It's almost the first day of spring. Aren't you glad? Doesn't mean we don't see anymore gray, rainy days, but at least we know that within a few more months we'll start to dry out. If you have a chance as you're out and about, make sure to take the time to look for all the fresh starts going on around you--new little lambs, bulbs blooming, and trees beginning to flower. Doesn't it just make you a wee bit giddy?
Something else that should bring delight in your life is all the opportunities for women that we have going on at Wapato. We had a great time at WOW Game Night on Friday. Made new friends, coined some new words (you had to be there), and expended new calories by belly laughing, which is a whole lot more fun than doing crunches!
This week we'll be taking a close look at the Biblical story of two famous sisters, Mary and Martha. I'm sure our discussion will be challenging to our lives as we study Luke 10:38-41. I know that doesn't seem like a very long passage, but ladies, there's a lot to look at in those few verses! So please come join us at either Common Grounds on Wednesday evening at 6:30, or on Thursday morning at 9:30 for The Perk. The relationships that are developing in each of these groups are really to be treasured, and there's always room for more women to join in.
As you know, childcare is provided at The Perk. We recently realized that we have a wonderful problem--so many kids are coming with their mamas that we've outgrown the room we've been using to care for them. So starting this week, the children will be cared for across the street in the annex. We've so appreciated the loving care our two young girls have been providing for the kiddos, but we're going to augment the childcare team since they'll be across the street. Last week the ladies all decided that they'd be glad to take turns volunteering to be the adult at the annex, and have Eileen and Nola help them. This is part of the teamwork I love about Wapato--when there's a need, people step up!
Doing The Impossible, our women's retreat, will be here before you know it. All of us on the Women's Ministry Team are working hard to put together a great experience for you. There are only four spots still open, so you'd better act fast if you want to go! (And registration has now expanded to include family and friends from outside Wapato.) The dates are April 12th-14th at "our house" in Lincoln City, and the cost is only $80. Get your money to me as soon as possible to reserve your place.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
~No Bible studies during spring break (the last week of this month)
~Beth Moore, live in Eugene April 26th and 27th. Email me for more info.
~May 10th and 11th, mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane for those who aren't able to attend the Lincoln City retreat. Cost is only $10. You'll get to go home to sleep in your own bed, but the teaching will be the same as what the Lincoln City ladies receive. Let me know if you're interested. We've got eight women signed up for this so far, but have room for more.
~May 18th, our Feminini-Tea, 10 AM at the church. Let me know if you'd like to host a table.
Now doesn't that all sound like fun? Not only are these events fun, but they're an awesome way to grow closer to the Lord and to each other, which is the whole purpose of our women's ministry. We'd love to have you be a part of us.
Have a blessed week, dear ladies!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, March 18, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Guess what? I'm going to try my very hardest to give you accurate information the first time through this week! Man, I was such a mess for some reason last Monday. So I'll keep this short and just give you what you need.
We've got something special going on this week in addition to Common Grounds Wednesday night and The Perk on Thursday morning. Friday at 7 PM at the church is our WOW Game Night. This is a great opportunity for you to bring along some friends who may not usually attend our Bible studies or other events. It's such a relaxed, casual time, that ladies can just get to know each other in a low-key environment. Bring a game and a snack to share, and we'll see you there!
During the week of spring break (the last week of this month) neither of our studies will be meeting. So we meet this week and next, and then have a week off for you to get to spend some extra-fun time with your kiddos and family.
We currently have only eleven spots open for our Doing The Impossible retreat in Lincoln City April 12th-14th. On this coming Sunday, the 17th, registration will open to include those who don't attend Wapato, so if you want to be sure of getting a place, give me your $80 this week.
Two weeks later, April 26th and 27th, Beth Moore will be live in Eugene and a group of us are going. Cost is $69 for the conference sessions, which are Friday night and Saturday morning. You can read past issues of the WOW-Zine to get more information. Or you can always call, email, or text me with questions. My info is always at the end of the WOW-Zine.
May 10th and 11th will be the mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane (my house) for those who aren't able to attend the event in April. Cost is only $10 and we have quite a bit of interest in it all ready. Just let me know if you'd like to come. Babies are allowed, plus you'll be going back to your own bed on Friday night, and returning Saturday morning. So that may be easier for some of you than to get away for an entire weekend.
The following Saturday, May 18th, is our annual Feminini-TEA. This is a chance for you to bring your daughters (if four years old or older and able to sit still during a presentation), as well as any female friends and family. We'll need a lot of you to step forward to host a table, which means you provide a table cloth and place settings, plus a center piece. We'll have some round tables, plus a lot of rectangular ones. I can't remember if this is our third or fourth year of having this event, and it has grown every time. So you'll be hearing more about it later, but just put it on your calendar now for May 18th, 10AM at the church. We all bring brunch/tea-type things to share, plus will be treated to an outside speaker.
Okay, I had my calendar at my side as I wrote this, and I think I got every thing down accurately and in order. Please correct me if I didn't! Have a wonderful week, and I hope to see you either Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday! Or even at all three!!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
We've got something special going on this week in addition to Common Grounds Wednesday night and The Perk on Thursday morning. Friday at 7 PM at the church is our WOW Game Night. This is a great opportunity for you to bring along some friends who may not usually attend our Bible studies or other events. It's such a relaxed, casual time, that ladies can just get to know each other in a low-key environment. Bring a game and a snack to share, and we'll see you there!
During the week of spring break (the last week of this month) neither of our studies will be meeting. So we meet this week and next, and then have a week off for you to get to spend some extra-fun time with your kiddos and family.
We currently have only eleven spots open for our Doing The Impossible retreat in Lincoln City April 12th-14th. On this coming Sunday, the 17th, registration will open to include those who don't attend Wapato, so if you want to be sure of getting a place, give me your $80 this week.
