Thanksgiving Notebook 2009 2

StonecroftUpper Mid-Atlantic

Thanksgiving of Praise Notebook

2009

PraisesWe had 4 decisions at our Susquehanna Valley Couples

Connection that was held on 11/14. The Lord was definitely felt throughout the whole evening.

Praise the Lord for faithful Coordinators & CCs who are always enlarging our Bible study ministry in our 4 counties. We also have several couples who want to get into a couples

Bible study.

Reba Crill, DCC, Lancaster, Lebanon, Adams, York counties

I want to praise the Lord for our November luncheon, our 35th anniversary of CWC meeting in our area! We had 26

walk-ins and the restaurant and our planning team handled everything very well even though it was quite hectic!

We had a total of 127 ladies. God is so good.

Sandy Bohren, AR for Garden State, NJ CWC

At our last outreach, 3 women wanted to grow more in their faith, 1 made a first time decision, 2 interested in a

Bible study (1 of them might start a study in their 55+ community in January). One woman wanted to learn more about what it means to receive Christ and 3 offered to be

telephoners.

Also, 1 lady is praying about starting a Play and Pray group.

Nancy Smith, Chair of Garden State, NJ CWC

I am so excited that God blessed us with 11 first-timers, and after a wonderful talk by Georgia

Basko there were 4 decisions.

That was my first meeting as chairman, and I needed that encouragement, because now I have to fill the positions of two new team members who are resigning after being on board for just two months.

Praise the Lord for interest in a "Life's New Beginning" study in January. Praise for new guide

& new hostess for a SBS.

With love, --Evelyn Hoops, Chair

God has to constantly remind me to give thanks in all circumstances, especially during those times of trials when I really don't "feel" so

thankful. Today I'm thankful that God constantly reminds me of his grace and greatest gift I received in my life ... my forgiveness of sins through

His son, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:6-21 reminded me today of the constant joy I should always have.

(continued)

God reminded me again of my salvation this morning by saying through His Word:

"Jeanette you were powerless to love and obey me, even though you really desired to. You still try to find joy in everyday circumstances and

forget the true source of your joy and peace.

I so desire for you to know how much I love you and my love does not depend on anything you do or accomplish. I've given you so much to be thankful for ... my Word, a loving family, caring friends, rainbows over

your home. . . . . . . . . (Continued)

Jeanette Snell, AR for Upper Dauphin County, PA

. . . a picture of Jesus holding a lamb close to Him, and so much more.

The love you have for your adopted son and grand children are so minimal compared to the love I have for you as my adopted child. I loved you before the creation of the world knowing everything about you. My love is unconditional. I will always love you."

Jeanette Snell, AR for Upper Dauphin County, PA

We are so thankful for a new chair and planning team members. Our dinner last night had an attendance of 54. A lady who started attending two months ago prayed

with the speaker to receive Christ. God began preparing her heart several months ago.

We are thankful for all the speakers who sow seeds of faith into the hearts of every lady who attends. Even if there are

no decisions, God is using testimonies and His Word to draw hearts to Him.

Love & Prayers, Jeanette Snell, Area Rep./Stonecroft Speaker, Lykens Valley Women's Connection

A prayer for the past year was recently answered. We often struggled with the microphone and PA system where we meet. At our October meeting we received a large amount of money in an envelope designated for a

new PA system. We now have our own system!

We simply prayed every month for the microphone system to work and God worked, through the heart of a

special lady who donated the funds.

Jeanette Snell, Area Rep./Stonecroft Speaker, Lykens Valley Women's Connection

Thank you Stonecroft Ministries for bringing so many wonderful women into our lives and helping us

to impact our area with the message of God's love and forgiveness through His precious son,

Jesus Christ.

Jeanette Snell, Area Rep./Stonecroft Speaker, Lykens Valley Women's Connection

I praise God for the RSTs in PA and NJ who are working faithfully with approved speakers and

training/coaching potential speakers. I am blessed to work with such a great team of women.

I also am so grateful for Jane Guest who is now taking responsibility for compiling and updating

our PA Speakers' List...what an answer to prayer!

Finally, I praise God for our speakers who effectively and willingly share the gospel.

Concetta Stains, SSC

I just wanted to share a huge note of praise from the Butler, PA After-5 November meeting. 183 women were in attendance for

their fall fund-raiser event which included a bake sale and Chinese Auction of over 20 beautiful baskets provided by various

local businesses and women on the planning team. $1,500 was received to help support Stonecroft Ministries.

Most importantly, 2 women made decisions for Christ.

(continued)

Alice Taylor, R.R. Beaver, Butler, & Lawrence Counties, PA

Several others indicated an interest in learning more about Stonecroft Bible Studies.

