Tuesday, March 31, 2015 WOW-Zine

Good morning, ladies! I hope you all had a wonderful Spring Break. I've kept up with some of you on Facebook during the past week and it looks like you were having a lot of fun with family and friends. And a special Welcome Home to those of you who were serving on the mission trip to Mexico. We're looking forward to hearing all about it.

Our Bible studies will meet this week as usual, then we'll have next week off due to our retreat. After that we should be back to our weekly schedule. Common Grounds meets at the church at 6:30 Wednesday night. This week Kristin is signed up for treats. Then on Thursday morning at 9:30 I teach the same lesson at The Perk. This week Carol is bringing something for us to munch on. 

Our memory verse for this week is I John 3:1--How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. (NIV)

You can join in our studies at any time. There's no book to buy, nor homework to do. (Other than the memory verse.) Just show up!

Last Call for Retreat! I only have four spots open for our WOW (Women of Wapato) retreat at Lincoln City April 10th-12th. Our theme this year is Hope: An Anchor for the Soul, with guest speaker Gina Detweiler. The cost for the weekend is only $80, which includes dinner on Friday, breakfast and dinner on Saturday, and Sunday breakfast. You'll be on your own for Saturday lunch. The retreat is over by noon on Sunday. If you'd like to claim one of those remaining spots, contact me right away. (My contact info is always at the end of the WOW-Zine.) I'm in the process of finalizing our drivers (we're very limited in the amount of cars we can park on the premises) so if you're signed up you should be hearing from me soon. If you're new with us, feel free to attend retreat, as it's a great way to meet a group of wonderful ladies!



Save The Date: Our Feminini-Tea is Saturday, May 16th at 10 AM at the church. I'm still looking for a few more good women to host a table, which means you're responsible for table service (plates, tea cups, silverware) for your table. Many of us have china sets that we rarely use anymore, so here's a good opportunity to take those pretty dishes out of the china hutch and share their beauty with others. Our theme is The Purse-uit of Happiness, so we're encouraging you to bring a favorite purse along as part of your outfit. This event is for women and girls (at least 5 years old) and is a good opportunity to invite your friends too. 

Those of us not hosting a table will bring tea foods that we will share potluck-style. This is a free event, but you will need to RSVP so we make sure we have enough tables prepared. I'll have a sign-up list at the retreat for both hosting and attending. 

I don't want to give too much away, but I'd really like to have a few of you women speak for 7-8 minutes at the tea. If you're the least bit interested, please contact me so I can tell you what's going on. It will be fun, and since you'll be among friends, it shouldn't be too intimidating!

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

            

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 WOW-Zine

                          Happy St. Patrick's Day!                                                          

 And happy St. Karen's Day, and St. Kristin's Day, and St. Amy's Day, and 

St. (put your name here) Day! 

In Psalm 3:4 we're told "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself." The word godly can also be translated as saint, referring to people who are, or should be, devoted to God and faithful to Him. Hopefully people can look at us and see by our words and actions that we are devoted and faithful to God. So every day should be a Happy St. You Day!

What do the following two pictures have in common? 

                                                                            

Neither of them is where our retreat will be held! But you'll be happy to know that our retreat house is much more like the image on the right than the one on the left! There are ten more spots open for retreat, and this Sunday registration opens for those who are not involved with Wapato Valley Church but have attended our retreats in the past. The following Sunday, if we still have openings, registration expands to those friends of yours who have never joined us in the past but would like to this year.
Where: Lincoln City
When: Friday, April 10th through Sunday, April 12th
Cost: $80 (covers lodging and four meals)
Why: It's a great way to make new friends and deepen your walk               with God.
Theme: Guest speaker Gina Detweiler will share about Hope: An                 Anchor for the Soul.
When you give me your money (cash or check made out to WVC) you are able to select your bed and be added to the retreat list. Next week I'll start sending informational emails to those of you who are registered. 


