Puddle Jumpers

Do you need to search for some gently used clothing for the little ones and children in your life?

If so, make plans to attend Puddle Jumpers at First Presbyterian Church in Demopolis Saturday, October 16 from 9:00 - 4:00.

At last report, there were over 30 consignors so there is sure to be much to choose from!

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Children's Ministry.

Be sure to come out and have a look around!

Pastors' Wives Luncheon

The annual Pastors' Wives Luncheon (PWL) was held on March 27, 2010 at First Presbyterian, Demopolis. The PresWIC council sets aside this time each year to minister to and show appreciation to the wives of the pastors.

This year, 12 pastors' wives (out of 23) attended. They were treated to a spring tea party of sorts. Tables were beautifully decorated with 4 different patterns of china. Each place setting had a ceramic Easter egg (complete with candy) favor.

The ladies enjoyed a delicious lunch (recipes included), a time of fellowship, and a time of sharing. Peggy Perry moderated the sharing time. Thank you for doing such a great job!

Here are the recipes:

Chicken Spectacular

3 cups cooked, diced chicken

1 pkg Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice, cooked

1 can cream celery soup

1 small jar sliced pimento

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 can French-style green beans, drained

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

1 can water chestnuts, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together then pour into buttered 3 quart casserole. Bake 25-30 minutes. Serves 8-10

Mandarin Orange Fluff

16 oz cool whip

16 oz sour cream

1 tall can crushed pineapple (drained)

2 cans mandarin oranges (drained)

1 cup chopped pecans

1 lg box orange jello or 2 small boxes (dry)

Mix all ingredients together and chill.

(Can make with sugar-free/fat-free brands for a diabetic friendly version)

Broccoli Salad

1 lg bunch broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 med onion, diced

6-12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup golden raisins

Dressing:

1 cup Miracle whip salad dressing

1/c cup sugar

2 tbsp vinegar

Combine broccoli, onion, bacon, sunflower seeds and raisins. Mix dressing ingredients and pour over salad, tossing gently until completely mixed.

Refrigerate.

*We are working on getting photos from this and other events on the blog.*

Church Ministries

The new issue of Riverwood Presbyterian's Salt and Light (a monthly publication) is available here.
Back issues are also available for download. Visit the entire site for sermon downloads, the blog, and other information.

Riverwood Classical School is also accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year. For more information regarding classes, check here. The school will be hosting an informational meeting regarding a 6th/7th grade class soon. Click on the contact link to request more information about this.

First Presbyterian Demopolis held their annual Missions Conference in February. Take a moment to look through their missions page! Be sure to look through their entire website.

Trinity Presbyterian has a very informative website as well. Be sure to check out the blog, the calendar, and the WIC section.

If your church has an upcoming event, please share it with us! Also, consider writing a brief "report" of a past event! Just email any submissions to warriorpreswic@gmail.com.

Correction

**This is a correction to a previous post.**

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

to

Claire Olivia Mackin

Claire, of Demopolis Presbyterian, recited the catechism and will receive a certificate and Bible from CE&P. Her name will also appear in an upcoming issue of Equip Magazine.

Congratulations on your achievement, Claire!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!

to

Emma Lessman

of Demopolis Presbyterian.

Emma recently recited the entire Children's Catechism and received a Bible and certificate from CE&P and will have her name in an upcoming issue of Equip magazine.

This is the poem that Elaine Carr wrote and shared with us at the Annual Meeting. Some great thoughts!

Women’s Ministry. What’s it to YOU?

Keep the nursery tomorrow you say?

And then deliver the flowers to shut ins the next day.

Bake a cake and serve at a tea,

Give a shower, please can you help me?

Can you make some phone calls and serve up some lunch

And then come decorate for the church staff brunch?

Can you help us to gather some new volunteers?

Don’t take no for an answer even if there are tears

Please come be a part of our new Bible Study

Never mind that in that group you don’t have a buddy.

And we need to develop a new prayer chain

Can you get it up and running again?

Rear up those children in the way they should go

And when the church calls, never say no!

So, I ask you……

Do you believe that this is all that we are?

Going nowhere fast, not getting too far?

Do you think that we meet just for meeting’s sake?

Ask you to give and give and you never get to take?

Old fashioned, pointless tradition, is that your view?

Women’s Ministry is for the old, the weak, the lame, the few?

Where is the love, the mercy, the care?

It’s really right here, it hasn’t gone anywhere!

Equipping, Sharing, Serving and More

Is why we exist, that’s what we are for!

Connecting with our sisters, here, there, and yon

In local churches, presbyteries, and even across that great pond!

There so much that you can choose to do, or not

Our purpose is not to put you on the spot.

No matter your age, season, or plight

God has called you in this world to be salt and light!

He has purposed in you His good will and a plan,

Discover it with us, Let’s give each other a hand!

Please come with us. You can help us along

To give ear to our sisters’ needs and words to their song!

Help us to be strong arms that are always outward reaching

Comforting, encouraging, providing good solid teaching!

Knowing Jesus and making Him known all the world round

So that His love, grace, and peace can surely abound.

I hope that today you will begin to see

That this ain’t YO MAMA’S WIC!

It yours, you own it, it belongs to you all!

So take up the challenge, and run with the ball!

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.

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.

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.