Happy day after Easter, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful celebration yesterday. Isn't it interesting that even though Easter is such a pivotal part of our salvation, it's much easier to "pull off" than Christmas is? Not many, (if any at all) decorations to pull out of the garage and embellish the house, no lights to string from the eaves, no tree to put in the middle of the living room and watch as the needles slowly fall, day after day. No gifts to buy, hide, and wrap. No, just a lot of chocolate bunnys and ham to eat, and a not-very-difficult meal to produce. Easter is a good holiday in many ways!
Of course, we all know that Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. It's a reminder that all is not as it appears. That though things around us may look bleak and impossible, there is always hope. And nothing says "hope" like victory over death. Aren't you thankful for God's wonderful plan! How did you celebrate Easter this year? Was there anything that made it especially meaningful for you?
We were able to join our newlyweds, Dave and Christina, and three out of five of the grandkids over at their new house in Tigard. To me, it was a graphic picture of Easter. Both their previous marriages had ended in the death of a dream and they had gone through some very dark days. But when God's timing was perfect, He brought them together and blessed them with a new love and life. They are one happy couple!
Common Grounds meets this Wednesday at 6:30 at the church. This is our next-to-the-last meeting for the school year, so you really don't want to miss it! For those of you who were there last time when we talked about taking time to rest and think of God's goodness to us, have you taken the time to write your own personal psalm? I would love it if some of you are able to do that and maybe even share a few "verses" of it on Wednesday night. It doesn't have to be fantastic writing, but a simple expression of your heart to God. I know it would bless all of us.
Don't forget the mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane on May 13th and 14th. One more lady took me up on the offer last week, so I only have openings for two more women. First come, first served! And such a deal at only $20. You can find more information in last week's WOW-Zine.
WOW's Movie Night is headed your way on Saturday, May 14th, at 7 PM. Lots of goodies to share, good connecting time with each other, and a fun movie to watch. Put it on your calendar.
I'll be speaking for a Salem women's retreat this weekend at Camp Tapawingo. Anybody ever heard of that place? It's new to me, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like. But looking forward even more to sharing with these women about being Daughters of the King. It's been a fun challenge to work up material for four sessions, and I could sure use your prayers.
Speaking of prayers, Darci is in surgery right now as I write this. Please join in praying that this is a successful surgery. She'll have to go back again to get the other kidney worked on, but we really want her to get over the terrible pain she's been plagued with for months. Get well soon, Darci! (And if you'd like to help prepare meals for her family, check out the website at http://www.takethemameal.com/. The code is simply #1234, and the family name is Stevens. Let's show them a little love during this time.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011 WOW-Zine
Welcome to Tax Day 2011. What a way to start the week, with not only it being a Monday, but the day taxes are due this year. And who knows what else is going on in your life today? Perhaps you and your husband had an argument before he took off for work. Maybe you yelled at the kids on their way to school. Or the household pet left an odoriferous surprise in the middle of the kitchen floor for you to discover first thing this morning. Whatever happened, your day may not have gotten off to the perfect start you wished it to have. The fact of the matter is that life rarely goes perfectly. It's designed to have ups and downs that challenge us in our response to what happens. But in Psalm 118:24, the writer says, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." That's so easy to do when everything is going our way. But on those other kind of days, the ones where life is throwing us curve balls, we have a decision to make: grumble or rejoice. It's oh, so easy, to do the grumbling. We can do that without even thinking about it. But to choose to rejoice shows a woman of real character. We've seen over and over in our study this year that we always have a decision that must be made--will we simply react to things based on our emotions, or will we make that difficult choice to obey God in every circumstance. Even on Monday mornings!
I'm hoping three more of you will choose to be part of the mini-retreat here at Ashberry Lane the weekend of May 13th and 14th. You can read more about it in past editions of the WOW-Zine, but a brief synopsis is as follows:
Where: Ashberry Lane (my house at 24090 Wapato Sch. Rd in
Gaston)
When: Friday, May 12th, potluck dinner at 6 PM, through late Saturday afternoon.
What: A Beth Moore video series entitled Loving Well. This is the same material we used at our beach retreat in March.
Why: So those of you who couldn't make it in March will have the opportunity to have the same teaching that the rest of us did. Plus, it's a great change-of-pace, and a wonderful way to get better acquainted with other women.
Cost: Only $20. Checks may be made out to Wapato Valley Church
Please let me know as soon as possible if you'll be able to make it. So far I have Nicole P, Nicole C, Carla, Carol, Kyndra, Laurie, and Cathy F that have said they're coming. I'd love to add you to the list!