Tiffany Krautscheid is in the final months of her pregnancy, and she's giving up her husband and two oldest kids so they can be part of the mission team going to Mexico. We'd like to help her out by providing some meals while her three biggest helpers are out of the country, as she'll still have five kids at home with her. Please show her some love by signing up at http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=ITMS1362. We've got half the meals covered, but still need people to sign up for five more. 

Our women's Bible studies will not be meeting next week due to spring break.

Do you need a reminder of our memory verse for Common Grounds and The Perk this week? It's Deut. 4:39, which says,

Acknowledge and take to heart this day

that the Lord is God

in heaven above and on earth below.

There is no other.

In our Bible studies this week we'll be discussing how to apply this verse to our lives, and what a difference it could make. Join us at either Common Grounds (Wednesday night at 6:30) or The Perk (Thursday morning at 9:30.) Rita is providing goodies on Wednesday, and Keisha will do the same for Thursday. You can always start attending one of the studies at any time. We'd love to see you!

            

Thanks to the several of you who let me know you could host a table on May 16th at 10 AM for our Feminini-Tea. These ladies have volunteered to bring place settings and decorate a table so that the rest of us can bring food items and enjoy having tea together. Young ladies who are at least 5 years old are invited to attend with their mom or grandma. Our theme this year is The Purse-uit of Happiness.  I'll be taking reservations for this free event starting in April. I still need ladies who are willing to host, so please drop me an email or text if you'd like to help out. We'll get all the tables set up the night before so you can just relax the morning of. 

I'd like to leave you with a final thought from speaker and author 
Cindi McMenamin:

When It's One of Those Days...   

My friend, Holly, knows what it’s like to have one of those days you wish you could do over. 

It started at 4:30 a.m. when she opened the door of her house to pick up the newspaper which is usually on her welcome mat waiting for her. But as she opened the door, and before she even had a chance to look down on her welcome mat…Thunk! 

The newspaper delivery boy, unknowingly, chucked that newspaper through the early morning still-dark air and it pelted her right in the chest. She never even saw it coming! Stumbling over a bit, she regained her composure and just stood there. Nice aim, she thought, sarcastically, and turned around and closed the door. 

The rest of the day didn’t get much better. One nasty thing after another. Until pretty soon she wished she hadn’t even gotten out of bed that morning. Fortunately for Holly, she kept her sense of humor and laughed about it with several women in her exercise class at the end of the day.

We all have days when we get pelted with something right in the chest. A stinging insult. An action by a co-worker or friend that leaves us shocked. Some news that causes us to stumble or double-over. Sometimes it’s from someone, unknowingly, chucking something through the air that happens to hit us. And other times it’s a direct hit from someone with a pretty good aim! 

Whether it’s one incident after another that seems to be giving you a bad day or circumstances in which you are the one who is clearly messing up, there is a way to get through it. God's Word gives us simple instructions on how to handle the “bad days.” 

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). 

Yeah, right. Rejoice? That word creates in my mind a picture of a woman jumping up in the air and shouting for joy. We’re to do that when we’re having one of those days? Evidently so. Interesting that God’s Word doesn’t say: “This is the day the Lord accidentally let slip through the heavens; let us tolerate it and be done with it.” Rather, God’s Word specifically states that this day – even the one in which you get plunked right in the chest – is a day that He has made and therefore it is one worth rejoicing in. 

I suppose God wants us to realize that even when uncomfortable or hurtful or downright disastrous things happen, it is still a day in which we live, breathe and exist. It is still a day in which we can make choices and choose to see the brighter side of things. It’s still a day in which we can, like Holly, keep a sense of humor and laugh at the day’s events by sundown. 

There is still something in this day worth rejoicing about because it is a day given to us by the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Can you, my friend, find something in this day worth rejoicing about? If not, then simply rejoice. This is the day the Lord has made – for you to live it with Him and become the kind of woman He desires you to be. Rejoice in it, my friend. And see if it doesn’t change your outlook – and your day. 

Thank You, Lord, for this day….regardless of what it brings or has already brought my way. Today is a day that I live and breathe and exist. May I do so with a song in my heart simply because You have given me life. 

