Tuesday, October 4, 2016 WOW-Zine

Friday, October 7th

624 S. Pine, Carlton

(Corner of Polk and Pine)

(Also known as Viv's house!)

7 p.m.

Bring a game and a snack

If you don't have a CLUE as to what you're doing this Friday night, why don't you take a PIECE of time to come join us for fun and games? LIFE is short and there's no MONOPOLY on having a good time. It might be a rainy night, but the roads shouldn't be DICEy. It's not TABOO to hop into your car with a few girlfriends, navigate a few TURNs, and BINGO!--you'll be in Carlton. If it's been raining a lot that day, you may want to sail in your YACHTzee instead of drive, but it won't take a MASTER MIND to decide your best mode of transport. You really don't want to stay home and be BOARD when you could be sharing sweet snacks such as CANDYLAND, or eating something healthy like APPLES TO APPLES instead. So take the RISK and SCRABBLE over to Viv's this Friday. Do your best not to ROLL the car or SPINout on your way. You don't want to wake up Saturday morning and exclaim, "Oh SHUTES AND LADDERS, I forgot to go!!" Then you'd be SORRY!

Okay, enough of that! We had a great start at The Perk last week and would love to have you join us this Thursday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church as we continue our study based on Stronger: Finding Hope in Fragile Places. Last week we discussed what it means to know God is omnipresent and immutable. Don't let the big words scare you off, as we discovered how practical and meaningful they really are. Childcare is provided, and Kristen will bring snacks to go with our tea and coffee. 

Until next time,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

September 27, 2016 WOW-Zine

I've got quite a bit of information to share with you today, so let's get right to it!

First of all, congratulations to Laura and Andy Cornils on the birth of their third son on Sunday. I haven't met him yet, but his picture sure shows him to be a cutie! As usual, we would like to provide a week's worth of meals for the family to help during the adjustment period. You can find all the information at the following link:

http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=BRCO1037&v=81dc9bdb52

Robert Mark Cornils (9-25-16)

It was so good to be back together at The Perk last week, wasn't it? And nice to have some new ladies there! We'll be officially starting our study Stronger: Finding Hope in Fragile Places this week. Just bring your Bible and a notebook and be ready for a great time of sharing together. Tami is providing snacks for us this week. We meet from 9:30 to 11 Thursday mornings at the church.

Coming up on Friday, October 7th--GAME NIGHT! Viv Wymore has graciously opened her home to us, beginning at 7 PM.

Her address is 624 Pine St. in Carlton. You just stay on Hiway 47 (turn left at the light in Carlton) and she is on the far side of town headed toward McMinnville. It's a brown house on the left, located on the corner of Pine and Polk. You can turn there and park behind the house and along the street. You might try carpooling too! Bring your favorite game and a snack to share. If the weather is decent we may meet outside under Viv's lighted pavilion, but we'll be inside if it's cold and rainy. Be prepared for either.

If you weren't at The Perk last week you may not have heard my announcement that this would be my last year as the Women's Ministry Director. I've been teaching Bible studies at Wapato for the past eleven years, and have had the official position as WMD going on seven years. John will be retiring at the end of this school year, and I'd like to have the freedom to be able to travel and perhaps do other ministries as the Lord leads.

 As I talked with my Women's Ministry Team last week (Susan Dixon, Christine Hoffmann, Debbie Hood, Aimee Lepari, Carol Gross, Natalie Mulkey, Viv Wymore) I explained that I'm looking for a variety of women to take on different parts of my job, so I can mentor them during this year. My heart's desire is that we have a very smooth transition, as we have an incredible group of women, and I don't want anything to destroy our closeness. I will be sharing some of the needs at The Perk this week, so you can be praying about any of the ways in which you might help. This might be the time that the Lord chooses to stretch you out of your comfort zone!

Until next time,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Good morning, ladies! I hope your day is off to a good start and that you make time to connect with the Lord at some point. We need His strength to make it through our days--even the good ones!

THE PERK BEGINS THIS WEEK!

I'm so looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning from 9:30 to 11 AM at the church for the beginning of our Bible study year. Every Thursday (almost) we'll gather to do life together as women who are growing in our relationship with each other, and even more importantly, in our relationship with Jesus. 

We're kicking off the year with a BRUNCH tomorrow, so bring along something to share with each other. We'll catch up on what has been going on in each other's lives over the summer, and I'll let you know about what we'll be studying this fall--Stronger: Finding Hope in Fragile Places. Childcare is available. If you've never been with us in the past, now is the perfect time to come check out The Perk.

