A Christmas Event

Beth Acton is a Wycliffe/MTW missionary to Papua New Guinea and is a member at Crescent Hill Presbyterian. The following email announcement was sent concerning a special Christmas event at Crescent Hill. What a great way to get into the spirit of the season!!

One of my home churches in Selma, Crescent Hill Presbyterian, inviting all who are able to come and hear a Christmas Concert of my songs. I know not all of you will be able to make it but for those who can and need directions or anything just let me know. But I would appreciate your prayers for this time.

I will be singing a lot of new Christmas songs that I have written over the past recent years as well as a few of my old ones. I might even take a request or two. :)

The Walker Sisters are hopeful that they will be able to join me. They always make me sound better.....

It will be an informal time but mainly a time to share with you the way God has blessed me and given me songs to sing for Him. Please pray that it will be a time to glorify Him and celebrate His love in coming to be our sacrifice and our Savior.

When: December 6, 2009

Time: 6:00 PM

Where: 100 Crescent Hill Presbyterian, Selma, Alabama 36701

In His service with you,

Beth

Calling All Movie Buffs

If you enjoy movies, you may find this list interesting. It is a list of the top 100 spiritually significant films.

Check it out and let us know (by leaving a comment!) if you have seen any of them. If so, do you have a favorite? I haven't looked at the entire list yet but did notice that Babette's Feast was on. That is a great little short story and a wonderful film.

Let us know what you think!

Don't forget the upcoming PresWIC meeting: January 23, 2010 at Trinity Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa.

Report of Warrior PresWIC's 2009 Spiritual Retreat

If you were unable to join us for the Spiritual Retreat, you were missed!!! We had a great time of fellowship, heard a great speaker, and were sheltered from the very hard rain! (Thanks to Demopolis for supplying the report.)

Please make plans to attend the January meeting which will be held on January 23, 2010 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa.

Warrior Pres-WIC’s 2009 Spiritual Retreat

Approximately 64 ladies and 5 guests met at the Centreville Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Though it was raining (hard) outside, we enjoyed a wonderful time together in sweet fellowship and learning. Edna Gleason was our featured speaker. She spoke on Jesus: the secret to a satisfied heart. Using Hebrews 12:1-3 as our guide. We learned what the Bible teaches us about Jesus and then how to apply that to our lives. Below is a short summary of some points Edna brought to us:

Though we grow weary, we need to get back to the joy of knowing “My Jesus”. We please God by believing and following in faith. Hebrews 10:32-34. If we personalize Hebrews 12: You are my righteous one, one that I have made, you are mine, do not lose heart, continue to trust in me, “Trust Me”, run the particular race that I marked for you.

A little known fact is that in nature, there is a certain order as to how the birds begin to sing every morning. The birds with the largest eyes sing first. If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, then our hearts will sing.

Peace comes from hearts satisfied in Jesus. We don’t have to be anxious because He has a plan for me and nothing can change that plan.

We then looked at some points of what Jesus is:

• Perfect harmony with His Father
• Creator
• He holds everything together
• He is in complete submission to His Father
• Obeyed his parents (ones that He created)
• He Loved God’s Word
• Lived a simple life (though he created all things)
• Never coveted
• Loves his followers though they were sinners
• Loved children
• He wept
• Loved God with his whole heart
• Loved his neighbor with no sinful anger
• Was always true and reliable
• Compassionate
• Content with what God called Him to do.
• Never worried/or discontented/or dissatisfied
• Never proud
• Never feared man
• Willing to correct but with perfect love and wisdom
• Suffered the rejection of His Father
• He made complete payment for ALL guilt for ALL his chosen ones.

BUT NOW,

• He is exalted to highest place
• He is interceding for ALL of us
• One day we will see Him – not with these eyes (our sin puts a film over our eyes now)

THEN our hearts will sing.

Go back every day to see “Our” Jesus so we won’t forget what He has done for us. Or we will try to do things on our own, and we know how that turns out.

FIX OUR EYES ON HIM.

Practical things:

Women are prone to discontentment and anxiety. (These are sins.)

Discontentment says “Lord, what You have given me is not enough.”