---

Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker and author of several books includingWhen Women Walk Alone, God's Whispers to a Woman's Heart and her most recent, When God Sees Your Tears. For more on her Southern California-based ministry, see her website:www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.

More of Cindi McMenamin :http://www.strengthforthesoul.com/

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

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 WOW-Zine

Hello Ladies! There's a lot of information to share with you this week, so I'm going to just jump right in. Please be sure to read through everything and not just assume you know what's going on, as you never know when something new has been added. :)

This Saturday is our WOW Bowling Party at Four Seasons in Hillsboro. This is your chance for some healthy competition, lots of laughs at our various bowling styles, and sharing good times and good food with good friends. We'll meet at the bowling alley at 10:30. If you're interested in car pooling from Gaston, meet me behind the church at 10 AM. We'll bowl a couple games and eat lunch in the restaurant before carrying on with the rest of the day. You may bring your daughters that are old enough to bowl. Please let me know if you plan on coming.

Tiffany Krautscheid is in the final months of her pregnancy, and she's giving up her husband and two oldest kids so they can be part of the mission team going to Mexico. We'd like to help her out by providing some meals while her three biggest helpers are out of the country, as she'll still have five kids at home with her. Please show her some love by signing up at http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=ITMS1362


Have you signed up for retreat yet? Show me the money ($80) and you can reserve your spot for the weekend, as well as pick your bed! Please make checks out to WVC but give them to me. The dates are April 10th-12th at "our" beach house in Lincoln City. We're going to have a great time as our guest speaker, Gina Detweiller, leads us in thinking about Hope: An Anchor for the Soul. Our outreach this year will be gathering items to put in gift bags to welcome young ladies who arrive at Saving Grace Maternity Home in Hillsboro. I'll be sending out letters in a couple of weeks letting you know what you can sign up to bring for the bags, our schedule, car pooling, etc. 

Pirate's Cove

The Gull Room

The memory verse we're working on for our Bible study this week is Ex. 3:14. God said to Moses, "I Am Who I Am." This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.

(Just talk to Nathalie M. to find out her secret to memorizing the verses. It's even rubbed off on Kristin L.!) Common Grounds meets Wednesday at 6:30 PM and Jody S. is up for treats this week. I'll provide something for us to eat on Thursday morning at 9:30 for The Perk. 

Coming up at 10 AM on Saturday, May 16th, is our Feminini-Tea for women and girls. This year our theme is The Purse-uit of Happiness. Start looking for a special purse you can bring along with you that morning. Maybe an old one you have that has special meaning, or something new just because!

I need women to start signing up to host a table, which means provide table service and decorate the table in some way keeping with our theme. You can mix and match your dishes, make it as formal or as playful as you would like. When we get closer to the date I'll have a place you can sign up for what food you'd like to bring for our brunch-tea potluck. (Women who are hosting a table needn't bring food.) We've done this event for several years (though we missed last year) and it's always a special time--a chance to wear a spring frock if you're so inclined, and crook your little pinky as you delicately sip tea. That's one option. But if you're not comfortable getting a little "girlie" for the day, don't let that stop you from coming. We really want YOU there! We want you to relax, be comfortable, and just enjoy connecting with other women. Please let me know if you're willing to host.

I told you there was a lot of information I needed to cover today!! Make sure to put these events and dates on your calendar so you can plan ahead.

Until next week,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Good morning, ladies! What a beautiful spring day to wake up to, and according to the weatherman, more to come! I don't know about you, but I'm excited to experience Daylight Savings Time on Sunday. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour. 

 

Retreat registration is in full swing, and about half our spots are already filled. You don't want to procrastinate and lose out. Just $80 (checks made out to WVC but given to me) will get you signed up. You can see me at one of our Bible studies or at church on Sunday (yes, I'll be there this week!) to hand over the money and choose your bed. Just a reminder that we don't invite nursing babies, nor can you attend just a part of the retreat. You miss out on too much of the experience if you just come for the day, and it disrupts the feeling of connectedness to have people popping in and out. So it's an "all or nothing" philosophy we have for our retreats. 

