Thursday, December 17, 2009

Meals for families












Hey ladies! Sue Spears is heading up the coordination of meals for families especially those who have recently had a loss in the family, and the Women of Hope would like to help by getting the word out to women who would like to bless others by preparing all or part of a meal on a rotating basis.

If this is something you would like to volunteer for or would like more information, please e-mail Sue Spears at
bl.suespears@sbcglobal.net or call her directly at 972-978-5963.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

New Bible Studies Coming in January!

Return to the Garden:
Embracing God's Design for Sexuality
by Kay Arthur




Daily we're confronted with messages that say,
subtly and not so subtly,
"Sex sizzles."

"Sex outside of marriage is OK."
"Everybody's d
oing it."
"No one will ever know."
"Your body is more important than your character."
How's a woman to live?


From the beginning of time, our sexuality and distinctiveness
as women has be
en front and center with God. We are designer goods, designed by God, no less! And when it comes to our sexuality, He has much to say to us. Kay writes from the perspective of one who has experienced God's grace and
voices heartfelt concern for a sex-saturated society that has
forgotten how to blush.

This interactive Bible study is an honest, redemptive call to
recognize and return to
God's standards for purity. Her
straightforward lessons from Scripture focus on love,
sex
in marriage, purity, modesty, and examples of how men and
women should relate
to each other. These timely messages
are for women, whether married or single,
mother or daughter.

Led by: Wendie Beddingfield
Wednesdays at 7:15PM every-other Wednesday beginning January 27, 2010 (looking for host home)
Fridays at 9:30AM every-other Friday beginning January 22, 2010
Length: 6 weeks (spread over 12 weeks) DVD & workbook
Cost: $15.00


The Virtuous Woman:
Shattering the Superwoman
Myth
by Vicki Courtney

Explores Proverbs 31, revealing the heart and character of a godly woman and showing how to become a woman o f worth, wisdom, and purpose. This Everyday Discipleship resource provides six weeks of personal study with guidance for weekly small-group sessions.

Caution:

Reading this passage can induce more guilt than eating a one Pound bag of M&Ms. Common side effects include uncontrollable laughter, fatigue, shortness of breath, feelings of inadequacy, depression, and an irrepressible desire to pop this lady upside the head should
you ever meet her. Read at your own risk!

If that’s how you view Proverbs 31, you are probably not alone. Vicki Courtney, founder of Virtuous Reality Ministries, would have taken the same stand until her studies lead her to the realization that the Bible passage refers not to one actual woman, but is rather a compilation of qualities that make up a virtuous woman.

"Whew, what a relief!"

Led by: Shannon Quick
Wednesdays at 7:15PM beginning January 20, 2010 (at the home of Kim Lewis)
Length: 6 weeks
Cost:
$12.00

A Woman After God's
Own Heart
by Elizabeth George

Adapted from the bestselling book by the same title, A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible study workbook teaches you how to develop a heart for God and His Word, for prayer and personal discipline...PLUS how to develop a heart of love for your husband, your children, your friends and others! You'll discover a new passion for living through the power of prayer and God's Word! Five lessons per week for 10 weeks are to be done individually and then shared with your group.

Excerpt from study:
"God wants my heart - all of it - and my devotion. When I choose to give it
to Him, when I choose to live totally for Him, He makes it count. He wants
to be Number One in my life, the priority above all priorities."
Led by: Michelle Cox Tuesdays at 10AM beginning January 19, 2010 (location tbd)
Length: 10 weeks (DVD & workbook)
Cost: $14.00


For registration and more information, please contact Deborah Yates, Women of Hope Bible study coordinator, at dky5784@hughes.net or 903-776-2530.




Tuesday, November 10, 2009

4P


We're so excited about the various plans and ideas that are coming about and some special ladies who have joined the Women of Hope leadership team for the year 2010! One of the aspects of our excitement is our theme for the year: the 4~Ps

Focusing on Prayer to our Father, we can maintain our Purity (mind, body, and heart), obtain the Holy Spirit's Power to do all He has called us to do, and know His good Purpose for us.

Upcoming dates to remember:


  • Friday, November 20 Craft Night
making encouragement cards for New Hope
bring socks, underwear or diapers for Christmas Outreach

  • Friday, December 11 Christmas Cookie Exchange
bring 4 dozens cookies for exchange
admission is a package of socks, underwear or diapers

for the Christmas Outreach which is December 18

  • mid-January Spring Bible Studies Begin

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Letter to all ladies at New Hope

To all my beloved sisters at New Hope:

I am writing you today about some recent events in the Women of Hope ministry and of some things still to come--I'm so excited I don't know why I waited 'til now to write this!

We had a truly spirit-filled time of worship, sharing and encouragement at the Cowgirl Up retreat in October at the Rockin' C Ranch. Everything came together in a way that led us to focus on finding and extending forgiveness, recognizing more truth about our heavenly Father in our lives and those around us and really showing each other God's love and compassion. You girls are the bomb! I'm just overwhelmed at how God used each one of us that weekend to put a huge puzzle together to reveal a beautiful picture of God's redemption and grace. Linda Brown...you ladies give her a big hug when you see her next--she did a super job organizing this event.

I also want to take a moment to formally introduce myself as the new leader of the Women of Hope ministry. My name is Wendie Beddingfield, and I have been at New Hope for almost five years now and directly involved in Women of Hope for about one year. I've led a home team and several Bible studies, and I have been blessed during this time to get to know many of you, and I am looking forward to growing alongside each and every one of you as we worship together in spirit and in truth in a way that is unique to us women. I also pray that many would be drawn into a close relationship with Christ through this ministry as we move forward.