Anxiety is not trusting God. In our own strength, we ca n not “not worry.” We have to look to Jesus. The Cross is big enough for ALL OUR sins.

From Philippians we learn to be thankful through all our trials and troubles. He is using them to shape us. Though they are not pleasant as we pass through them, they are used for our good. We sometimes forget that we are truly blessed.

A Song to Share

Cooler breezes are blowing.

Football has started.

The leaves are beginning to blush their colors.

A new season is beginning.

This song may help refocus our attention, calm our spirits, and remind us of who set these seasons in place--and of who holds each season, not only of the earth, but also of each of our lives.

Exciting Times

Exciting things are happening at Riverwood Presbyterian!

The first phase of a building program is underway. What began as the monthly mail out newsletter for church members, the Salt and Light has been revamped and is now a monthly magazine (available in print and electronic versions). This magazine features articles written by members and friends of Riverwood and touches on various aspects of culture, looking at them through the lens of the Gospel.

The latest edition features details of the building program. You can take a look at it here. Previous issues are available for download at that site.

Please keep the people and leaders of Riverwood in your prayers.

Reminder

Please join Warrior PresWIC on September 19 at First Presbyterian Centreville for the 2009 Spiritual Retreat.

The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. Guest speaker will be Edna Gleason. Her topic for the morning is "Seeing Jesus: The Secret of a Satisfied Heart."

The meeting will conclude with lunch.

Please be in prayer for this meeting, for Mrs. Gleason, and for the ladies at Centreville as they prepare to host this time of learning and fellowship.

Recipe

Another yummy sounding recipe from Kelly McNutt!!

I would highly recommend the cookbook A Passion for Baking by Marcy Goldman to anyone who loves to bake from scratch. Her recipes are not easy, that's for sure, but they are amazing! I have made several things from her book in the past and true to form, this one did not disappoint me either!

Double-Dutch Chocolate Scones

Week 5 (Not easy)

3 c. all-purpose flour 1 large egg

3/4 c. sugar 2 T. strong brewed coffee

1/2 t. salt 2 t. pure vanilla extract

3/4 c. cocoa powder 1 c. whipping cream

1 T. baking powder 1/2 c. each coarsely chopped

1/2 t. baking soda semisweet and white chocolate

pinch ground cinnamon Finishing touches

3/4 c. unsalted butter, cut into chunks 1 c. each chopped semisweet & white

chocolate, melted & cooled slightly

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange oven rack to upper third position.

2. In a food processor, add flour, sugar, salt, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon and blend briefly. Add chunks of butter and pulse to make a coarse, grainy mixture.

3. Remove mixture to a large bowl. Make a well in center and stir in egg, coffee, vanilla, and most of cream. Stir with a fork, adding remaining cream if needed to make a soft dough. Stir in 1/2 c. each semisweet and white chocolate chunks and then remove dough to slightly floured work surface. Knead gently to make a dough that holds together. Divide dough in half and pat or roll each portion into a 6-inch circle, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut each into 6 wedges.

4. Place on prepared baking sheets and place in oven. Reduce oven temperature to 400 and bake until dry to the touch (it is hard to see by the color of the crust, since chocolate scones are dark to start with), about 18 to 22 minutes.

5. Smear melted semisweet chocolate on each scone and, once chocolate sets, drizzle with white chocolate. Let chocolate set.

Equipping

Karen Lashley, PresWIC secretary has been going through the PresWIC archives. In doing this, she has come across some audio cassettes that have some great content!

Titles include:

Connie Miller WIC Building Blocks

Diane Balch How to be Outreach Focused in PresWIC and Local WIC

Charles Dunahoo Conflict Management

Karen Grant Creative Compassion

Kathy Cheeley Yes, Virginia, You Too Can Be Productive

If you would like to listen to any of these, please contact Karen at First Presbyterian Demopolis (demopres3895@bellsouth.net).

These are great resources!

Also, if you have not heard of (or never looked at) Modern Reformation magazine, it is definitely worth a peek. There are some articles on the website. The magazine has great articles each month and are quite thought provoking. There is a free trial option which includes a print issue and online access for 30 days. A one year subscription is $32. One issue provides more than enough articles to read and reflect on until the next issue arrives!