APRIL 10th-12th at Lincoln City. A few weeks before retreat I will start sending out informational letters to those who are signed up, letting you know what to bring, what we need for gift baskets of Saving Grace Maternity Home, and how you can arrange to carpool. (We're very limited on parking space at the house.) Don't worry--it always works out fine!

Coming up a week from this Saturday, on March 14th, is our annual WOW Bowling Party. This has always been a fun, casual time of getting to know each other better. We meet at Four Seasons Bowling at 10:30 for a couple games of bowling. (322 SW Washington, Hillsboro.) The worse you are, the more fun it is! Sometimes they have Groupons available, though I'm not aware of any now. The regular cost is $3.25 per game, and shoe rental is $2.95. Part of our tradition is to stay and have lunch afterward at their restaurant. If you'd like to carpool from Gaston, meet behind the church at 10 AM that morning. 

Both Common Grounds (Wednesday, 6:30 PM) and The Perk (Thursday, 9:30 AM) will be meeting this week as we continue our Bible study about finding Higher Ground in our walk with the Lord. We've had some really good discussions as we apply God's word to our lives. Nathalie M. signed up for treats for Wednesday, (thank you!) but no one did for Thursday morning, so I guess we're on a diet! If you want to bring something, please let me know.

Our scripture verse to memorize this week is Exodus 6:6--

Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the Lord,

and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will

redeem you with an outstretched arm

and with mighty acts of judgment.'

(This is from the NIV, but you're free to memorize whatever version you prefer.)

One of the things we've been challenged to do throughout our current study is to become very aware of God's presence, provision, and protection. Pray that your eyes and heart are open to seeing Him at work everywhere you look!

Until next week,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 WOW-Zine

Hi, ladies! Are you ready to get away for a few days and relax in a beautiful house in Lincoln City? If so, have I got a deal for you!! The weekend of April 11th-13th, you can join 39 other women for our annual women's retreat. Our guest speaker this year is Gina Detweiler, from Central Oregon. Our theme is Hope, an Anchor for the Soul. Who doesn't need a little more hope in their life? For those of you who have never joined us before, here's a picture of the "rustic cabin" (ha ha!) where we stay. 




For only $80 for the weekend, you can sign up to go. That cost includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, and Sunday breakfast, plus exquisite accommodations. Registration opened this past Sunday and we've had a great response. When you give me your $80 check (made out to Wapato Valley Church), you are considered registered and get to select your bed. On March 22nd registration will widen to include those who don't attend Wapato but have come to retreat in the past. A week later, if there's still room (we're limited to 40 ladies), I will open it up to your friends or family who have never joined us. Please note that this is a child-free weekend. No nursing babies. In the past several years, I've offered a mini retreat at my house a few weeks later, but I will not be doing that this year. I will be carrying registration forms with me at both Bible studies and at church from now until we fill up, so you can catch me easily. I sure hope you're able to join us!

Thank you for being so understanding when I had to cancel both women's Bible studies last week due to being so sick. Yesterday was a big turn-around day for me, and I'm anxious to get back to meeting together weekly. We just barely got started in our new study, Higher Ground, two weeks ago. Just a reminder to those of you who attended, that we're supposed to memorize this verse to be able to say together this week: "You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other." Deuteronomy 4:35. And we were also going to share times that we've been especially aware of God's presence, protection, and/or provision since we last met. 

Common Grounds meets Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and Christine is bringing snacks for this week. The Perk will study the same lesson on Thursday morning at 9:30. There is no one signed up for goodies this week, so please let me know if you'd like to provide something.

I know our main focus is on the up-coming retreat, but I'd also like you to be planning ahead for our Feminini-Tea on Saturday, May 16th. We weren't able to do one last year, but want to be sure we have it this year. This is an opportunity for you to bring your daughters, grand daughters, etc, as well as friends, to join us for a couple hours as we celebrate spring. I'll be letting you know more details as we plan them, but please put this date on your calendar. We will need a lot of women to host a table, which means providing dishes, tea cups, etc. This is always a potluck-type affair where everyone (except the table hostesses) brings a tea food to share. Maybe the weather will be as nice in May as it's been for the past few weeks! One can hope, right? (Which is your reminder to sign up for retreat!)

