Soup and Serve

 Soup and Serve was a great time of fellowship and meeting new people.  Our Women Ministries team put in so much effort to make this happen!  Thanks Gals!  We started the event with time to meet other women.  We enjoyed great soups, breads and desserts for lunch.  Kinsey gave a short devotional about Ruth and Naomi and the value of friendship and mentorship. 

Then we started our service projects!  We heard from the Missions Sewing Circle.  They showed us how to "rip and roll."  We ripped sheets and rolled them into bandages to send to medical clinics in the Congo. 

Hope House shared their heart for the teen mothers in our area.  They are instrumental in providing them support and hope for the future.  What a great way to show the love and heart of Christ.  We made "Mommy Bags" for these teens.  Our girls at this event helped paint the canvas fabric of these bags.  Then they went on a "treasure hunt" to find the right items to fill the bags.  Everything from shampoo to lotion to Children's Tylenol was put in the full bags.  To finish the bag they wrote an encouraging note to the teen mother.

Theodora House is a ministry in Denver that ACC supports.  Women from our church help prepare meals and take them to Theodora House where they spend time talking with homeless women.  Many of these women have been in abusive situations.  Theodora House provides not only shelter and food for these women but also provides help and resources to get them back on their feet.  We filled "Purses of Love" with all types of toiletries and supplies for them.  Here's an example of  one note written by a 10 year old from our church to a women at Theodora House:

"Please never forget how much God loves you.  He is never far away and will always love and believe in you"

It warms my heart!  What a great event!  I love that so many girls and women from our church took the time to serve women going through challenging circumstances!  Check out the pictures:

Our beautiful centerpieces with a verse from Ruth:

 Merry works her magic in the kitchen:

Kathy and Kiesa putting the finishing touches on food and decorations:

Our helpers...maybe future Women Ministries leaders!

The gals from the Missions Sewing Circle display their quilts:

Women Ministries gear:

The items donated by the women in our church that will go into Purses of Love and Mommy Bags.  It took forever to set up.  Glad to have the team to help!

Cards wait for the girls and women to write notes of encouragement for the bags:

Now that the set up is done, time for fellowship, food, and service!

Linda and Kinsey lead us in a time of food and connection before doing a devotional on Ruth and starting the service projects.   

Women writing notes for the Purses of Love:

 Love the finished project:

Painting supplies for the Mommy Bags:

The finished project! We had to wait overnight for them to dry and put the supplies in.  It was worth the wait!  Our girls did a great job!

Rolling bandages to send to the Congo:

The finished product:

Thanks to all the girls and women who came to serve!  We love that we were able to pair a time of food and connection with a service project.  Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

A Traditional Christmas...

Can you believe it’s already time to start talking about the holidays? Soon life will get busier as we all prepare for guests, shop for food and presents, decorate, bake, and participate in any number of holiday festivities. I always find myself a little frazzled. I’m sure I’m not the only one!

As I was contemplating ways to get overcome the holiday craze, three ideas come to mind. Proverbs 3:5 was the first thought I had. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” It sounds so simple, yet is so hard to put into practice. Being a new mother on top of working and leading a ministry puts this into a whole new perspective. I have to confess that often I fail to trust in the Lord. What would it look like if I took this to heart every day during the holiday season when I divide my attention between being a wife, mother, employee and leader? I’m not sure yet, but I feel God challenging me to do this. I’ll let you know how it goes!

My other two answers are not quite as scripture based. But I can promise you they will meet needs in your life over the holiday season!

Number 1: Check out our latest idea! We like to call it: “Meals Made Simple, Friends Made Quick.” Come join us the morning of Nov. 12th. You will get to connect with other women while preparing easy meals that can be frozen. This will alleviate the stress of figuring out what to do for dinner during the holiday season. What’s better than having dinner that is already made when you’re too busy to cook?

