Local Author Selected for Texas Word Wrangler Book Festival
Local author Elizabeth Dettling Moreno was selected as a featured author for the Sept. 25-26 Texas Word Wrangler Book Festival in Giddings. The annual festival, which attracts hundreds of attendees, is hosted by the Giddings Public Library.
Moreno was one of only 22 authors selected to participate in this year’s event.
She submitted her book Moments of Serendipity, which is a work of short devotionals for adults.
Books submitted to the festival undergo a rigorous review process, and festival committee members read and review each book submitted.
“I am elated to be part of the festival,” Moreno said. “I had the pleasure of participating in 2022, while I lived jn Warda. I submitted another book in 2024, but it didn’t make the cut. I’m very thankful to be given another chance to share my work.”
“Moments of Serendipity” uses ordinary situations as food for thought. Something as simple as winning a game of Yahtzee, or something as scary as a trip through the mountains of Colorado, or as embarrassing as getting stuck in a chair in Warda and needing to be pulled out, Moreno skillfully views each mediation with a heavenly perspective.
Since 2006, the Texas Word Wrangler Book Festival has provided an opportunity for Texas authors to display their work and meet with members of the community. Authors are also invited to visit local schools and give presentations to students.
This is Moreno’s second year participating in the festival. She lives in Wharton with her husband, Randy Tolman, and was encouraged to write these devotionals as part of an inspirational column for her local newspaper, The Wharton Journal Spectator. In addition to “Moments of Serendipity,” Miss Liz has written three other books “Sancho, the Silly Billy Goat,” “2 for Tales from the Chicken Yard and Other Fowl,” “Stories, and “Psalms of Motherhood and Other Reflections on Life.” She also helped Holocaust survivor Helen Colin write her autobiography.
The book festival features author tables throughout the library. Moreno will be on hand with fellow Texas authors to sell and sign copies of her books. Festival admission and parking are both free.
38th Annual Wendish Fest
The 38th Annual Wendish Fest will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27 in Serbin. Guest speaker for the 8:30 a.m. English and 10:30 a.m. German Church Services will be Rev. Christopher Ahlman and Rev. John Schmidt. Church tours will be offered at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon. There will be cultural demonstrations of Wendish noodlemaking, sausage stuffing, tour and exhibits including selfguided museum tours. The Museum complex will feature Wendish folkways, A German Christmas Market, traditional decorated Wendish Easter Egg demonstrations and sales as well as genealogy assistance. Traditional Wendish meal tickets go on sale at 10:30 a.m. Adults are $15 and children are $6. To-go and drive-thru meals will be available beginning at 9:30 a.m. You can take part in the coffee cake bakeoff, listen to live polka music by the Shiner Hobo Band and performances by Tanzenfest Volkstanzkreis - a German dance group from Houston. Browse the silent auction and local folklife exhibits. A wonderful homemade dessert booth will also be available.
Faith Lutheran Oktoberfest
Faith Lutheran High School will be hosting their Annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 24. Meal tickets are now available. Meal includes schnitzel, noodles, green beans, potato salad, kraut, bread and coffee cake. Plated meals will be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Holy Cross picnic grounds, dine in or carry out. Tickets are $15 each and are presale only. Stop by the church or school office, or contact one of the staff, students or delegates to purchase your ticket. If you have an auction item to donate to the live or silent auction, please contact the school or bring it by their office. They are also looking for volunteers to team up and assist with this fun event. The Battle of the Vines and Brew is their home brew competition as well as the Sapientia Infiniti (infinite wisdom) infinity bottle of whiskey competition. The Infinity Bottle Competition starts with a clean, empty bottle, throughout the year, simply add a pour from any size whiskey you have enjoyed. Keep no record, the infinity bottle is intended to be unique and unrepeatable. More information coming soon on entering your brews and bottles.
Rabbs Creek Wildlife
The Rabbs Creek Wildlife Meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the Holy Cross picnic grounds on Sunday, Sept. 20.
“Embark” Retreats
Camp Lone Star will be hosting “Embark” Retreats on Sept. 18-20 and Oct. 2-4. These retreats are designed for 6th-8th grade students to grow together as a community, as well as connect with other churches from all around Texas. They will also be a Fall Blast on Nov. 6-8. To register for any of these retreats please visit their website at camplonestar. org.
Fishes and Throws Event
Tejas Camp and Retreat Center will be hosting their first annual Fishes and Throws Event on Saturday, Sept. 19. This will be an action-packed day of competition for a good cause. Visit mytejas.org for more information.
Return of the Warda Race Bluff Creek Ranch will host the TMBRA “Return of the Warda Race” on September 27. This is Race #2 of the TMBRA Texas Cup Fall Series.
Holy Cross Sewing Circle The Sewing Circle meets each Thursday from 9 a.m.noon in the old parish hall at Holy Cross in Warda. This is around the back side of the church. No experience is necessary and you do not have to be a church member to join this fun group. Contact the church office at (979) 2423333 if you have any questions. Holy Cross Game Day
The next Game Day at Holy Cross in Warda will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 from noon-2 p.m. A light lunch is served. There is no cost to attend and everyone is welcome. Games of bingo and dominoes are offered.
Neighbors Night Out
Mark your calendars for Neighbors Night Out in Warda will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18 at the Holy Cross Picnic Grounds.
Warda Recycle Trailer
The Warda recycle trailer is located across from the church fellowship hall. If you have aluminum cans to recycle, there is a large wire basket at the church picnic grounds and the funds from the cans benefits the church youth group.
Little Free Library
The Little Free Library is located at the covered entrance to the church fellowship. Feel free to take/drop off books or puzzles for all ages.
Holy Cross Services
Services at Holy Cross Lutheran are Sunday at 9 a.m. Bible Class and Sunday school follows the morning service.
Sermon links/streaming videos and additional information is on the website at: www.holycrosswarda.com.
The Wednesday Morning Bible Study group meets each Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the family room of the church. They are currently studying the book of Galatians. Everyone is invited to join this study group.
The LWML Post Oak Zone Fall Rally will be held on Sunday. Oct. 4 at Christ Lutheran Church in Loebau, beginning at 2 p.m.
Faith Lutheran High School Friday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 1. -Volleyball Game FLHS will play at Citadel in Brenham.
If you are interested in receiving enrollment information, please contact the school at (979) 242-2889 or visit their website at: www.flhstx.org. Prayer List
Those on the prayer list include: Leslie Hobratschk, Rev. Al Gallmeier, Nancy M. Pietsch, Tommy Swearingen, Melvin Schultz, Mary Steigleder. Anniversary Wishes
Happy anniversary wishes are extended to Douglas and Lorie Lehmann-Sept. 22.
Birthday Wishes
Happy birthday wishes are extended to Christina Townsend-Sept. 21, Lauren Lehmann, Barrett Kay-22, Brandon Weishuhn, Jonathan Kueck-23, Darrell Schubert- 24.
Have News?
If you have news items to share with readers of the Warda news contact Lisa Gay at (979) 218-6000 or Wardanews78960@ gmail.com.
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