Monday, March 19, 2012 WOW-Zine

Welcome to another day of your life! You may have started it off by grumbling about more snow and a grey day, but it's not too late to change your attitude. Spring is just around the corner (or actually, just around the clock, since it officially starts tomorrow.) You probably have bulbs blooming in your flowerbeds, which is a sure sign warmer weather will eventually reach us. Robins and all the other birds are flirting with each other around the bird feeder here at Ashberry Lane. Love is in the air!

SeaSide Escape retreat update:  You ladies are very eager to get away for the weekend of April 13th-15th, as we only have six spots open! Thanks for such a great response. We can hardly wait to spend hours together with you. Remember that once you pay your $80 you can choose which bed you want to sleep in. I'm carrying the "accommodation book" with me nearly everywhere I go, so just check with me. 

Several of you have told me you'd love to attend the retreat but can't get away that weekend. Then have I got a deal for you! I would love to do what we did last year and have a mini-retreat here at my house. How does that sound? I would probably do that either the weekend of April 27th and 28th or May 18th and 19th. So if you're unable to make the beach retreat, let me know if you'd like to do one at Ashberry Lane. I can do it with as small of a group as 4 women. The cost would only be $20. We would cover the same material in SeaSide Escape as we will be doing in Lincoln City. 

A reminder that Zumba now meets only on Monday and Wednesday at 4:15 PM at the church. 

The Thursday Perk meets this week at 9:30. We'll be studying the life of Tamar in Genesis chapter 38. This section of scripture generated a lot of discussion when we looked at it last week at Common Grounds. Come prepared for God to speak to your heart. 

Our second annual Feminini-Tea is Saturday, May 5th, at 10 AM at the church. Who would love to host a table by decorating it with a tablecloth, dishes, and centerpiece? We had a delightful time together (daughters are invited, and you can borrow some if you don't have any) last year. This year Barb Boswell will be our speaker. The event is free--you just need to bring along some tea-time goodies to share! 

Our Bible studies will be through for the year before you know it, but don't worry, we'll have other options for during the summer. One of the things we always do is to plan some fun things to do together, and often your children are invited too. I'd like to do things like a day-trip to the beach, a picnic in a park, etc. Let me know what wonderful ideas you have and I'll try to incorporate them into our summer plans. Bible studies will also be offered during the summer, as we don't want to lose the closeness we've developed with each other throughout the year, nor do we want to take a vacation from growing in God's Word!

The Thursday Perk will meet:
March 22
April 5, 26
May 10, 17 (grand finale)

Common Grounds will meet:
April 4, 18
May 2, 16(grand finale)


No, your eyes aren't deceiving you--there are a couple of times when both studies meet back-to-back because of logistics.

So, I'm outta here for this week! I'll leave you with another good devotional from Holley Gerth's website: 

Heart to Heart with Holley Gerth: 7 Secrets to Overcoming Fear: {2} Find Your Joy

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7 Secrets to Overcoming Fear: {2} Find Your Joy

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 12:16 PM PST

She curls her toes over the edge of the diving board and peers into the water below. Pink bathing suit. Pink goggles. Pink rubber bands holding soggy pigtails in place. She's not exactly the picture of courage but just when it seems she's going to back down...she grins and instead leaps up, up, up and over the edge.

JOY is a powerful motivator.

And it always trumps fear.

We know that as kids. But somewhere along the way we forget how much it's true. We start believing life is serious business and getting rid of fear requires intensity and determination.

Not always.

Sometimes it's as simple as rediscovering our joy, embracing our passion, taking the hand of the Good-Gift-Giver and daring to follow him over the edge.

What do you really love?

What makes you feel joy in a way that nothing else does?

Where do you feel God's presence more than anywhere else (because where he is, joy is too)?

When fear tells you to turn back--to stop following that dream, taking that step, making that difference--run toward joy.

Because, here's the secret, fear has a fear of joy.

And it won't dare to follow you when you jump heart first over that edge.

--Holley

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699 

    

Monday, March12, 2012 WOW-Zine

For those of you who pay attention to such things, yes, I'm later than usual with getting this out today. But that's because I was at an elders retreat in Netarts all weekend and just got home late this morning. So now it's time to turn my attention to you sweet ladies. 