Yummy!!

Kelly McNutt of Demopolis has begun a Bible study at her home. The lucky ladies who attend not only get the joys of a great Bible study and lovely fellowship but also are treated to a new dessert each week! Kelly is sharing some of the recipes she has tried so far.

Gooey Turtle Bars - Week 1

Prep: 8 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Chill: 30 minutes

~ 2 cups graham cracker crumbs ~ 2 cups (12 ounces)

or vanilla wafer crumbs semisweet chocolate morsels

~ ½ cup butter or margarine, melted ~ 1 cup pecan pieces

~ 1 (12 ounce) jar caramel topping

Combine crumbs and butter in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan; stir and press firmly into bottom of pan. Sprinkle with chocolate morsels and pecans.

Remove lid from caramel topping; microwave at HIGH 1 to 1½ minutes or until hot, stirring after 30 seconds. Drizzle over pecans. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until morsels melt; let cool in pan on a wire rack. Chill at least 30 minutes; cut into bars.

Yield: 2 dozen.

Mocha Brownie Cake - Week 2

1 (21 oz) package chewy fudge brownie mix 1/2 c. chopped pecans

(i used Duncan Hines) 1 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream

1/4 c. water 1 T. instant coffee granules

1/2 c. vegetable oil 1/4 c. sifted powdered sugar

3 large eggs, lightly beaten Garnish: chocolate shavings

1. Coat 2 (8 in) round cake pans with cooking spray; line pans with wax paper, and coat with cooking spray.

2. Combine brownie mix, water, oil, and eggs in large bowl, stir in pecans. Spread batter evenly into pans. Bake at 350 for 25 min. Let cool in pans on wire rack for 5 min, invert onto wire racks. Carefully remover wax paper, and let cakes completely cool on wire racks.

3. Combine whipping cream and coffee granules. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream mixture between cake layers, on top, and on sides. Cover and chill 1 to 2 hours. Garnish if desired. Store in refrigerator. Serves 12.

Marbled Chocolate Bundt Cake - Week 3

1 (18.25 oz) package devil's food cake mix 1/3 c. sugar

without pudding 1 large egg

1 t. vanilla extract 1 c. (6 oz) semisweet chocolate

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened morsels

1. Prepare cake mix batter according to package directions; stir in vanilla. Pour batter into greased and floured 12 c. Bundt pan; set aside.

2. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg, beating well; stir in chocolate morsels. Spoon cream cheese mixture into center of batter, leaving a border around outer edge. Gently swirl batter with a knife to create a marbled effect.

3. Bake at 350 for 45 min. Let cool in pan on wire rack 10 to 15 min; remover from pan, let cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar in desired.

Plum upside-down cake

1/2 c. (1 stick) plus 1 T. unsalted butter 1/4 t. baking soda

plus extra for pan, room temp. 1/4 t. salt

4 firm, ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges 1 large egg

1/4 c. plus 2/3 c. sugar 2/3 c. sour cream

1 c. all-purpose flour 1 t. pure vanilla extract

3/4 t. baking powder

1. Heat oven to 350. Butter 8 in. cake pan and line with parchment paper.

2. Melt 1 T. butter in large skillet over med-high heat. Add plums and 1/4 c. sugar and cook, tossing until sugar dissolves and juices from plums become syrupy, 3 to 4 min. Arrange plums in cake pan in slightly overlapping concentric circles, starting from the outside. Pour any pan juices over plums.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. With an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 c. butter and 2/3 c. sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated.

5. Pour batter over plums and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50 - 55 min. Let cool in pan for 1 hour. Place large plate over the cake pan and invert the cake onto the plate. Serves 8.

We look forward to more of these great, easy recipes!! Thanks, Kelly.

For A Monday...

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your finger,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him

and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly begins

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

all sheep and oxen, and also the bests of the field,

the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

Information and Prayer Requests

First Presbyterian Church in Demopolis has DVDs from past National Women's Conferences. These great resources can be checked out by contacting the church at demopres3895@bellsouth.net or (334) 289-3895.