Number 2: Prepare your heart for the Advent season by coming to Advent Brunch. Join us in this mutigenerational event and bring your friend, mother, daughter, or grandmother. You will get to enjoy a relaxed breakfast where you get to connect with other women. Enjoy special music and carols led by women in our church. You will get to hear women from different generations in our congregation speak about their favorite Christmas tradition and how that has enriched their relationship with Jesus.

While I know my 3 suggestions to overcome the holiday craze don’t provide all the answers, I hope in some way they will bless you this holiday season! More info to come in the SPICE newsletter/ACC website/Facebook! 

Fall Missions Conference

Missions Opportunity! 

Join the Mission/Outreach Commission for a mini conference and a free lunch!  On Oct. 9th in the Family Life Center at noon, you will get the opportunity to hear Drs. Jim and Anna Marie Jackson. They are the founders of Project Cure.  You will hear about their work and testimony.  Arok Garang, a Lost Boy of the Sudan, will also be there to speak about his experience and about the Seeds of Hope ministry. 

A love offering is encouraged to pay for the shipping of a PROJECT C.U.R.E. pallet of medical equipment destined for Africa!

Sign up on Oct. 2nd via tear offs in the bulletin!

From Generation to Generation

Quite often, when we describe who a woman is – we tell her roles. She is so-and-so’s daughter, his wife, their mom, she works at such-and-such, she is a programmer, gardener, student. The list could go on and on… But inevitably when you describe a woman by her roles you are stating what is unique and different with her as compared to other women.

In Lamentations we find this statement about God:

Lamentations 5:19 NIV - "You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation."

And then in Daniel, Luke, Psalms and Hebrews…

Daniel 4:3 NIV - "How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation."

Luke 1:50 NIV - "His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation."

Psalm 90:2 NIV - "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

Hbr 13:8 NIV - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Now, what we can surmise from knowing these scriptures is this: If God is the same for eternity than we know that he loved Eve the same that he loved Ruth, Tamar, Jaal, Gomer, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Lydia, Martha, and Priscilla. You see, He is the same and loves women the same regardless of ethnicity, relationship, generation or role! He loves Women!!

Let us then demonstrate this same love to the women in our church and community. We must therefore get back to what we all have in common. What is it that makes us uniquely WOMAN?

I believe that what make us a woman is the blending of strength and beauty. Like a horse charging across a field toward you, you are enthralled with the beauty and terrorized at the fierceness at one time.

Our culture alludes to this with statements such as: “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” In one statement we learn that “Momma” is both beautiful and we desire to see that side of her but she is also fierce when not happ. One sufficient and succinct warning to the power of influence God entrusted to us as women.

So – when we know that God is the same from Generation to Generation – than we should put our hope in that. What is the same across our generations of women? What do we have in common rather than focusing on what is different?

Are there unique places of pain in groupings of women, such as newly divorced single moms? Absolutely, and those needs can be addressed as the Lord leads, but all our events this year should be centered around what we share in common and honoring to those things that make us different.

As Paul encouraged in his letter to the church at Phillipi…

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. - Phl 4:2 NIV

Let us make this year in Women Ministries our year to agree with each other in the Lord!

 

~Cheryl Meakins~

Performing Arts Tour

11 women joined a tour of the Performing Arts Center featuring the back stage areas where we could witness the production of costumes, stage backdrops, props, etc.  We were amazed to learn that the theater complex is the second largest in the US, second only to the Kennedy Center in DC.  Our guide explained that there are 10 performing spaces capable of hosting 10,000 guests.  We were able to stand on the stage of the Buell Theatre and "perform".  It was a fascinating look at the top fine arts center in our city.  The icing on the cake was lunch at "The Corner Office", a trendy restaurant just across the street which features a unique menu including sweet potato fries.  Debbie tried the Downward Dogs.  There were some interesting statues outside the complex so we took pictures there.  What a great time to connect with other women!

Back into the Swing of Things

Can you believe that it is fall already? Kids are going back to school. The weather is starting to cool and the leaves are changing! If you are like me, you have missed Sunday services at church here and there this past summer. We go out of town, visit family, take time in the mountains and participate in any number of activities that takes us away from church on Sundays. For me, the fall signifies routine again. Now that it’s fall, Women Ministries is “Back into the Swing of Things” too.