Much prayer, time and effort went into planning this evening and our ladies are so grateful to the Lord

for His provisions.

What an awesome God we serve!

Alice Taylor, R.R. Beaver, Butler, & Lawrence Counties, PA

The Cape Atlantic Christian Women's Connection November luncheon was so very special.

Each month the girls pray as to who they will reach out. For November it was the ladies who are staying at the Atlantic City Rescue

Mission. 15 ladies & 3 helpers came from the mission, along with their children.

The girls are so very YOUNG. One mom had her four week old baby with her, both homeless.

So many stories they could tell us. The good news is they heard the gospel.

(continued)

Dottie Schmidt, RR, Atlantic County, NJ

We gave them gifts, the team brought in items that are needed for the mission. The children loved the nursery

and we had gifts for them. Our other guests had no idea who these ladies were, and we wouldn't

embarrass them by introducing.

This was a special Thanksgiving celebration for the team, and for our new friends. I would expect this to be an on-going Thanksgiving

BLESSING!

Dottie Schmidt, RR, Atlantic County, NJ

Also, another short Praise!

Our room is filled at the Flanders Hotel for the Christmas

luncheon, on December 2. We have stopped taking reservations, a week earlier then on the invitation. Our count is 270 with 64 first timers. Coldwater

Creek will present our fashion show and Karen Knight will perform a drama "Mary Did You Know".

We are excited to see what God is going to do!

Dottie Schmidt, Regional Representative, Atlantic County, NJ

I just want to pass along God's goodness to our club for our November meeting at our new

location. We were rushed in finding a place, there was some negativity about the new location, but it turned out magnificently.

Yours truly, Cookie Dunkle, Chair, Washington, PA CWC

I would like to praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Our 2nd Annual "Making a Difference" Banquet was a huge

success. We had 180 guests with 136 of them being 1st timers.

Our goal was to reach out into the community to let everyone know about Stonecroft Ministries by recognizing

those individuals that have reached out into our communities with the love of Christ as they ministered to the needy, lonely

and less fortunate. (continued)

Patti Barnes, Chair, Toms River, NJ Women’s Connection

We started praying for this event in May and asked the Lord to guide us in all our decisions. He answered all our prayers

starting with the recipients that we nominated right down to the decorations that we had in our room.

All the planning team were diligent and proactive in praying and we were able to pay for all our expenses with enough left over to exceed our funding goal that was set by Stonecroft.

The joy and blessings go to our God who provided for all our needs and gave back 100 fold.


As Toms River Planning Team prepares for our December 10, 2009 "A Teddy Bear Christmas"

Brunch we have expectant hearts that many 1st timers will attend because of the success of the

October Dinner.

Praise the Lord!


How awesome and mighty is our God!

As I read some of the verses on the old-standard hymns and then listen to contemporary praise songs, I hear the

heart-felt praise that never goes out of style. As we live in a secularist, post-modern society there is so much that

tries to assail the Christian and her faith. But, praise God, that He is faithful, remaining the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His mercies and blessings never fade and

are new every day.

Roxanne Kamichoff, SRA, Central NJ

How awesome and mighty is our God!

What joy it is to wake to the changing seasons, to the hope of a new day that the Lord has given.


Praise God for the teams of Morris, East Brunswick and Freehold in their pursuit of the lost within our midst. I

thank God for all these faithful women and what a blessing they have been to me.

I thank God for Elaine Holbrook on the board of directors, who has blessed NJ with her wonderful, gracious support, mentoring and encouragement. Thank God for Nancy who

has such a heart of service and a desire to pursue God wherever He leads.


Thank God for new beginnings! There is such promise within groups that may not presently have

a chair position filled or are lacking other necessary team members. However, I have been so encouraged by

3) 11 decisions at East Brunswick's October outreach 4) by a new participant, who years ago accepted Jesus Christ at

a Stonecroft outreach event and is now becoming involved in a different group

(continued)


3) the possibility of reaching out to Hispanic women in the area for a guest night event and

4) by a refreshed enthusiasm by leaders to pursue excellence.

Isn't God amazing that He allows us to work alongside Him and be witness to such marvelous things?


God is Alive and Actively working in every group throughout the SE Region of Pa.

No matter what it looks like according to the expectations we set for ourselves, it has been amazing to see the faithfulness of leaders and volunteers who press on to be a witness for Christ in their respective areas. There is always a "spark" that keeps igniting the way for Stonecroft to remain visible in some area

of ministry, whether it is through outreach events, SBS's, or Prayer!!!

Praise God! Women everywhere are keeping eternity in view!

Marcia Simcox, SRA Eastern PA

The Central Bucks CWC are presently working alongside two non-profit organizations after hosting them as the special feature at their Oct. outreach.