Two weeks later, April 26th and 27th, Beth Moore will be live in Eugene and a group of us are going. Cost is $69 for the conference sessions, which are Friday night and Saturday morning. You can read past issues of the WOW-Zine to get more information. Or you can always call, email, or text me with questions. My info is always at the end of the WOW-Zine.
May 10th and 11th will be the mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane (my house) for those who aren't able to attend the event in April. Cost is only $10 and we have quite a bit of interest in it all ready. Just let me know if you'd like to come. Babies are allowed, plus you'll be going back to your own bed on Friday night, and returning Saturday morning. So that may be easier for some of you than to get away for an entire weekend.
The following Saturday, May 18th, is our annual Feminini-TEA. This is a chance for you to bring your daughters (if four years old or older and able to sit still during a presentation), as well as any female friends and family. We'll need a lot of you to step forward to host a table, which means you provide a table cloth and place settings, plus a center piece. We'll have some round tables, plus a lot of rectangular ones. I can't remember if this is our third or fourth year of having this event, and it has grown every time. So you'll be hearing more about it later, but just put it on your calendar now for May 18th, 10AM at the church. We all bring brunch/tea-type things to share, plus will be treated to an outside speaker.
Okay, I had my calendar at my side as I wrote this, and I think I got every thing down accurately and in order. Please correct me if I didn't! Have a wonderful week, and I hope to see you either Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday! Or even at all three!!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, March 4, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Happy first Monday of March! What a beautiful start to the month, as far as the weather goes. Makes us all think Spring is just around the corner, right? But we Oregonians know we still have a lot of rain ahead of us in the midst (mist?) of the blooming bulbs and blossoming trees. I know it's late afternoon as I'm writing this, but it's just been one of those busy days, like I'm sure you all have. I was up early this morning to take our granddaughter Lili to school in Tigard after spending the weekend with us, then over to spend several hours at Christina's house as we worked on book business together. I ended the morning/early afternoon by getting to spend more than an hour at DMV waiting for my lucky number to be called so I could do a title transfer. I was very thankful to have my Kindle to keep me occupied, as well as all the people-watching I was able to fit in.
Retreat spaces continue to dwindle, so if you're planning on going please give me your $80 as soon as possible. We're going to have an amazing time as we study about Doing The Impossible. Christina and I are looking forward to leading the sessions at Lincoln City the weekend of April 12th-14th. Janet will be there to keep us full with her delicious meals, our WOW worship team will help us focus on the Lord, and your interactions with each other will be priceless.
Remember that for those of you who are unable to attend that weekend, I'm offering a mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane (my house) the weekend of April 12th and 13th. Cost is only $10. So if you're unable to leave your baby at home for the regular retreat, or if the cost is too much, or your schedule simply doesn't allow it, please join us in April. We'll be covering the same material, just in a more intimate environment. And yes, your babies are welcome to come to this one! We've got several women already signed up to attend.
This week at Bible study we'll be looking at Luke 10:1-37. We've certainly been discovering some rich applications to our lives as we've walked through this study written by Beth Moore--Jesus The One and Only. It's always exciting to anticipate what we'll be learning each week, and the wonderful discussion that comes out of it. Both weekly studies cover the same material but meet at different times--Common Grounds on Wednesday night at 6:30, and The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30. It's never too late to start attending, and there's no book to buy or homework to do. Just show up with your Bible!
Time to start revving your engines for a little friendly competition at our annual WOW Game Night at the church on Friday, March 15th, which is just a week from this Friday. Bring a snack and a game to the church at 7 PM that night and settle in for a good time of various games and visiting with your friends, while just relaxing and having fun. Jammies are optional. As with all events except our Feminini-Tea in May and our bowling party every January, this is for women only.
Beth Moore is coming to Eugene for Friday night, May 26th, and Saturday morning, May 27th. This is one of the rare opportunities we have to see her in our neck of the woods, so I hope you can join a group of us on a road trip and overnighter for that event. Please register on your own by going to www.lifeway.com/livingproof and signing up for the Eugene location. Cost is $69. Within a couple of weeks you'll receive a large envelope in the mail from LifeWay, which will have your bracelet in it, which will act as your ticket. So don't throw it out! Then, if you'd like to stay with the rest of us, let me know you've signed up and I'll get the motel rooms for us to share, which should cost $25-$30 a piece.
I think that's everything I need to cover this week, but if you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me via my information at the end of this. I hope you have a wonderful week, and that we get to share it with you somewhere along the way!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Retreat spaces continue to dwindle, so if you're planning on going please give me your $80 as soon as possible. We're going to have an amazing time as we study about Doing The Impossible. Christina and I are looking forward to leading the sessions at Lincoln City the weekend of April 12th-14th. Janet will be there to keep us full with her delicious meals, our WOW worship team will help us focus on the Lord, and your interactions with each other will be priceless.
Remember that for those of you who are unable to attend that weekend, I'm offering a mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane (my house) the weekend of April 12th and 13th. Cost is only $10. So if you're unable to leave your baby at home for the regular retreat, or if the cost is too much, or your schedule simply doesn't allow it, please join us in April. We'll be covering the same material, just in a more intimate environment. And yes, your babies are welcome to come to this one! We've got several women already signed up to attend.
This week at Bible study we'll be looking at Luke 10:1-37. We've certainly been discovering some rich applications to our lives as we've walked through this study written by Beth Moore--Jesus The One and Only. It's always exciting to anticipate what we'll be learning each week, and the wonderful discussion that comes out of it. Both weekly studies cover the same material but meet at different times--Common Grounds on Wednesday night at 6:30, and The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30. It's never too late to start attending, and there's no book to buy or homework to do. Just show up with your Bible!