I would like to say, “Welcome back!” We have so many new and different ideas for this year. Our Women Ministries theme this year is “From Generation to Generation.” Our hope is to focus on what makes us the same and not what makes us different. We may be different because of our age, marital status, children, hobbies, career, and the list could continue. But, we are the same because we are women and we love Jesus. When we focus on why we are similar, it makes it easier for the different generations of women in our church to feel connected!

We hope this newsletter will help you to feel linked to the women in our church. You can find information on our events, the monthly calendar, and interesting articles in this newsletter! We hope to see you at one of our events soon!

~Kinsey Ringenberg ~ Women Ministries Chair

Check it Out!

You can now register to recieve an email about any blog updates.  See the left column under the Upcoming Events section to enter your email!

Don't forget prayer this Sunday in between services in Room A202!

Recap on Spring Retreat

Spring Retreat 2011

What an amazing weekend.  We were so glad that so many of you could be a part of it.  If you were unable to attend, hopefully this will convince you that you need to be a part of this weekend next year!  We plan to hold our 2012 Spring Retreat the weekend after Easter.  Plan on it!  How could you not attend with Barb's smiling face to greet you as you come in!

We had great facilities and food at the Westin!  And not to mention beautiful decorations!

We tried several new things this year including a marketplace with proceeds going to help women in ministry around the world!  The marketplace got such positive feedback we may need to bring it back for next year!

 This year we were blessed to have Ginger Millermon as our speaker.  She is a talented speaker, author, and recording artist.  Friday night she captivated us with her singing and testimony.  She has a powerful testimony about God's miraculous healing in her son's life and an adoption of a sweet girl from India.  She shared music with us from her latest albums.  If you missed out on this check out her website for her books and CDs at http://www.gingermillermon.com/.  Her daughter has also released a CD recently.  If you're looking for music with a positive influence be sure to check her out at Ginger's website.  You can find both of them on itunes as well (her daughter is under ckenzi millermon in itunes). 

Ginger also shared with us that she will be taking two of her children on a missions trip to an orphanage in Uganda in June.  Keep them in your prayers!  For updates you can follow her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ginger-Millermon/31484061066. 

On Saturday Ginger began her series about living a Worthy Life from Colossians.  What a challenge and blessing it was to hear from her on this topic! 

Worship with Ginger on Saturday:

Between Ginger's teaching sessions we tried something new...Breakout sessions.  We gave you the option of choosing 2 breakout sessions from the 6 that were available.  We were blessed to have several speakers willing to give their time to come speak with our women. 

Debbie Hardy discussed the challenges of step parenting in one session and moderated a panel that discussed how to deal with a health crisis in your family.  Thanks to all the women who participated in that panel!  Debbie has also written a book that recently debuted that acts as a guidebook for a journey through cancer.  You can check out her blog at: http://www.steppingthroughcancer.com/, http://steppingthrulife.blogspot.com/ or at http://steppingthroughcancer.blogspot.com/. 

Debie Montoro led a session about spiritual gifts!  Several of the women wanted more information on this topic!  Debie will be leading an Oasis seminar starting on April 13th!  Don't miss out!

  Kinsey discussed ways to talk to your kids about God's plan for purity.  She is passionate about teaching parents how to do sex education for their kids! 

Great resources for how to discuss sex with your children.  Check out authors Vicki Courtney (http://vickicourtney.com/about/) and Dr. Stanton Jones for great resources on sex education for the Christian parent!

KC Dierenfield was a guest speaker from Reigning Peace Ministries.  She has a heart for leaning to solve conflict in a Godly manner and led a seminar about peacemaking in friendships.  If you would like more information about her ministry be sure to visit her website: http://www.reigningpeace.org/.

Cheryl Meakins discussed how fasting can make a difference in your spiritual walk and shared her personal testimony about the role fasting has played in her life.

