Tuesday, November 19, 2013 WOW-Zine

Happy Tuesday, ladies! We've got quite a bit going on, so I'll just get to it. For a neat little thought about loneliness, make sure to read to the very end.

Thanks to Shellee for leading a group of women to successfully make a pillowcase at our very first Sew 'n Sew last Saturday.



 If you're sorry you missed out on this one, there will be another chance to wind your bobbins on Saturday, January 18th. I've heard talk they're going to make cozy pajama bottoms to keep you warm during the cold winter months. 

Both our Bible studies will meet this week as usual, but we'll take next week off because of Thanksgiving. Common Grounds meets Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and The Perk on Thursday at 9:30 AM. This week we'll be discussing James 2:20-26 and watching part of a Beth Moore video. Kristin L., you're signed up for treats on Wednesday, and Heidi H., you've got snacks for Thursday and Carol G. will be the MIC taking care of the children.

Because I've only had one person respond to the announcement last week about having a get-together brunch on Saturday, December 7th about dealing with depression, that event is being cancelled. It obviously isn't working into people's schedules at this particular time. If any of you ever want to get together over coffee and just talk and pray together, I can certainly make that happen. 

I hope you've already put the date of the WOW Christmas Party on your calendar--Saturday, December 14, at 6 PM. We'll be gathering at Amy Rusaw's for a Sparkly Sweet and Savory Christmas! In order for us not to be overloaded on the sweet side for dinner, I'll have a sign-up sheet available for what you'd like to contribute to our meal. Along with a dinner item, also bring a wrapped sweet or savory item for our gift exchange. (You can spend between $4-$8 and be creative. One woman's sweet is another woman's savory!) Those of us in the Gaston area will meet behind the church at 5:30 that evening in order to carpool. 

The church will be donning its annual Christmas finery when we decorate on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Pick up a hot drink and join us at 10 AM on the 30th to help make our worship area reflect the joy of the season.

I promised you a writing about loneliness. This is by Holley Gerth, who has such a great gift stringing words together in a meaningful way. In the busyness of all that is involved preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, some people can feel a bit lonely. Here's what she has to say about that.

When You Feel a Bit LonelyHolley, 2013-11-13 13:00 Can we just get honest about something today? We all have moments when we feel a bit lonely. It’s part of being human. We go through different seasons, transitions, moves, changes. When you find loneliness sneaking up on you, first say this: “Hello, Loneliness. I know you’re here to try to convince me that something is wrong with me and that I’m the only one who hangs out with you. But I’ve figured out your tricks and I know that’s not true. So thanks for stopping by but I’ve got better things to do than listen to you.” Then pick up the phone, send an email, go to a coffee shop, invite a friend to lunch, hug your kids, sign up for a committee, text someone–whatever you need to do to connect with one other person. Because chances are, loneliness has tried to visit them too. When we listen to what loneliness tries to tell us, we withdraw when what we really need to do is reach out. The surest way to keep from feeling left out is to let people in. You may be lonely right now. But you’re not alone. Who can you love on today? Until next week, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699