Sunday, June 23, 2013 WOW-Zine

Good morning, ladies! I’m writing this a day early since I’m leaving town this morning for a couple of weeks. You can still get in touch with me via phone call or e-mail (see contact info at the end of this blog) but I won’t be writing a WOW-Zine for a couple of weeks. So please pay special attention to the information contained here.

Bible studies will meet this week as usual. Barb Wood has stepped up to the plate to lead at Common Grounds on Wednesday night at 6:30. Please bring your own choice of beverage along with you to that, as I didn’t want to stress her out by having her teach AND have to make coffee! Lori is on for snacks that night. On Thursday morning for The Perk, Amy Rusaw will be leading the lesson, Kristen is on for snacks, and Stephanie will be the Mom in Charge of childcare. Thanks to all of you for being willing to serve in these various capacities. This week you’ll be looking at Luke 22:39-46, as well as various other passages.

Remember that neither study meets next week during the Fourth of July week, but I’ll be  back to teach the following week. (July 10th and 11th)

We had a good time at our WOW movie night this past Friday. Hope more of you can join us next time. The special event for July is slated very early in the month. In fact, it’s scheduled for the very first day of the month! We’re planning a Blueberry Pickin’ Party. (provided the berries are actually ripe.) Contact Amy at 503-913-2682 for more information and to check on the status of the berries. Children are encouraged to come with you and help fill your buckets. Have you ever read the children’s story, Blueberries for Sal? I can remember my mom reading it to me when I was a little girl, and I’ve read it to my children and grandchildren, and I’m sure I’ll soon be reading it to my little great-granddaughter! It would be fun if you read that before picking day, though I can almost promise there will be no bears involved with your children!

Have a good couple weeks without me! I’m going to miss you all!!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-385-6699

Monday, June 17, 2013 WOW-Zine

Happy first Monday of summer vacation! Did you get to sleep in a bit this morning? I hope your summer is filled with wonderful things, events, and most importantly, people! Mine has certainly started out that way, as I had out-of-state family with us all of last week, and over the weekend our granddaughter and her toddler moved in upstairs! We're so blessed to have Cassie and Madison with us. 

The special event for the month of June is a WOW (Women Of Wapato) Movie Night this Friday, June 21st, at Amy Rusaw's house. What movie are we watching, you ask? We don't know yet. It depends on what you choose when you show up with snacks at 7 PM! This is for women only, but feel free to bring friends with you. Here are the directions to Amy's:
 Take Spring Hill Rd to Fern Hill Road. Turn up Blooming Fern Hill Road, and turn right onto Winters Road. About 1.5 miles up, turn left on Bracken Drive. There is a sign at the roadway that says Fern Hill Estates. Drive 0.7 miles up to the end of the road –Rusaws are at the last house. 

We've got great Bible studies in store for us this week as we continue our study through the book of Luke. We're considering the final hours of Jesus' life, and ladies, there's a wealth of encouragement, warning, and challenge in His last words. At both Common Grounds (Wednesday at 6:30 PM) and The Perk (Thursday at 9:30 AM--child care provided) we'll be looking at Luke 22:14-38. (Yes, it's a bit of an overlap with what we studied last week.) Our studies will continue throughout most of the summer, and it's never too late to join us.Heidi H. is the mother in charge of childcare for The Perk this week, and Karen  has treats. For Wednesday night, Neva will be bringing snacks.  Please remember that neither study will meet the first week of July or the third week of July, due to the holiday on the 4th, and VBS meeting the 15th -18th.

