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 Grace and Peace to You Sisters and Friends,

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This year got off to surprising start for me. Ater injuring my right wrist and fracturing it in two places while operating my microwave, I was challenged to complete everyday tasks with one hand and very little help from my right hand. Thank God I’m left-handed, but it’s taught me how much I do depend upon my non-dominant hand to accomplish little things every day. Kind of reminded me of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians where he reminds us, the body has many parts, and all are essential to its functioning (I Corinthians 12-13). I’m especially grateful for my husband’s assistance: picking up things that are too heavy, peeling potatoes, opening jars and cans, folding laundry; all the little things I never gave much thought to before.

Thanks to the prayers of so many and modern medicine my hand and wrist will heal and strengthen over time, but my fractured wrist has made me think about and consider the lives of women everywhere that are fractured—the kind of fractures that will take more than rest, soaking in Epsom salts, and a few ibuprofen to bring healing—and our Christian duty to help bring healing to their brokenness.

As we prepare to resume Women’s Bible Study on February the 7th, focusing on our journey with the women of the Bible, we can look forward to the ways we will be mentored and ministered to by their stories, and, we can also begin preparing our hearts and minds to minister to the fractured and broken all around us. Women today: young and old, of all nationalities and ethnicities need Jesus more than ever.

As women who belong to the Lord and enjoy a rich, vibrant relationship with Him, are familiar with His goodness, promises, and faithfulness, we have so much to share with other women—some of them in our own families and friendship circles—who don’t know as much as we know and have experienced through Him. God is such a gracious, loving, receiving, delivering, restoring, and forgiving God, how can we possibly keep him all to ourselves!

I encourage you make room in your schedule to attend Women’s Bible on the first and third Saturdays of the month. It’s more than a study, it’s a time where we grow in our relationship with the Lord, are affirmed, become strengthened by collective community, and deepen relationships with one another.

If you haven’t picked up your workbook 31 Women of the Bible, please see Nikki French or me. If you cannot attend in person but would like to follow along with our discussions, there are ways to get you connected. Call the church office and leave your name and number or contact me directly either by phone or email womensministry@stjohnlutheranchurchelyria.org

As the weather breaks and becomes more conducive to movement I look forward to hosting Tea and Talk with the Pastor’s Wife. It’s another way I make myself available to women where we can pray together, talk about the things that concern you or about life in general. I hope you would like to spend this kind of time together also. There will be sheets on the table in the lobby, you can return them to me or place them in the box provided.

By the way: are you already receiving my morning hello texts? I try to send out a greeting several times a week to keep us encouraged and connected. You can also receive a daily prayer written just for women.                          

As I close, I just want to add what you already know: our God is an awesome God, always watching over us and guiding us by His Spirit and through His Word. The days may be cold right now, but the love of God can warm our heart and keep us encouraged.

May God bless you and your family. Be safe and keep warm.

With love and deepest regards,

Cheryl-Ann