Great resources about fasting:

Friends and fellowship during the retreat:

After our last session with Ginger, many women took the opportunity to stay the night again and connect with their friends!  It was a great way to deepen friendships and develop new ones!

Sunday morning started with a prayer walk that was a powerful way to recap the retreat.

The prayer walk was a personal experience with God that ‘sealed’ the work God started in the retreat.

Each of us journeyed through a time of worship, confession, communion and blessing.  The back hallway of the conference center became our chapel and God truly walked with us. 

Many women said that the prayer walk was a powerful time and perfect ending to the retreat.

Ginger was able to lead worship and share her testimony at ACC Sunday morning!  It was great to continue to worship with Ginger in that way!   It is amazing how God can use a weekend away from distractions to do His work in your heart! 

National Leader

Our National Women Ministries is looking for a new Executive Minister.  If you are interested or know someone who might be see the letter below:

Dear Covenant Leader,

The Evangelical Covenant church is conducting a search for a new Executive Minister for Women Ministries. A nominee will be placed on the ballot at the annual meeting in June. We are writing to ask for your assistance in identifying quality candidates.

After twelve years of service as Executive Minister of Women Ministries, Ruth Hill will be retiring this year. We truly thank God for her leadership and service. A reception in Ruth's honor was held during the Women Ministries Triennial XIII this past July. She will also be recognized and honored at this year's annual meeting.

Women Ministries provides leadership for ministries to and through women of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Our vision is to advance God's kingdom through women. Our mission is to equip women for growth and service. Our process for accomplishing this work is by connecting women in transformational relationships that unite them in Christ to impact our world. Holding to the confession of The Evangelical Covenant Church, Women Ministries of the ECC is committed to participate in the ministries of the ECC in areas of common concern and responsibility.

Interested parties should apply with a cover letter and resume by February 23, 2011 to Regina Williams

email address: williams.regina@comcast.net

or mailing address: 8507 South Justine Street

Chicago, IL 60620.

This position is also posted on the Covenant website, www.covchurch.org/jobs/.

We value your prayers as we go through the search process and thank you for your assistance in spreading the word about this important opportunity and the invaluable resource that Women Ministries is, not just to women, but to all members and institutions of the Covenant.

Yours in Christ,

Regina Williams                                                                      Gary Walter

Chair, Women Ministries Search Committee                         President, Evangelical Covenant Church

Special Interest Missionaries

Our Covenant Midwest Conference is assigned Special Interest Missionaries.  Our missionaries from 2011 to 2013 will be Cindy Hoover in Mexico and Barbara Johnson in the Congo/Asia.  We look forward to blessing these women in their ministries through prayer, encouragement and financial support. More information to come!

Upcoming Opportunity - Missions Breakfast

Mission Women’s Breakfast Featuring Margie Swenson

Saturday February 5th 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 am.

Applewood Community Church

Our featured speaker is Reverend Margie Swenson, C0-Director of Missionary Personnel for Covenant World Mission, based in Chicago. Margie is a dynamic speaker with a wealth of experience serving in the field as a missionary. She has wonderful stories to share and to inspire you in your walk with the Lord whether serving locally or in a faraway place!

The breakfast is also a unique opportunity to meet new Christian sisters – our sisters at Applewood Community Church in Golden. They are working hard to serve us a delicious breakfast and to decorate their Worship Center for our enjoyment. There’ll be amusing ice-breakers games!

We have gift certificates to give away as door prizes – just for fun! Our very own Debbie Hardy will lead us in music.

Please sign the bulletin tear-off or stop by our registration table in the Family Life Center! There is no charge to attend. Please bring family members and friends. If you have any questions, contact Ceil Higgins at 303-359-3682.

Daniel Fast - Day 21

Today you have finished this race! As you push through to this evening savor every moment and reflect back on:

1) How have you changed in 3 weeks?

2) How has your life changed in 3 weeks?

3) If you had to run again – would you train differently? If so what would you change?

4) Probably the most important question – How has your knowledge of God changed?

I hope you know that I was looking for more in my life: to see more of God, to hear his voice more clearly, and to gain a deeper understanding of my soul.