My blog friend, Holley Gerth, recently wrote something l'd like to share with you today:

 hearttoheart@holleygerth.com

What Matters More than Your Mess The sink overflows with dishes. Pans and bowls lay scattered across the kitchen. The counters are covered with smudges of who-knows-what. Years ago, this would have sent me into an immediate cleaning frenzy. But tonight I turn off the light and let it go. I step into the warm summer night for a walk with my husband. I read a book on the couch for a few moments. I talk to someone I love on the phone. When I come back the next morning, the mess is still there. But those moments that really mattered would have been gone forever. And it turns out my worst fears weren’t realized: the health department failed to show up, a reporter neglected to take photos through my windows, and my in-laws didn’t repossess my husband. As I stared at my slightly scandalous kitchen and thought about this I noticed the mug on the top of the dish pile. “Live fully. Love deeply. Laugh loudly.” And I nodded in agreement at those words. I’m a person who craves order. I need simplicity and organization. I believe in keeping the dust bunnies somewhat at bay. But there are times when it matters more to make dinner for your friend who just had a baby and leave the dishes on the counter, actually answer the phone, and watch the fireflies come out with someone you love. Because the dishes will stay but life goes by and you can never get a single day back. So every once in awhile, just turn off the light and ignore what needs to be done. And when you come back to it, let it remind you of what’s most important in your life. Because sometimes a mess just means we’re busy with what really matters. Great thoughts, huh?! So here's to a slightly messy week for each of us! Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 WOW-Zine

Did you notice I didn't show up in your inbox yesterday? I find when I've got a lot of company around the house, it's hard to maintain my usual schedule. I've got five out-of-state family members here for the week, plus had a lot of additional extended family show up for the day yesterday, so the WOW-Zine went by the wayside.

I'm going to keep this very short this week. The main announcement is that Common Grounds will meet at my house Wednesday night at 6:30, as the school will be using the church facility. So show up to Ashberry Lane for our study. The Perk will meet at 9:30 Thursday morning at the church as usual, with dear Heidi H. being the woman in charge of child care. We're studying the last few days of Christ's life, and will be focusing on Luke 22:7-23, dealing with The Last Supper. 

On Friday of next week, June 21st, we'll have a WOW Movie Night at Amy Rusaw's. Show up with goodies in hand at 7, and by 7:30 we'll be watching whatever movie we select there that evening. This is only for women, but that means you can bring friends who may not normally attend our studies or events. I know we'll have a great time hanging out together!

Just as a heads up, you already know we'll be meeting throughout most of the summer, but there are two weeks that neither group will be meeting. One is Fourth of July week (the 4th and 5th), and the other is during VBS (July 17th and 18th). We'll be meeting the other weeks until the middle of August, when we'll take a short break before starting our fall schedule.

I promised short, so this is the end!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Monday, June 3, 2013

It's June already! Just a few more days of school for your kiddos, and then perhaps a more relaxed schedule for you. Remember that Women's Ministry will be providing events throughout the summer for you to enjoy. Our studies will continue through the middle of August, and we have special things going on each month.

This week we'll be delving into Luke 22:1-6 at Common Grounds (Wednesday at 6:30 PM) and The Perk (Thursday at 9:30 AM). Both groups meet at the church, and child care is provided on Thursday mornings. Hope you're able to make it to one of these. And remember, we'll be continuing through most of the summer.

Our next special activity for June is a movie night on Friday, June 21st, at Amy's. We start at 7 PM with snackies that you all bring, and then we pick from a selection of movies. This is for women only, but feel free to bring friends along. 

A huge thank you to all who came out Saturday to Lighthouse Book and Bible for my very first book signing for On the Threshold. The owners, Carl and Bernice, were pretty amazed by the turnout. Your love and support meant so much to both me and Christina. And those of you who have bought books from me privately are such a blessing too! I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as we did writing it!

Today is my 61st birthday, which leads me to contemplate this past year. I just want you younger ladies to understand that God isn't through with you until He's through with you! I never would have dreamed that at this age my first book would be published, or that I'd be so involved in the lives of many women through women's ministry. Nor did I ever, in my wildest imagination, think a granddaughter and great-granddaughter would be living upstairs from us! God leads us down many paths in the course of our lives, and they're not all easy or pleasant, but He is with us on each one of them. As it states in Isaiah 30:21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" My prayer is that in the years ahead I will continue to daily remove the ear wax so I can hear Him clearly.

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699