Another Thank You to the Utah Zone!

I received this nice note from Pastor Alan Borcher and his sweet wife Gayle. He is the Pastor at Light of the Valley Lutheran Church. He is thanking us for a gift card we gave him to Christian Gift and Bible to use for his church and mission work. Light of the Valley Lutheran Church is a new mission plant on the southwest side of the salt lake valley. They just had their first worship service on December 14th! Praise God! Here is a link to some pictures from their first service: http://lightofthevalley.com/firstservice.html

Utah/Idaho District LWML had the privilege of issuing a grant to Light of the Valley Lutheran Church for $5,000 in 2008; that money went to the start up process. How wonderful it is to see our pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters in our mite boxes grow into $5,000, then God using our grant money along with many others and blessing Light of the Valley Lutheran Church in so many ways!

Please also note there is a link to their website on this blog below on the lower right hand side under "our churches". If you are looking for a mission project, there is information on Light of the Valley's website for things they need. Please continue to keep this new church, the congregation, Pastor Borcher and Gayle in your prayers. So exciting, to God be the glory!

Christmas parties LWML style!

I have be so blessed to serve as your Zone President for the past year, and I want to thank you all for the opportunity. It has been so wonderful, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for 2009! It comes with many perks, and one of my favorites is to travel and visit with all of you at your churches. I very much enjoy coming to your society events and meetings and spending time with my fellow Women in Mission!

Last week I attended St. Marks' Ladies' Christmas party. When I walked in everyone was just getting warmed up by singing Christmas hymns together. Then we had a wonderful potluck finger food dinner with hot chocolate and homemade biscotti. Lane, the Society President had some fun games prepared for us including a Christmas Bible Trivia. Thank you Mary Martha Guild, it was wonderful.

The ladies at Grace Lutheran Church in Sandy invited me to their Christmas party this year. I learned that every year the ladies collect goodies to put in gift sacks and deliver to shut-ins who are in the area or belong to the congregation. Society President Cindy was all ready to go with Christmas bags and map quest directions to each home. We broke up into two groups and away we went.

The bags we stuffed full of everything from baked goods to devotional booklets. Some ladies even brought left over (blank) Christmas cards and put those in too, what a great idea!

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that tradition calls for dinner afterwards at Spaghetti Mama's! What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, thank you ladies of Grace for inviting me. May God continue to bless your mission work.

Merry Christmas

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

He is the reason for the season, Merry Christmas everyone!

Hello everyone! I received this from Beth at St. Paul in Ogden, it is an article about the Women's Day Retreat "God's Grace Filled Seasons" that they hosted for us in October. I wanted to share it with you all, God's blessings on your day! Thanks Beth and all the ladies at St. Paul for your faithful service to the Lord.

The women at St. Paul, Ogden, spent a beautiful day with Elaine Bickel at their annual women’s retreat on Saturday, October 4. The theme for this year was “God’s Grace-Filled Seasons,” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

More than seventy women attended the event including District President Melody Rosenwinkel and Utah Zone President Ashley Willoughby. Most guests were St. Paul members and friends but many women came from the Salt Lake area for the fun day of fellowship and spending time in God’s Word.

The day began with coffee, tea, homemade scones and a Bingo icebreaker. The women learned some interesting and extraordinary details about the women in the room. Who drove a combine? Who plays bridge? Who has a pet reptile? Who is a stamp collector? Who married her high school sweetheart? Who has a PhD? Who is a root canal specialist?

The women spent the rest of the day singing, sharing, and listening to Elaine Bickel who shared her joy in the Lord. She led everyone in a Bible study, “That’s A Bunch of Bologna!” She encouraged women to open their Bibles and read Hebrews 13:8. “What is the comfort given in this verse?” she asked.

She also shared her bologna metaphor: “Chances are you have never spent much time thinking about what a piece of bologna might feel like when it is stuck in there in the middle of two pieces of bread—knowing it is about to be devoured—knowing it must “meat” the needs of the very ones who are getting their teeth into it. It probably feels trapped—stuck in the middle—trying to keep the two sides together and yet feeling pressed and pressured. Even though we have never been a slice of bologna, or even pressed ham, many women who are in the middle of their lives feel much like that piece of bologna would feel if it could feel…overburdened! We need to remember our entire lives are in His hands. As we are serving Him by trying to help carry others, He is carrying us.”

Sandi Dellermann led the women in singing and praise music while Dina Scheifl was the soloist. Pastor Gary Trickey joined the women for lunch and closing devotions and prayer.

Cindy Cinclair (Grace Lutheran- Sandy)

sent this to me. I loved it and wanted to share it with you all. Thanks Cindy!

Have a wonderful day!

PEDAL

I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since I took the back seat to Jesus, My Lord. Christ makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way, but it was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said "Pedal!" I was worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared", He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says ... "Pedal."

-- Author Unknown

Thank You Utah Zone!

I just received this thoughtful thank you card from Pastor Krause, the new Pastor at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bountiful. I thought I would share it with you all........

Our Teen LWML/Fall Rally Event...

