Tuesday, April 29, 2014 WOW-Zine

Good sunny morning, friends. This is going to be a short WOW-Zine, as I want to finish preparing the Bible study for this week, and then get outside in this glorious weather! Yesterday my car did it's first automatic-turn-into-a-nursery for the season, and I've got plants to get into the ground. I love this time of year!

This is your last chance to let me know if you plan on attending the mini retreat at my house this Friday evening and Saturday. We're going to have a great time together, I'm sure.

In case some of you missed the first announcement, the Feminini-Tea, which was scheduled for May, has been cancelled. There were too many other things going on. We'll kick things off in the fall with a special time together.

Both of our Bible studies meet this week as usual. Neva signed up to bring treats for Common Grounds, which meets at 6:30 Wednesday night. Those of you who attend The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30 will need to be sure to eat breakfast at home, because no one signed up to bring snacks! Karen will be the MIC this week.

In view of the wonderful weather forcasted for this week, let me leave you with these thoughts from Holley Gerth:

What Season is Your Heart in Today?Holley, 2014-04-24 14:00 Spring is just coming fully to the trees behind my house. Branches are becoming homes. I watch squirrels and birds build nests with mouths full of leaves and perhaps hearts full of dreams. We all welcome spring with open arms–it’s a time of hope and joy after a long, dark winter. A reprieve before the stretched-out, hot summer. If we could, many of us would choose spring outside all year long.  But that’s not how the seasons work. The trees need time to let go in the fall. They need time to be quiet and grow deeper roots in winter. They need the intense sunshine of summer. All are part of the rhythm that keeps them living and growing. I tend to always want it to be spring inside too. I love the dreaming and the doing, the wildflower adventures. I resist the stillness and the in-between seasons. But lately God is whispering to me that it can’t always be spring. All of the seasons have their place and purpose. All have gifts to offer. All are necessary. Especially when I find myself in winter, I wonder if I’m as valuable to God. What am I giving? What am I producing? I try to manufacture an early spring out of to-do-lists and projects and going-here-and-there. But God doesn’t ask that of me. He sees what I can’t in winter–the growth going on beneath the surface. The silence. The preparing. The drawing in of what my heart needs so that when spring comes I will be able to grow, to give, to bear fruit again. What season are you in today?  If you’re in fall…let go. If you’re in winter…rest. If you’re in spring…grow. If you’re in summer…take care of yourself so you don’t burn out. “For everything there is a season. Eccl. 3:1″ The seasons of our hearts may change but this always stays the same:God loves us. He knows our circumstances. He understands our needs. He’s with us and caring for us…every day of our lives. And spring will come again. Until next week, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Tuesday, April 29, 2014 WOW-Zine

Good sunny morning, friends. This is going to be a short WOW-Zine, as I want to finish preparing the Bible study for this week, and then get outside in this glorious weather! Yesterday my car did it's first automatic-turn-into-a-nursery for the season, and I've got plants to get into the ground. I love this time of year!

This is your last chance to let me know if you plan on attending the mini retreat at my house this Friday evening and Saturday. We're going to have a great time together, I'm sure.

In case some of you missed the first announcement, the Feminini-Tea, which was scheduled for May, has been cancelled. There were too many other things going on. We'll kick things off in the fall with a special time together.

Both of our Bible studies meet this week as usual. Neva signed up to bring treats for Common Grounds, which meets at 6:30 Wednesday night. Those of you who attend The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30 will need to be sure to eat breakfast at home, because no one signed up to bring snacks! Karen will be the MIC this week.