Time to start revving your engines for a little friendly competition at our annual WOW Game Night at the church on Friday, March 15th, which is just a week from this Friday. Bring a snack and a game to the church at 7 PM that night and settle in for a good time of various games and visiting with your friends, while just relaxing and having fun. Jammies are optional. As with all events except our Feminini-Tea in May and our bowling party every January, this is for women only.
Beth Moore is coming to Eugene for Friday night, May 26th, and Saturday morning, May 27th. This is one of the rare opportunities we have to see her in our neck of the woods, so I hope you can join a group of us on a road trip and overnighter for that event. Please register on your own by going to www.lifeway.com/livingproof and signing up for the Eugene location. Cost is $69. Within a couple of weeks you'll receive a large envelope in the mail from LifeWay, which will have your bracelet in it, which will act as your ticket. So don't throw it out! Then, if you'd like to stay with the rest of us, let me know you've signed up and I'll get the motel rooms for us to share, which should cost $25-$30 a piece.
I think that's everything I need to cover this week, but if you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me via my information at the end of this. I hope you have a wonderful week, and that we get to share it with you somewhere along the way!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, February 25, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013 WOW-Zine
Ever have a sleepless night? I'm experiencing one of those right now. It's 4:30 AM and even though I went to bed at 10:15 last night, I haven't been able to fall asleep, which is very unusual for me nowadays. I'm not worried, I'm not even very busy planning things, but just can't find the Land of ZZZZZs. So I thought I might as well get up and creep into my office and start the day of with each of you. Maybe you'll be really boring and put me to sleep!
Both our women's Bible studies will be meeting this week and covering Luke 9:46-56, with the slight chance of getting into the first part of Chapter 10. We are now halfway through our study of Jesus the One and Only, so as you can see, it's never too late to join us. Looks like we'll be continuing with this study through the summer. But don't wait until then--join us for Common Grounds Wednesday at 6:30 PM or for The Perk on Thursday at 9:30 AM.
Coming soon to a retreat near you--Doing the Impossible! That's the theme for our women's annual spring retreat in Lincoln City April 12th-14th. My daughter Christina and I will be co-leading the retreat, and I promise it will be worth your while, as well as worth the $80 cost. Beds are filling quickly, so don't procrastinate. Give me your check made out to WVC, or give me cash, and you are automatically registered and able to select your room. Remember, this opens up to friends and family in just a few more weeks, so act quickly. This is a wonderful way to get better acquainted with women you may only see across the room at church, or to deepened existing relationships you've already formed. In addition to teaching/learning sessions, there will be plenty of free time Saturday afternoon to hit the outlet mall, or take a long walk on the nearby beach, or participate in some other things we'll be offering.
And don't forget about the mini-retreat I'm having at my house on May 10th and 11th for those of you unable to go to Lincoln City. Babies will be welcome at this one, but please arrange your own childcare for older children. Melissa, Stephanie, and Keisha have already signed up for this, so you know we're going to have a good time! And it's not just for women with babies--unbabied women can come too! It will cost around $10, and you'll be going home to your own bed on Friday night and coming back on Saturday morning to spend the day. So please let me know if you'd like to get in on this.
Sandwiched between those two events is our road trip to Eugene on Friday, April 26th, to hear Beth Moore live! It's not often she makes it out our direction, so we want to take advantage of it. You're responsible to register for that on your own ($69), so contact me if you'd like the link for that, or look back over the past couple WOW-Zines where I have it posted. Once you've signed up, let me know, as I'll be reserving a couple motel rooms for us. The conference ends just after noon on Saturday, so we'll get some lunch and head back home.
On Friday, March 15th, it's time to get your game face on for our annual WOW Game Night at the church at 7 PM. This is a fun thing to bring your friends to, as it's very casual and there will be lots of laughter. You can even wear your jammies if you want to! Just show up with a snack and a game and let the fun begin!
It's working! You guys are starting to bore me and make me sleepy!! I think I'll go back to bed and see if I can fall asleep before my alarm goes off in 90 minutes. I hope your day gets off to a better start than mine. Blessings on each of you!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Both our women's Bible studies will be meeting this week and covering Luke 9:46-56, with the slight chance of getting into the first part of Chapter 10. We are now halfway through our study of Jesus the One and Only, so as you can see, it's never too late to join us. Looks like we'll be continuing with this study through the summer. But don't wait until then--join us for Common Grounds Wednesday at 6:30 PM or for The Perk on Thursday at 9:30 AM.
Coming soon to a retreat near you--Doing the Impossible! That's the theme for our women's annual spring retreat in Lincoln City April 12th-14th. My daughter Christina and I will be co-leading the retreat, and I promise it will be worth your while, as well as worth the $80 cost. Beds are filling quickly, so don't procrastinate. Give me your check made out to WVC, or give me cash, and you are automatically registered and able to select your room. Remember, this opens up to friends and family in just a few more weeks, so act quickly. This is a wonderful way to get better acquainted with women you may only see across the room at church, or to deepened existing relationships you've already formed. In addition to teaching/learning sessions, there will be plenty of free time Saturday afternoon to hit the outlet mall, or take a long walk on the nearby beach, or participate in some other things we'll be offering.
And don't forget about the mini-retreat I'm having at my house on May 10th and 11th for those of you unable to go to Lincoln City. Babies will be welcome at this one, but please arrange your own childcare for older children. Melissa, Stephanie, and Keisha have already signed up for this, so you know we're going to have a good time! And it's not just for women with babies--unbabied women can come too! It will cost around $10, and you'll be going home to your own bed on Friday night and coming back on Saturday morning to spend the day. So please let me know if you'd like to get in on this.