We are making some plans, girls! We are going to shake it up a bit, and we are anxious to see you ladies in action: doing what makes you energized and pumped up, utilizing your gifts and talents in a way that we can give to others and thereby God at the same time.

One of the first things on the schedule is a Craft Night at New Hope in which we will be making Hand-made cards to be used to encourage New Hope worshipers throughout the coming year. It's set for Friday, November 20, from 7PM to 9PM. We request a donation of socks, underwear or diapers
as your admission (to be gifted to families during the Christmas Outreach next month)--we will cover the rest! If you have questions or already know you're going to be there, please e-mail me at wendie@teuton.org. You don't have to be crafty--come if you want to learn a new skill/craft or to enjoy a much loved hobby with the girls.

The second even is a Christmas Cookie Exchange set for Friday, December 11 from 7PM to 9PM. We'll be sampling lots of different cookies, enjoying them with a glass of ice-cold milk, hot cocoa or your preferred hot beverage. We'll also relish in some excellent Christmas worship music led by Rita Armenta and reading the Christmas story by candlelight. This would be an excellent opportunity to invite a neighbor or unchurched friend to share the joy of the Christmas season and hear the good news of Christ. If you would like to help--please contact Shannon Quick at 972-762-6696 or shannontait@wmconnect.com. We value each and every one of you sweethearts, and we recognize that we are not the Women of Hope--you are, and you are priceless and precious to us!

Our theme for 2009/2010 is the 4Ps:

Prayer ~ Purity ~ Power ~ Purpose
Focusing on prayer to our Father, we can maintain our Purity (mind, body, and heart), obtain the Holy Spirit's Power to do all He has called us to do, and know His good Purpose for us.

We hope you will dive in with us as we aim for the 4Ps. The journey is so much better when you have friends to share it!

Many blessings,

Wendie Beddingfield

469-751-3539 (home)
469-288-6030 (cell)
wendie@teuton.org

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Blessings of a Retreat

by Wendie Beddingfield

Oh, my girls! We're back from a short weekend away at the Rockin' C Ranch in Lindale--but what God did in just a matter of a couple of days!

For those of you who were not able to attend, I wanted to let you know that I have now taken on the responsibility of leading the Women of Hope ministry team, and I wanted to share a little of what we experienced and give thanks to those that helped make it happen.

Laura Miller shared her story of trials and transformation for us to take in and see how God worked wonders and changed her family forever and is continuing to change it. We've taken in this testimony and are now given a choice....what are we going to do with it? Store it away, saying, "Yeah, that was such a great retreat..." and keep going with life how it was before this weekend? Or, listen for God's prompting to make a change, in our thought-life, in our routines, in our habits, in our words, or wherever God is moving you to be transformed. He's going to do it--we just have to let him!

I was overwhelmed to hear of the outpouring of love and thanks not only with words but with the offering that was given Sunday morning for the Women of Hope ministry. I want to thank each and every one of you ladies who attended--your willingness to be open and vulnerable and to hear from God was amazing and SO encouraging. Many women prayed openly for the very first time during our small groups; way to go, girls! You overcame such a great hurdle, and I pray that is only the beginning to more steps toward growing closer to God and to those sisters that walk alongside you.

I also want to thank those ladies that were praying back at home both before, during and after the retreat. Your desire to see God's will fulfilled through these ladies and your heartfelt prayers are incredibly invaluable. To Jodi Graham and Sarah Wright, thank you for being available for prayer during the retreat--it was so great to know you were there to pray!

Again, I would like to thank Linda Brown as well as Joanna Robertson and Rhoda Ostertag for their faithful service in the Women of Hope ministry at New Hope for the past several years. Each will be stepping down to pursue God's call on her life down different avenues, but your faith and action have helped bring us as a ministry to the place we are today. Thank you Linda for the leadership you gave to our team through the trials and the fun times, too--you're a true blessing!

Rita Armenta, your leadership in our time of praise and worship throughout the retreat was incredible. Thank you for your desire and your work to prepare to bring these ladies into God's throne room, and for your heart to be more than a song-leader. Deborah Yates and Shannon Quick--our little "shedaisies"--thanks for getting up there to support Rita and make such a beautiful, joyful noise before the Lord.

And, for our small group leaders: Karen Bontrager, Molly Bower, Cristol Morgan, Hilary Nagel, Sam Senitz, and Kristi Westergard-- I can't tell you enough how thankful I am for your willingness to listen to these women, to ask some hard questions, to provide a safe place for them to be open and reveal what's really in their heart, the hurts, the fears, the bitterness, the things we generally hide so that we don't have to deal with it. God has used each of you in a mighty way this weekend! What a joy it was to serve with you!

Dani Conley, your pictures along with Cristol's and the slide show were awesome! It was so great to have that right after many of the pictures were taken--thank you for doing that for us!!! I love our shutterbugs!

Marge King, oh you lady of ladies! Thank you for our name tags and for keeping us organized! We just can't go without those things--names are just so important because each of these ladies is so important and valuable. Thank you, too, for sharing from God's word for the leaders' devotional time and prayer each morning.

To God be the glory, the honor; may He get the credit for the awesomeness of this event and our life change as we go forward!

If you would like to share your stories or comments, please send a note to wendie@teuton.org or you can choose to comment directly below (please remember to keep the other ladies' "stuff" confidential).

Women's Home Team at New Hope

Hey girls! You may not be aware of this, but I wanted to just let each of you know that Cristol Morgan is leading a new home team just for women at the home of Brooke Hill on Wednesday nights at 7:15PM.

Check it out!

  • PLACE: 206 Harvest Bend Dr, Wylie, TX (Brooke Hill's house)
  • PHONE: 214-766-8587 (Cristol's mobile)
  • TIME: 7:15pm to 8:45pm
  • SCHEDULE: Every Wednesday night