Deb's Devotional

Deb Easterling, one of Central Region's Titus 2's has posted a great devotional. Hop on over, read it, apply it, tell her how it blessed you!

Choosing Joy! De'Etta

Bible Reading Plans

Tonight at Bible Study we somehow got off on a discussion of a chronological Bible reading plan..... This site has 5 Bible Reading plans - 50 translations - and you can start on any date of the year. Check it out.

Choosing Joy! De'Etta

NO BIBLE STUDY ON 17 MAR

A reminder that we are off this week due to Spring Break. We resume our study of Proverbs on 24 March at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. There will be no children's ministry on the 24th. We will be discussing lesson 2.

Choosing Joy! De'Etta

THIS FRIDAY!

PWOC March Project Night

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Informational Brochures & Catalogs

Questions? Call De'Etta! We'd love to see everyone.....

Choosing Joy! De'Etta

PROJECT NIGHT!

Our next project night is this Friday, 20 Mar. In addition to our normal project night activities, Yolanda will be available to teach all who are interested how to make an Easter Card and bookmark (all supplies provided). No dinner provided (though some will choose to go to Subway or Burger King together). Please bring a munchie to share. Fellowship Hall (Bldg 136) doors open at 1700 and close at 2400, come and go as fits YOUR schedule. No childcare provided. PLEASE RSVP to me by 17 Mar.

Choosing Joy! De'Etta

Pat B's Bundt Cake

Pat B brought this to our fellowship a few Sundays ago. It was wonderful. When I commented on how yummy it was, Pat shared the recipe.

1 box yellow cake mix

1 carton Betty Crocker Pecan & Coconut Frosting

Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box. Beat in the frosting. Pour into a bundt pan and bake according to the directions on the box of cake mix.

Pat reports you can do this with a lemon frosting, or a chocolate cake mix and the Pecan and Coconut Frosting.

If you come up with some fun combinations, come back and share them.

Choosing Joy! De'Etta

Our Lenten Wreath

I made this wreath with my children last year. Celebrating the season of Lent was a new practice for our family. This proved to be a fun and meaningful family project. This year we will simply discuss the meaning of each item on the wreath and hang it as a reminder.

I had contemplated hosting an ecumenical Lenten Wreath Workshop...but the projected seemed HUGE and expensive and didn't come together this year. I was excited yesterday when, Lois, shared that she saw the wreath on my personal blog, made one for her family and then got smaller wreaths and had each of the girls in her Bible study make one. THAT is a great idea and an inexpensive way that this idea could be used for many as a Lenten Devotional and aide to take home and use with their children.

Below are the symbols used on the wreath and their meaning. I did adlib a bit (is anyone surprised?). We talked about each symbol and read the verses as we made the wreath. I'll spare you the adlib - you can tell the story in your own words. I KNOW YOU CAN!

Souvenirs of Jesus' Last Week/ Tokens of Jesus' Identity

Vine & Grapes - reminds us of the Lord's Last Supper (and Maundy Thursday). John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Palm Branch - Triumphant entry to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). (Yes, ours are exotic fern because we couldn't find palm fronds). Eph 2:14-16, "He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall...." Originally Micah 5:5 was used, "He will be their peace..." I HAD to use Ephesians as I'm currently immersed in the book.

Wheat Stalks - Lord's Supper - Bread of Life. John 6:35, "Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

30 Pieces of Silver - Judas was paid to betray Jesus. Matt 26:14 - 16, "...What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?" And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him." Originally Zechariah 11 was used. The bag held pretty stones - we didn't use the stones but thought the bag would work for a money bag.

Thorns - Crown of thorns fashioned by the soldiers. Matt. 27:29, "And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand, and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Cross - Crucifixion. John 3:14-15, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life."

Nails - Crucifixion. Colossi ans 2:13 - 14, "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. "

Black Ribbon - Death and Mourning - Good Friday. Luke 23:27, 46, "And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him....And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father into your hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last."

Linen Ribbon - Grave Clothes. I added Matthew 27:59, "And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth...." and Rev 1:18 - great verse - "I am the Living One, and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." I bought muslin and tore it.

Stone - rolled in front of the tomb and sealed. Rolled AWAY from the tomb on Resurrection Day. Matt. 27:60 - "....and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away." Matt 28:2 - "...an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it." Matt. 21:42-44, "Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief cornerstone; this came about from the Lord and it is marvelous in our eyes; therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

Lily - Dogwood bloom/ Resurrection. Isiah 35:1-2, "The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it will blossom profusely and rejoice with rejoicing and shouts of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the Majesty of our God."

*Butterflies - New Life in Christ. Technically, butterflies are not meant to be on the Lenten Wreath*.... I couldn't help myself. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19, "....Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...."

*I know - I know...the season is somber but when we were shopping Nolan and I HAD to get the butterflies and the whole time we were making the wreath I debated if we'd use them...but these verses in 2 Corinthians - some of my favorites kept ringing in my spirit....His suffering bought my metamorphosis - my new life IN Christ...and as I abide, I am like those grapes...This was a great project.

Tools of the trade...Mike had taken the glue gun away from me years ago as I always burned myself and glued things that would be better fixed in other manners. I found the glue gun.


We had a plan - would it come together?

Nolan at work

Our finished wreath

I hope someone is able to use this idea. It's been an easy way for us to focus on the meaning of this season.

Choosing Joy! De'Etta