Women's Connect - July 19, 2011

Dear sisters in Christ,

It has been an exciting week in my household.  Dan and I added another little grandbaby to our brood and I was so blessed to participate in the birth.  I was one of the “leg women” when Espen Daniel Barlow arrived on July 15^th.   Psalm 127:3a came to mind:  “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.”  Henry Blackaby writes, “For those to whom God entrusts them, children are a special assignment as well as a reward from the Lord.”  If you have children or grandchildren do you understand that God has a purpose for each child and one of our primary jobs is to help them see where God is at work in their lives?  If you do not have children in your immediate family, who are your spiritual children, those God has placed in your sphere of influence to point to Christ?

One of the exercises our program staff participated in while on retreat was to recall those individuals who have impacted our lives.  It was such a blessing to bring to mind not only my parents but several different spiritual mothers and fathers who have mentored and coached me along the way.  I have so much to be thankful for- including you!  I’d like to invite you to participate in the Focused Living Workshop on Friday, July 29^th, 8-5.  We’ll spend the day considering how God has led us in the past and what He might be doing in our present to bring us to where He has destined us to be in the future.  Preregistration is required and there is a $5 fee.  Please call the church office to sign-up.  Deadline is Monday, July 25^th.

Tonight the Beth Moore study beings, “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.”  Stacy Minor will be facilitating this study from 6:30-8.  Don’t miss out on dynamic teaching and wonderful fellowship!  Just come to Central tonight!  Also this week Janet McCarty launches the book discussion, “All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans.”  Check out the website for the time and location at Central.  Again, just come, and bring your friends!

So many of you are finding yourselves in difficult places.  Each week I am honored to hear the heartaches, hurts and growing pains of your lives.  Do know I considerate it a privilege to stand in the gap in prayer for you?  Feel free to respond to this e-mail with specifics on how I can best to that for you.  Robyn Volz recently wrote and mentioned she could use a few more house/office cleaning jobs to help her make ends meet. If you would like to treat yourself to her wonderful work, please contact her at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 763-241-9249 home and cell is 763-291-6122.

I hope you have reserved October 7-9, 2011, for our annual women’s fall retreat.  Our theme is “The Rest of God” and I know you will be refreshed physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually in this time-away.  Watch for registration forms to arrive in August!  Please pray for our Women’s Leadership Team as we go on retreat the last week-end of July.  If you have ideas or thoughts for our women’s ministry team, please let give us your feedback by July 29^th.

Love in Christ- Sonja Dixon

P.S.  How are you doing on the 50 Day Spiritual Adventure through Acts?  If you haven’t started, be sure to pick up your Adventure booklet today in the church office or click here to download online!