In view of the wonderful weather forcasted for this week, let me leave you with these thoughts from Holley Gerth:

What Season is Your Heart in Today?Holley, 2014-04-24 14:00 Spring is just coming fully to the trees behind my house. Branches are becoming homes. I watch squirrels and birds build nests with mouths full of leaves and perhaps hearts full of dreams. We all welcome spring with open arms–it’s a time of hope and joy after a long, dark winter. A reprieve before the stretched-out, hot summer. If we could, many of us would choose spring outside all year long.  But that’s not how the seasons work. The trees need time to let go in the fall. They need time to be quiet and grow deeper roots in winter. They need the intense sunshine of summer. All are part of the rhythm that keeps them living and growing. I tend to always want it to be spring inside too. I love the dreaming and the doing, the wildflower adventures. I resist the stillness and the in-between seasons. But lately God is whispering to me that it can’t always be spring. All of the seasons have their place and purpose. All have gifts to offer. All are necessary. Especially when I find myself in winter, I wonder if I’m as valuable to God. What am I giving? What am I producing? I try to manufacture an early spring out of to-do-lists and projects and going-here-and-there. But God doesn’t ask that of me. He sees what I can’t in winter–the growth going on beneath the surface. The silence. The preparing. The drawing in of what my heart needs so that when spring comes I will be able to grow, to give, to bear fruit again. What season are you in today?  If you’re in fall…let go. If you’re in winter…rest. If you’re in spring…grow. If you’re in summer…take care of yourself so you don’t burn out. “For everything there is a season. Eccl. 3:1″ The seasons of our hearts may change but this always stays the same:God loves us. He knows our circumstances. He understands our needs. He’s with us and caring for us…every day of our lives. And spring will come again. Until next week, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 WOW-Zine

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Lord. It was great to be able to attend both the Good Friday service and the Sunday service with so many of our church family. We need to remember to celebrate our new life in Christ every day, not just once a year. 

At the end of church I noticed that little Braxton Tuning was making his Wapato debut. What a cutie he is! Don't forget we're providing meals for the Tunings this week, and we still have a few days available for you to sign up at
http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=HXUI3580&welcome=1. Chrissy's dad is visiting them, so that's why it says there are three adults and three children to provide for.

We're continuing a very practical Bible study entitled Cultivating Contentment. Have you ever tried to go 24-hours without complaining one eensy weensy bit? It's harder than it sounds, yet something we all need to work on. Come join us at Common Grounds on Wednesdays at 6:30 P.M. or at The Perk on Thursdays at 9:30 A.M.  No one has signed up for treats on Wednesday, so let me know if you'd like to bring something, or if we should all diet!! Carol R. is bringing the snack on Thursday morning, and Karen F. is the MIC. Thanks, ladies!

The mini retreat is nearly here--the first weekend of May. So far I just have four ladies who have told me they're coming, though I easily may have missed someone. I have Lori A., Keisha, Christine, and Charlotte. l have room for more, so please let me know if you'd like to attend. I'll be sending special letters out to you attendees later in the week, with the schedule and the information you'll want to know. This will be very relaxed and laid back. There's no way we can do all the extra things that were incorporated in the main retreat, but we'll have fun and get to watch the video of the teaching sessions. Cost is just $10 and can be given to me at any time between now and then. Make checks payable to the church and just write "mini retreat" in the memo section. Remember, non-mobile babies are welcome!

Just a little heads up--our Bible studies will continue throughout most of the summer. We'll probably go through July, then take the month of August as a breather before starting back up by mid-September. 

And now, some encouragement from my favorite blogger:

Finding Hope in Unexpected PlacesHolley, 2014-04-16 14:00 Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 When I first read the verse above, I wondered if my Bible had a typo. Wasn’t hope supposed to be at the beginning of the list? That’s certainly where I wanted it to be. I didn’t like the idea of going through suffering, perseverance, and character to get to hope. My thoughts reflect our culture today. We view hope as an emotion rather than an outcome of choices we make. We also think hope should be automatic. Then when we don’t find it right away, we despair. But this passage makes it clear that hope is a process. The first step in that process is suffering. Loss is a part of life. We’ll all endure hardship and heartache on this side of heaven. When we suffer, we have two choices: press on or give up. Jim Rohn once said, “We all must suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” If we choose discipline and perseverance, then this pattern gradually becomes part of who we are—our character. Character doesn’t change based on circumstances or who is watching at the moment. As Dwight L. Moody said, “Character is what you are in the dark.” Character also becomes a light in the dark because it eventually results in hope. This kind of hope is not a vague feeling or wish. Instead it’s a deep knowledge that you and God can get through anything together. That’s the heart of hope: choosing to walk with God through the valleys of life and finding that He will never leave you–and that you will never leave Him either. We all wonder how our faith will fare when challenges come our way. If you’re still reading this, my guess is you’re choosing perseverance and character. You’ve faced what you never wanted, and your faith is surviving, perhaps even thriving. Even if you have doubts, fears, and many difficult moments, you’re pressing on and moving forward. And I’m cheering you on with every step…no matter how small or slow. Take heart, friend, you are doing better than you know. Jesus is with you. Your sisters are for you. And hope is on its way. Until next week, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