Saturday October 18th was our Teen LWML Event. It was new and different, we have never done anything like this before. It is so important that we include women of all ages in the LWML, because serving the Lord is something we do with gladness our whole lives! We met some wonderful young ladies that day. Here are some pictures from our event.

Thank you everyone who brought hygiene items to donate!

Thank you Valarie and Tia from Mary Kay for the mini pedicures- my feet are still tingling!

Mini-pedicures.

Our Savior Jesus washed His disciples feet, then told

us all to go and do the same for each other.

Here the girls are making bags for the hygiene items they collected.

We had a drawing for prizes!

Thank you Mr. OZ (Eric Oswald DCE at Grace Lutheran Church)

Thank you ladies of Grace Lutheran Church for hostessing us,

and for the wonderful soup buffet for lunch. It was delicious!

Thank you Pastor Erickson for leading our bible study,

serving the last two years with us and reading this blog for me right now!

Multi-generaltional: Jan (Christ, Murray) and Granddaughter, and some new LWML friends!

Registration table

Another multi-generation LWML.

Mother (Cindy Grace-Sandy), Daughter (Heather) and Granddaughters (Haylee and Mckayla). Awesome!

Thank you everyone who attended, especially those who traveled! It was so nice to meet all you beautiful young ladies, keep serving the Lord with gladness! Watch for announcements and let's do it again soon!

The Countdown Begins!

Okay ladies this Saturday is our Teen LWML Event and Fall Rally! We will be having an in gathering for a Girl's Group Home in Salt Lake City. They care for teenage girls who are in state custody for a number of reasons which may include abuse and/or neglect. We thought it would be a great opportunity for the young ladies at our event to give back to girls their same ages, who maybe aren't quite as fortunate. We will be collecting Hygiene items and assembling kits to take to the Girls' Group Home, so PLEASE while you are out this week at the store (or make a special trip) pick up a few items for the young ladies at this girls' home.

Here are some suggestions:

Shampoo
Conditioner
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Non-aerosol hair care products
Hair Gel
Deodorant
Perfume
Body Spray
Lip Balm
Hair Bushes
Combs

Here is a link to the Girls' Group Home's website: http://www.slcoyouth.org/html/girlsGroupHome.html

Thank you everyone for your care and support, and we will see you Saturday! I hear the teen girls are really excited. Here is the info.

Teen LWML Event and Fall Rally
Saturday Oct. 18 10 am- 3 pm
Grace Lutheran Church in Sandy 1815 E 9800 S Sandy, UT
(801) 572-6375

God's Grace Filled Seasons

Special Guest Speaker: Elaine Bickel

God's Grace Filled Seasons

A Women's Retreat at St. Paul's in Ogden, Utah

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh.

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Last Saturday (Oct. 4th) we spent some time together as friends in Christ. St. Paul's hosted a wonderful event and invited everyone to attend. Elaine Bickel was our special guest speaker, and wow... was that ever a treat. I had never met Elaine, but ever since St. Paul's announced her as the speaker I have not stopped hearing about her! She spoke to use throughout the day about the different seasons of our lives. Let me just say, there were a few times I was laughing so hard I was worried about what I was involuntarily going to do! She has a wonderful gift of seeing God's promises and miracles in every single part of daily life, and then sharing those promises and miracles with others.

Here is a link to Elaine's website for more information.

http://www.elainebickel.com/upcoming.html

King Solomon (possible author of Ecclesiastes) has always fascinated me. Son of the great King David, he sure had some big shoes to fill. But he knew he couldn't do it alone, in 1 Kings 3:7-9 Solomon asks this of God:

" Now, O Lord my God you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among people you have chosen, a great people too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? "

God grants this to him and Solomon lives his life and governs God's people using this God given gift. But just like us, Solomon and David were both sinners and made mistakes. Our loving Lord showed mercy on them, just as he does us each and every day through His son Jesus. Let us all follow Solomon's lead and ask God for what we desire, and take our worries and concerns to Him.

Thank you ladies of St. Paul's for putting on and inviting us all to your event, it was very uplifting. Also, thank you Elaine for sharing your time with us.

Teen LWML Event

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you,

saying, "This is the way; walk in it. "

Isaiah 30:21

October 18th at Grace Lutheran Church in Sandy

from 10-3pm will be our Teen LWML Event

Teen Activities Include:

* Special Teen Bible Study given by Mr. OZ, DCE there at Grace

* Shelly Davis from Salt Lake Lutheran High will be there doing a breakout workshop especially for you!

* A Servant Event- helping others because we have been so blessed!

*Mini Pedicures

*Luncheon

* Special gifts and door prizes

*Come and hear what the LWML is all about!

Women's Activities Include:

*Bible study given by Pastor Erickson

* Fall Business

* Servant Event

* Mini Pedicures

* Luncheon

* Let's show our little sisters in Christ what LWML is all about!

Let's all come together as women in Christ on October 18th for an event centered around God's Word and serving Him with gladness! We are so excited to invite teen girls to our event this year. Ladies, start thinking about some teen girls in your congregation, neighborhoods or families to bring with you! Child care will be provided for the entire day so those of us with little munchkins can attend. We need each society's help to put on a great event, so please ask your Society Presidents how you can get involved!