Sandwiched between those two events is our road trip to Eugene on Friday, April 26th, to hear Beth Moore live! It's not often she makes it out our direction, so we want to take advantage of it. You're responsible to register for that on your own ($69), so contact me if you'd like the link for that, or look back over the past couple WOW-Zines where I have it posted. Once you've signed up, let me know, as I'll be reserving a couple motel rooms for us. The conference ends just after noon on Saturday, so we'll get some lunch and head back home.
On Friday, March 15th, it's time to get your game face on for our annual WOW Game Night at the church at 7 PM. This is a fun thing to bring your friends to, as it's very casual and there will be lots of laughter. You can even wear your jammies if you want to! Just show up with a snack and a game and let the fun begin!
It's working! You guys are starting to bore me and make me sleepy!! I think I'll go back to bed and see if I can fall asleep before my alarm goes off in 90 minutes. I hope your day gets off to a better start than mine. Blessings on each of you!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, February 18, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013 WOW-Zine
Some of you may remember the old song by We Five (I think it was) with words that went "Monday, Monday, so good to me! Monday, Monday, it was all I hoped it would be." Well, unless you're on vacation in a warm place right now, you might not say today is all you hoped it would be, but I'm trusting you are finding a lot of things in your life that you can give thanks for today. For me, one of the big ones is my dad's health. When I got home from church yesterday I got a call that Mom was taking him to the ER in McMinnville as he'd had a TIA (known in layman's terms as a mini-stroke.) I left the house three minutes later and met them at the hospital. Turns out Dad had taken a fall out at the lake on Saturday, hitting his head. So between the concussion and the TIA he'd gone through a period of confusion in the morning. They ran all kinds of tests and he checked out okay and was doing well except for extremely high blood pressure. But he was sent home late in the afternoon and is doing fine. As we all know, things like that grab our attention and remind us of how good even a Monday can be!
I've got some good news for those of you who won't be able to go to our retreat in April because of having babies to care for. I'm going to do something I did in the past, which is to offer a mini-retreat at my house on Friday, May 10th and Saturday, the 11th. I realize it won't be the same experience you'd have at the retreat, but it's a good alternative, and we'll cover the same material.. And you can bring your babies to this! It won't be a sleepover, but we'll meet here at Ashberry Lane for a potluck dinner together and have a teaching session that evening. Then the next morning you all can come back for breakfast and we'll have another session before lunch, followed by a session, some free time for games or the hot tub, and finish the final segment before sending you home for dinner. How does that sound? Cost will probably be around $10 a person to cover expenses. So, if you're interested in that, please let me know right away. I'd like to have at least four of five of you to make it happen.
Doing the Impossible, our retreat for this year, is filling up quickly. Remember, it's April 12th-14th at "our house" in Lincoln City. I only have 14 spaces left. (We're limited to 40 women by the contract for the house.) Cost is only $80 and once you give the money to me, that makes you registered! At that point you're able to select your bedroom/sleeping arrangements. At this time we're only accepting registrations from women who normally attend Wapato, in order to give our ladies first dibs at getting to go. But on Sunday, March 17th it will open up to your family and friends (if we still have space available.) So don't delay--turn your money in soon and don't get left behind because of procrastination! Arrangements for car pooling will be made closer to time, as we have a limited amount of cars we're allowed to have on the property.
We're doing something a little bit different this year. Remember how we always select Secret Sisters when we get to retreat? Well, we're changing that up a bit, as sometimes it's really hard to get a little something for them when you only have the weekend to do so. This time we're going to give you the name of your SS a couple weeks before retreat, so we'd like to have all the spaces taken by then. During the first week of April you'll be given a random name of someone who then becomes your Secret Sister. (Yes, you'll also have a paper with their info concerning likes and dislikes, etc.) This will give you time to do a little shopping ahead of time, or make them a homemade gift, etc, before going to retreat. Should make your time there even more relaxing. In a few weeks those of you who are registered will receive paperwork to fill out for information for your Secret Sister.
At our Bible studies last week, we only got through the first half of the lesson I was planning, so we'll be finishing it up this week. If you want to read through the passage before you come, my plan is for us to cover Luke 9:28-45. There's a slight possibility we'll go a little farther, but that's about as likely as waking up in Hawaii tomorrow morning! So join us at either Common Grounds, Wednesday at 6:30 PM, or at The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30. We are having really special times together, and it's never too late to start attending. (Child care is provided on Thursdays.)
Our let's-just-hang-out-and-have-fun-together WOW activity for March will be a game night on Friday, the 15th. This is just a casual thing we do every year, meeting at the church at 7 PM for a relaxing evening of fun. You can even wear your jammies and slippers! Just bring a snack and game to share, and we'll have tables set up around the room so we can have different games going at the same time. Put it on your calendar now.
And now, to our first-ever WOW Want Ads! Last week I told you I'd be glad to post notices about anything you want to sell, give away, a service you need, or something you'd like to buy? Well, here's a few things to get you started:
~ The Paz family is looking for a Christian lady to watch our girls for 4 hours on Tuesdays and 2 hours on Thursdays during the day while Nicole gets some work done upstairs. Our business is exploding and we are in need of a little help from the right person. Interviewing now! (Nicole's number is 503-703-0069.)
~Sherrie Ashcraft (moi) is looking for an inexpensive washer and dryer to buy for use upstairs. (971-285-6699)
~The Ashcrafts are looking for two Christian young women who would want to rent upstairs. Our granddaughter Cassie will be moving in upstairs the middle of June, along with her toddler. She's looking for some gals to share the space with her. Rent will be lower than you'd probably expect, so if you know of a college-aged Christian woman who needs a rental, please contact us.