We don't have Common Grounds this week, but mark it on your calendar for Wednesday, April 27th at 6:30 at the church. We had a great time together last week, as we discussed the Biblical mandate to choose to put rest in our lives. It's a hard thing to do, isn't it? But so very important. Pastor Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose-Driven Life, encourages us to:
Divert daily--choose a temporary mental, emotional, or physical diversion to do each day. It may only be for 5 or 10 minutes, but can be very refreshing.
Withdraw weekly--take time each week to draw back from your busy life. It might only be for an hour or so, but it gives your soul time to be refreshed. The point is to practice this discipline every week.
Abandon annually--plan a real vacation, even if it has to be close to home. Find a way for your whole family to have a change of pace.
Movie Night is headed your way on Saturday, May 14th, at Ashberry Lane. This will happen right on the heels of finishing the mini-retreat. We'll start at 7 PM with snacks and visiting, and start the movie by 7:30. As soon as I figure it out, I'll let you know what we'll be watching!
Our final meeting for Common Grounds will be on May 11th, which is two weeks earlier than originally scheduled. It turns out that I have the opportunity to get away from town for a few days and experience a little rest, and I'd like to take advantage of that. So on Wednesday, May 11th we will meet at 6 PM at the church for our end-of-the-year potluck. Bring something to share with everyone and we'll eat together, then finish our last session of Self Talk, Soul Talk. At that time I'll also be able to announce some of the activities we'll enjoy this summer, and then our new study for Common Grounds will start again in September. Don't miss out on any of the fun!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
I'm hoping three more of you will choose to be part of the mini-retreat here at Ashberry Lane the weekend of May 13th and 14th. You can read more about it in past editions of the WOW-Zine, but a brief synopsis is as follows:
Where: Ashberry Lane (my house at 24090 Wapato Sch. Rd in
Gaston)
When: Friday, May 12th, potluck dinner at 6 PM, through late Saturday afternoon.
What: A Beth Moore video series entitled Loving Well. This is the same material we used at our beach retreat in March.
Why: So those of you who couldn't make it in March will have the opportunity to have the same teaching that the rest of us did. Plus, it's a great change-of-pace, and a wonderful way to get better acquainted with other women.
Cost: Only $20. Checks may be made out to Wapato Valley Church
Please let me know as soon as possible if you'll be able to make it. So far I have Nicole P, Nicole C, Carla, Carol, Kyndra, Laurie, and Cathy F that have said they're coming. I'd love to add you to the list!
We don't have Common Grounds this week, but mark it on your calendar for Wednesday, April 27th at 6:30 at the church. We had a great time together last week, as we discussed the Biblical mandate to choose to put rest in our lives. It's a hard thing to do, isn't it? But so very important. Pastor Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose-Driven Life, encourages us to:
Divert daily--choose a temporary mental, emotional, or physical diversion to do each day. It may only be for 5 or 10 minutes, but can be very refreshing.
Withdraw weekly--take time each week to draw back from your busy life. It might only be for an hour or so, but it gives your soul time to be refreshed. The point is to practice this discipline every week.
Abandon annually--plan a real vacation, even if it has to be close to home. Find a way for your whole family to have a change of pace.
Movie Night is headed your way on Saturday, May 14th, at Ashberry Lane. This will happen right on the heels of finishing the mini-retreat. We'll start at 7 PM with snacks and visiting, and start the movie by 7:30. As soon as I figure it out, I'll let you know what we'll be watching!
Our final meeting for Common Grounds will be on May 11th, which is two weeks earlier than originally scheduled. It turns out that I have the opportunity to get away from town for a few days and experience a little rest, and I'd like to take advantage of that. So on Wednesday, May 11th we will meet at 6 PM at the church for our end-of-the-year potluck. Bring something to share with everyone and we'll eat together, then finish our last session of Self Talk, Soul Talk. At that time I'll also be able to announce some of the activities we'll enjoy this summer, and then our new study for Common Grounds will start again in September. Don't miss out on any of the fun!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, April 11, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011 WOW-Zine
Hello, ladies! Thanks to all of you who came out to our first tea last Saturday. Forty-two women and young ladies graced the room as we enjoyed beautiful table settings, wonderful food, and a fun program.
I see I missed taking pictures of all the tables with all the ladies seated at them, but this will give you an idea of what the event looked like. Shall we have another tea next year?
Common Grounds will be meeting at 6:30 this Wednesday evening at the church. Even if you've never come before, it's not too late! It's such a wonderful place to connect with other women and develop great friendships. What will we be learning to tell our soul this week? "Chill out! Be at rest, oh my soul." Join the rest of us in figuring out just how to do that.