Common Grounds is this Wednesday at 6:30 PM at the church. Maybe you think you can't come because you've never attended before. Wrong! We love to have new ladies join us at any time.We're going through the Bad Girls of the Bible, and this week we'll be taking a look at Tamar, as found in Genesis 38. Join us for a time of goodies and visiting, as well as opening God's word and finding how to apply this story to our lives. 


Zumba will only be meeting today this week. The Wednesday class is cancelled for this week. Because the schedule doesn't seem to be working well for women on Tuesday and Thursday, those classes will no longer meet. If you think of a better time, let me know and we'll see what we can work out. During the summer we'll be able to start meeting in the mornings again, which seemed to work better for more people. 

The SeaSide Escape retreat registration is open and going strong. The next tier of registration begins this Wednesday as we open it up to women who attend either Common Grounds or The Thursday Perk. Bring your checkbooks with you on Wednesday to pay your $80. Or you can mail the checks to me (made out to Wapato Valley Church) at:
Sherrie Ashcraft
Box 665
Gaston, OR 97119

The dates are Friday night through Sunday morning, April 13th through 15th, in Lincoln City. This is always the highlight of our yearly activities, and we want you to be a part of it!

Do you have it on your calendar yet? I'm talking about our second annual Feminini-Tea on Saturday, May 5th, beginning at 10 AM. We had a fantastic time last year, and this year we're even bringing in an outside speaker--Barb Boswell. I'll tell you more about her as the time gets closer. This is a free event for moms and daughters, aunts and nieces, etc. Once again, we're looking for women to volunteer to decorate and host a table. The church was filled with absolutely gorgeous tables last year. It was so much fun to see the different table settings. So please let me know if you'd be willing to help with that again (or for the first time) this year. We'll all bring tea-type snacks, and you can dress up. It will be a great way to kick off your May. 

My brain seems to be working in slow motion today after such a busy weekend, so this is all I can think of. I'm including an article that may be of encouragement, especially to those of you who still have kiddlywinks at home. I wasn't able to find the author's name--it seems she's just known as The Gypsy Mama. 

On surviving the crush of the morning rush

March 7, 2012

in Callings,Faith,family,Kids,Motherhood,Raising Boys

It occurs to me how much I miss on the days when I’m frustrated.
On the days when I hurry them through brushing teeth and climbing bunk bed ladders and demands for just one more sip of water. On evenings when I rush and mutter and long for the solace of bed and laptop and online. On mornings when I rush to find lost shoes, chug down honey nut Cheerios and pack lunches and stuffed bears.
How much does the rush cost me?
We want to be on time, yes. But on time and frayed around the edges, on time and in tears, on time and relieved to be parting ways is no one’s win-win.
The rush is all mine. I can choose to shelter them from it or not.
The clock is all mine. I can choose to dictate from it or not.
The rhythm is all mine. I can choose to dance to it or not.
Because the melody of any day ebbs and flows around a mother’s mood.
And if I can set my mood by the desire to send them off at peace and full of the knowing that they mattered then they will have a gift to unwrap the rest of the day.
Knowing that they mattered to their mother more than her to-dos.
And yes, I hear you saying that there are things we can’t actually be late for. And to-dos must be done sometime or lives will unravel. I agree, I do.
But I am learning to tell the difference between the rush of the doing vs. the gifting of the doing.
I am learning to spot the wonder in the ordinary. Because if it is all a gift to me from the Father who gives good things, why don’t I re-gift it to my kids before we rush out the door?
Time and again I have to reel my fast, wagging, frustrated tongue in and slow down the crazy that’s about to spill out of me. And because we do still need to be on time these are the things I’m trying out in order to get us there with tempers and kind words in tact:

This doesn’t make breakfast any more nutritious than a bowl of cereal or a bagel and cream cheese most mornings. But it does make us all feel filled up in the ways that matter most. Some mornings we still snap and no one brushes their teeth and car doors are slammed. But other mornings – more mornings these days – there is time factored in for slow. Time factored in for connecting before parting.
We don’t have big prayers or profound Bible readings – but we have the heart of the thing. The rhythm of secure kids and restrained parents. There is give and take. An episode of Mighty Machines if breakfast is eaten. Time with the hamster if teeth have first been brushed. A half hour of swashbuckling in the yard if they’re dressed in full ready-to-leave-from-the-yard-when-mom-calls clothes.
If I want our kids’ morning routine to work I have to work the hardest at keeping it together. Myself first. My tongue, my temper and my temptation to dish out blame for being late.
So I take a deep breath when I’m lying there listening to Zoe start to wake up, before I can will myself out of bed. I take a deep breath and picture the hand of the carpenter who lived over 2,000 years ago – rough and strong and tender – ready to lead me into the dance. There will be crazy and whining and bed head. There will be the same red cereal bowl and yellow spoon Micah’s used a hundred mornings before.
There will be trails of socks and cries that someone is out of undies. There will be missing library books and someone who insists on wearing his camouflage pants again. There will be a raggedy toy bear and a baby that trails around behind every body, unpacking everything.
But on the very best mornings, oh yes on the best mornings, there will also be dancing at our house.

Monday, March 5, 2012 WOW-Zine

It's a fresh week, ladies, filled with God-only-knows-what. And I mean that in a very reverent way. God alone knows what is ahead of each of us. I'll be sharing some opportunities for things you can be involved in this week and in the near future, but we have no guarantee that our plans will actually be fulfilled. You may take a look at your family calendar and see that it's crammed to the brim with many activities and responsibilities, but again, none of us know how the week will turn out. 

 

It reminds me of the verses in the book of James that say (in The Message): And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today--at the latest, tomorrow--we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."

 

So, if the Master wills it, we've got our SeaSide Escape women's retreat in Lincoln City the weekend of April 13th-15th. Do you realize that's just next month?! When we first started talking about it, it was six months away. Now it's just six weeks! Registration is  open for those who regularly attend Wapato Valley Church. The cost is $80.  Quite a few of you have paid me already, but don't worry, there's still plenty of room for you. Please make checks out to WVC, but hand them to me. If you don't have the registration form, that's okay. We have a new twist to registration this year, that just happened yesterday. Our own Amy Rusaw put together a booklet that has pictures of each of the rooms. When you register, you then have the option to choose your bed! Many of you were at the house last year and know what it's like. For those who have already registered, you can give me a call, or arrange to meet and select your sleeping arrangements. So the sooner you sign up, the sooner you're able to make your selection. We hope you appreciate this new convenience. 

 

This week we have The Thursday Perk at 9:30 AM at the church. We'll be sharing a precious morning of study as we look at The Bleeding Woman in Mark 5:25-34. Last Wednesday at Common Grounds we had an especially good time as we looked at Jesus' response to a hurting, outcast woman. You won't want to miss it this Thursday. 

 

Our free exercise classes continue, with Zumba on Monday and Wednesday at 4:15 PM. On Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM we offer an exercise potpourri. No, I'm afraid it doesn't mean we smell good while we exercise, as we still work up a sweat, but you never know for sure what exercise DVD we'll be using. It could be Zumba, something from The Core, or some other exercise program. Would you do me a favor and call or text me if you're coming on Tuesday or Thursday? My contact info is at the end of this WOW-Zine. 

  

We had a good time Friday night at the WOW Movie Night, even though attendance was low due to that big Christian concert in Portland that night. But we enjoyed good popcorn and other snacks as we watched The Young Victoria. And yes, I did wear my jammies and tiara!

 

This month's schedule for our Bible studies:

Common Grounds--only on the 14th. (Spring break hits when we would next meet.)

The Thursday Perk--the 8th and 22nd. 

 

DON'T FORGET:

--The Art of Marriage conference--March 16th and 17th at Wapato Valley Church

--WOW's second annual FEMININI-TEA--Saturday, May 5th at the church

  

There’s No One Like Him!

God can do the most AMAZING things,

At the most UNEXPECTED times,
Through the most UNLIKELY sources,
By the most UNUSUAL means,
To bless us in the most DELIGHTFUL ways.

“Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You…

 1 Kings 8:23 NKJV

(By Roy Lessin)

Remember the truth of those words as you walk through this week!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com    971-285-6699  

Monday, February 27, 2012 WOW-Zine

Happy sunny Monday, ladies! After the strange mix of weather we had on Saturday, I was thrilled to open the curtains to sunlight this morning. I've opened the curtains of my heart to the Sonlight this morning, too, so I'm feelin' good from the inside out! Hope you feel the same.


We have a rather unusual occurrence this week in that Wednesday is Leap Day. We think it takes the Earth 365 days to orbit the sun each year, but in reality it takes about a quarter of a day longer. So to keep our calendar on track, good ol' Julius Caesar changed things up a bit way back in 45 B.C. and added an extra day every four years. Which bring us to this Wednesday! And according to what I read in The Oregonian the other day, it's even more complicated than that. It turns out that Leap Year is not observed during years that are divisible by 100! Who knew? And what about those lucky people who are born on Leap Year (a Leaper, which is so much better than a leper) and age so much slower than the rest of us? The article I read said that there's about a 1 in 1,500 chance of that happening. Are any of you in that category? We'd love to help you celebrate your rare birthday. 

It just so happens that Common Grounds meets this Wednesday at 6:30 PM at the church. I thought maybe we should play a game of Leap Frog during our social time at the beginning, but then I felt a twinge in my back and thought better of the whole idea! Nor will we decorate the tables with frogs! Instead, we'll gather for some coffee or tea, goodies, great conversation with girl friends, and a study of The Bleeding Woman, as found in Mark 5:25-34. This is a topic that all of us are familiar with in one way or another. It's part of what defines us as women. Yet there's more to this story than meets the eye. Come with a heart open to receive what the Lord wants you to hear and ponder. BTW, you Common Grounds gals, I really missed a lot of you at our last study. I know life gets very busy, but taking care of yourself spiritually is one of the best things you can do. If you're not there, not only do you miss an opportunity for God to speak to your heart and make necessary adjustments in your life or way of thinking, but you're also missing out on God being able to use something you say or do to bless the lives of other women. We each need each other.

The Thursday Perk meets next week at 9:30 AM and will be studying the same passage.  


Retreat registration for our April 13th-15th SeaSide Escape opens March 1st. That's this Thursday, ladies! But like I said at church yesterday, I know some of you are so anxious to sign up and hand over your $80 that you'd be showing up at my front door at 12:01 AM on Thursday. So to avoid that unfortunate event, I'm going to accept registrations a few hours early--at Common Grounds. Remember, the first two weeks of registration are just for those who regularly attend Wapato Valley Church.  But don't panic, women, there will be room for everyone who wants to go, I'm quite sure. So there's no reason to push people out of your way or trample each other in a mad dash to register! (Now there's a visual!) 

On March 14th registration will expand to those who attend either of our Bible studies but go to church elsewhere. Two weeks after that, if we still haven't reached our cap of 40 women, we will open it up to anyone else who would like to come. That's when you can invite your friends or relatives. If for some reason you are unable to attend, I am open to doing a local retreat at my home later in the spring, just as I did last year. We would use the same materials, but just have the event on a Friday evening and all day Saturday. We had a great time doing that last year. 

Some years we've encouraged nursing mothers to attend the retreat as long as their baby is not yet crawling. But with the configuration of this particular retreat, it won't work to do that. It's imperative that each woman in attendance is able to actually be there and not attending to the needs of her baby. So I'm going to have to regretfully ask that all babies remain at home. We have so many young mothers that I'm sure this is going to effect some of you, and I apologize for that. But what we could do is let lap babies be at the secondary retreat at my house later in the spring. I hate to have you young moms miss out, as I know you really need the encouragement. Those of us who are older mothers, grandmas, and even great grandmas know that there are seasons in a woman's life, and sometimes things have to be delayed a bit. So from here on out, plan your child-bearing around women's retreat and you should be just fine!!

