Volume 6, Issue 3 August 15, 2015

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Index Senator Emmons to Edgetts Mother’s Day Springs Celebrations Women’s Day Away Sweet Beginnings /Baby Love Immeasurably More Linen Closet? Shunem Ministry? Other? Coleman’s Cool Clusters From the Director Editor: Sue Schram g_schram@ yahoo.com (989)893-7896

Senator Emmons to Edgetts The Edgetts United Methodist Church hosted their annual spring brunch; Spring into Action, for area church women and 8 churches were represented including Ogilvie Wesleyan Church. A wonderful brunch was served, personal items collected for “Higher Ground Project”, and a love offering for the Youth Attention Center in Osceola/Mecosta County. Senator Judy Emmons enlightened us about Human Trafficking, the legislation being introduced and ramification concerning laws enacted by the Michigan State legislation. “Together we can make a difference.” Senator Emmons states, “I am proud to let you know that Michigan is fighting back against the horrendous crimes of human trafficking. This form of modern slavery exists across our state, but we are now able to better equip law enforcement to prosecute trafficker, rescue victims, and assist survivors.” Senator Emmons spoke at Crystal Lake Community and Scottville Wesleyan Church in the last year. To contact: senjemmons@senate.michigan.gov or www.SenatorJudyEmmons.com

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Mother’s Day Springs Celebrations Chapel Hill’s Wesleyan Women's Ministry, on May 9, 2015 presented fashions from 1900 through 2015. Forty-six ladies attended and were served by 5 men from the congregation. What a success and lot of fun! Nila Cooper shared the special day and program. The smashing models were Terri Forester, Cindi Severance, Nina Hegyi, Lyly Schwab (sports Tia-Kwan-Do) and future Chef, Ethan Severance. Nila’s sense of humor, prevailed with a bathroom fashion of 2015. It was a blast! God is good!

FROGS in Bay City Women of multi generations gathered to share a luncheon and program on May 9. Deb Stevens coordinated a wonderful soup/salad meal and a program including a poem and song, plus, a short devotional given via DVD by Joyce Meirs on Frogs.

Wesley Chapel Women’s lunch at the Grand Traverse Pie Company was a wonderful fellowship and celebration of women. A five generation picture or two was taken. Food for the Soul and to encourage the ladies was shared: Bee All that You Can BEE in the Lord.

Breckinridge Wesleyan Women had a wonderful potluck and “fashion show” for laughs. Spring hats and trains have whole new meaning.

Women’s programs enlivened the district! Programs that celebrate relationships offer opportunities for fellowship, sharing the gospel, inviting non church folks and allow us to

Glorify the Lord!

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SAVE THE DATE!!!! Women’s Day Away - IVY Growing in His Light A day like no other! This is the day the Lord has made! A day the Lord planned for His Glory!

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 9:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m.

Northern Light Church, Cadillac, MI. HE planned our Guest Speaker: Pastor Dale Salaway- Co-director of Wesleyan Native American Ministries. HE planned: Music and worship by Chelsea Jentzen – Fremont Wesleyan Church HIS Break away sessions include: Barbara Geer – Marilyn Freed- Group Leader Starting a Women’s Group! Tackle Human Trafficking! Pastor Dale & Sue Schram Coleman Wesleyan Church Making strides to take it down Beverly Kimball - Media can help your Ministry! Dice Wesleyan Church

** $10 admission- includes lunch **

Silent Auction-donate/bid-funds to go for day away expenses.

Watch for Flyers!!

Sweet Beginnings/Baby Love The Bay City Wesleyan Church in conjunction with area churches and businesses support a Christian pregnancy care center, the Beacon of Hope. Earlier in the spring, purple baby bottles were filled with change by church members. The Annual Fundraiser, Sweet Beginnings, held May 9, where area restaurants, bakeries, confectioners, and individuals provided thousands of goodies, silent auction items and sponsored tables to raise money for the Beacon of Hope expenses. Bay City annually hosts a Baby Love Shower”. Baby Love, administered by the Salvation Army, assembles newborn layettes for low income mothers at hospital discharge. What a wonderful outreaches in Bay County.

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IMMEASURABLY MORE By Barb Geer with her Blessings

Ephesians 3:20-21—“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen” NIV

The first thing we should do is circle the words Him, His and us, because it sounds like both of us are involved. He wants us to partner with Him. We know the power belongs to Him, more than we can comprehend. From past experience, we know that we are the ones to benefit. Blessings always follow obedience!

A question: What is the best imaginable thing that could happen to you during the next five years? If money or circumstances or physical conditions were not an issue, what would you say?

This verse in Ephesians is a doxology, which is a form of giving glory to God. If you were to write a doxology, what would the main theme of it be? (His creation, your salvation, answered prayer, etc.)

The Bible teaches in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has big plans for each one of us. That’s pretty incredible isn’t it? He won’t reveal the details of those plans all at one time, but if you have a passion for something such as helping the unfortunate, teaching Sunday school or small group, going to the mission field, etc., you can surely see those things as part of His plan for your life. Begin to hone those areas now!

Time’s a wasting! Does it excite you to know that this verse in Jeremiah is God’s promise for you? Do you honestly believe that God has the power to make something you desire happen in your life? Read again the theme verse at the top of this devotional. “…according to His power that is at work within us…” Any idea what that means?

