Christmas Memories

We received these ideas that have been used by former "Women of Grace" Leader, Michelle Brooks-Young at the Lebanon church:

One year, we had a winter wonderland theme in the fellowship hall, complete with luminaries outside & leading up the hallway to the “wonderland”.  The decorations were all white & red with lights dripping from the ceiling & large white tree’s in front of red backdrops. The ladies said it made them feel so special. 

One of the fondest memories, we exchanged ornaments & had each lady to write their name at the top of a paper & pass that around, each person wrote down something special, encouraging or memorable about the lady on the sheet. Some ladies still have those papers!!

We have also played the Dirty Santa game with a $10.00 wrapped gift, we met either at a restaurant with a private room or at someone’s home.

Remembering Everyone at Christmas

Leader, Heather Swaw, shared special upcoming plans at Crab Orchard:

On Tuesday December 15 we will be having a Christmas Luncheon for the Widows of the church. They will be served a Christmas meal, play games and receive a gift from the church.

A Treat for Tennessee Pastor's Wives & Female Pastors

One week from today (December 2nd) we will gather in  Pigeon Forge at the River Lodge of Hidden Mountain Resort for the annual "Pastor's Wives/Female Pastor's Getaway".  This is a unique event organized by the Women of Grace Advisory Council in appreciation for the dedication and commitment of those women who serve so faithfully in our state.

It is an intimate, relaxing week-end of sharing and fellowship.  No other event compares to it.

Please join us in prayer for those attending.  Ask you pastor's wife or female pastor if they plan to attend.  All have been invited.  If they have not registered, a word of encouragement from you might be all that is needed.

There is still room for a few more.

Sharing Christmas Plans

We are excited to hear the upcoming plans for women at Tennessee churches:

Pine Grove (Crossville)  will be baking cookies. The Ladies will then go in small groups to visit our shut ins/nursing home members and a local mission.  Leader, Dell Lawson

The Women's Ministry group from Gallatin will be having our annual Christmas Luncheon December 10th at noon at the Grand Inheritance Mansion. We give all year so the women only have to pay half the cost and Women's Ministry takes care of the rest. We have a great time of good food and fellowship and enjoy playing games.  Leader, Shirley Lawrence

Decorating for Christmas

The ladies of Durkee Road are beginning a new tradition this year. The Monday after Thanksgiving, we will be having a church decorating party. All the ladies will gather at the church, decorate the foyer and sanctuary for Christmas, and enjoy coffee and a light dinner together.


Kristi Schalk, Women of Grace Leader

Praise Report

We have just received word that Jean Thornton, pastor's wife of Pelham Valley, has come through surgery successfully.  The report is good and they are encouraged.

Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery and healing.

Christmas Giving at Lakeside

The ladies of Lakeside (Westmoreland,TN ) have chosen to send a Christmas gift of shoes to an orphanage in Grenada this year.  They have collected fifty pair so far and still have funds coming in. 

Leader, Vickie Gregory, shared: "God is so good and He blesses those who bless others."

Share a Cookie

The ladies of GreenRidge (formerly Greenbrier) Church of God of Prophecy are planning a "cookie swap" on Saturday, December 10th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and invite any ladies in the area to participate.

Leader, Stephanie Gibson has asked the ladies to bring 2 dozen cookies each.  They will sample 1 dozen and then swap the second.  Each lady will go home with a dozen or more cookies that she did not personally bake.

Ladies can make certain recipes and swap ideas.  They can also bring goodie bags or containers and make their Christmas treats while attending the "swap".

The day will include a contest for "best Christmas attire" and include refreshments of salty snacks, coffee, hot chocoloate, and hot cider.

If you would like to participate, contact jessen24@gmail.com

Ladies Christmas Activity

The ladies of Zion Hill church plan all year for a special Christmas celebration.  Each year, they "treat" themselves to an evening of special fellowship and dinner OUT.  It is not an after-thought but is planned for persistently.  At each ladies meeting during the year, money is received so that the meal will be paid for by December!

Special thanks to leader, Angie Eichstaedt, for sharing!

Please join us in prayer today

Tennessee has many beautiful companions who serve alongside their spouse in pastoral ministry.  Some of these are in need of special prayer today.  Would you please pray today for:

1)  Jean Thornton (Pelham Valley) who will be facing major surgery this week. 
2)  Wanda Allen (Erin) who is dealing with serious issues (asthma) and has been hospitalized several times recently.
3)  Walt Seager (Monterey) severe back pain and unclear diagnosis at this time.

Thank you for caring and praying.  We know the Healer!

Crab Orchard Women of Grace

We received this wonderful report from Women of Grace Leader, Heather Swaw:

"I wanted to share with you what our Ladies Ministry Group did this week.  On Thursday we took a trip to the Galilean Childrens Home in Liberty, KY.  This organization has an "Angel House" which houses new borns and infants.  Most of these babies come from inmates that deliver their babies while in prison. Another part of this home is for handicap youth and adults.  This home also has a private school located there.  The children from the home attend there and also other children in the town and community.  They are fully dependent on donations and gifts.  They are not goverment funded nor take any money from them because they would not be able to share Jesus with the children.  That's just a short bit of what they do, you may alread know about them.

 

On Thursday 5 ladies, 1 youth, 1 child and Sarah Grace went to the Galilean Home to deliver some donations.  This is the second trip that we have taken to the home.  On both trips we have been touch by the babies, children and adults due to their situations (some of them have severe handicaps).  To see them makes us feel sad but helps us to realize how blessed we are.  But what really is shown, is that the people that work and volunteer at this home truely LOVE these children, youth and adults.  We always enjoy being together and driving up to KY, the ladies here at Crab Orchard love spending time together, but it is such a blessing to be able to share a few donations to the Galilean home.  But it is a bigger blessing being able to see that God has good, loving Christian people taking care of these children and adults. (If our ladies group has one main focus it would be to show love towards women and others that are sick, hurting and that are in need.  We try to do this in many different ways.)

 

We had such a nice day, I wanted to share with you one thing that the Crab Orchard Ladies of Grace is doing."

 

To God be the Glory for all the good accomplished through willing hands and open hearts at Crab Orchard!