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Jan ReedâEditor
As editor, it is my pleasure to be able to write about whatever inspires me. I could hardly wait for this edition of
Tapestry to share something that started before the end of the school year in May this last year.
There was a beautiful quilt hanging on the wall of the Fellowship Center, with a silent auction sheet attached to the
wall beside it. A few bids slowly appeared on the sheet and then a few of us gals hatched a plan! A mutual friend,
Laurel Griggs, was having a birthday on July 4th, and the theme of the quilt was the states of our great nation, with
flags interspersed. (Laurelâs favorite red, white and blue theme!) Each state had a representative square which
was hand stitched and when assembled the quilt was stunningly patriotic and beautiful. As friends, we decided we
would bid on the quilt as a joint birthday gift and a thank you for her years of commitment, but it would be our secret. Suddenly, the
bids started getting competitive and ramping up and the deadline for the silent auction was only 2 days away! Our secret âbidderâ did
our last bid and the bids closed. We waited breathlessly to see if anyone slipped that last bid in behind us and lo, and behold, WE
WON!! Then we knew the results would appear in the Sunday bulletin and it would ruin our surprise, so a diversionary story was
placed in the bulletin with a fictitious winnerâs name. (Lord, forgive us!)
As the birthday girlâs big day arrived, we, Sandy Richter,
Marilee Swindler and I, invited her to lunch at Lilâ
Cooperstown for âlunch with friends.â We, as always, ate
and chatted and enjoyed our friendship and then, as we
were leaving the restaurant, we paused in the parking lot
to bring out the gifts we had âleft in our carsâ. The rolled
up and tucked away treasure in Marileeâs car was
unfurled and presented to her as we thanked her for her
friendship and service to the women of our church. That
jaw-dropping moment was amazing! (Of course, I had
sort of accidentally tucked my digital camera in my purse
as I left for lunch.)
What a wonderful experience to bless a friend with a
treasure she will enjoy for the rest of her life. And itâs a
touching feeling to know that each time she looks at that
quilt, she will remember our love and friendship no matter
how far apart we may someday be. Friends forever,
forever friends.
John 15:13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Or, just maybe, give her a
quilt!)
QuiltsâCan Do All This? by Hilla Matchukat
My perpetual calendar today records these words of the angel to Cornelius: âYour prayers and alms have ascended
as a memorial before God.â (Acts 10:4) I take it to mean that alms are what we give and do to help and build oth-
ers up because we love God. Our prayers usually precede our doingâor they should, if we forgot! If the doing and
giving also become a joy to ourselves we have closed the circle, we may want to sing: I have joy, joy, joy, joy, down
in my heartâremember that little song of the seventies?
Well, quilts can do this. They do it while we look at materials that are suitable, while an idea forms in our mind of a
pattern, while colors and shapes come into play, while the finished size is considered and input of a group of helpers with willing hands
is accepted. Encouraging words play an important role as the project grows and takes shape.
In this way the women at the Senior Center, called âBusy Beesâ saw two quilts come to a pleasing completion, mostly done by the
busy hands of Lorraine, who worked at them many hours in her home. They did not sell at the Christmas Bazaar 2008. With the help
and support of Tami Wattenbarger they found a place in our fellowship center for a silent auction. After a few weeks the pink one had
several offers from interested buyers, the green one did notâuntil one day there was an offer which, by its generosity, stopped the
little contest. There must have been a story behind itâthere was!
Marie, the lady buying the quilt, had a good reason for her purchase. She bought it for her husband. He had been promised a quilt
many years ago by a lady he helped and worked for as a young boy. Continued on page fourâŠ...
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QuiltsâCan Do All This? Continued from page two
When she worked at the quilt and he liked it so much she promised it to him. After the lady passed away his mother gave the quilt to
his sister, because âquilts are for girlsâ. I understand it had similar colors as the one his wife now bought for him. She said, âThe Lord
told me what I should offer for it.â
We all hope they both are happy with their purchase. It comes with a blessing. When I called Lorraine to tell her of the story and its
outcome it made her very happy. She had had a week of hurting from a fall.
The money from the sale of both quilts was divided between the Senior Center and the youth work in our church. Isnât God good?
Who on earth could have planned this?
Fundraising: By Sandra Schaeffer A Chinook Run With No Limits
Womenâs Ministries has a unique opportunity this year. Our Chinook Book fundraiser starting Sep-
tember 14 has the potential to defray much of the cost for our October 2010 Womenâs Retreat. Our
goal is for all women of OCEC that want to attend to be able to do so. The fundraising goal is
$5,000.
