Monday, January 30, 2012 WOW-Zine

Happy Monday! For some of you, it's kids off to school as usual. For those who attend Gaston schools, your kids have a couple days off, which means you have an extra opportunity to spend quality time with those kiddos. For those of us who don't have children, it may just be a typical Monday morning of work and regularly scheduled programing. And for at least a couple of you (whom I imagine won't take time to read this blog this week),  you're "busy" relaxing on the sands of Hawaii. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing today, I pray you are aligning yourself with God's purpose for your life and that you are aware of His presence. That's one way to make it a good Monday, no matter what your life is looking like.

If you didn't see me at church yesterday, it's because I wasn't there to be seen! John and I got to celebrate a first-ever occurrence in our lives--the dedication of a great grandchild! Our two-month-old little Madison was dedicated to the Lord by our granddaughter Cassie. It was such a joy to be a part of standing behind Cassie as she promised to raise Madison in God's ways. 

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES:

Monday and Wednesday at 4:15 PM--Zumba
Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM--Zumba

Wednesday at 6:30 PM--Common Grounds
Ladies, a lot of you have been missing since we started up again after the Christmas break. I need to see your smiling faces this Wednesday evening! You know what a good time you have. Just make yourself get back in the habit of coming. After all, it's only twice a month that you have this opportunity to hang out with good friends and study God's word together. Oh, and did I mention the food?? This week we'll delve into The Woman at the Well in John 4: 1-47. This is a lady with a past and a present that is filled with sin, yet her future completely changes when she meets Jesus. It's a story that gives hope to all of us. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wapato's Valentine's Dinner and Dance on Saturday, February 11th.
This delightful evening is something you absolutely don't want to miss. If you don't have a date, that's fine--just come stag. (Or would that be doe?) Everyone is encouraged to come share a special time together over good food, fun giveaways, and romantic music. Tickets are $10 a person, and childcare is provided at the low cost of $2 per child. What a deal! See Becky or any other of the youth workers to get your tickets. 

The Art of Marriage, presented by FamilyLife Today, Friday and Saturday March 16th and 17th at Wapato Valley Church.
Yes, you read that right. We get to have this wonderful event at our very own church! One of the most important things we can do as a church is to encourage our people to have strong marriages. Sometimes that's our personal goal, but we're not sure how to make it happen. Or perhaps we've just given up. The opportunity to have this video series at our church just popped up last week, and we've decided to take advantage of it. Details will be worked out soon, but for now you need to put it on your calendar. Make this a priority and anticipate the changes that you'll experience. (Note: This is the same Saturday that Selah is held on, which I've been advertising for the past few weeks. But I believe this marriage-building opportunity is of even more importance, so I'm encouraging all of us to be a part of this activity instead. It can be a weekend to remember!)

FURTHER OUT UPCOMING EVENTS:

Our Retreat

  By now, you should all know that our SeaSide Escape retreat is coming up April 13-15th at our beautiful beach house in Lincoln City. (The VRBO # is 309670--check out its fantasticnis!) (Yes, it's a new word, but one the world has been waiting for!) Cost is only $80, which includes two night's lodging and dinner on Friday and Saturday as well as breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. Just a reminder that registration will open on March 1st for women who regularly attend Wapato. Two weeks later we will expand registration for those who attend one of our Bible studies, and then if we still have room after that, we'll open it up for you to bring other friends. We are limited to a total of 40 women, and all ladies will be staying at the house and not going to motels. So be planning ahead, as you must pay in full to hold your spot. Through the story of Sarah and Hagar from Genesis, we will discover how God is active in our own lives. At each session we'll use an item you'd find at the beach to make this connection. It's a different style of retreat than what we've done in the past, and your Women's Ministry Team is looking forward to what God is going to do while we're there. 

Our Second Annual FemininiTEA-- Saturday, May 5th.  

Yes, I know that's waaaaay out in the future, but the future will be coming at us with the speed of sound, you know. Time to put this on your calendar and look forward to a special time with you friends and your daughters. (Hopefully some of them are one and the same!) We had a fantastic time together last year, and I can almost guarantee it will be even better this year. I know some of your kids will be involved with sports at that time, but you can still miss one game and come for some special female bonding time, okay?

So, that's the WOW news for this week. Let me leave you with these words of encouragement from Paul in Ephesians 4 in The Message: I want you to get out there and walk--better yet, run--on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline--not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699