Mother/daughter tea is gift from sea

May 10 was a relaxing day by the shores of Agoura Hills for mothers and daughters at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Agoura Hills.

The education wing of the church at 30600 Thousand Oaks Blvd. was decked out with shells, live fish, white tablecloths with flowing blue organza ribbons and other beach décor which made those attending feel as if they were off at the beach.

The guest speaker was Amanda Berg, former chaplain at St. Patrick's Day School and admissions counselor for California Lutheran University, and who is now a mom and missionary. Berg read excerpts from the book "Gift From the Sea."

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of American aviator Charles Lindbergh, wrote "Gift From the Sea" in 1955.

Anne Lindbergh was an author, poet and also renowned in aviation as the first American woman to earn a first-class glider pilot's license.

The book was inspired by Lindbergh's two-week quest for solitude in Florida. She felt all the different types shells she found on the beach represented the different periods in a woman's life.

Berg asked everyone to take a shell from the pile up front. She had the audience ask themselves why they chose that shell and how it relates to where they are in their life.

Quoting from the book, Berg asked the women to ponder on the everyday circus acts they perform and the life of simplicity vs. the life of multiplicity.

Lunch continued with the theme by featuring appetizers on fish-shaped plates and an array of salads by Bader Catering. Dessert, coffee and shell candies kept the group fed as bingo with beachy prizes finished the day.

For information about St. Paul Lutheran programs, visit www.stpaulagoura.com. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m.