So there you have it! Anything you'd like me to post next Monday? If so, send it to me and I'll put it in the WOW-Zine next week. As we make our needs known, maybe we can help each other out!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
I've got some good news for those of you who won't be able to go to our retreat in April because of having babies to care for. I'm going to do something I did in the past, which is to offer a mini-retreat at my house on Friday, May 10th and Saturday, the 11th. I realize it won't be the same experience you'd have at the retreat, but it's a good alternative, and we'll cover the same material.. And you can bring your babies to this! It won't be a sleepover, but we'll meet here at Ashberry Lane for a potluck dinner together and have a teaching session that evening. Then the next morning you all can come back for breakfast and we'll have another session before lunch, followed by a session, some free time for games or the hot tub, and finish the final segment before sending you home for dinner. How does that sound? Cost will probably be around $10 a person to cover expenses. So, if you're interested in that, please let me know right away. I'd like to have at least four of five of you to make it happen.
Doing the Impossible, our retreat for this year, is filling up quickly. Remember, it's April 12th-14th at "our house" in Lincoln City. I only have 14 spaces left. (We're limited to 40 women by the contract for the house.) Cost is only $80 and once you give the money to me, that makes you registered! At that point you're able to select your bedroom/sleeping arrangements. At this time we're only accepting registrations from women who normally attend Wapato, in order to give our ladies first dibs at getting to go. But on Sunday, March 17th it will open up to your family and friends (if we still have space available.) So don't delay--turn your money in soon and don't get left behind because of procrastination! Arrangements for car pooling will be made closer to time, as we have a limited amount of cars we're allowed to have on the property.
We're doing something a little bit different this year. Remember how we always select Secret Sisters when we get to retreat? Well, we're changing that up a bit, as sometimes it's really hard to get a little something for them when you only have the weekend to do so. This time we're going to give you the name of your SS a couple weeks before retreat, so we'd like to have all the spaces taken by then. During the first week of April you'll be given a random name of someone who then becomes your Secret Sister. (Yes, you'll also have a paper with their info concerning likes and dislikes, etc.) This will give you time to do a little shopping ahead of time, or make them a homemade gift, etc, before going to retreat. Should make your time there even more relaxing. In a few weeks those of you who are registered will receive paperwork to fill out for information for your Secret Sister.
At our Bible studies last week, we only got through the first half of the lesson I was planning, so we'll be finishing it up this week. If you want to read through the passage before you come, my plan is for us to cover Luke 9:28-45. There's a slight possibility we'll go a little farther, but that's about as likely as waking up in Hawaii tomorrow morning! So join us at either Common Grounds, Wednesday at 6:30 PM, or at The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30. We are having really special times together, and it's never too late to start attending. (Child care is provided on Thursdays.)
Our let's-just-hang-out-and-have-fun-together WOW activity for March will be a game night on Friday, the 15th. This is just a casual thing we do every year, meeting at the church at 7 PM for a relaxing evening of fun. You can even wear your jammies and slippers! Just bring a snack and game to share, and we'll have tables set up around the room so we can have different games going at the same time. Put it on your calendar now.
And now, to our first-ever WOW Want Ads! Last week I told you I'd be glad to post notices about anything you want to sell, give away, a service you need, or something you'd like to buy? Well, here's a few things to get you started:
~ The Paz family is looking for a Christian lady to watch our girls for 4 hours on Tuesdays and 2 hours on Thursdays during the day while Nicole gets some work done upstairs. Our business is exploding and we are in need of a little help from the right person. Interviewing now! (Nicole's number is 503-703-0069.)
~Sherrie Ashcraft (moi) is looking for an inexpensive washer and dryer to buy for use upstairs. (971-285-6699)
~The Ashcrafts are looking for two Christian young women who would want to rent upstairs. Our granddaughter Cassie will be moving in upstairs the middle of June, along with her toddler. She's looking for some gals to share the space with her. Rent will be lower than you'd probably expect, so if you know of a college-aged Christian woman who needs a rental, please contact us.
So there you have it! Anything you'd like me to post next Monday? If so, send it to me and I'll put it in the WOW-Zine next week. As we make our needs known, maybe we can help each other out!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, February 11, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013 WOW-Zine
A happy Monday morning to all of you! This is the week of LOOOVVVE, so I thought it only fitting to start off this issue with red print. I hope you find plenty of opportunities throughout the week to show your love to that special man, or your children, or your close friends. I'll close this WOW-Zine with the article I wrote for the church newsletter this month, as it deals with love.
Speaking of which, don't forget about the Valentine Extravaganza at Wapato on this coming Friday, the 16th, at 6:30 PM. Tickets are selling about as fast as you walk barefooted on hot sand, so you'd better call the church office and buy yours now! Don't wait until it's too late, as there are a very limited number of tickets left, and none will be sold at the door. You must purchase them ahead of time. Don your finest finery and come out for a lovely dinner, music, and dancing.
Congratulations to all the women who have started making Common Grounds on Wednesday night at 6:30 a part of their weekly schedule. You gals rock! As we continue to work our way through Beth Moore's study of Jesus The One and Only, we'll be concentrating this week on Luke 9:18-45. (And my sincere apologies for giving you the wrong passage in last week's blog.)
We'll be covering the same material Thursday morning at 9:30 at The Perk. We're so grateful to have a couple of home-schooled girls there to provide childcare for us. That's such a ministry! I'm so thankful for the wonderful bunch of you ladies who come out every week and share in each others lives.
