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April. The month of true springtime.
Spring arrived quietly, with sunshine and a still morning.
Winter was long, icy and wet this year... interrupting us with schedule changes, school cancellations, and icy wet winds that kept us indoors. Winter even had to have the last say... blanketing our gardens with wet dewy snow on the first day of April, a reminder of cold coverings and the season of rest.
This new season of spring begs for movement.
Sunshine days will draw us out from winter into God's beautiful creation, a beckoning that rewards us with color, aromas, and reminders of life. Spring brings such a refreshment in the air - you can smell it and you can feel it.
Spring is a precious, spectacular time filled with bold colors, vibrant winds, and amazing growth. Springtime moves us because the whole earth becomes alive with a display of creation that overwhelms us with beauty and the unmistakable hand of creation.
Spring awakens in us a vision of hope, renewal.
I pray your spirits are feeling that same refreshment as we listen for God's stirring each day, with a willing heart ready for growth. Pondering and praying about this new season brings some excitement too ... anticipation for all God is doing and what He will continue to do.
"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone."
- Zechariah 10:1
"The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other." - unknown author
"That God once loved a garden we learn in Holy writ.
And seeing gardens in the Spring I well can credit it."
- Winifred Mary Letts
"And you will be like a well watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail." - Isaiah 58:11b
w e l c o m e s p r i n g!
Louann Rodgers
Women's Ministry, Christ Community Church
610.431.0300 x109 ~ www.RootedToGrow.com
 The Garden Post
is designed to share news and information specifically for women, offer spiritual encouragement and insight, and provide resources and connections for wise living.
I welcome the opportunity to connect with you and want to hear from you. Email me or give me a call any time -- I'd love to chat.
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h o l i n e s s
rest in responding to God's Spirit
How did [Jesus] demonstrate holiness? When Jesus was asked if he was God's Holy One, He responded simply yet powerfully, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen - the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor" (Matt. 11:4-5 NLT).
Jesus showed us [holiness] doesn't mean praying long, eloquent prayers [or] saying "praise the Lord" a lot; or holding up your hands in church. It means getting those hands involved in God's work. Getting them dirty. Being holy means feeding the hungry, seeing to the needs of the sick, helping people in trouble, and comforting them in grief. It means letting your hands be instruments of God's love.
It means opening your life to God's Holy Spirit and allowing him to use you to bless others.
-A Simple Blessing: The Extraordinary Power of an Ordinary Prayer by Michael W. Smith, with Thomas Williams
Help us bless the homeless...
Food Drive for the Homeless: Collection Dates: April 10th & 17th
Fill a grocery bag (bags available for pick up) and drop off in the main lobby.
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~~~~
An Easter Devotional - Download PDF...
Each of the 17 day journey towards Easter includes:
The full text of the day's Bible reading in either ESV, NLT or MSG. Readings are selected to lead chronologically through the significant events in the story of the life of Christ - each passage of Scripture another step on our "Trail to the Tree..."
A verse to prayerfully linger over as a family - a verse to pause over for a moment or two, close eyes and deeply reflect on... simply, powerfully Christ-centric and Biblically focused.
A short, simple action point for the day - a way to do something together as a family that not only invites the coming Kingdom of God and Jesus' love into your home and community, but is an opportunity to apply and obediently live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A full color ornament, all classic art from the masters, to hang on your own Easter Passion Tree.... an art study, like a prayerful walk through a museum. The very last pages of the book include all of the ornaments in over several pages so you can easily cut each ornament out and creatively mount to your own preference.
- Ann Voskamp , author of One Thousand Gifts
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Sometime this year you had one, so we celebrate together. Why do we celebrate birthdays? Henri J. M. Nouwen has a very good reason, "Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday, we do not say: 'Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.' No, we say: 'Thank you for being born and being among us.' Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the
God's goodness of life." - Henri J.M. Nouwen Enjoy some trivia for the year you were born... |
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f r i e n d s h i p a n d l o v e
At Bible study this week, Nikelle shared her heart and the lessons God has been teaching her about staying connected. She touched on the tender place where life feels overwhelming and sometimes loneliness creeps in. Perhaps you find yo urself in that place. Hesitant, yearning, struggling with feelings of insecurity. Go to God with all of that. Tell Him your longings, your doubt. Ask Him to show you how you can reach out to connect to another through His power. God has given us so many examples on how to care for one another. God can use you in simple, powerful ways... every day. How can you extend God's love and strength today? Is there a friend you need to reach out to? Send a note to encourage? Call and invite to join you in Bible Study? Take a walk together or meet for coffee? Bring a meal to? If God is stirring your heart, listen! ~~~ "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." Hebrews 10:23-24
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 "Learn from Me, for I am humble and gentle... and you will find rest for your soul..." Matthew 28:11 |
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Fathers & Sons
"Where are you MEN?"
FATHER - SON NIGHT AT FIRST MONDAY MEN!
Bring Your Son of 13 years or older!
Monday night, April 4th
at 6:30 pm
featured guest speaker:
Casey Dunn,
regional director of Young Life
Ladies, tell your men: to come out to hear how a clear sense of mission can positively influence passion, faith and family. Do you just flip a coin when it comes to faith, or are you really in the game?
This night will be designed for men to bring a son of 13 years of age and older - take advantage of the opportunity to eat together, worship together and hear/discuss Casey's talk.
Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm in the Main Lobby, and the the program will begin at 7:00 pm in the chapel.
Don't know anyone? We will have greeters at the door ready to connect you with other men!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO...
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Join us for our
SPRING CELEBRATION
Visitor and Sharing Days
Tuesday, Spring Dinner, April 26,
7:00-9:00pm
Wednesday Brunch, Apr 27th
9:15-11:15am
Thursday brunch, Apr 28th
9:15-11:15am
Come and share with us as we celebrate all God has done this year!
Buffet - Special music - Sharing - Previews of next study year
ALL women are welcome!
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brave
...honest questions women ask
Join us for our spring study ... a dynamic teaching series by Angela Thomas who will help us explore honest questions with honest answers.
Angela Thomas
~~~
This is a FREE study with NO HOMEWORK. Please register to help us plan seating.
Tuesday Evenings, 7-9pm
May 10, 17, 24
Thursday Mornings, 9:15-11:15am
May 12, 19, 26
[limited childcare available]
REGISTER HERE
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coming soon...
SUMMER BOOK CLUB
June 2 - July 12 - August 17 7:00pm - Main Lobby
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Mark your calendars now and plan to come and enjoy an informal evening of friendship, insight, great reads and great conversation. Reading list and Readers Review coming soon!
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"Attempt great things
for God.
Expect great things
from God. "
- William Carey
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w e a r e e x c i t e d a n d b l e s s e d t o a n n o u n c e
Mothers and Others
Friday evening, May 6th at 7pm and Saturday morning, May 7th at 10:00am.
...an elegant inter-generational gathering celebrating the women God has placed in our lives.
We are delighted this year to welcome recording artist, author, speaker and Inspirational Christian Woman of the year for 2009 and 2010...
Reserved table seating.
TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR OUR SATURDAY SEATING
SATURDAY MAY 7TH - 10:00AM
Tickets are available in the main lobby - or call 610.431.0300x109 for more info
~~~
Women's Ministry, Christ Community Church
~ 1190 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380 ~ 610.431.0300 x109 www.RootedToGrow.com ~
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The Garden Post... spiritual encouragement and connection for women
www.RootedToGrow.com
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