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

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 WOW-Zine

Hi, my dear friends. This will be extremely short as I can just barely hold my head up for five minutes at a time. It's been ages since I've been this sick. That starting to feel better thing I had going one last week was certainly short-lived. I relapsed and got sicker than ever. Went to the doctor yesterday and have a respiratory infection, so now I'm getting by with Jesus and drugs! 

I've had to cancel life for this week and just concentrate on getting well. I feel terrible about it, but am cancelling both Bible studies this week. There's just no way I can do them, nor would you want to be around me. So let's plan on meeting together next week, instead.

I certainly hope to be well by Sunday, which is when our retreat registration opens up to those who attend Wapato. I don't have enough energy to rehash the details right now, so I'll just paste in what I wrote about it last week: Retreat is coming! Retreat is coming! I hope you're making plans to join us at Lincoln City April 10th-12th for Hope: An Anchor for the Soul. The cost is a phenomenal $80. Registration (which means you've paid in full) begins soon. We do a three-tier approach, broken down like this:
Sunday, February 20--Open to women who attend Wapato
Sunday, March 22--Open to other women who have attended retreat in the past
Sunday, March 29--Open to family and friends who have never attended
Remember, we are limited to the first 40 people that sign up.

So bring an $80 check made out to WVC with you on Sunday, and you'll get to register and select your room.

Oh, one of the missionary families we support, the Foldens, are now living in the Forest Grove/Cornelius area. They just had a new baby and a move and have been through some recent hard times. If you would like to provide a meal to help them out, please call Cheri Morey at 503-830-8876. I'm too sick to do the TakeThemA Meal coordination that we usually use, so we're going old-school with this one!

Until next week,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 WOW-Zine

Would you believe I originally thought I'd have this sent out before most of you had your first cup of coffee or tea this morning? And now here it is, 5 PM, and I'm finally writing. It's been one of those catch-up kind of days. I'm hosting two meetings at my house tonight (Life Group and the Women's Ministry Team) and after having been gone for a week, then sick on my couch for 5 days, then gone for the weekend and all day yesterday--let's just say I've needed to do a bit of cleaning around here!

I'm excited that we'll be starting our new Bible study, Higher Ground, this week. Bring your Bible and a notebook on either Wednesday night at 6:30, or Thursday morning at 9:30. Both groups meet at the church. I just found out today that the band for the Valentine's shindig needs to practice at the church on Wednesday night, so Common Grounds will meet across the street at the annex this week. Jody is up for bringing snacks for that, but you'll need to bring your own drink. Carol R. is bringing something yummy for Thursday morning. Thank you both!

Speaking of Valentine's, this Saturday evening is the Heart to Heart dinner and concert at the church. Feel free to wear something a bit fancy if you'd like. You can still purchase tickets ($12.50 per person) from the church office, or reserve them by calling Susan at the church (503-985-3351) by Wednesday (tomorrow). And you don't have to scramble to find a sitter. Childcare (including dinner) is available for only $2 per child at the annex. Again, let Susan know if you're using that service. Dinner is at 7, but the doors open at 6:30. By the way, proceeds from the evening will go to benefit a 3-year-old girl named Paisley. She has a genetic mutation that promotes cancer growth. Invite your friends to come with you!


Retreat is coming! Retreat is coming! I hope you're making plans to join us at Lincoln City April 10th-12th for Hope: An Anchor for the Soul. The cost is a phenomenal $80. Registration (which means you've paid in full) begins soon. We do a three-tier approach, broken down like this:
Sunday, February 20--Open to women who attend Wapato
Sunday, March 22--Open to other women who have attended retreat in the past
Sunday, March 29--Open to family and friends who have never attended
Remember, we are limited to the first 40 people that sign up.

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