Before reminding you about our WOW retreat coming up in April, I'd like to talk to you about something. I'm sure that with the amount of young moms and new babies we have in the church, some of you might be wondering why our policy for the past several years has been to not have babies be able to attend the retreat. Several years ago we did allow nursing babies as long as they weren't able to scooch around on their own. But for the past three years at least, the guidelines changed for the following reasons:
The bottom line (no pun intended! I could go back and change that, but I won't!) is that a woman's life is made up of various seasons. There have been times in the lives of we older women where we have not been able to attend certain events because of our family responsibilities. It's just what happens when you have a young baby that you're not able to leave home with daddy. If you're not able to attend this year, we will most certainly miss you, but hopefully you'll be able to join us next year.
So that brings us up to details about the retreat. April may still sound like a ways off, but believe me, it will be here before you know it. We'll be meeting at our gorgeous retreat house in Lincoln City the weekend of April 12th-14th. Amy completed The Book of Rooms and ladies have already started to register and select their rooms. We only have about 25 openings left, so get me your money as soon as you can in order to hold your spot! It only takes $80, which is a real bargain. It includes the beautiful lodgings, plus Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Our theme this year is Doing the Impossible, and will be led by myself and my daughter Christina, whom most of you know. Talk about fun!! So either give me $80 cash, or write a check out to WVC and hand it to me, and you'll have a place.
This Wednesday, February 13th, is the next meeting of the Christian Women's Fellowship no-host luncheon, and my own Christina Tarbochia will be the guest speaker. I'm excited about that! The group is open to everyone, and meets at Jake's Deli in McMinnville, just past Linfield College. The actual meeting time is from noon to one, but get there a little earlier to order your food. They have good sandwiches, soups, and salads. Just park in the back and walk through the door. I'll be watching for you!
And don't forget Beth Moore is headed our way two weeks after retreat! A group of us are going down to Eugene for the evening of Friday, April 26th and will return home the next afternoon. I'm asking you to take care of registration ($69) on your own, but then inform me you've done so, and I'll reserve a motel room for you for an additional $25 to $30. You can sign up by going to www.lifeway.com/livingproof
Hey, I'd like to add a new feature to the WOW-Zine, beginning next week. How about we have a section at the end where we can list items we'd like to sell or give away, as well as ask for something we need? For example, I know Chrissy's washer and dryer just broke and she is looking for a new one. Or maybe it's services you have to offer, such as childcare or house cleaning. Send me the information (can even do a photo) and I'll post it for you on here. So be looking for that next week.
In closing, I'll leave you with my newsletter article:
John and I have been married for forty-two years, so I’ve learned a thing or two about love. I met him when I was a senior in high school and our wedding ceremony was a year later. He lived sixty miles away during the time we were dating and engaged, and lots of letters passed between us. (Remember, this was back in the day when the Pony Express had just stopped running and the US Postal Service had taken over! No such things as e-mail and texts!)
I still have that ribbon-bound packet of letters we wrote to each other, safely stored in my hope chest. (Or as I now call it, my fulfilled chest.) They contain the dreams we had back then, the plans for our future. I especially remember the one where I told John how our days would play out—we’d live in a cute little house with a white-picket fence encircling it. We’d wake up to sunshine most mornings, and I’d fix him a big, hot breakfast while he was showering. I’d pack his lunch before he’d give me a kiss and walk out the door. My day would be delightfully filled with dusting, vacuuming, ironing, and some time for myself to read and relax. He would return each evening to be greeted by a loving wife and the aroma of a delicious dinner wafting through the air.
Yep, it was a pretty idealistic picture, wasn’t it? I don’t remember us ever envisioning the pain of going through four miscarriages, or ever imagining the Lord would call us to serve as missionaries in Nigeria for 3-1/2 years. I didn’t know we’d face dangerous illnesses while there, or go through the political uncertainty of living in a third-world country. I had no idea that years later we would deal with divorce, family disintegration, prison, and all the pain inherent in those things. Where did the white picket fence and sunny days go? This wasn’t what I signed up for.
Ah, but it was! When we enter into a relationship with another person, whether a friendship, marriage, or parenthood, we are in effect saying we’re willing to accept the good, bad, and ugly. Life is a mixture of all of those. We don’t have the option to pick and choose. Every day, the Lord allows what He knows is best for our lives at that particular time. It doesn’t mean we always like it, but I’m here to tell you if we accept these gifts, no matter how ugly their wrapping, we receive the benefit. We see they really are an expression of God’s love to us. Because wuv, true wuv, doesn’t always feel good. Love has many different aspects, and sometimes it has to be very tough, not touchy-feely.
The Distinguished Clergyman (that’s his name in the credits of The Princess Bride) lispfully pronounced the beautiful Buttercup married to the evil Prince Humperdinck, but she continued to hope. She longed for her true love, Westley, to arrive on the scene and rescue her from her farce of a marriage. Which, being her true love indeed, Westley did. And they rode off into the sunset and all lived happily ever after.
The movie versions of love are not always accurate, but God’s definition of love, as found in I Corinthians 13, most certainly is. In the paraphrase found in The Message, that familiar passage says it like this:
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,,
Puts up with anything, Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back, but keeps going to the end.
We all need to look at our lives and see if we’re showing wuv, true wuv.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Speaking of which, don't forget about the Valentine Extravaganza at Wapato on this coming Friday, the 16th, at 6:30 PM. Tickets are selling about as fast as you walk barefooted on hot sand, so you'd better call the church office and buy yours now! Don't wait until it's too late, as there are a very limited number of tickets left, and none will be sold at the door. You must purchase them ahead of time. Don your finest finery and come out for a lovely dinner, music, and dancing.
Congratulations to all the women who have started making Common Grounds on Wednesday night at 6:30 a part of their weekly schedule. You gals rock! As we continue to work our way through Beth Moore's study of Jesus The One and Only, we'll be concentrating this week on Luke 9:18-45. (And my sincere apologies for giving you the wrong passage in last week's blog.)