I know it's late in the day to hear from me, but a lot of you probably don't check your e-mail until the evening anyway. It's taking me a couple of days to recuperate from the wonderful retreat many of us got to experience this past weekend. If you weren't there ... we missed you! And you'll have another opportunity next April.

We're back to our regular schedule for Bible study now. One group (Common Grounds) meets on Wednesday from 6:30 PM to 8. Then on Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11 The Perk meets. Both groups are studying how to cultivate contentment. This week at The Perk, Karen is bringing something yummy, and Stephanie will be the Mother In Charge (MIC) of childcare. 

CHANGE OF PLANS! CHANGE OF PLANS!!
The tea that I've been telling you about is not going to happen next month after all. Turns out that day was not working for a lot of people. We're going to wait and do something probably in early September, whether it's a tea, or a luncheon, or .... 

Be watching for a sign-up to provide meals for Chrissy and Bobby Tuning and their family as they welcome their newest member, Braxton. Congratulations, you guys! Meals will begin next week.

Wedding bells rang on a cold, snowy Saturday back in February for our newest bride, Linda Palacios. Now we have an opportunity to give her an April shower this Saturday at 3 PM at the church. Let Laura F. know if you're coming. David and Linda are registered at Target. 

Don't forget about the mini retreat I'm offering at my house on May 2nd and 3rd. We recorded the speaker at our retreat this past weekend, and I'll be sharing that video with you on Friday night and Saturday. Cost is only $10 and non-mobile babies are welcome. Just let me know if you'd like to come. 

And now, like I often do, I'll leave you with a devotional thought by blogger Holley Gerth. I know a lot of you are going through some difficult times right now. I hope you find encouragement in this:

You’re Doing Better than You Know {Coffee for Your Heart}Holley, 2014-04-02 14:00 Dear You, You’ve been in the middle of so much lately. It’s probably hard to pause for even a moment, but I’m inviting you to now because there are some words you need to hear—words of affirmation and encouragement. You’re a wonder. You’ve persevered when it would have been easier to quit. You’ve kept going when you felt weary. You’ve pushed through to what God has for you. And that, my friend, is extraordinary. It may seem like no one sees, no one notices, no one even knows. But let me reassure you that the loving eyes of God have watched every step. And he has not just watched—he has walked beside you all the way. Sometimes when we’re on a journey, we’re so focused on what’s ahead that we can’t see what or who’s behind us. So let me tell you what the view would be if you took a moment to look over your shoulder. You’d see hearts that have been encouraged by your bravery. Lives that have been inspired by your faithful love. People who will never be the same because of the faith you quietly showed along the way. It can be easy to believe that if the road has been rough, we must have taken a wrong turn. We worry that somehow we’ve missed the path that would have let God use us. Let me set those fears at ease: you are making a difference right where you are today. While you get nervous that you may wander, the rest of us are in wonder at the journey you and God are sharing together. So keep going, friend. You’re walking steadily. You’re moving forward each day. You’re leaving footsteps of faith for many to follow. Your life is a journey that’s more beautiful and powerful than you can fully see right now. (Is. 43:2; II Tim. 4:7; Heb. 12:1-3) Until next week, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 WOW-Zine

Happy April Fool's Day! Don't be afraid to read this, as I promise not to pull any pranks on you while writing this WOW-Zine. Well, I might throw a comma in where it doesn't belong, or add an extra exclamation point, but that's as wild as I'll get!!