I still have openings for three women for the mini-retreat happening here at Ashberry Lane the weekend of May 13th and 14th. Let me know if you want one of those spots.
On the evening of Saturday, May 14th, WOW will have a Movie Night at Ashberry Lane. (We'll finish up the mini-retreat and head right into movie night!) Bring a snack to share and we'll meet at 7 PM. I'm open to movie suggestions.
That's all the news for this week. Looking forward to seeing a lot of you on Wednesday night. Feel free to bring a friend along!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2010 WOW-Zine
This blog is a day late and at least a dollar short this week! Last week was jam-packed with company, my husband's birthday, wedding rehearsal and the wedding for Christina (our daughter), and taking care of five kids. I just didn't have it in me to get something written yesterday, as I was still exhausted. But life is getting back to normal today, so here I am!
WOW's FemininiTEA is this Saturday morning at 10. We've been saying you can dress up in a fancy outfit, wear a hat and jewelry, or maybe even a boa. But perhaps dressing up is not you cup of tea! You know what? That's perfectly okay. If you'd rather come in your jeans or slacks, that won't bother anyone at all. We just want everyone to feel comfortable and ready to enjoy an hour or two together. So dress to the nines (whatever that means) if you'd like, or wear your usual Saturday attire, or something in between, but just come! Remember to bring a tea-type food to share buffet style. Perhaps little sandwiches, fresh fruit, scones, cupcakes or muffins. We will gladly eat anything! This event is for females who are at least eight years old, with no cut-off at the other end of the spectrum! If you haven't already let me know you're coming, please contact me no later than Thursday night. We want to make sure we have enough seating for everyone. Hope to see you there! BTW, coffee will not be served, so if you need a java jolt in the morning, make sure to have some before you come.
Guess what? Your Women's Ministry Team has already got the beach house reserved for our Wapato Women's Retreat next year. And there are some changes! We're moving retreat back a month, so the dates are April 13-15, 2012. Years ago Wapato retreats were held in April, and the date gradually moved forward. The first weekend of March has been traditional for a number of years, but we are now changing that. One big reason is that it is so hard on the women that have to come after work and drive through the dark and stormy night. Holding our retreat in April means we can experience Daylight Savings Time on March 11th, Spring Break the end of March, Easter on April 8th, and our fantastic retreat the following weekend! Yes, sports teams will be up and running by then, but just plan ahead to have your kids where they need to be.
Mark the date on next year's calendar as soon as you get one! This will also enable people to use tax returns to cover their costs. :-) And we have a better chance of nicer weather.
Common Grounds will meet next Wednesday, the 13th. We're getting near the end of our study for the year, but it's never too late to join us. We always have a good time, and if you're new to the church, this is a great way to meet people.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
WOW's FemininiTEA is this Saturday morning at 10. We've been saying you can dress up in a fancy outfit, wear a hat and jewelry, or maybe even a boa. But perhaps dressing up is not you cup of tea! You know what? That's perfectly okay. If you'd rather come in your jeans or slacks, that won't bother anyone at all. We just want everyone to feel comfortable and ready to enjoy an hour or two together. So dress to the nines (whatever that means) if you'd like, or wear your usual Saturday attire, or something in between, but just come! Remember to bring a tea-type food to share buffet style. Perhaps little sandwiches, fresh fruit, scones, cupcakes or muffins. We will gladly eat anything! This event is for females who are at least eight years old, with no cut-off at the other end of the spectrum! If you haven't already let me know you're coming, please contact me no later than Thursday night. We want to make sure we have enough seating for everyone. Hope to see you there! BTW, coffee will not be served, so if you need a java jolt in the morning, make sure to have some before you come.
Guess what? Your Women's Ministry Team has already got the beach house reserved for our Wapato Women's Retreat next year. And there are some changes! We're moving retreat back a month, so the dates are April 13-15, 2012. Years ago Wapato retreats were held in April, and the date gradually moved forward. The first weekend of March has been traditional for a number of years, but we are now changing that. One big reason is that it is so hard on the women that have to come after work and drive through the dark and stormy night. Holding our retreat in April means we can experience Daylight Savings Time on March 11th, Spring Break the end of March, Easter on April 8th, and our fantastic retreat the following weekend! Yes, sports teams will be up and running by then, but just plan ahead to have your kids where they need to be.
Mark the date on next year's calendar as soon as you get one! This will also enable people to use tax returns to cover their costs. :-) And we have a better chance of nicer weather.
Common Grounds will meet next Wednesday, the 13th. We're getting near the end of our study for the year, but it's never too late to join us. We always have a good time, and if you're new to the church, this is a great way to meet people.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
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