We'll be covering the same material Thursday morning at 9:30 at The Perk. We're so grateful to have a couple of home-schooled girls there to provide childcare for us. That's such a ministry! I'm so thankful for the wonderful bunch of you ladies who come out every week and share in each others lives.
Before reminding you about our WOW retreat coming up in April, I'd like to talk to you about something. I'm sure that with the amount of young moms and new babies we have in the church, some of you might be wondering why our policy for the past several years has been to not have babies be able to attend the retreat. Several years ago we did allow nursing babies as long as they weren't able to scooch around on their own. But for the past three years at least, the guidelines changed for the following reasons:
- Retreat is a special time for women to be able to leave the cares of their usual life and responsibilities and just be together with other women. It needs to be relaxing for all involved.
- Babies are a distraction--an obvious distraction if they're fussying and crying, but also a distraction if they're being terribly cute, as babies are apt to be! Retreat is a time to allow God the opportunity to speak into our lives in as much as an unhindered atmosphere as possible.
- Our schedule is such that our noisiness could easily infringe on baby's sleep schedule, and the baby crying during the night could infringe on our sleep.
- The paraphernalia inherent in taking care of a baby takes up needed space.
The bottom line (no pun intended! I could go back and change that, but I won't!) is that a woman's life is made up of various seasons. There have been times in the lives of we older women where we have not been able to attend certain events because of our family responsibilities. It's just what happens when you have a young baby that you're not able to leave home with daddy. If you're not able to attend this year, we will most certainly miss you, but hopefully you'll be able to join us next year.
So that brings us up to details about the retreat. April may still sound like a ways off, but believe me, it will be here before you know it. We'll be meeting at our gorgeous retreat house in Lincoln City the weekend of April 12th-14th. Amy completed The Book of Rooms and ladies have already started to register and select their rooms. We only have about 25 openings left, so get me your money as soon as you can in order to hold your spot! It only takes $80, which is a real bargain. It includes the beautiful lodgings, plus Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Our theme this year is Doing the Impossible, and will be led by myself and my daughter Christina, whom most of you know. Talk about fun!! So either give me $80 cash, or write a check out to WVC and hand it to me, and you'll have a place.
This Wednesday, February 13th, is the next meeting of the Christian Women's Fellowship no-host luncheon, and my own Christina Tarbochia will be the guest speaker. I'm excited about that! The group is open to everyone, and meets at Jake's Deli in McMinnville, just past Linfield College. The actual meeting time is from noon to one, but get there a little earlier to order your food. They have good sandwiches, soups, and salads. Just park in the back and walk through the door. I'll be watching for you!
And don't forget Beth Moore is headed our way two weeks after retreat! A group of us are going down to Eugene for the evening of Friday, April 26th and will return home the next afternoon. I'm asking you to take care of registration ($69) on your own, but then inform me you've done so, and I'll reserve a motel room for you for an additional $25 to $30. You can sign up by going to www.lifeway.com/livingproof
Hey, I'd like to add a new feature to the WOW-Zine, beginning next week. How about we have a section at the end where we can list items we'd like to sell or give away, as well as ask for something we need? For example, I know Chrissy's washer and dryer just broke and she is looking for a new one. Or maybe it's services you have to offer, such as childcare or house cleaning. Send me the information (can even do a photo) and I'll post it for you on here. So be looking for that next week.
In closing, I'll leave you with my newsletter article:
Wuv … True Wuv
I still have that ribbon-bound packet of letters we wrote to each other, safely stored in my hope chest. (Or as I now call it, my fulfilled chest.) They contain the dreams we had back then, the plans for our future. I especially remember the one where I told John how our days would play out—we’d live in a cute little house with a white-picket fence encircling it. We’d wake up to sunshine most mornings, and I’d fix him a big, hot breakfast while he was showering. I’d pack his lunch before he’d give me a kiss and walk out the door. My day would be delightfully filled with dusting, vacuuming, ironing, and some time for myself to read and relax. He would return each evening to be greeted by a loving wife and the aroma of a delicious dinner wafting through the air.
Yep, it was a pretty idealistic picture, wasn’t it? I don’t remember us ever envisioning the pain of going through four miscarriages, or ever imagining the Lord would call us to serve as missionaries in Nigeria for 3-1/2 years. I didn’t know we’d face dangerous illnesses while there, or go through the political uncertainty of living in a third-world country. I had no idea that years later we would deal with divorce, family disintegration, prison, and all the pain inherent in those things. Where did the white picket fence and sunny days go? This wasn’t what I signed up for.
Ah, but it was! When we enter into a relationship with another person, whether a friendship, marriage, or parenthood, we are in effect saying we’re willing to accept the good, bad, and ugly. Life is a mixture of all of those. We don’t have the option to pick and choose. Every day, the Lord allows what He knows is best for our lives at that particular time. It doesn’t mean we always like it, but I’m here to tell you if we accept these gifts, no matter how ugly their wrapping, we receive the benefit. We see they really are an expression of God’s love to us. Because wuv, true wuv, doesn’t always feel good. Love has many different aspects, and sometimes it has to be very tough, not touchy-feely.
The Distinguished Clergyman (that’s his name in the credits of The Princess Bride) lispfully pronounced the beautiful Buttercup married to the evil Prince Humperdinck, but she continued to hope. She longed for her true love, Westley, to arrive on the scene and rescue her from her farce of a marriage. Which, being her true love indeed, Westley did. And they rode off into the sunset and all lived happily ever after.
The movie versions of love are not always accurate, but God’s definition of love, as found in I Corinthians 13, most certainly is. In the paraphrase found in The Message, that familiar passage says it like this:
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,,
Puts up with anything, Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back, but keeps going to the end.