I hope you all enjoyed having last week off for Spring Break. Things are back to normal this week, and then next week we'll have a different schedule because of our retreat. There will be no Common Grounds or The Perk next week. After that, we will resume our regular programming!

We've just started a new study called Cultivating Contentment, and it seems to have struck a chord with many women. Contentment doesn't come naturally to most of us--we have to learn it. We'll be spending the next couple of months digging deeper into this subject. Some of you asked me for all the Bible references we looked at in our first lesson, so here they are: Phil. 4:11; Job 10:1; Prov. 30:15; Ecc. 6:3-7; Rom. 8:19-21; Is. 55:2; Ps. 63:5;Ps. 90:14; Jer. 31:3,4; Rom. 5:5; Ps. 145:16; Prov. 23:4,5; Prov. 30:7-9; and Ecc. 5:10. Our assignment for this week was to ask God to search our heart for signs of discontent. To ask the Holy Spirit to bring to light the kinds of disappointment that allow bitterness and anger to take root. And lastly, to ask God to show us what we've been turning to in order to satisfy the restlessness in our heart. 

We have no one signed up for bringing goodies to Common Grounds tomorrow night (6:30), so be sure to eat before you come, or bring food with you! For The Perk (9:30 Thursday morning), Stephanie is bringing snacks, and Anastasia will be our MIC.

All you ladies who are attending retreat will be getting another letter from me today or tomorrow. So keep your eyes peeled for that! 

If you aren't able to attend retreat this year, remember I offer the mini-retreat at my house the first weekend of May. Cost is only $10 and you'll be able to experience part of what the rest of the ladies do at Lincoln City. Of course there's no ocean, no outlet mall, no four-story house with elevator, but other than that, it's just the same!! Just let me know if you want to attend.

Just two weeks after that, on Saturday, May 17th, we'll hold our annual Feminini-Tea. Our theme this year is The Purse-suit of Happiness. (Yes, that's the kind of thing my mind comes up with in the wee hours of the morning when I can't sleep!) Bring a favorite or special purse as part of your outfit. This is a chance for you and your daughters and friends to dress up a little or a lot and enjoy the morning together. We begin at 10 A.M. and will be finished by noon, so you'll still have a lot of the day available. I'll soon start asking for ladies to volunteer to host a table, which involves bringing tableware, silverware, etc. Everyone attending will bring tea food to share buffet-style. Start inviting your friends now.

Let me end with a word of encouragement from our blogger friend, Holley Gerth.

Remember Who You Really Are {Coffee for Your Heart}Holley, 2014-03-26 14:00 Dear You, When life crowds in on us and pushes us hard, we can forget who we are. We start to look around us and think, “Is this me? Is this who I am now?” Our perspective gets blurred, and the enemy tries to persuade us that we are not the woman God has told us we are—the woman he’s promised we always will be. Life has ups and downs for all of us. So whether you’re at the end of a hard day, in the middle of celebrating, or somewhere in between, there’s some truth you need to hear. And it’s this: you are not your circumstances. In all the moments of your life, you are a woman of grace and strength. Even when you feel weak, you have divine power within you that is able to get you through anything. And you are loved far more than you can even imagine. How you feel today, what you’re facing, even what others may say doesn’t change that—and never can. Who you are is secure forever. And you are a daughter of God, a holy princess, a woman who is chosen and cherished. Nothing and no one can take that away from you. You have within you a God who is bigger than your bad days and stronger than your circumstances, and he will never let you go. He has promised that nothing will defeat you and no one can stand against you. So keep pressing forward, friend. Hold your head up high and know that you are loved. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Whatever has happened or is yet to be can’t change that even a little bit. And it can’t change who you really are—a beloved child of God who belongs to and with him forever. Until next week, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699