Tenth Triennial Gathering Reminder

Just a reminder that you can pre-register now for the 

Tenth Triennial Gathering, July 13-16, 2017, 

to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

You can pre-register now through December 31, 2014, for the reduced price of $280.

Link to Pre-Register for Ninth Triennial Gathering

St. Andrew's Craft, Bake, & Yard Sale Reminder

17^th ANNUAL CRAFT & BAKE SALE

Sponsored by the Women of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

1801 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

CRAFTS!   FOOD!   FUN!   RAFFLE!

Saturday, November 7, 2015

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

We will have craft vendors inside and outside and yummy baked goods for sale too!
There will be a raffle with great prizes.

If you would like to reserve a space to sell your craft,
please call Kathy Clifford at 904-221-1763 for details.

Don't miss out on the FUN!

Dress in your Favorite Decade 60's, 70's, 80's Dance

Dress in your Favorite Decade 60's, 70's, 80's Dance

on

Saturday, October 25th

from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m.

at 

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church

6801 Merrill Road

Jacksonville, FL 32277

http://stmatthewsjax.org

Adults Only

Live DJ and Snacks

$10.00 per person

$1.00 Wine/Beer

50 Cents Soft Drinks

Please RSVP to Cindy Doston at 904-477-8767

September Cafe on-line magazine issue is available

The September issue of the Cafe on-line magazine is available.  Please click on the links to the articles below to read more about what Scripture teaches us about our attachment to other people and material possessions and if our attachment to friends, partners, careers, or kids affect our attachment to God?

Faith Reflection: Holding on and letting go

Attachment to God

Girl Talk - Women Empowering Women Potluck on the First Saturday of each month!

 You are Cordially Invited to

GIRL TALK

Women Empowering Women

Monthly Gathering & Potluck 

at 10:30 a.m.

on the First Saturday of each Month

(September 6th, November 1st (Pending) & December 6th)

St. John's Lutheran Church

1950 Silver Street

Jacksonville, FL 32206

Contact Pastor Vicki at 904-238-1714

Email: pastorvicki@live.com

Come to the Well Fall Retreat October 3 - 5 at Luther Springs

Come to the Well

Fall Retreat October 3rd - 5th

At Luther Springs

"Come to the Well" - will offer you a unique opportunity to step quietly back from your life. In a safe and nurturing environment you will be surrounded by a community of like-minded women; you will receive the perfect combination of support, guidance, and skills, all designed to assist you in creating the vibrant, meaningful, joyful life you deserve.

Are you a woman that has spent so much time taking care of everyone else whether it be at your job, your spouse, your children or your friends to the point you are too exhausted to think at the end of the day? Can you recall the last time you felt loved?  Was it today, yesterday, last week? What examples of love do you remember from your childhood?  Were there few or many?  As the caregivers for the universe we take on all of the burdens with the joy.  During this retreat we will explore what "Love is…." and put into action some ways to receive love and take care of ourselves.  Let's take the time to share our stories, heal from the hurt, celebrate the joy, support each other and most of all show LOVE to the most important people in our lives, ourselves.  If this sounds like something you want to experience while in a relaxed setting at a beautiful retreat center.  Register now!

Costs: $65 non refundable registration fee required and $120 per person which includes accommodations in a hotel style cabin and meals.

Contact Pastor Vicki at 904-238-1714
Email: pastorvicki@live.com
Link to Come to the Well Fall Retreat

Knitting as a Spiritual Practice

Pastor Vicki from St. John's Lutheran church showed us some beautiful scarves at our summer bible study this past Saturday that Lutheran women knitted in New Orleans and sent to her to give to homeless families as part of her community outreach programs.  Our bible study asked each of us to think about which gifts we would like to pass on to the next generation?  Pastor Vicki mentioned the Knitting as a Spiritual Practice resource on the Women of the ELCA website on the link below for more information.

Knitting as a Spiritual Practice
Link to Knitting Basics
Link to Knitting for Charity

16^th ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW & BAKE SALE & YARD SALE

Sponsored by the Women of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

1801 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, FL  32250

CRAFTS!   FOOD!   FUN!   RAFFLE!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Please consider being a part of this event by bringing your crafts to sell at our bazaar.

