October Newsletter 2020 with Corrections and Additions

 

The Provincial Women’s Board presents:

Serving and Sharing

Newsletter

October 2020

From Our President:

 

Dear Sisters,

I decided a few weeks ago to try and take better advantage of the extra time I had because the pandemic has limited the outside events I can attend.  I decided to tackle the drawers I had been ignoring for so long. 

I found a stash of cards I had been sent when I was sick.  Six and a half years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It turned out to be stage 3.  I had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.  Needless to say, the treatment was successful.  I had saved all the cards I received from friends and family and tucked them into a drawer.  I took some time out of my cleaning to read them all again.  By the time I finished, I had shed a few tears and thanked God again for putting people in my life who made such a difference.  The messages were uplifting and encouraging all over again.  I have been incredibly blessed by God in my lifetime, and I am grateful that a horrible pandemic has once again become a blessing to me.  I also have the added pleasure of clean drawers.

The very first card I read said “The world says, worry, worry, worry…” “God says, It’s all good.”  And it really is.

The board continues its work, staying in touch with the groups we work to support.  This group of women continue to amaze me.

The Interprovincial Women’s Board almost didn’t get to meet because our usual meeting place in West Virginia could not take out of state guests because of the pandemic, so we got the idea to go to Laurel Ridge.  It turned out to be a beautiful weekend.  There were only 8 of us, and we prepared our own food and took it with us.  We had a great time and a productive meeting.  The staff at Laurel Ridge is always helpful.  We are really hoping to be able to go back for the Spiritual Life Retreat in April.

Because of many circles not being able to meet, the Southern Province will not be printing a collaborative study book with the North next year.  However, the Southern Province will print a book that is almost ready for publication.  It was written in the South, and we think you all will be pleasantly surprised by this book that will be a bit different.

If any of your churches have special projects or events going on, please send your information to the office for the next newsletter.  (pwbmcsp@gmail.com)

Blessings,

Pam Prevatte

 

 

Fairview has been busy with two very successful food drives. Our first benefitted Sunnyside and the second will benefit Bethabara Moravian's Food Pantry.  We also have our Fall Fare scheduled for November 14 from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  We will have a country store as well as baked goods and chicken pies.  We may have a few vendors attend, but with this pandemic, it will not be the ordinary full fellowship hall event as in years past, but we hope for it to still be successful.  Please put on your masks and come join us!  Kathy Davis-Cooke

 

Corrrected: The Women’s Fellowship at Macedonia has resumed activities.  On September 13 our ladies hosted a drive through Baby Shower for Hattie Rose Dease daughter of Pastor Zach and Jamie Dease.

Circle meetings have started back meeting in our new picnic shelter. Our ladies plan to help with Trunk and Treat on October 24. Plans are being made for a socially distance Candle Trim on December 7^th.

The Dorcas Circle collected items to make hygiene kits for Church World Service. Sixty-two kits were made and donated as a mission project. The project for our next meeting is to collect staple food items to make care boxes for a few of our homebound members.

 

Lucky Me!

In early October I was fortunate enough to spend a lovely weekend at Laurel Ridge.  Early fall, leaves just starting to turn, great weather, what could be better? Well, I was lucky enough to be a part of the team from the South joining the team from the North for their annual Interprovincial Women's Board meeting.  A large part of the time we discussed the Bible Study and Mission books.  During that time Evadne Morrison-Taylor mentioned a trivia Q&A that she had put together based on Sitting at Table in the Kingdom of God, written by  The Rev. John D Rights. I love trivia, never mind that I am not really very good at it, still love it!  She was kind enough to share her questions with me and I am sharing them with you.  Evadne and her circle participated in this game via a virtual Circle meeting. Thank you, Evadne!

 

Question # 1

 

In Chapter 1 what city was first mentioned where Jesus was setting at the table?

 

(a)  Nazareth

 

(b)  Bethlehem

 

(C) Capernaum

 

 

Question # 2

 

Who was Jesus eating with at that table?

 (a) The Lawyers

 

(b)  The Tax Collectors, Sinners and His Disciples

 

(c) Martha and Lazarus

 

 

Question # 3

 

In Chapter 2  Jesus was at the Table at whose house when the woman anointed his feet.

 

(a)   Simon the Pharisee's

 

(b)   The High Priest

 

(c)    Peter's Mother in Law's

 

 

Question # 4

 

Those sitting at the table related the woman's sin as that of ...

 

(a)   One who was a traitor to her family

 

(b)   One who sacrificed her children to other gods.

 

(c)    One who was a prostitute.

 

 

Question # 5

 

In Chapter 2,  The Author regards God's love for this woman as that of a

 

(a) Divine Parent

 

(b)  A Pet for his master

 

(c)  That of two best friends.

 

 

Question # 6

 

What was the reward for this woman's action

 

(a)  She was given food and drink

 

(b)  She was now accepted by that society

 

(c)   Her sins were forgiven

 

 

Question # 7

In Chapter 3, at the Wedding Banquet, why did the King (the father of the groom) give identical garments to each guest?

 

(a) Because they were naked

 

(b) Because they were suddenly invited.

 

(c)   To diminish the power of dress to distinguish class

 

 

Question # 8

 

Jesus spoke in Parables in order to give us an idea of:

(a)  How to tell real nice stories.

 (b)  How to live with others.

 

(c)  How to visualize what the Kingdom of Heaven is about.

 

 

 

Question # 9

 

What did Count Zinzendorf say about the guest without a robe?

 

(a)  He was an out of Towner

 

(b)  His garment was the most beautiful compared to those who wore  the robes.

