Sisterhood Fall Launch 2015!

Hi friends!

Leah here. As we jump, head first, into our Sisterhood services there are a few new things to look for:
1) A blog- Here you are! Check back here each week for a recap of Pastor Janis' message, my thoughts/reflections on it, and discussion with other women about how God is using his Word and our time together to make us more like him.
2) Rows of chairs instead of tables- We'll still have table groups once each month (so those of you who loved the table groups, don't despair!). We want to spend more time in worship and prayer but we also want to make time and space for relationship to flourish. Join us every Thursday morning at 10 for time to just be together before we worship. Last week was so fun and God's presence was among us- the air felt electric!
3) A leadership team- Toni Barsness is our Sisterhood service coordinator. Brynlee Duca oversees altar ministry, emcees, and the monthly offering focus. Tina Vargas oversees greeters, ushers, and check in. Donna Glatzer oversees set up and tear down and works with Lauren Jones to coordinate meal arrangements for our friends in need. Lauren is also our point person for pastoral care; any needs can be communicated to her. We want to take care of our family! And finally June Dennison is in charge of follow up. If you've missed a few weeks or something is going on in your life (good or bad) we want to know how we can pray, help, or celebrate with you. June is amazing at that.  

I'm looking forward to our time together again this week. I'm expecting God to be present, embrace us, remind us we're his. I'll be back later with my reflections on Pastor Janis' message last week, the first in our "Tug of War." Be on the lookout for that!

We watched a video last week in which women answered the question, "What does Sisterhood mean to you?" I'd like to give you the long version, my story. I attended VLC as a child and young adult for about eight years. I did some church hopping with my then-almost-husband until we completely quit church for about two years. We were young, disconnected, disenchanted, alone. A lot of our friends had moved away and our family situations we both a little rocky. We got married in May 2009, the same year my parents would separate. The first year of marriage was hard. Harder than I ever imagined. We didn't argue about which way the toilet paper roll should face or how to squeeze toothpaste from the bottle. Instead, we let our expectations and disappointments fester, layer upon layer. And in January of 2010 I found out I was pregnant. It was like we were drowning and then someone threw us a baby. But God knows what we need. He used Em to save us, to pull us back to him. We did some serious reevaluating of our priorities and expectations. We found our way back to church, one close to us at the time. I was so hungry for community, so hungry for the truth about God's grace and love (because I missed that part, apparently). We met amazing people and were hopeful relationships would take off. It never happened. We tried for three years to make friends, to spend time with people we enjoyed. I think they liked us back but I think they were too busy. Regardless, I felt tired, sad, hurt, bitter. We came back to VLC on Christmas Eve 2013. We sat with my Gramma (Dot Emmick, for those who knew her) and it felt like coming home. Dan and I knew this is where God wanted us. In January, a couple weeks after that Christmas service, my Gramma became very ill very suddenly. My best friend, the woman who nurtured me, who always believed in me, always prayed for me, always taught me about Jesus, always embraced me, she was gone. Just like that. And you know who called me the next day? Pastor Ed. I came to the women's event the following week and thought about Gramma and how much she loved these people and how much she loved this place and even though I only knew a handful of people it still felt like a safe place to be. That night I met Brynlee. She stayed with me the whole night. She and Larry had just come back from Malta; they didn't really know anyone either. In the weeks and months after that my family would get to know her family. We shared time and meals and prayers and tears. They adopted us. At a time when we were lonely and wandering and confused, they let us belong. I came to every Sisterhood meeting I could. I met Ann, Chris, Candy, Chrisie, Tina, Tabatha, June, Renee, Heather, Marla- women I might not have met otherwise, women who are helping me be better. Some women who have been my friends for years like Cindy, Pam, Susan, Jenn are still there. To me, Sisterhood is a place to belong. It is friends, purpose, meaning, hope. It's a community pursuing Jesus, together. Sisterhood is safe and warm and good. God gave me Sisterhood when I was empty and tired and insecure. He's filling me up with his love and Sisterhood is too. Sometimes God meets our needs by passing us each other. It's a beautiful thing and I'm so happy to be part of it.

Please share what Sisterhood means to you in the comments. I would love to hear your story. I'm a good listener. Just ask my friends.

Can't wait to hear from you!

Love,
Leah