PWOC Central Region Conference

As fall swings into fall gear we have a group of ladies preparing to take a break and gather with other women to spend time growing closer to our Lord. This years PWOC conference is a regional one and we are excited to have some ladies participating. Please be in prayer for all those attending, pray for safety as they travel and that they will be open to the Spirit while they are there.

Our New Studies

Hey Everyone! We have had such a great response to our new season! It is going to be so exciting to begin these new studies and get to meet the new ladies. Some of you know already but I want to share with everyone our new studies. The morning group will be doing Beth Moore's Esther study. The evening group will be doing Experienceng God. These are both wonderful studies so whichever group you attend you will be blessed.
I also just want to share a few housekeeping things with you. Both groups meet in the RE Building/Airman and Family Readiness Building. You can park in the A&FR parking lot or you can park between the two hangars across from the building. The morning group meets from 9-11 and the evening group meets from 6:30-8:30.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!

A New Season

I hope that everyone has really enjoyed this summer. It has been a great time for PWOC. Our morning group has enjoyed a spiritual chocolate boutique, and our evening group has been on a great journey. This summer has also brought about some changes. We have a wonderful new board, whom the Lord has already been leading in awesome directions, and we are looking forward to a great fall.
Please make a point to join us for our Fall Kickoff on September 10. We will be having a joint meeting at 6 PM at the North Chapel. It will be a great opportunity to check out the new studies starting in the fall and a chance to meet the new board and catch up with friends. We look forward to seeing you there.

God is Calling

A wonderful team of ladies has been praying for several months. Blanca, Joyce, Anita, and Susan agreed to pray together about God's calling on our PWOC board for 2009-2010. Thursday at our regular Bible study times, the slate of officers was presented.

President - Lisa S.
Spiritual Life - Cheryl L.
Programs - Megan P.
Administrative - Donna S.

Will you join us in hearing God's affirmation of these ladies to lead us for the next year? An installation service will be held this month.

Of course there are many other opportunities for YOU to hear God's call. Would you consider praying about how God might lead you to serve in PWOC? Here are some ideas to get you started...

• Volunteer to watch children for program nights
• Help with decorations and program planning
• Lead prayer ministry
• Teach Bible study
• Welcome new guests
• Write articles for the blog
• Create postcards and brochures for events
• Coordinate special outreach events

You Might Have Noticed...

You might have noticed that our blog is long overdue for a post. But don't think the ladies of PWOC have spent the past two months idling away their time. On the contrary, Check out what we've been up to:

• Mothering Without Guilt led by Blanca has been meeting on Tuesdays at the Solid Rock Cafe. We've enjoying meeting many new ladies and their young children. How wonderful it is to reach out and share fellowship and prayer with each one! This study will end in April 28, and we hope to offer another short study this summer.
  
• Many of our number have been enduring struggles over the past two month. But we rejoice that in the midst of medical issues, family changes, financial struggles and personal stress, we are victorious every time we go to God for our needs. Our study, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, causes us to reflect on our priority of prayer. Many ladies have stepped up to led the discussions.
• Our leadership selection committee has been diligently praying for God's will for Sheppard PWOC this coming year. As we approach this PCS season, we realize that our fellowship changes. I hope that you are able to look back a this year and cherish memories with your sisters in Christ. And then look forward with confidence that God will bless you in the upcoming months as He draws together a special group of women to share your journey.
• God has strengthened each of us to be the body of Christ as we serve one another. We've delivered meals, watched each others children, prayed in times of strife, visited in the hospital, and passionately stood in the gap in each others absences. What beautiful Martha moments we've blessed each other with!

We have some great events coming up soon! Watch you email for details about the evening program May 7th and our WILD traveling training on May 16th.

New Studies Coming Soon!

Our recent study by Beth Moore has been so wonderful. Kaitlyn, Crystal, Donna and all of their assistants have blessed us so much as they lead us through the Psalms of Ascent. Many of you have shared how God has spoken to you through this study. Please leave a comment on this post for all to read. Others will take delight in knowing how you have been blessed!

We have two exciting studies coming March 12 and volunteer opportunities abound! We are looking for ladies to sign up to help with refreshments and watchcare. Would you be willing to sign up for one week this spring? Be praying about how you can help.

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

I have several calendars, a stack of post it notes and a car full of junk to show all of my Martha personality. But how do I schedule those Mary moments? One way is by setting aside time for prayer, study and worship. This season in PWOC we are going to share Mary Moments as a group on Thursdays during out study and fellowship time. Then we'll encourage each other to make time in our busy lives to sit at the feet of Christ in a daily time of prayer.