Tell your friends and invite them also.  

The ladies of the church will hold a bake sale and sell food from the kitchen.

Please also donate one of your items for our raffle, 

by checking that line on the Craft Show Form and describe the raffle item 

so it can be included on our list of contributors.

YOUR PARTICIPATION MAKES THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

Prices are as follows for Craft Vendors:

$15.00 for outside space (the $15.00 is for space only)

$20.00 for indoor space (we provide the table)

PLEASE REPLY BY SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 to reserve your space as a vendor!

Indoor spaces are limited and available to those who respond first.

NOTE:  Crafters are expected to stay from 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.  

(No crafters should leave before 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 08, 2014.)

If you would like to be a vendor, please download and complete 

the Craft Show Form and call Kathy Clifford at (904) 221-1763

Download Craft Show Form

Fall Gathering November 14-16, 2014

 

Mark your calendars for the Fall Gathering

on

November 14 - 16, 2014!

The theme verse will be "I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1.  Come join your Sisters in Christ as we celebrate being Children of God!  The Florida Bahamas Synodical Women's Organization Fall Gathering will once again be held at the Lake Yale Conference Center in Leesburg this November.  We are pleased to announce Pastor Nancy Fisher will be returning as our Chaplain.  She will lead us in Worship with Holy Communion and in our Sending Service.  Sister Michelle Collins will once again lead us in Bible Study as we explore God's Calling.  You may choose to attend several of the many workshops offered or you can enjoy time for personal reflection along the beautiful lake.  Delegates will meet throughout the weekend to conduct the business of our organization, but will still have time to enjoy all of the other activities. 

Nine youth attended the Fall Gathering last year and we would like to see many more than that this year!  The Youth Program is for young women attending fifth grade through college.  Sister Michelle Collins and Eva Johnson will be our Youth Leaders this year and are planning some awesome activities for our youth.  While the youth will have their own gathering space for activities during business sessions, you'll find them being part of Worship, workshops, and other activities - perhaps even leading some. To encourage young women to attend, their fees are reduced and scholarship funds have been set aside for them.  Consider bringing along your daughter or granddaughter and have her bring a friend!

"Share the Spirit" grants are available to help defray costs for anyone wishing to attend.  The price remains the same as 2013: $189.00 for weekend programs, lodging, and meals.  Please click on the link below for additional information and registration forms.

Link to more information on the Fall Gathering at FL WELCA

Link to Overnight Registration Form

Link to Commuter Registration Form

Link to Youth Registration Form

Link to Workshop Registration Form

Link to Workshops

Link to Directions to Lake Yale

Link to Share the Spirit Grant

Link to Let Your Light Shine Youth Grant

   

 

                                                                              ROAD CLOSED

                     LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY

           Where’s the OPPORTUNITY in This?

                                                               By Steve Rogers

                                 

Paradox:  the concept that two diametrically opposed ideas are both true. 

One paradox of life is this:  Every obstacle is also an opportunity.  These words are two sides of the same coin.  Many proverbs and quotes express this idea.  In 15 B.C., the Roman poet, Horace, said, “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.”  Helen Keller observed, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”  In The Sound of Music, Maria sighed, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.”  Warren Wiersbe put it simply: “The bumps are what you climb on.”  This concept comes straight from James 1:2-4:  “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”  James says, in effect, that the obstacle you have just encountered – that boulder in the middle of life’s road – is there for your benefit.  You have the opportunity to develop more joy and patience.  But it doesn't stop there.  Your patience (or endurance) will serve to make you fully mature, “lacking nothing.”  God will use that obstacle to sand off all of your rough edges - your imperfections – and make you more like Him. 

When that next obstacle crash lands in your path, causing a delay or detour on your carefully planned itinerary, perhaps God wants to take some heavenly sandpaper to some of your rough edges for a little hands-on sanctifying.  God has a destination for you.  However, God is not so much interested in how you get there, but what you are like when you finally arrive.  So when that obstacle comes (and it will), instead of getting frustrated, ask, Where’s the opportunity in this?