The following titles are available:

1989 Charles Dunahoo The Constant Woman in a Changing World

1992 WIC International Conference Sessions 1-8 (session 6 is missing)--various speakers

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As many of you know, General Assembly is being held this week in Orlando, Florida. Please pray for the travel safety of those who will be attending and for the business that will be handled there. If you would like further information (including the docket of the meeting), you can go here. The docket as well as the schedule are available on the far right.

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On a local level, we continue to pray for the healing of Elaine Carr's (President) mom. Elaine has been with her mom for several weeks as she has gone through hip replacement and all of the recuperation that is involved with that. Please lift Elaine, her mom, and Elaine's family at home (who are missing her!) up in prayer.

Please also do keep the upcoming September PresWIC meeting in prayer. We will be meeting in Centreville on September 19 and are looking forward to a refreshing time of learning and fellowship.

Flowers

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created."  Revelation 4:11

Photos by Elaine Carr, First Presbyterian Demopolis.

Poetry

The following poems were written by Barbara Sessions.  Barbara is the executive director of Carenet in Demopolis  and is co-owner of Curves.

Despair of my soul tore at my heart,

I felt as if life were falling apart.

 

Festers of sorrow were too much to bear.

With expressions of grief, I called out in prayer.

 

“Why, oh why, is there so much strife?”

I agonized in this situation in life.

 

The gloom of the hour held me captive for time,

Until I consulted His Word divine.

 

Assurance came as I drank from His Brook.

Calming water was mine as I read in His Book.

 

Despair turned to praise, how my heart did rejoice.

Life is renewed as I chart a new course.

Grief

By Barbara Sessions

 

The grief of my soul is wearing me down.

Oh, for the joy that once did abound.

 

It’s not for me my heart doth despair,

But for those that I  love, please hear my prayer.

 

Lord strengthen my faith that I may endure.

Trusting you is The Way, of that I am sure.

This amazing work of art was done by Karen Davidson of Demopolis.  She and her husband, Dennis, attend First Presbyterian Demopolis.  Click here to "meet" Karen!

You can see more of her lovely work here.   Such beautiful work--you'll enjoy your visit!

Thank you so much, Karen, for sharing your talent with us.  To contact Karen, click here.

**We would love to feature your creation--sewing, scrap booking, cakes, photos, etc.  Please take a moment to take a picture and email it to warriorpreswic@gmail.com.

Easter Sunrise Service

The following pictures were taken at Demopolis' Easter Sunrise Service.  What a beautiful background for worship.   Thanks to Elaine Carr for sending along the photos.

Needed...

This is a shameless plea for submissions to this blog!!!  

Have you read any good (or not so good) books lately?  Write a brief review or simply submit the title.  Don't forget about children's books.

Have you watched movies recently?  Again, a review or the title would be welcome.

Do you craft, sew, take pictures, etc.?  Please submit a picture of your latest creation.  Tell us how you got involved in that particular craft, how long you've been doing it--we want to know about YOU!!

Do you have  a favorite quote or favorite recipe?  Please send it in.

Do you know the history of your church?  Please take a moment to write it out and send it in.

This blog is all about getting to know each other and the churches in Warrior Presbytery.   We want to hear from you!!     Submitting is very simple--email warriorpreswic@gmail.com.

Signs of Spring

These pictures were taken by Dana Miller (Riverwood Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa).  Daughter Gracen was thrilled to watch a wren build a nest and lay eggs.  She was able to watch the eggs hatch and the birds grow.  On the morning the babies left the nest, Gracen was on the porch watching.  The birds flew all around (and on) Gracen!

Ridge Haven Camps

Many PCA children will enjoy a week of camp at Ridge Haven Camp this summer.  This is an exciting time in the lives of children.  They have great fun, make new friends and, of course, learn a lot.  Please be in prayer for these children and the adults who will go with them.  Pray for safety, growth and health.  Pray, also, for the workers at Ridge Haven--many are college students working through the summer.  For more information about the camps offered at Ridge Haven, go here.