WOW Movie Night is this Friday, March 2nd, at my house south of Gaston. Show up around 7 PM with a snack to share. We'll start the movie by 7:30. At this point I'm leaning toward The Young Victoria. This is a lush period piece with beautiful colors and costumes, and tells the story of 18-year-old Victoria ascending the throne and being romanced by her future husband. Feel free to wear your PJs and tiaras when you come!


Exercise classes continue! Zumba classes are held Monday and Wednesday at 4:15 PM at the church. Some of us have tired of Zumba, or just want a change of pace. For those of you in that category, show up on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM for an exercise surprise. Last week we busted some moves from The Core DVDs. This week we'll do another one of those on Tuesday, and something different on Thursday. Bring your favorite workout DVD along with you if you'd like us to try it. 

Don't forget about The Art of Marriage conference being offered at the church on Friday, March 16th beginning at 7 PM and going through Saturday afternoon. Childcare is not provided, but you can call the church office ( 503-985-3351) and speak to Becky to get names of babysitters. The workbook costs $35 per couple, and you need to let Becky know you want that by March 1st. Attending a marriage conference is not a sign that you're having problems in your marriage. It's an acknowledgement that marriage is hard work and we need to constantly be acquiring new tools to help us build a stronger marriage. I really hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity, as it's not that often that something of this caliber comes to our small town. 

So as you've read through the WOW-Zine this week, I hope there's at least one thing that has grabbed your interest and you've decided to attend. Common Grounds, exercise class, movie night, marriage seminar, retreat--so many opportunities, so little time! Let me close out today with some great thoughts about speaking without words. (And a special thanks to those of you who are leaving comments!)

Speaking Without Words

Feb 27, 2012 06:00 am | Roy

We can speak—
With the eyes of understanding;
With the ears of alertness;
With the smile of delight;
With the tone of kindness;
With the spirit of compassion;
With the hands of mercy;
With the embrace of acceptance;
With the handshake of friendship;
With the look of interest;
With the tears of compassion;
With the nod of affirmation;
With the touch of tenderness;
With the heart of love;
With a face that radiates His light.

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord. Psalm 4:6 AMP
Let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 HW


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

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 WOW-Zine

Hello, ladies. I know--it's Tuesday, not Monday. Did you miss me yesterday? Yeah, I figured not! Turns out I was able to go to the beach with a couple of friends for the weekend, and didn't return until Monday afternoon. And since it was a holiday, well, I just figured I'd wait until today to write. So that's my excuse--now on to the news!

While in Lincoln City, we drove by our retreat house. It is still there, looking as gorgeous as ever. And I could hear it whispering to me, "Come here April 13th-15th and bring 39 of your best friends!" So that's my plan. Registration for our SeaSide Escape Retreat opens next Thursday, March 1, for you women who regularly attend Wapato Valley Church. Two weeks later I expect to be inundated with checks from those of you who attend any of the Bible studies. Two weeks after that, we will open it up for you to invite other family or friends if we have still not reached our 40-women cap. Everyone will be sleeping in the house this year (no motels). It's only $80 for a weekend of spending quality time with girl friends and the Lord, plus having plenty of free time for shopping, long walks on the beach, etc. We're holding the retreat later in the spring than usual, as by then you'll have your tax return and we'll be back into Daylight Savings Time, so it won't be dark when those of you who have to leave after work on Friday get there. We're trying to make it as easy on you as possible! Car pool arrangements will be made once we reach our 40-person capacity.  Remember to make checks out to WVC (with women's retreat in the memo section) but give them to me. If you want, you can write your check now and address the envelope to put it in the mail on Wednesday, the 29th, so that I'll receive it the next day (March 1st.) I will also accept checks and registration forms at Common Grounds on the 29th. My mailing address is PO Box 665, Gaston, OR 97119. Let's stuff my mailbox and make the post mistress wonder what's going on! Hopefully you've held on to the registration form that was included in the bulletin this Sunday, but if not, we'll have more available.

This week we have Zumba on Wednesday at 4:15.
We're changing it up at bit, at least for a while, on  Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM. We're going to do the Core Rhythms dance exercise program. We'll still be groovin' to hot Latin music which gives us cardio conditioning while toning our abs at the same time. Come try it out!