Until next time,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 WOW-Zine

Hi, ladies. I'm heading out the door later this morning to catch a ride down to Camp Tadmor, where I'll be speaking at the CB Northwest Pastors' Wives Retreat from this evening through Thursday. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to share with them, especially since I was a pastor's wife for over 20 years. It would be wonderful if you could let me know you'll be praying for me during these next couple of days. I need all of you on my prayer team!

Time is running out to sign up for the Beth Moore Simulcast, which is at Grace Baptist Church in Newberg this coming Saturday, the 17th. Cost is $25, which includes a continental breakfast, as well as lunch. The event runs from 9-3:30, with the doors opening at 8:30. The deadline to register is tomorrow, so don't procrastinate any longer! Go to https://fbcnewberg.radiantwebtools.com/ to sign up. I'm sure you can just bring money with you on Saturday if you haven't paid yet, but you'll need to let them know you're coming.

And in just over a week, The Perk will resume after its summer hiatus. I've heard a lot of you can hardly wait! The Lord has provided Anje's 13-year-old daughter to watch your children during our time together. That was a real answer to prayer. We'll meet from 9:30--11 beginning Thursday, September 22nd. Let's do a brunch during our first session, okay? Just bring a favorite brunch-type food to share, and we'll catch up on what has been going on in each other's life during the summer. Plus I'll whet your appetite (after we're full of food) for what we'll be studying!

Until next time,
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 WOW-Zine

Guess what? It's Wednesday! Somehow Tuesday slipped by without me remembering I should send out the WOW-Zine. I think I'm losing it! And not only is it Wednesday, it's the last day of August. Kids are back in school, we've got a touch of rain today, and it feels as if fall is just around the corner.

A new month means it's time to share the new Scripture writing plan. You can find it here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_FwK3u-_PH1eXlRQncwakNvczg

​

 Join me at the Beth Moore Simulcast on

 Saturday, Sept. 17th.

The doors open at 8:30 am and the session begins at 9:00 am.

Please check in at the registration table when you arrive.

We will be providing a lovely continental breakfast, coffee, snacks and full lunch. Gluten free options are available.

If you have not yet paid, please send a check in the amount of $25 to GBC PO Box 1 Newberg, OR 97132

website: www.gbcnewberg.org

503.538.7468

 (Sign up on the website)

The Perk, our women's Bible study, resumes Thursday, September 22, at the church. We'll start our year with a study called Stronger: Finding Hope in Fragile Places. A couple of the topics we'll be discussing (I'll share others next week) are God is Stronger than Everything, and God is Stronger than my Struggles. If you've never been at our Bible study, you don't know what you're missing. We really focus on having the Bible impact our lives in a very practical way, and our times together provide a safe place for us to share our joys as well as find support and encouragement during times of challenge. This is not just for women in our church, so feel free to invite your friends. We meet on Thursdays from 9:30-11 AM, and have childcare available.

Until next time,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Dear ladies, I skipped writing to you last week as I was out of town at a writers' conference, and I didn't post yesterday as I was white water rafting down the Deschutes with my grandson, Josh. What a fantastic experience that was! I know there have been plenty of books written about stepping out of the boat when Jesus calls us to do something, but yesterday I believe His will for me was to try to stay in the boat, which I'm proud to say I did. Even when going through Class 4 rapids!

Just four more weeks until The Perk resumes. I can hardly wait! I've missed spending time with you each week in God's word and sharing what's going on in our lives. But on Thursday, September 22nd, from 9:30-11, that will all change! We'll start the new year of Bible study with a brunch, so plan to bring your favorite dish to share. We'll be studying through a book called Stronger: Finding Hope in Fragile Places. I know we've all had times when we know our strength is weak and we feel very vulnerable and fragile. Our time together will help us learn strategies for depending on God during such times. And remember, you don't need to buy a book--just show up with your Bible.

The Saturday before that, on the 17th, there will be a Beth Moore Simulcast at Grace Baptist Church in Newberg. I hope you've signed up for that and paid the $25 for the day. It's always a special time. 