As we learned at the April Sharing Session, there is a new camp at Ridge Haven with a very special focus.  Brave Heart is a camp specifically designed to support children and teenagers who have faced the pain of the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, relative or special friend.

Part of the offering that was taken at this meeting will be sent to Ridge Haven to help support this camp.  Please take a minute to look at the link provided above.  Please also keep this camp in your prayers.

Sharing Session

The Sharing Session for Warrior PresWIC was held on Saturday, April 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Camden.  

The ladies of Camden went above and beyond by providing much delicious food, beautiful flowers and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.    Their attention was appreciated by all in attendance.

Please take a moment to look at the pictures from this meeting.  A link is on the sidebar under Picture Gallery.  

Also, be sure to put September 19 on your calendar now and begin praying for the Spiritual Retreat which will be held at Centreville Presbyterian Church.

Reminder

Please don't forget that this Saturday, April 18 is the PresWIC Sharing Session.

Don't miss this time of fellowship, fun and learning!

For further details, please click this link.

Also of interest is the following email from PresWIC President Elaine Carr regarding upcoming opportunities for ministry:

While Gail Rankin was at Leadership Conference last month, the WASC (Women’s Sub-Advisory Committee) asked that each Pres-WIC make a financial donation toward the new camp that is being offered at Ridge Haven for bereaved families.  Originally they were asking for one camp scholarship to be provided by each Presbytery, however they have just asked each Pres-WIC to contribute what they can. Of course camps are coming up rather quickly and the one for bereaved families is in June which makes this a priority matter.  Our council has prayerfully considered this request and feels strongly that we should give the wonderful women of Warrior Presbytery the opportunity to contribute to this worthy cause as they see fit. To that end, we are going to give a portion of the offering that is taken at the Sharing Session to Ridge Haven to be used towards a scholarship for the bereavement camp. We wanted to give you prior notice so that you can let your ladies know so that those who are able and willing to contribute can come prepared to do so.

 

We have also prayerfully considered some type of “service” project for our Pres-WIC and decided to do something for the students at RUF prior to the end of the semester. The consensus among the college students at Alabama with whom I have talked is that they particularly appreciate food and would like to have a pizza party.  So, please ask your WIC treasurer to bring a check for a minimum of $10 so that we can provide that meal without having dip into the general funds of the Pres-WIC.

Again, please make plans to attend the meeting on Saturday and prayerfully consider how you can help in these two worthy ministry opportunities.

Easter

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.   And they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

He is not here but has risen."

Luke 24: 1-6

Pain

The following post was written by Dana Miller in 2006.  Dana is married to Jeff Miller, Music Director at Riverwood Presbyterian.  They have one daughter, Gracen.  This post also appeared in Riverwood's monthly publication, The Salt and Light.  For more about Dana and their family, visit her blog here.

My maternal grandfather owned a butane company. He would go out in all kinds of weather on service calls. When my Mom was a little girl, she would go along with him sometime. They would have to go out in the dark, in fields that were caked with mud with knee deep ruts cut through. The wheels of the old butane truck would get stuck and throw mud. Mom was scared that they would be stuck with no one to help them for days. Papaw would always say, "we're going to make it, got to make it." Mom says they always did make it.

Pain is kind of like those fields caked with mud and knee deep ruts. Whether it be physical, emotional, or mental; pain is dark and can make you feel as though you aren't going to make it. Most of us don't like to talk about or even think about pain. As a society, we've gotten pretty good at masking the symptoms. However much we don't like to think about it, there is one sure fact: we will all have pain at some point in our lives. It is part of living in a fallen world.

Our pastor preached a sermon on Psalm 150 several weeks ago (you can listen to it here ). One of the points that stuck with me was praising God in everything and with everything. I had to think on that a while--especially with regard to pain. I know pain--I know it well. Literally, every step that I take hurts. Sometimes the pain is indescribable. I don't question why--well, not a lot anyway--I know why. For 20 years, I've walked on something "unnatural" so to speak. The prostheses I've had in the past weren't great; technology has finally made some great strides but not before damage was done. I hurt in the morning, during the day, and at night.