I was listening to some CD’s during my fast on the healing of the soul. Jean Holt shared this insight:

“Fasting is where you come to understand the nature of your dependency.”

God unearthed some darkened secrets in my soul that needed cleansing. But he also gave to me a new understanding of how deeply and desperately I need Christ.

I need Christ in every breath,

in every thought,

in every image of my mind.

I need Christ for direction and for my peace.

I need Christ when I rise and when I sleep.

I need him in my plans and in my inspiration.

I need him in my sorrow and times of desolation.

I need him to breathe a new song of joy.

I NEED CHRIST!

Consider this: end today with a time of personal communion.

Take in the bread and savor the wine. Truly, his blood was shed and his body was broken just for you. Just for you… may you see how great and far and wide is your need for him. So that He may fill you with the greatness, the depth and the width of his love!

Keep running the race Women after God’s own heart, Keep running!

Daniel Fast - Day 20

The Daniel Fast

Day 20

“Come on in… welcome to my home. Please sit here; it is the most comfortable chair in the house. Would you like a cookie? Latte? I’ll whip it right up! Please don’t worry about intruding, my home is your home, you are truly welcome at any time, mess or no mess my door is always open!”

Mark and I have a pretty open door policy. We have a few friends that know to just come on in and that we will look at them weird if they do knock or ring the doorbell.

I have to tell you though; the girlfriends that come in without knocking are also the ones who know me best. They see me in my jammies at 10 a.m., they hear me torn apart on the phone because of some recent crisis in my life, and they lovingly step over my laundry piles. And I let them come in anyway. Why? Because, they love me. They might be concerned if I am in my jammies at 3 p.m., they might be worried if I call every day for a week in tears with the same ole crisis. But mostly they just know that I am getting through life each day the best way I know how, with Christ and family I have found in Christ.

Have you ever thought that Jesus would like that same invitation? “Hey Jesus, come on in, sit a while and let’s talk, really talk! Can I get you anything?”

As we learned at Triennial XIII Jesus does want to come in and just be, just be at home in my heart and with my soul. But he also wants to help me spring clean. He wants the freedom and the trust to pick up the rug and help sweep out the dust. He wants to help you move the fridge and take out the dead mouse, Yuck!!! He wants to be at home, as if it was HIS home!

In John 15:4-10 in The Message bible says it this way:

"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire.

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.”

I hope that each of you in the last 20 days has moved a little closer to making yourself at home in Jesus and his love. ABIDE women of God. Come on in, make yourself at home!

Daniel Fast - Day 19

The Daniel Fast

Day 19

Have you been treasure hunting or grave digging during your fast? I have had a bit of both. One day a treasure the next a grave. And sometimes the treasure was in putting to death things that have long haunted me.

We had some friends over on Saturday night and God had reminded me of how I had grossly sinned while out on a double date with them. My sin not only embarrassed me (when looking back at my behavior) but also put them in the place of ‘parenting’ me; an awful role to impose on a friend or a husband. So when they came over, I confessed my sin to them. Of course in their graciousness they said they couldn’t even remember the event and said it wasn’t necessary to apologize to them. Ah, but what they didn’t know is that I needed to apologize for me. Leanne Payne in her teaching series talks about how we have lost the need of confessing our sins to another. I have to say that as an Evangelical I had no understanding of the confessional that is presented in the liturgical churches such as Catholic, Episcopal and Anglican. She explains that when a particular sin gets a hold of your soul, and no matter how many times you might have confessed the sin it doesn’t let go is when you need to confess to another. It is not necessarily for accountability as much as it is for your need to hear someone else proclaim to you the forgiveness of Christ graciously given to you. The proclamation of another over you can be the one thing that sets you free.

This memory had stuck with me, shame in tow, guilt alongside until I confessed it for what it was – SIN!