We all need to look at our lives and see if we’re showing wuv, true wuv.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013 WOW-Zine
Good morning to all of you! I started my morning off by having to drive over Bald Peak to meet my daughter at the Cruise In Diner parking lot to get my purse (phone and wallet) that I left at her house after the Super Bowl last night. You have no idea how proud I was of myself for not spending the ten minutes right before I left to meet her searching the house for the purse I was going to pick up!
I had a really busy week last week, and a weekend full of wonderful family, but I'm taking the day off today after getting this sent to you. So, it's going to be shorter than usual.
Don't forget about our two Bible study possibilities this week--Common Grounds Wednesday evening at 6:30, and The Perk (childcare provided) on Thursday morning at 9:30. These studies are designed to be able to jump in at any time. In other words, if you've never come before, it's not too late!!This week we'll focus on Luke 10:1-23.
Next Wednesday (Feb. 13th) at noon at Jake's Deli in McMinnville (by Linfield College) the Christian Women's Fellowship will be gathering for their monthly meeting. This is a great time to get together with women from various churches in the area and listen to a speaker while enjoying a no-host lunch. And I can promise you this month's speaker will be well-worth hearing, as it's my daughter, Christina Tarabochia! Those of you who already know her will anticipate the fun spirit, humor, and wisdom she will bring as she speaks on Who's Your Daddy?--Finding Your Way to the Father's Love. It would be great to carpool together, so please let me know if you'd like to do that. I know as a speaker that it's really nice to look out in the audience and find a lot of familiar, supportive faces!
If you read this following paragraph this week, you don't need to read it again. However, if you didn't get a chance to read last week's WOW-Zine, you need to be aware that our annual women's retreat will be at Lincoln City the weekend of April 12th-14th. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Our theme this year is Doing the Impossible, led by myself and my daughter, Christina, and based on the book of Nehemiah. There are times in our lives when God asks us to trust Him and simply obey, even though the situation looks impossible. How to do that? Come and find out. Cost is only $80 for the weekend, and you can check out our accommodations by following this link:
http://www.vrbo.com/309670. Because of the interest already being generated among you gals, I'm going to open registration up a few weeks early. Remember, you must pay in full to be considered registered. And when you give me that money, I'll be able to point you to the room reservation notebook that Amy is making up, like she did last year.We have one room for those who like to go to bed relatively early, and another room for those who like to stay up much of the night talking and/or playing games. And then we have lots of rooms for those who fall somewhere in between! So when Amy completes the Book of Rooms, I'll open registration for those who attend Wapato. Checks should be made out to Wapato Valley Church, with "retreat" in the memo section. But please give them to me so I can keep up on who is going.
I told you I was keeping the WOW-Zine short this week, as I've got places to go and people to see in order to relax on my day off! If you'd like to check out last week's issue, just go to www.womenofwapato.blogspot.com to read about the up-coming Valentine's gala, as well as the Beth Moore conference the end of April in Eugene that several of us are going to.
I hope you all have a blessed week and take the time to see the hand of God working in the details of your life. I'll see you at one of the Bible studies!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
I had a really busy week last week, and a weekend full of wonderful family, but I'm taking the day off today after getting this sent to you. So, it's going to be shorter than usual.
Don't forget about our two Bible study possibilities this week--Common Grounds Wednesday evening at 6:30, and The Perk (childcare provided) on Thursday morning at 9:30. These studies are designed to be able to jump in at any time. In other words, if you've never come before, it's not too late!!This week we'll focus on Luke 10:1-23.
Next Wednesday (Feb. 13th) at noon at Jake's Deli in McMinnville (by Linfield College) the Christian Women's Fellowship will be gathering for their monthly meeting. This is a great time to get together with women from various churches in the area and listen to a speaker while enjoying a no-host lunch. And I can promise you this month's speaker will be well-worth hearing, as it's my daughter, Christina Tarabochia! Those of you who already know her will anticipate the fun spirit, humor, and wisdom she will bring as she speaks on Who's Your Daddy?--Finding Your Way to the Father's Love. It would be great to carpool together, so please let me know if you'd like to do that. I know as a speaker that it's really nice to look out in the audience and find a lot of familiar, supportive faces!
If you read this following paragraph this week, you don't need to read it again. However, if you didn't get a chance to read last week's WOW-Zine, you need to be aware that our annual women's retreat will be at Lincoln City the weekend of April 12th-14th. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Our theme this year is Doing the Impossible, led by myself and my daughter, Christina, and based on the book of Nehemiah. There are times in our lives when God asks us to trust Him and simply obey, even though the situation looks impossible. How to do that? Come and find out. Cost is only $80 for the weekend, and you can check out our accommodations by following this link:
http://www.vrbo.com/309670. Because of the interest already being generated among you gals, I'm going to open registration up a few weeks early. Remember, you must pay in full to be considered registered. And when you give me that money, I'll be able to point you to the room reservation notebook that Amy is making up, like she did last year.We have one room for those who like to go to bed relatively early, and another room for those who like to stay up much of the night talking and/or playing games. And then we have lots of rooms for those who fall somewhere in between! So when Amy completes the Book of Rooms, I'll open registration for those who attend Wapato. Checks should be made out to Wapato Valley Church, with "retreat" in the memo section. But please give them to me so I can keep up on who is going.
I told you I was keeping the WOW-Zine short this week, as I've got places to go and people to see in order to relax on my day off! If you'd like to check out last week's issue, just go to www.womenofwapato.blogspot.com to read about the up-coming Valentine's gala, as well as the Beth Moore conference the end of April in Eugene that several of us are going to.
I hope you all have a blessed week and take the time to see the hand of God working in the details of your life. I'll see you at one of the Bible studies!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
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