Why We Don’t Have to Feel Ready Holley, 24 Aug 05:30 AM I’m an amateur eavesdropper. I often work in coffee shops where conversations swirl around me as thick as the scent of espresso. Most of the time I’m able to tune them out but sometimes one makes my head snap up from my laptop. I’ve heard scandalous confessions of love, details of doctor’s appointments and workplace complaints of all sorts. This morning I found myself the recipient of some unsolicited wisdom. A young man and his mentor sat next to me talking about faith. Apparently they’ve been meeting awhile because the young man asked, “When am I going to be ready to help someone else?” The mentor paused and then answered, “I think you’re asking the wrong question. Because as long as you ask ‘Am I ready?’ then you’ll always be able to find a reason you’re not. A flaw. A struggle. Something you think you need to learn more about. The better question to ask is, ‘Have I received something?’ If so, then you have something to share. When is the best time to start passing it on? Yesterday.” I looked over for a second just to be sure he wasn’t talking to me. Because I have wondered this as well. Haven’t we all? Here is a secret of faith I’m learning: We never feel qualified. We never feel like professionals. We never feel like we’ve got it together enough to really make a difference. And maybe this is a good thing. Because the only folks who seem to have believed otherwise were the Pharisees. God is not looking for perfect examples. He is looking for ordinary people willing to just love one another. He is calling the messy, the broken and the incomplete. This is good news for all of us. It meansour role is not to show off; it’s just to show up. He will give to us and then He’ll give through us. We’re simply asked to be willing and brave enough to do it as we are and not as we’d like to be. My heart needed to hear all of this today. Maybe yours did too. Perhaps sometime we’ll run into each other at a coffee shop and we can talk it over. And when we’re done, I’ll try very hard not to eavesdrop on you… Until next time, Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699

Tuesday, August 9, 2016 WOW-Zine

The weather being what it is today, you'd think I had a WOW event planned!! I, personally, am looking for the heat "they" say is coming later in the week. How about you?

Just a reminder that The Perk will not resume until Thursday, September 22, at 9:30 AM. It's not too soon to start inviting your friends to join us. I know some of you are involved with Bible Study Fellowship on Wednesday mornings, but I'd like to encourage you to come on Thursdays to be able to grow closer to our own women. And since there's no homework involved, it's just a "simple" matter of getting dressed and out the door. We're through at 11 AM. 

Even before The Perk starts up again, we have the opportunity to get together for the Beth Moore Simulcast at Grace Baptist Church in Newberg. It only costs $25 for the day ( 9-3:30) and includes snacks and lunch. The date is Saturday, September 17. Go to their church website at https://fbcnewberg.radiantwebtools.com/. Their current sermon series is listed on the left, but there's a form on the right hand side of the page where you can register for Beth. Either pay by PayPal, or send a check to the church (address is at the very bottom of the form) to the church. Who's with me??!!

Here's a great reminder of an important truth from blogger Holley Gerth:

Jul 27 (13 days ago)
to sherrieashcraft

The Secret Strength of Patience Holley, 27 Jul 05:30 AM {my graphics are free goodies for you} Better to be patient than powerful. {Prov. 16:32} I Web Version  Subscribe      The Secret Strength of Patience Holley, 27 Jul 05:30 AM {my graphics are free goodies for you} Better to be patient than powerful. {Prov. 16:32} I read these words one summer morning curled up in bed and I write them in my journal. I don’t understand at first why they resonate with me. After all, I don’t consider myself someone who grasps for power—at least not in the traditional sense. But as I get up and begin to go about my day I realize I want powerover certain things. I want to control how my day will go. I want people to like me. I want to do my work flawlessly. And to make sure that happens, I push. I try hard. I rush and hustle. And all of this, I suddenly see, is different than patience. Because patience is about receiving. It’s about believing that everything will work out. It’s about resting in the shade of God’s love instead of toiling in the sun of striving. But patience also requires giving up control, it means surrendering our perceived power. This is hard and scary for me. Yet it is also what our weary souls long for, what they are really hoping will be the outcome of all our efforts. Patience isn’t just about time; it’s also about trust. It’s about saying, “I don’t have to be in control. I don’t have to hold the power because I know the One who does. And He is for me. He is always working on my behalf. And this means I don’t have to strive or reach for control.” This is the true work of patience; not only to help us wait but to help us worship. To empty our hands and bend our knees and bow our heads. This is a wild, heart-freeing thing. Because what we want even more than to be in control is to be cared for by Someone who truly loves us. I let out a sigh of relief as I realize all over again we are. We always have been. We forever will be. God is inviting us to see it even now, to believe it, to know it all the way to our bones. Waiting for us patiently.

Until next time,
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com    971-285-6699