I dug the grave and put that sin to death. It no longer has the power to shame or reprove me. And in digging that grave I found a treasure in the confession of sin to another.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16

Daniel Fast - Day 18

The Daniel Fast

Day 18

A picture that joyfully replays in my mind is of Lydia around 2 years old. We are on a family hike and the wind kicks up. She giggles and turns to face the wind. With eyes closed, arms wide open, and curly hair askew she giggles at the wind on her face and through her hair. And sometimes I wonder if she felt God’s face nuzzling hers as the wind whipped by. She has always loved the wind. Standing unafraid of what the wind would bring, she faced its force trusting what may come. Her arms spread wide and unguarded and joy coursing through her soul.

I wish I faced the winds with not just peace but joy! I wish I trusted what the Holy Spirit brought to me, joy coming from unquestioning faith. Well, I am building my life on the Rock. So I will learn to stand on that rock, eyes closed in faith, joy in my countenance and abandoned to the will of my Father.

Join me!

Daniel Fast - Day 17

The Daniel Fast

Day 17

Do you ever feel like you have pinned yourself to a dissection table and started slicing? Sometimes we spend a lot of time ‘outside’ of ourselves looking in and finding what is wrong. In fact some teaching encourages such unhealthy examination of oneself. I have heard such an interpretation of John the Baptist when he said “He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30.)” I can say confidently that introspection was not what John the Baptist was referring to.

But no matter how hard we try we cannot be rid of ourselves. If the whole of who God made us to be is wrong and should be cut away, why then would we also be taught that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit?

You see, we must come to find that God crafted us with His perfect image in mind. He did not add a ‘pinch of sin’ just to keep the curse going (we did that). So somewhere in you is the idea of you in the complete and perfect image of Christ! The hard part is in understanding that the creation can never be fully understood apart from the Creator. Therefore, the more we know of God the clearer we become in our own eyes.

As far as that ‘pinch of sin’ – you must trust that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you all things that you should be mindful of and not torment your own soul by continuing in the disease of introspection.

And this, my friends, is the fundamental reason that we must learn to abide in Christ! Grow your knowledge of God so that he may increase and we may decrease!

Daniel Fast - Day 16

The Daniel Fast

Day 16

Bach and Handel are both composers from the Baroque period and each stood out in numerous ways. But one commonality between the two was how they signed the end of their cantatas and compositions. S.D.G. (see picture). These initials represent the Latin statement, Soli Deo Gloria, To God alone be the Glory.

It is said that the first performance in London of the Messiah was attended by King George II. When the Hallelujah Chorus began, he rose to his feet, and so did those with him (following the King’s lead). Thus our tradition of standing for the Hallelujah chorus even today! There are many speculations on why King George rose to his feet. But I must believe this explanation found on Wikipedia:

“As was and is the custom, one stands in the presence of royalty as a sign of respect. The Hallelujah chorus clearly places Christ as the King of Kings. In standing, King George II accepts that he too is subject to the Lord of Lords.”

In this way – even King George II finished the Messiah with S.D.G. shown in his actions. We too must learn that we bow low in humility and thankfulness before our King, but to stand in His presence shows that we are moving the glory from our accomplishments - to the composer of our lives.

May you find every way to say –Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone Be the Glory!

Daniel Fast - Day 15

The Daniel Fast

Day 15

In “You Were Born For This” by Bruce Wilkinson he makes a profound statement –

“Good people, doing good works in the world is not enough to fully accomplish what God wants done. God seeks to reveal Himself in majesty and truth in our generation – and to do so through us. That’s why a miracle just delivered and received is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to give Him the glory he deserves.”

In so many words I think what Bruce is saying is this; if you want to know that the good you are doing is the good that God predetermined for you to do…. You only have to ask one question. Does the act of good shift the praise and glory from me, the one who delivered the good, to God, the one who DID the good?

This is a vitally important question for us as women, the volunteers of the churches, schools, and sports organizations. We can drive ourselves into the ground ‘doing good.’ Maybe a step back to evaluate what we are so busy with can bring us freedom. Is the good that I am doing bringing glory to me or God?

These are tough words. But what better time to place your busy-ness before God than in the middle of your fast.