Mothering Without Guilt

When I was pregnant with our first child, I was certain that I'd never say "No" to her. She'd just want to do the right thing. I would also puree my own babyfood, use cloth diapers (long before the cool ones they have now), and dress her in stylish clothes. When reality hit, I felt like a failure. What choices were the right ones? I spent time feeling guilty that other moms were doing a better job than I was. Or even worse - feeling a sense of pride that I was better than other moms.
Let's talk about being godly mothers and encourage one another in making the best choices for our families. New and experienced moms encouraged to attend.

January Project Day

WOW! What a wonderful turnout we had for making chocolate spoons! There were 17 volunteers who helped make these tasty treats for the National Prayer Breakfast. We melted. We drizzled. We chilled. We wrapped. And of course a lovely lunch provided by Cheryl was a big hit.

The PWOC and the Catholic parish are helping to provide decorations and goodies for the tables in the banquet hall. Several of our ladies will also be serving a lovely breakfast to the Rider High School choir following their performance on Tuesday morning.


Keira and Jaela fill spoons.

Mother Gladys, Cheryl, Susan, Casey, Melissa, and Katie get into the action. We've got quite an efficient assembly line going!

Expert ribbon cutters - Susan and Tori get ready for the mad rush of spoons that will need blue and white bows.

Thanks for being involved in a super project!

Encouragment

I'm so glad you checked in to the blog today! I am bubbling over with amazement at how wonderful God is as He uses us to accomplish His will. Look what He's done this week -

Crystal led our evening study with grace and confidence. We are so excited about the opportunity we have to share this journey.

Our morning ladies offered to take prayer requests home to lift up all through the week. WOW! What a wonderful commitment to support the women God has placed in your path.

Wonderful women from our group have been kept safe during their travels on land and sea... You know who you are! (And none of us are jealous... probably.)

Our Program team, led by Donna, are gearing up for an amazing program February 5th. We are already thankful for the way God is going to bless us!

New ladies are joining the Stepping Up study each week. We now have 34 women attending. An awesome testimony to the direction God is leading us - closer to Him day by day.


What has God done for YOU this week? Give a shout out by commenting on this post. WE want to share in the blessing!

**You dont have to register in order to comment. You have the option of just leaving your name.)

Who Loves Chocolate?!?!

The National Prayer Breakfast is fast approaching and the ladies of the chapel have been asked to help with several projects. The biggest and most exciting project is all about CHOCOLATE!

We will be gathering at the Religious Education Building on January 31 from 10am until 2pm to make chocolate covered spoons for the guests at the breakfast. If you've ever had a chocolate covered spoon to stir in your coffee or cocoa, you know how delicious they are. We'll have an assembly line for dipping, chilling, wrapping and tying bows on the spoons as well as several smaller projects.

Of course, we'll listen to some great worship music and have time to visit with one another. Space for children will be limited, but available upon request. A potluck lunch will keep us all happy till every last spoon has been dipped.

Email for more info.

New Bible Study

Many of you are already registered for our Beth Moore study that begins tomorrow, Jan 15. There are 30 of you attending! I am so excited about the journey we will share as we grow closer to God.

One of the PWOC Aims is to INVOLVE ladies in the ministry of the chapel. For the next eight weeks, we are enlisting the help of assistant leaders who will help with setup, discussion, and prayer. Would you life to share your gifts and talents for one of the upcoming weeks? Maybe you would like to prepare a dessert to share or a short devotion. Call or email with your schedule preference or sign up at Bible study. Thank you to Kaitlyn, Keira, Susan, Donna, Crystal, and Anita who have already agreed to help!

Blessings to you as you prepare your hearts to hear the Word.
Casey

New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions create quite a stir this time of year. Television news programs dedicate time to offer strategies for being successful. Pastors prepare sermons about how to be more Christ-like in 2009.

Health concerns seem to top the list of resolutions. Last night at a party, a friend of mine shared that she had started a new diet so was unable to enjoy the hors d'ourves. Too bad. They were really good!

Something happen when we take time to reflect on the past. We evaluate our progress. We examine our strengths and weaknesses. When the people of Israel contemplated on their journey, they acknowledged God's acts of mercy and compassion. Have you considered evaluating the past year by God's faithfulness rather than your own successes or failures?

When we take into account the hand of God in our past, it is easier to look forward with the same eyes. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God knows the plans He has for us to give us a future and a hope. When I think about what I will resolve to do (or not do) in 2009, I submit myself to the plans that God for me.

This could still mean that eating healthy food and exercise are part of God's plan for me. I might give up a bad habit, or be a safer driver. But more importantly, how will I be focused on being conformed to the image of Christ?


Casey's New Year's Resolutions:

• I will spend more time encouraging others.

• I will seek God's will in my daily schedule with willingness to say "no" to some events that God wants me to step back from.

• I will communicate my faith to my children, friends, and family instead of simply "thinking about it."