Pain brings out lots of emotions in people. Some carry it almost as a martyr's badge of honor--either by pretending that they don't have pain and everything is "fine" or by making sure that everyone knows that they have pain! Some ignore it in the hopes that it will simply go away. Others may try to do enough good to outweigh the bad in the hopes that it will simply disappear. Some get bitter and lash out at everyone. But, praise? Not exactly an emotion we think of in the context of pain. You see, praise has to have an object. We have to praise someone or something. Are we going to praise someone or something for whatever kind of pain we find ourselves in?

The short answer is yes. We are going to praise someone. We may praise ourselves (secretly or otherwise) for being able to bear the pain. We may praise the doctors or medicine who may be able to give temporary relief. We will praise--it is what we are designed to do. Maybe the rub comes when we have to say who we praise. Psalm 150 doesn't leave any doubt--and there is no exception clause.

There are many times that I am tempted to join Frodo in Lord of the Rings and "wish that this had never come to me." But, I always think of the alternative. Cancer could have won in 1985. This path is probably not the one I would have chosen (had I had the option to choose!) but I am incredibly thankful that I didn't choose the path for my life.

In light of all this roaming about in my mind, my question became am I worthy of the path (and pain) that I walk? Philippians 1:27 says
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear
of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind,
striving together for the faith of the gospel." Then verse 29:
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to
believe in Him, but to also suffer for His sake.
Now, I know that Paul was talking to the Philippian church about persecution and such, but if we are to praise God in all things--and rejoice and be thankful--then it seems that we have to consider whether we are worthy of the path He has put us on. I don't mean worthy in the sense of worth but worthy in the sense of conduct. Are my actions to my pain worthy unto Christ? Crying out to Him to relieve the pain--even as Paul did but accepting in His grace if the pain remains or gets worse--and living, walking and trusting in that grace to sustain me.

Am I able to do that? Not a chance. It is then that I am so thankful for Christ's words to Paul: My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Sunday Thought

“No single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest,

and there is not a square inch in the whole world domain of our human existence over which Christ,

who is sovereign over all, does not cry: “Mine!”

 

Abraham Kuyper

Many thanks to Melissa Lien for sharing this quote.  

Melissa is the wife of Rev. Tim Lien, pastor of Riverwood Presbyterian.  She is mommy to Laurian, Anderson, and Lainey.

Good Words

Keith and Kristyn Getty are Irish hymn writers/singers.  Many of their hymns, such as In Christ Alone, have gotten much play on Christian radio.  

The words that follow are another of their hymns--one that perhaps has not seen as much as air play on the radio.   The words are soothing and reassuring.  

"Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer"
Music by Keith Getty; Words by Margaret Becker
Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music 

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

Let the treasures of the trial                                  
Form within me as I go - 
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

April Offering

PresWIC has several offerings throughout the year.  These offerings not only provide some of Warrior PresWIC's annual operating funds but also give the women of Warrior PresWIC the opportunity to support some worthy ministries.

The recipient of April's Showers of Blessing offering is chosen by the Warrior PresWIC Executive Council and is a contribution to MNA Missions.  The recipient for 2009 is Palmer Home for Children.

Please take a few minutes and look through Palmer Home's website.  Take a look at all that is going on and what they do in the lives of the children who come to them.  Take a moment to pray for the children currently living at Palmer Home, for the staff, and for the families the children come from.

If you are lead, please make a contribution to the Showers of Blessing offering during the month of April.

Baked Beef Ziti

A yummy, quick main dish...

12 oz. uncooked ziti (or any tube pasta)

2 tsp. olive oil

2 medium garlic cloves

1/3 lb. ground beef (can use a little more, if you prefer)

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried rosemary

(Instead of all these, you can substitute Italian seasoning; most brands have all these in it already!)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

28 oz. crushed tomatoes

1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350.  Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat; brown beef--adding in garlic.  Drain the beef.  Add beef back to pan and add spices.  Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes.

Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4 quart dish (just enough to cover the surface); top with half the cooked ziti.  Next, layer with half of remaining beef mixture and half the cheese.  Layer with remaining ziti then top with remaining beef mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Upcoming Events

As many know, the next meeting of Warrior PresWIC will be on April 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Camden.