The Chinook Book is a unique, eco-friendly coupon, directory and resource book that allows you to
save hundreds of dollars while exploring the community and supporting local sustainable busi-
nesses. Categories of savings in the Portland area are: Grocery, Grocery Manufacturers, Dining, Entertainment & Family, Health &
Style, Travel & Recreation, Yard & Garden, and Home. You may recoup the $20 cost of the book and then some on your first use.
We are asking each family to take a look at the Chinook Book and purchase one if you see that it will save you money. We will earn
50% on every book sold.
Additionally, to reach this bold $5,000 goal we are looking for 100 women to take on the challenge of selling/buying five books. Once
you see the book you will see that it will sell itself to friends, neighbors, coworkers and relatives. Local college students will love it. It
is great for giftsâChristmas, stocking stuffers, birthdays, house warmingâŠBooks are on consignment, so what isnât sold can be re-
turned as long as it is in clean sellable condition.
We believe there are many women in our church who would like to help with fundraising, but job, family and commitment constraints
make it difficult. This is an easy way to make a major impact for the women of OCEC.
Weâve set a worthy goal, but letâs also have some fun while we are reeling it in. So the woman (family) that sells the most books will
win a prize. Additional prizes will be given in a drawing that will include the names of all the women who sign up and submit the order
form with a minimum of five sales. That includes any books you purchase for yourself. More details will be available in a flyer at the
start of sales Sunday, September 13 in the church lobby.
Rita Cosenza, by Sandy Richter
Anyone who has had the privilege of worshipping and praying with Rita Cosenza has had the sense of sitting
near someone who sits close to God. Her love for the Lord and His Word is truly infectious. She has such a
patient, deep, committed relationship with her Heavenly Father and desires to share that relationship with oth-
ers.
This desire has allowed her to be led by the Lord to open House of Hope right here in Oregon City. This is a
home for troubled teen women, to find peace, godly direction, acceptance and an opportunity to turn their lives
around. Those of us in Women of the Word have seen first hand the spiritual development of these young
women. For one young woman, a new life in Christ and she is growing and maturing quite rapidly. Another
young lady has returned to her home and will have the opportunity to put into practice all she has learned from
Ritaâs wise counsel and mentorship.
Continued on page fiveâŠâŠ...
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Rita Cosenza, continued
Rita came to our fellowship looking for growth and service opportunities. After attending Women of Faith, she heard Godâs call
which led to her joining the House of Hope team. She is now a home based missionary. As all missionaries experience times of
stress, lack of funds, questioning Godâs direction, Rita knows that she is Godâs child and her Abba Father is working in her life to
direct her to exactly where He desires her to be as His lovely servant/child.
It is the desire of Womenâs Ministries to see Ritaâs ministry grow and flourish. In these economic times funds have not been forth-
coming. Would you consider joining us in praying for Rita and the next direction she will need to take to keep this ministry growing?
In order to do that she may have to move, and even return to work in the community to provide for the girls and the house.
Rita trusts in Godâs Word and always seeks His counsel first before seeking outside sources. However, the Body of Christ, her
brothers and sisters, can pray and give to this ministry. There are many young troubled teenage girls who could truly benefit from
this ministry as the previous girls have; an opportunity to come to Christ and through the godly care and discipleship of Rita become
loving, caring, women of God who stand out in a fallen world.
Oregon City Evangelical Church Womenâs Ministry will join churches around
the world for a historic prayer event as OCEC hosts
Arise! Cry Out!
November 14, 2009
9:00 a.m.â1:00 p.m.
This will be a day of unprecedented prayer. Women around the world will stand shoulder to
shoulder exalting and glorifying God. We will âArise! Cry Out!â celebrating what God has al-
ready done in the lives of our children and schools, and crying out to Him for the spiritual trans-
formation we know can come from God alone. We anticipate Godâs powerful, life-changing pres-
ence. He promises âFor where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.â
Come join us for a day of prayer and fasting. Water will be available.
Please contact the church office for more information.
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Missionary Guests: Dawn CoxâEvangelical Church Missions, Brazil
Minda Kleman, World Gospel Mission, Honduras
Suzanne Warren, OMS International, Central Asia
Nartach Jepbarova, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Old Test. Translator
Registration Information: Packages:
$70 Complete Package, lodging (4 per room) 2 meals, registration, insurance
$45 Meals & Registration only
$27 Friday or Saturday only
$20 Registration only, both days
$12 Registration only, one day
Tentative Schedule:
Friday 4:00 p.m. Registration
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Evening Session
Saturday 8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Morning Session
11:15 a.m. Business/Lunch
12:30 p.m. Afternoon Sessions
Call the church office for more information.