 

(c)  He thought he would have to purchase the given robe.

 

Question #10

 

In chapter 4 Who was Jesus talking to (in Capernaum) when he   stopped and pondered  the boundaries of his ministry to this point?

(a)  Matthew

(b)  A Mother from Canaan

(c)  A deaf man

 

Have fun with these, make up some more....I thought this was a great idea!

Martha Johnson, Konnoak Hills Moravian Church

Provincial Women's Board, Missions

 

From Calvary Women’s Fellowship with correction:

Mizpah Women’s Fellowship - It would be disingenuous to say that the pandemic hasn’t affected us at Mizpah.  It has.  Big time.  It has put a halt to our meetings, to our fellowship, changed our worship.  But the Women’s Fellowship is still active – behind the scenes – which is where we shine! 

 

Since March, we have …

·         Contributed kitchen supplies to Sunnyside

·         Made contributions to Second Harvest Food Bank, Samaritan Ministries and Crisis Control Ministry

·         Given money to a young mother in our community who was undergoing chemotherapy and struggling financially

·         Donated to the Blessing Box at Horizons, the Arches residential care center

·         Helped a group of foreign students who were stranded in Winston-Salem because of the pandemic.

·         All the while, checking on those in our congregation who needed a kind word or an assurance that others cared.

·         And we undergirded it all with prayer.

 

We believe it’s what God meant for us to do, to reach out a helping hand.  But, here’s the thing:  we’ve been saving our nickels and dimes and dollars for years to support making Mizpah’s fellowship hall handicapped accessible.  Now that project may take a few years longer.  In the meantime, meetings will reconvene (Women’s Fellowship, the first of October), we will fellowship again, we will gather in worship.  But always, we will answer God’s call. Submitted by Judy Albert

 

The women of Bethania continue to thrive through this undesirable problem we are facing.  In August we started meeting in our circles and will continue to do so.  Also, in September, we started our chicken pie makings and have had one Chicken Pie sale.  We will continue to make pies through November and will have sales on specific Saturdays.  Thanks to our chicken pie coordinator, we successfully made the pies with social distancing and fellowship combined. Our blessing box continues to be supplied with masks and we are very grateful for the people who make them.   The Quilters are meeting and continue to make bags for the homeless and quilts for those who need them.  Thanks, Barbara Peiffer

 

Laurel Ridge Camp and Conference - This year, 2020, has been unlike any we have experienced. Sickness, abrupt changes in our lifestyles, schools closed with classes being taught at home on a computer, and church doors closed and adjusting to alternate means of worship.

Other changes happened at Laurel Ridge. The 60th Anniversary events were postponed until July 2021. Laurel Ridge closed Tise and Higgins Lodges to all groups. In person Summer Camps were cancelled. Camp boxes were prepared and sent to campers (for a small fee) for virtual camp at home. M-Staff worked all summer helping with virtual camps, painting Tise and the Comenius Room at Higgins, clearing trails, and other maintenance jobs. Salaries for M-Staff came from donations and fund-raising projects.

All these cancellations have caused a loss of income for our beloved camp. How can

you/we help make up the deficit?

*The Capital Campaign is underway. Please consider giving generously.

*If your Women’s Fellowship or Circles budget money for campers to attend

Laurel Ridge, please consider giving this money as a donation.

*Higgins and Tise Lodges are now open and are booking groups and events.

Please make your reservations.

We love that special place on the mountain called Laurel Ridge. Let us all do our part to help Laurel Ridge reduce their large deficit for 2020 so we can continue to enjoy this special place.

 

2019 Moravian Women’s Conference Offering Update: At the 2019 Moravian Women’s Conference Committee collected $4688.46  that was given to the Armando Rusindo Mission Foundation to be used for women in Cuba. Brother Joe Jarvis (president of the ARMF) sent us this report in September:   

Of the funds that the PWB collected we have spent the following.

Six sewing machines, $768.64 that was distributed to three different churches.  The women in the churches have started a sewing project making various items for sale. 

A young lady who is a member of the Moravian Church in Jaguey Grande (about 2 hours east of Habana) is studying to become a Maxifacial surgeon.  Education is free, but it is much more complicated.  She is at the University in Matanzas where she will complete her studies.  The cheapest housing she can find is $50 per month.  Once she receives her degree and gets a job, she will make around $85.00 per month (yes, per month).  She is currently a dentist and making 50.00 per month.  So, after paying rent she would have no spending money.  So, we told her that we would give her $50 per month for the 2 ½ years to complete her studies.  In February we gave her $600.00 for the 2020 rent.  She was so thankful for this grant from the PWB fund and said that once she becomes a surgeon, she would help some other young lady.

This leave the fund a balance of $3,319.82.  Once things open and we can get back down, we will work with Tania Sanchez, the president of the province to seek out other opportunities.

 

 

The next Serving and Sharing newsletter will be published on Thursday, February 18, 2021, with a submission date of Monday February 8, 2021.

 

 Addition to original newsletter: 

Unity Moravian church is celebrating their 40th anniversary with a parking lot communion at 10:00am on Sunday, November 15th. We will travel back home to our live stream service on You Tube  and Facebook @11:00 am with videos of our past activities. Also, we will have videos of our past pastors sharing special memories of our 40-year history.

We are also having advent activities for families and households. If you are interested, please call Unity Moravian at 336-945-3801.

We are also having love feast to go on December 24th from 4-6. You can pick up your prepackage.
d love feast bun, coffee packet, candle trimming, and love feast ode. The lovefeast service will be live streamed @7:00pm on You Tube and Facebook. Submitted by Kay Vance