Please email me (Ashley Willoughby- ashleywby2@aol.com) or the Society President at Grace (Cindy Sinclair- csinclair@gracesandy.org) with any questions or to RSVP.

See you there!

Thought for the day

Joan (St. Johns, SLC) gave me this, she found it in a magazine- thanks Joan.

Answered Prayer

If you rise from prayer forgiven and clean inside, prayer has been answered.

If you rise more conscious of God's greatness, goodness, mercy, love and nearness prayer has been answered.

If you rise with greater love and compassion for other people, answered prayer is transforming your selfish nature.

If you rise with an abiding sense of peace in spite of the great problems that beset your life, God has answered by preparing you to confront these difficulties.

If you rise with clearer vision, greater purpose, a more positive outlook, renewed strength, and fresh inspiration, rest assured that your prayer has been answered.

The Epistle

Timberlakes Retreat

"As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."

Psalms 42:1

As I was traveling to Timberlakes for our Zone Retreat early last Saturday morning this was just one beautiful example of God's creation that He shared with me. It has been an annual event for the past five years or so to meet at Kris' (St. Marks) cabin in Timberlakes which is just east of Heber. She welcomes us into her beautiful home and we have a wonderful time talking, laughing and being together in God's word. We started off the morning with muffins and coffee along with a bible study. After talking about some upcoming events, we had a wonderful luncheon complete with hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixins.

Kris surprised us all with the cutest post-it note holders with matching pens she and a friend made. They were complete with quotes from all our favorite hymns, the hard part was deciding which one to pick! The rest of the day we were all walking around humming and singing, it was wonderful. We spent the last hour on a "Walk with Jesus", we went out for a walk on the trails and found things to remind us of our Savior. For example; something prickly for Jesus' crown of thorns, something dead for the savior truly died, a rock to remind us of the huge stone that was rolled in front of His tomb, and something alive because Christ lives! The best part was when Elaine Holt tried to capture a bumble bee for her living thing...we were all laughing, it was quite the sight! Thank you to everyone who made the trip, your company was wonderful!

Special thank you to Kris for

sharing your home with us,

it truly is a beautiful place.

Camp Perkins

Tied Together in Prayer

Jesus Said: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three come together in my name there am I with them."

Matthew 18:19-20

The LWML District Retreat at Camp Perkins was last weekend and I am just now posting because I am still recovering from lack of sleep! It really was a great weekend with our sisters from Idaho. Cheryl Orme and the Yellowstone Zone were in charge this year, and they sure did a great job. It is a 7 hour drive from Salt Lake City to Camp Perkins but when you fill your car with drinks, treats, music, laughter and good friends the drive goes by much faster.

Friday Night- After a wonderful meal in the Lodge with Signe and the staff at Camp Perkins we were off to the Retreat Center to gather and dedicate the supplies we brought for the counselors at camp and for a Bible Study. Licenced Deacon Dave Schilling (Mrs. Naomi- self proclaimed) led us in our bible studies and the worship service with Holy Communion around the camp fire that night. After camp fire we met back in the Retreat Center for a wine tasting, snacks and games. Some of us stayed in the Retreat Center and others in the cabins, let's just say some made it to bed earlier than others!

Saturday- After breakfast we met for more bible study and some singing. The bible studies Deacon Dave Schilling put together for us we all about prayer and each day we walked away with a greater understanding about our daily conversation with God. We also learned that our prayer life has peaks and valleys but no matter what God does not move or change. He is always there and he hears our prayers and answers them according to His will.

That afternoon we had some free time so some of us went into Stanley to Mountain Mamas which is a huge craft show (kinda like Swiss Days in Midway) It was so fun, and apparently I was the only person at camp who has never been! There were canoes and paddle boats available to take out onto the lake, some went for a hike around the lake. I hear there was a mean game or HORSE going on at the basketball court and we saw some swimming and fishing too. It was a fun afternoon.

After dinner we all met again for some "entertainment"--and entertaining it was. We split up into groups and put together short skits, then we had a fun getting to know you questionnaire that was shared with the group. Wow, did we ever learn some fun things about each other. In fact there were a few times we were all but rolling on the floor in laughter! One would think after camp fire and this long, eventful day all these Lutheran ladies would quietly retire to their rooms and cabins right? WRONG! More games, cards and laughter into the night again.









Sunday- We began with an outdoor worship service overlooking the lake. Praising God right in the middle of the breathtaking sceanery He created for us... can we go to Camp Pekins for worship every Sunday? After breakfast and some goodbyes we headed for home. What a weekend it was. We met some new friends and got to spend some time with old ones too.

Thanks Yellowstone Zone, Dave Schilling, Signe and all the staff at Camp Perkins it was awesome!

So that was Camp Perkins in a nutshell. I think we rounded everyone up for group pictures, they are below. There were ladies from Holy Trinity in Logan, St. John's- SLC, Christ-Murray and Grace- Sandy. Utah Zone blew them all away with 13 ladies who attended, it was the most from any zone in our district. Hope everyone had a great time, until next year.....