WOW's Movie Night is at my house at 7PM Friday, March 2nd. This is a very laid-back, casual time to enjoy snacks (bring some to share) and a good movie. Please let me know if you're planning on coming. Any movie suggestions by those of you who will be coming?? I know we're competing with a great concert in Portland that same night, but for those of you not attending that, I'd love to have you come hang out with me!

And don't forget about  The Art of Marriage video conference being offered at Wapato on March 16th and 17th. This is a wonderful opportunity for a low-cost way to improve your marriage. Becky has all kinds of information about it in the weekly announcements, as well as at a table in the back of the church. Call her with any questions or to sign up to attend. This is the perfect time for your kiddos to spend some special grandparent-time over the weekend so that you and your spouse can concentrate on providing your children the security of a great marriage. Take advantage of it!

The Thursday Perk meets this week at 9:30 AM at the church.  Feel free to join us this week even if you've never been before. We have a great time enjoying coffee, tea, and a goodie, while studying one of the gals from the Bad Girls of the Bible.This week our lucky subject is known as The Witch of En Dor, as found in I Samuel chapter 28. We had a great time studying this last week at Common Grounds, so if you're home during the day, come join us on Thursday morning so you don't miss out.

I'd like to close with a blog I received last week that I think maybe a lot of you can identify with. Here it is:
 

Heart to Heart with Holley Gerth: 7 Secrets to Overcoming Fear: {1} Go There

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7 Secrets to Overcoming Fear: {1} Go There

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 07:56 AM PST

* THANK YOU for helping my new book, You're Already Amazing, go to #1 on the bestsellers list of Barnes & Noble.com! Woo-hoo! Haven't gotten your copies yet? Amazon now has it half price for a limited time and you get free shipping when you order four (stock up for Easter and Mother's Day gifts!). Y'all are wonderful. *

 We stepped through the door of the laundry room in our newest rental property. My husband pointed to a hole in the back of the wall. "That's the dryer vent," he said, "And we're going to clean it."

He proceeded to unfold a series of flexible sticks with a brush on the end and cram it into the wall. I watched wide-eyed in my skinny jeans and new sweater.

After a few minutes, I got a chance to join the fun. "I'm going to pull the brush back out and I need you to stay by the hole in the wall and make sure it doesn't get stuck."

I crouched down, cute boots and all, and peered into the tiny black space in front of me.

Y'all, what hubby failed to mention is that when the brush gets ready to exit the building so does all the lint it's collected. Do you remember the Monty Python movie when the soldiers are attacked by a killer rabbit? I had a flashback of that scene as the mother of all dust bunnies came flying out of the pipe and exploded all over me.

I got so startled I fell over. And I might have fainted if the sound of hysterical laughter from my husband hadn't kept me conscious.

Because my life is one big analogy, I found myself pondering the dust bunny as I laid in bed that night. While my skinny jeans got covered in fluff, no real harm was done. I just felt like I'd been attacked by a killer rabbit. My reaction didn't match the reality.

It's often the same way with fear. What we imagine is often far worse than what comes to be. And even if it does happen, we discover we're more resilient than we ever knew (and God is more faithful too). But the only way to find that out is to stare fear in the face and let it explode all over of us is needed. Not what we fear but the fear itself--which many times turns out to be worse.

What are you really afraid of?

And if that happened, then what?

And what about after that?

Keep going until you've gone all the way down the pipe of your fear and pulled every little bit back out. Then hold it in your hands and see if you've got a killer rabbit or a dust bunny. You might even find yourself laughing a bit about what you thought was in there.

The secret is not letting all of that fear grow in the dark.

Then stand up, wipe off your skinny jeans, hand it all to God and go out there and change the world...

I believe with all my heart you can.

--Holley

* THANK YOU for helping my new book, You're Already Amazing, go to #1 on the bestsellers list of Barnes & Noble.com! Woo-hoo! Haven't gotten your copies yet? Amazon now has it half price for a limited time and you get free shipping when you order four (stock up for Easter and Mother's Day gifts!). Y'all are wonderful. *

Isn't that a great story? Don't let the perception of your fears overcome your reality this week! Hope to see you at our events. 