It has been exciting to see the enthusiasm coming from working alongside newly acquainted women and

hearing the ways Stonecroft and the witness for Jesus Christ is being shared.


A Community Prayer Event is scheduled for the fourth consecutive month, on Dec.9,2009, at the local public

library. This has been another exciting opportunity to meet women, thus far, in the Doylestown, Pa, whom we

would have never met.

God is preparing us for something beyond our imagination.

It has been an awesome time of prayer and anticipation of God's purpose and plan.


The Hanover CWC Brunch was told 2 weeks ago that the restaurant that we have our brunch monthly was closing due to the economy.

As of today we have another place to hold our Brunch - The Brethren Home Community at

Cross Keys. Praise the Lord!!

Fay Swartz, AR Hanover, PA

My Sisters in Jesus, After I completed my list Thankfulness list, I then wondered what God's Word said about them. I found a promise by God for each one of them. As I look over my list I take great comfort in knowing that He holds everything in his hand. (continued)

Barbara Vernoski RST NJ/NY

I am reading them over now as I wait for a call from the doctor, Emily may have swine flu, Rachel my little girl in the wheelchair has lots of blood in her urine, we don't know if it is kidney failure. And Paul is leaving on a 3 day trip in an hour. I am Thankful for Life and with Life comes situations and God is in control of it all.

Barbara Vernoski RST NJ/NY

Enjoy and praise God through the next slides that share so many reasons we should be thankful to

Him, as compiled by Barb

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 – "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thank Him for all the Circumstances in my Life good and bad...."'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

I Thank Him for loving me....I will never leave thee." Hebrew 13:5

I Thank Him for taking good care of myself and my family....."And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19

I Thank Him that I can go to him "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28

I Thank Him that when I have no one to talk to He is there for me...."This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that

he hears us-- whatever we ask-- we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15

Philippians 4:6 – "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present

your request to God.“I Thank Him for His mercy and grace....."The grace of the Lord

Jesus be with you." 1 Corinthians 16:23

I Thank Him that Jesus is Lord..."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not

perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

I Thank Him that when I am afraid He is there for me......"Do not be afraid," 1 Samuel 12:20

Colossians 2:7 – "Rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.“

I Thank Him for my strength without him I am weak...."For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

I Thank Him that He has built me up and made me who I am...."Continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him" Col 2:7

I Thank Him for the strength that I have and am so weak without Him...."But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect

you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Psalm 30:12 – "That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.“

I Thank Him for giving me a spring in my step and a song in my heart...."He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our

God Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.“ Psalm 40:3

I Thank Him that he will never leave me and will be there forever for me..."Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust...."

Psalm 40:4

Psalm 105:1-2 – "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him,

sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.“

I Thank Him that I can call on Him anytime and He is never to busy for me..." Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and

I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12

I Thank Him that I can sing to Him when I feel like I want to cry......"when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning

into a day of celebration." Esther 9:22

Psalm 75:1 – "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.“

I Thank Him for His Names, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit......"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinth 13:14

I Thank Him for His wonderful deeds....."Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness." Psalm 150:2

Psalm 100:4-5 — "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever; his faithfulness

continues through all generations.“

I Thank Him that I don't have to go into the temple to Find God, He lives within me......"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

You are not your own;" 1 Corinthians 6:19

II Thank Him for His unfailing Love...."Love never fail." 1 Cor. 13:8

Revelation 11:17 – "We give thanks to you, Lord God almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great

power and have begun to reign.“

I Thank Him for His everlasting Love...."But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him,"

Psalms 103:17

I Thank Him for being almighty......"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to

come, the Almighty." Rev. 16:14

Psalm 147:7-9 — "Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when

they call.“

I Thank Him for Music......"Sing for joy God our Strength;" Psalm 81:1

I Thank Him for Praise....."My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed." Psalms 71:23

I Thank Him for our beautiful planet earth......."In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Deuteronomy 8:10 – "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.“

I Thank Him for the heat to stay warm and that I don’t have to go to bed hungry...."But my God shall supply all your need according to

his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Phil 4:19

I Thank Him for the soft bed I sleep in....."For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest." Job 3:13

I Thank Him for the opportunity through Stonecroft to Serve Jesus......"Each one should use whatever gift

he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:10

I am thankful in all ways and at all times for the wonderful women God has called to serve Him in the

Upper Mid-Atlantic.

I am truly thankful that He has given me the privilege of serving Him within this ministry and that I have the

honor to work along side each of you.(continued)

Nancy

I am thankful for the women who have come to know Him through this last year in the Upper Mid-Atlantic

because of your untiring ministry.

Many blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving!

Love in Christ , Nancy

Spiritual

Thanksgiving Notebook 2009 2