worth of tickets and the necklace brings in a total of $2000, then Texas Lutheran (with that 50% of raffle ticket sales) would receive $2000 raised on that item. This, hopefully, will provide all four Secretariats the opportunity to raise funds for the 2026 National Gathering.

We will also have a Silent Auction at the Ultreya with a variety of baskets and other items up for bid. Anyone can contribute to the Silent Auction. Please just let us know what the item is and it’s value or you can bring to the Ultreya and we can fill out the bid form. We will try and put some of the items on our Facebook page soon, for those who can’t attend. Whichever Secretariat donates a Silent Auction item, they will receive the proceeds from that item.

We are also going to have a Wine Pull, with the proceeds going to the Texas Gulf Coast Via de Cristo scholarship fund. Wine Pull Tickets will go for $20. All the bottles of wine are being donated and will vary in their value. That is the risk and possible reward in the Wine Pull game!

You may also purchase your tickets for the Ultreya by using the Venmo account noted above. The Tickets are $40 each and presale is requested to allow for a dinner headcount. You may also e-mail Pastor Elaine with the number of dinner tickets you will need (Pastor@oslcbcs.org) and then pay at the event. On another note, Seminarian Pastor Tami Wolfson has agreed to give our Fourth Day talk at the Ultreya. She is currently serving Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Cameron, and I know you will enjoy what she has to
share.

We look forward to seeing all of you on June 28, 2025, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in College Station, Texas, at 5:30 pm. Or, come early! The church will be open at 2 pm and we can share fellowship and play games!

God’s Peace,

Kathy Chiasson, Assistant Lay Director
Texas Gulf Coast Via de Cristo