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com    971-285-6699 

Monday, February 13, 2012 WOW-Zine

Hello, friends! Welcome to a new week. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. If you were able to attend the Valentine's Dinner and Concert/Dance, I know you had a great experience. Didn't Janet and Laura do a fantastic job on the food? We are so blessed to have them. Becky guided the evening along at a great pace, and the Women's Ministry Team's collective brain came up with great decorating ideas. Then there was the band. Wow--they were incredible! What a wealth of talent among them. If you weren't able to attend this year, you sure don't want to miss it again next February. As Anita told me, "This is the best-kept secret in Gaston!" We want to let the secret out.

COMMON GROUNDS meets this Wednesday at 6:30 at the church. We'll be studying a section of Scripture that might not be familiar to everyone. (Pun intended--you'll understand once you read the passage!) We'll look at a woman commonly known as The Witch of En Dor, found in I Samuel 28:3-25. (That's also what we'll be studying next week for those of you who come to The Thursday Perk.) 

Coming soon, to a church near you--The Art of Marriage. This video series happens Friday and Saturday, March 16th and 17th at Wapato Valley Church. There's no cost to this, though it is recommended that you purchase the workbook, which is $34.99 per couple. (You and your husband each get one for that price--two workbooks.) Let Becky know ahead of time if you'd like to get one. But this conference isn't just for those who are married. It's for those who are engaged, or for singles who think they might get married in the future.Teachings on how to strengthen relationships are invaluable no matter what our marital status. Be watching the weekly announcements for more info.

SeaSide Escape, our women's retreat for this year, is coasting toward us! Just a reminder that the dates are April 13-15th in Lincoln City. Yes, we're returning to our awesome beach house there. Attendance is capped at 40 women, and it's on a first-come (meaning paid in full) basis. Registration forms will be available soon and registration opens March 1st for those who are regular attendees of Wapato. Two weeks later it will open to those who attend our women's Bible studies, and then two weeks after that open up for you to invite other friends. (That is, if we still have room.) So be putting money aside now so that you'll be ready to plunk down the $80  as soon as your registration group opens up! Checks need to be given to me, but made out to WVC with "retreat" in the memo section.  

Don't forget about the free Zumba classes offered at the church on Monday and Wednesday at 4:15 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM. I'm not sure if we'll meet on Valentine's Day. Those of you who usually attend Tuesday class, let me know if you want to meet this week or not. I don't want to interfere with any romantic plans you may have!

Oh, and don't forget about our WOW MOVIE NIGHT at my house (affectionately known as Ashberry Lane) on Friday, March 2nd beginning at 7 PM. Bring a yummy snack to share, and settle in for a fun evening together watching a movie with your friends.

Okay, ladies, I'm out of here. I appreciate the comments you gals have been leaving lately. It's good to be able to connect via cyber-space as well as in person. Have a great week!

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

Monday,February 6, 2012 WOW-Zine

Welcome to a beautiful, sunny morning! Days like this make me feel like it's almost summer. After all, this is warmer than it was a lot of days last June!  I just took a little saunter past my flower bed and saw the first spring bulb blooming--a bright yellow crocus. My alyssum has bloomed all winter, and I have a dianthus that is flowering now. So it sure seems like nature is ready for spring, just as I am. Keep reading to find ways to put some spring in your step during these coming weeks.

THE THURSDAY PERK meets this week at 9:30. You're going to have a guest leader this week--Heidi H. I won't be able to attend as I am involved in something that should have been finished by now, but isn't, and I really want to see it through. So Heidi has graciously agreed to fill in for me. She has my notes from what I taught at Common Grounds last week, so you should all be good to go. Remember, you'll be taking a look at The Woman at the Well, found in John 4. I don't think we have anyone signed up to bring treats for this week, so please leave a comment here if you'd like to be that special person!

I know the color clashes with the paragraph above, but I can't write about Valentine's without using red! Just a reminder about Wapato's Valentine Dinner and Concert this Saturday evening at the church. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets can still be purchased, or you can call the church office and let Becky know how many tickets you'll be buying at the door. Cost is only $10 per person, and childcare is provided for a suggested donation of $2 per child, which includes their dinner. So put on your fancy duds, and we'll see you for a wonderful time on Saturday night. 