A bit of history on First Presbyterian, Camden:

The Church was organized on April 3,1845.  The original church edifice, erected in 1856 at the cost of $2,700.00, burned in September, 1869. The present building was constructed in the 1880’s. The church features an open shingle carved  belfry with ‘stick-style’trim and bracketed cornice. An itinerant artist, in exchange for food and lodging, was credited with the original  majestic painting in the sanctuary. The impressive interior wall behind the pulpit featured a style of painting,‘trompe l’oeil’( meaning ‘trick of the eye’) of a visual simulation of a ‘stairway’ along with the painted pilasters(columns)  which remained until a major restoration of the sanctuary was begun in 1948. In 1955, the construction of the educational/activities building was completed.  The sanctuary was again refurbished in August, 2003 by the refinishing of  the original wooden shutters and the ‘heart pine’ flooring. Chandeliers and sconces were added to enhance the natural beauty of the sanctuary.  First Presbyterian Church of Camden is a member congregation of the ‘Presbyterian Church in America,’a denomination with early roots in the Protestant Reformation.

April's Sharing Session meeting will focus on advice for running the race in everyday life.  The sharing session offers 5 break out sessions that last approximately 40 minutes each.   There will be 2 break out sessions, so begin now to think about which 2 you most want to attend!

The sessions are:

--Mirror, Mirror on the Wall 

This session is especially for tweens and teens (of course, moms are welcome!).

--Shepherding Your Child's Heart (Rebecca Lessman)

--Mentors That Don't Know They Are Mentors (Vicky Clemmons)

--Supporting Families During the Educational Years (Dana Miller)

--Ministry to Missionaries at Home and Abroad (Elaine Carr)

In addition to these great break out sessions, personal testimonies will be given by Vicky Clemmons and Rebecca Lessman.  

Please mark your calendars now for this event.  Also, be sure to look in your bulletins, bulletin boards at your home church for more detailed information.   This will be a great time of fellowship, encouragement, discussion, and learning.

A Little Encouragement for Your Inbox

Elaine Carr, PresWIC President,  forwarded an ezine that she gets periodically from Chuck and Sharon Betters' ministry.  It was filled with encouraging articles and thoughts.

To subscribe, follow this link.   You will see a sign up for the Treasures of Encouragement ezine about mid-way down.  There are lots of articles here and on the entire site.

Chuck and Sharon Betters are the authors of Treasures of Faith, Treasures of Encouragement, and Treasures in Darkness.  

Friday Thoughts

"Relying on God has to begin over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."

        --C.S. Lewis

"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God whose you are, will deliver you out of them.  He has kept you hitherto--do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and, when you can not stand, He will bear you in His arms...The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day.  Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.  Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."

      --Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

"God is God.  If He were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.  Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience.  I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to."

        --Elisabeth Elliot, Through the Gates of Splendor

Do you have a favorite quote or something that you have read lately that has really caught your attention?  Please leave a comment and share!

Leadership Training Report

Gail Rankin, PresWIC Historian, was able to attend the 2009 WIC Leadership Training in Chattanooga.  She gives the following report, hopefully, we will be able to hear some more from her about this conference!

Gail is a member of Faunsdale Presbyterian Church.  She is married to Jody.  They have 4 daughters and 8 grandchildren--including the newest born February 23, 2009!

The 2009 Women in the Church Leadership Training in Chattanooga, TN is now just a memory—a wonderful memory!  The theme, FAMILY MATTERS: Loving, Equipping, and Serving God's Church, was well planned and well executed.  There were three types of meetings: regional, workshops, and General Sessions.  The regional meetings (3) allowed us to interact and pray with other women from our geographical area.  We had a choice of 11 workshops; unfortunately we could only attend 2.  I chose one on how we of the older generation can better relate to the younger generation of women without seeming bossy, overbearing or a know-it-all.  The other one concerned de-cluttering our own ministries whether on the PresWIC , local or personal level.  Imagine having to not only keep our closets neat and uncluttered but our lives and ministries as well!  The information was great. 