Questions to think about: Am I daring to think, hope or ask what is beyond what I’ve grown comfortable with? Do I cooperate with God as He is trying to do a work within me? Do I even want to stretch my faith into new realms? Do you think that best imaginable thing that could happen in the next five years could really become a reality? For our lives to be immeasurably more, get stirred up, embrace God’s plan for your life. I dare you!

Barb Geer

Over the years, Barbara Greer has led many Bible studies and discipled new Christians one on one. Currently, she is leading a weekly Bible study called PEARLS which stands for -

Praying Encouraging, Affirming, Reaching, Loving, and Serving.

Barbara believes those are some of the, qualities that we as God’s women should strive to have.

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Linen Closet? Shunem Ministry? Other? In May, General Wesleyan Women Movement was contacted regarding the Linen Closet

needs. N. MI supplies all of the material contributions in the Linen Closet. Rev. Andrea Summers, our general director, relayed back: 1) gift cards were most desired; 2) some sheet and towel sets were taken; and 3) college students took extra-long twin sheet sets. Tupperware, toiletries and all other items sit on the shelves and don’t move. Pastor Andrea, Jeanette Vermilya, director of Shunem House Ministry and I had an e-mail discussion. What ways can we support missionaries in a practical way utilizing the linen closet. Jeanette wrote: “As you may know, we were missionaries with Global Partners for twenty-six years. As a missionary family, we were recipients of the kindness of North Michigan Wesleyan Women for several years…In every area; we realize change, change, change, in the way things have to be done. We packed steel drums. We took everything we needed, even toothpaste. The drums were shipped. Now, missionaries pack suitcases and adhere to the weight limits, and buy what they need in the places where they serve.” Jeanette continue, “I’m unsure how many years your district did this but it was a significant ministry and met many needs, both via the Linen Closet and the missionary retreats in Marion.” Can we continue to give “Missionary Care”? Jeanette shares a possibility:

Shunem House is a hospitality ministry for missionaries coming and going in the

Indianapolis area. It was established to provide rest and relaxation, respite from the fast track of missionary life, group meetings for planning and prayer, and even solitude – some days alone with God. We even have an “Elisha Room” that has been used for God’s servants, like in 2 Kings Chapter 4. We function as a Bed and Breakfast but do much more. The ministry is established as a 501(c3) not-for-profit corporation, located in Noblesville, IN. It was founded in 2006 and has along the way experienced God’s blessing and provision in ways we would have never thought. It all belongs to Him. As Directors of Shunem Ministry, my husband and I would love to have you partner with us. At the Day Away information about Shunem ministry will be available along with suggestions. Contact Jeanette now at jeanette@shunemmeinistries.org or jeanette205@gmail.com

In the end Pastor Andrea, wrote: Whether the linen closet continues is up to you. We

have space for a closet here at headquarters, we have a volunteer who comes in to organize things, and we have missionaries come every so often and are grateful. Other districts donate only gift cards.

Items brought to the Day Away will be transported to the Linen Closet, this year, but a

final decision needs to be made. Other avenues were mentioned. Several IVY members feel the linen closet should discontinue at the district level. Local churches are free to support ministries of their choice: community, worldwide or denominational emphasis. Other IVY members suggest collecting and distributing to alternating zone outreaches: Zone 7 has the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission, Zone 5 has Hershey House of Hope or to Salvation Army outreaches, etc. A couple years ago, Houghton Lake and Grant Wesleyan pulled together 100s of coats for a UP outreach.

As you know, opportunities for giving abound. Please pray for God’s direction as we

determine the best course of action for the North Michigan IVY group.

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Coleman’s Cool Clusters PEARLS=Praying; Encouraging; Affirming; Reaching; Loving; Serving is a weekly Bible study headed up by Barbara Geer. Between September and May they meet weekly to encourage one another through Barb’s leadership. Barb presents lessons about Jesus and praying together. The group is responsible for a card ministry, a sweet treats for bus driver’s and school teachers, providing salads, cakes and goodies to be sold for Love is a Movement. They wrapped gifts for the United Way Sharing Tree and donated missionaries over the summer.

Coleman Wesleyan Mission Outreach, a small group of ladies, meets first Thursday of every month who stands in the gap. They help missionaries reach the lost and show Christ’s love here at home. This group makes quilts, rolls bandages, collect items for Christmas outreach, canned goods for local food pantry, collects for the Missionary Treasure Chest, and one of their favorite outreaches: Filling special Birthday Bags for September Birthdays at Tendercare Nursing facility.

From the Director

Greetings! I am so excited about our Women’s Day Away. If you could see how God has worked to get speakers, singers, and workshop leaders, you would “Praise The Lord!” right along with me. I believe it will be a wonderful time together sharing what God has in store for us. I’m sure no one will leave the same as they arrived. Please join me in prayer as the day approaches that the message God has laid on each worker’s heart will be received with joy and result in a determination to serve our Lord with all our being. I have also enjoyed the various District and Local church activities I have been able to attend. Meeting new friends and renewing friendships is the highlight of my travels. God Bless You All for you kindness as you serve our Lord and Savior. - Sue