We've got a couple of great events coming up next month, so take your calendar down from the wall and write these things in. First, we have a WOW movie night at Ashberry Lane on Friday, March 2nd. This is always just a fun, casual time of getting together for goodies and a fun movie. Show up at 7, and we'll start the movie by 7:30. 

Then on the weekend of March 16th and 17th, Wapato is presenting a video marriage seminar entitled The Art of Marriage, sponsored by FamilyLife Today. Becky will be giving you all the important info in the weekly announcements, but just know that this is something you want to take advantage of. Start planning now to let the kids have a mini-vacation with grandma and grandpa, or a favorite aunt and uncle, as you deserve to take 1-1/2 days to focus on strengthening your marriage. 

Are you putting some money aside each week so you'll be able to sign up for our SeaSide Escape as soon as registration opens on March 1st? It only takes $80 to pay for this weekend of relaxation, laughter, and sharing April 13th-15th. The first 40 women that sign up are the ones that get to go! Remember, regular attendees of Wapato can sign up during the first two weeks of March, then we open it to include those who attend any of our Bible studies, and then two weeks later it's open to your friends. Checks will need to be given to me, but made out to Wapato Valley Church, with "Retreat" written in the memo section. 

Next week COMMON GROUNDS will meet at 6:30 Wednesday evening, the 15th. We're going to jump back into the Old Testament and study The Medium of En Dor, as written about in I Samuel chapter 28. 

In case you're looking ahead, here is the schedule for our Bible studies for the rest of the year:

The Thursday Perk
February 9 and 23
March 8 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 17

Common Grounds
February 15 and 29
March 14 (only one due to Spring Break)
April 4 and 18
May 10 and 16

I'll close by including the Words for Women I wrote for this month's edition of The Family Journal, which is Wapato's monthly newsletter.   


What Did I Say?I got home from a very busy day and needed to be sure to pass an important message on to my husband. I started in on dinner and when he entered the kitchen I quickly took a moment from my work at the stove and told him what I needed to say. I expected him to make a comment in return, and when he remained silent I was slightly vexed. “Did you hear what I just said?” Then I began to laugh as I said, “Because I can’t remember what it was!” Yep, in that short of time, I had forgotten what I’d just said.

Do I ever do that to God, I wondered? Tell Him something, but immediately forget what it was? Perhaps at church I respond with upraised hands to a worship song, proclaiming I will always trust that He knows what is best for me. But by the time I get home I’m already fretting about how I can best manipulate a complicated situation. Or I tell Him that I’m going to be more disciplined in my life about what I eat and how much time I waste, but before I know it I’m cruising through Facebook while inhaling a chocolate bar.



We can make heartfelt promises to God and yet forget to take the basic steps to carrying them out. It’s as if we say these things to Him and think that’s all we have to do. But we must have a plan in place to bring about these changes we tell Him we want. Maybe it’s by surrounding ourselves with Christian friends who will encourage us and hold us accountable. Perhaps we need to turn off the TV, or go to bed earlier, in order to make time for our daily time in the Word and prayer. There are certain actions we must take to partner together with God to encourage new habits in our lives. Simply forgetting what we’ve said is not an option.

I must admit, however, that there is one verse that directs us to acquire Spiritual Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s in Philippians 3:13 where Paul says, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal …” We are not bound by our past. Maybe we’ve not been successful in a particular area of our life before, but we’re to leave the past in the past and strain toward what we know God has in our future. It takes focus and effort. It might take you sticking Post-It notes all over your house, reminding you of what you’ve told God you would do. It may necessitate you writing out a daily schedule to make sure you include what you feel God is calling you to. It may be hard work, but God also promises to give us the strength we need to do it.

When I think back to my mind-blank in the kitchen, it makes me feel a bit dumb. But as I read on Facebook this week (who, me? wasting time?)—I’m not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing!

Okay, ladies, that's it for this week! Enjoy the sun as you walk with the Son this week!

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