     Our last General Session speaker was Pam Benton, wife of a PCA minister now in Nashville.  Pam reminded us that we need to all feel connected.  She emphasized that we all must keep focused on our purpose, priority, and passion for the body of Christ.  (That's us, the church!)  As we move forward, what at first seems a job should become a joy.  A duty should become a delight!  It was definitely a delight to meet so many new friends as we prayed and persevered together.  Another word of advice from Pam was that in our Christian lives we must not "sit, soak, and sour"!  Go forward and love, equip, and serve God's church!

Free Classes

Covenant Theological Seminary offers many courses available online.  Best of all, these great courses are free!

This is a wonderful opportunity to study at your own pace, in your own home and still get great teaching.

Be sure to check out this link.   Please leave a comment if you have taken or are taking a course--or would like to!  Which course most interests you?

What is PresWIC?

Basically, PresWIC is made up of women attending  the various churches within a specific Presbytery.    Most local churches have a WIC (Women in the Church) of some form.  Some have officers, others have leadership committees.

Please know that if you are a woman in a local church, you are part of WIC--you don't have to sign up or anything!  You are a Woman in the Church and, thereby, welcome to all WIC/PresWIC events.

PresWIC has a group of women who serve as officers (Executive Council).  These officers meet 4 times per year to plan the 3 PresWIC wide meetings that are held throughout the year.  Officers are nominated and must be approved by their local church and by the Presbytery.  Each officer serves a 2 year term and may serve up to 2 consecutive terms.

PresWIC also has 5 offerings that it collects money for throughout the year.  Briefly, these offerings are:

Contingency Fee--Used as the operating fund for Warrior PresWIC.

Showers of Blessing--Recipient is approved by the Warrior PresWIC Executive Council.  

This is a contribution to MNA (Mission to North America).  The 2009 recipient is 

Palmer Home for Children.

WIC Love Gift--Recipient is chosen by CE&P (Christian Education and Publications) in

Atlanta and rotates between all PCA committees.  

The 2009 recipient is the Administrative Committee.

Atlanta Budget--Used toward the WIC Headquarters operating fund in Atlanta.

Send the Light--Recipient is approved by the Warrior PresWIC Executive Council.  

This is a contribution to MTW (Mission to the World).  The 2009 recipient is 

The Border Sewing Ministry of Joyce Huizinga.

For an excellent resource on WIC/PresWIC, please take a few minutes to read this.

The logo for WIC is an old fashioned kerosene lamp.  Here is an explanation.

The PresWIC Executive Council strives, with all of the meetings, to further the purpose of WIC which states:

The purpose of the Women In the Church is that every woman know Christ personally and be committed to extending His kingdom in her life, home, church, community, and throughout the world.” 

Communion

Riverwood Presbyterian Church has recently gone to a weekly Communion schedule.  A book was recently written by Tim Lien, Pastor, Eric Venable, Assistant Pastor, and Jimmy Hopper, Ruling Elder and Pastoral Administrator entitled This Is For You.  The book is a collection of 40 reflections on the sacrament of Communion.  

This poem was written by Peggy Drinkard after reading This Is For You.  Peggy is the Director of Children's Ministries of Riverwood Presbyterian Church.  She is the wife of David and mom to Vic, Caleb and Samuel.  In her spare time, she writes beautiful poetry such as this.  More of Peggy's thoughts and poems can be find at her personal blog.

Invitation to Communion

 

Come to this table spread for you

With costly manna, finest wine

Where strength and health and life renewed

Flow to the branches from the vine.

 

There is no price that you can pay

To dine at this exclusive club

The guests are debtors, sin-clad men

Who own themselves deserving wrath.

 

Your elder brother brings you here

To feast on his own flesh and blood,

Providing everything you lack

To fill your soul with proper food.

 

For only this bread satisfies

The hungry, gnawing, empty heart.

This wine alone can quench its thirst,

And make the parching pain depart.

 

So come and join your family here

Around this table spread for you,

Where Christ is both the centerpiece and meal

And you will find Him good.

pdrinkard, Feb. 23, 2009

 

"O taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8