Trip this Summer to Living Waters

We have just started walking alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ at Living Waters ELCA church in Cherokee, North Carolina. This is the only Native American ELCA mission east of the Mississippi River. The Mission Committee reached out to Liz Gaskins to see if we could start learning more about the native peoples of North American, as well as our learning about the native peoples of Central American through our Sister Parish program.  We sponsored the first event with Liz when she shared a video presentation about some of the history of American Indians.  Subsequently, the Mission Committee started seeking more ways to deepen this understanding and perhaps build a similar relationship as to the one we have in Chichipate, Guatemala where we accompany one another and deepen our mutual understanding and faith together.  

Living Waters has been sharing their digital newsletter with us now for a few months and we hope to share ours now too more easily since it is going digital. In their newsletter they highlighted two new ministries: a clothes closet and food pantry for those who need either or both. As a Partner in Ministry, St. Thomas supported their new clothes closet and food pantry ministries through mission committee, Mission Endowment and Thrivent funds. We are also sharing prayers and hope to continue to find more opportunities for learning and sharing our faith communities. 

Photo: Pastor Jack (center, in purple) of Living Waters at his installation as an ELCA pastor


Pastor Jack from Living Waters said they would love to have us join them for worship on Sunday, June 17 in North Carolina. They integrate some of their Native American traditions into the ELCA worship service. We are talking with Pastor Jack about staying a few days perhaps to work on a joint project together, and learn more about their history, customs and congregation. 

We currently have an intergenerational group planning a trip together from approximately June 14-17/18.   The group is planning on driving out together, staying a few days and then driving back.  They are doing a little bit of fundraising with an Indian Taco sale on May 19th at church, but also welcome donations both to underwrite the cost of the trip and to support the projects being done by Living Waters.  If you are interested in learning more or donating, please contact the church office, Liz Gaskins or Dawn Bakken who are coordinating this trip on behalf of the Mission Committee.