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