Bayside Presbyterian WomenOctober 2015

DevotionBeneath'the'Surface'of'Prayer

In'this'excerpt' from'101#Moments#of#Prayer#,'Elizabeth'Sherrill' experiences' a'heaven<sent'moment.'

Father,#I#thank#Thee#that#Thou#hast#heard#me.#John#11:41#

I’d'gone'on'the'weekend'retreat' with'a'question.'The'monastery'was'located'at'a'beautiful'spot'on'the'banks'of'the'Hudson'River,' 80'miles'north' of'New'York'City.'Somewhere'in'that'prayerful'place,'perhaps'during' a'chapel'service,'perhaps'in'the'course'of'a'talk'by'the'retreat' leader,'answers'to'a'special'concern' I'had'would'come.'

And'one'came,'too,' but'not'as'I’d'expected.' It'happened'as'I'walked'along'the'narrow'shale'beach'at'the'edge'of'the'river.'There'I'watched'a'giant'oil'tanker'make'its'way'downriver,' huge'and'silent,' then'growing'smaller,' leaving'the'water’s'broad' surface'as'undisturbed' as'though'no'ship'had'passed.'

I'strolled' on'downstream.'The'noise'came'from'behind'me—a'roar'like'an'approaching' freight'train.'I'whirled'around' to'see'two<foot'waves'rushing'across'the'water'that'seconds'earlier' had'been'so'placid.'Curling,' cresting,'crashing'in'white'foam'around'my'feet—where'had'they'come'from!'What'had'suddenly'roiled' the'water'on'this'windless'morning? Of'course:'the'tanker,'now'far'away.'

I'had'wet'shoes'as'I'started'back'up'the'path'to'the'monastery,'but'I'had'an'answer,'too.'Our'efforts' at'prayer'are'not'unavailing.'Our'pleas'are'registered' in'heaven'and'God’s'redeeming' power'is'in'motion.'The'effect'has'just'not'reached'the'surface'of'things'where'our'land<bound' eyes'are'watching.'

Thank#You,#Father,#for#answers#that# in#their#time#come#cresting#forth.# by'Elizabeth'Sherrill

Beginning&Balance:&&$'906.53

Ending&Balance:&$'1469.87

Food'Pantry'item'of'the'month:''Cereal''''''''Always'needed:'• Juice'(approx.'64'oz)'any'kind'of'juice• Cooking'oil'(vegetable'or'blended)'small'bottles• Cereal'– any'type,'any'size• Canned'fruits'– any'size

Upcoming' dates'to'remember:• PEVA'Fall'Gathering'@'Denbigh''

Presbyterian'Church,' Newport' News;'Oct'10'

• Winter' Shelter'18'– 25'November• Thanksgiving'Baskets;'sort'donate'goods,'assemble

baskets,'help'carry'to'recipients' cars'– 21'&'22'Nov• Circle' 8'Elegant'Tea;'April'30,'2016• BPC'Spring'Gathering;'April' 16,'2016• PEVA'Summer'Gathering,' Massenetta Springs;'

9–12'June'2016• BPC'Fall'Gathering;' September'10,'2016

Pew'Rack'duty:'Oct'– Circle'6,'Nov'– Circle'8,'Dec'– Circle'10

Benevolence'in'the'spot'light

Crisis&Pregnancy&Center&of&Tidewater is'a'Christ<centered'organization'with'a'calling'to'reach'out'to'women'and'families'involved'in'crisis<related'pregnancies'by'offering'real'help'for'the'present,'hope'for'the'future,'and'healing'from'the'past.'CPC'was'founded'through'the'corporate'effort'of'a'few'churches'and'several'individuals'in'the'Tidewater'area,'all'of'whom'felt'a'strong'calling'to'help'women'facing'unexpected'pregnancy'by'providing'educational'information'and'practical'support'in'a'caring'environment.'All'financial'support'is'from'private'funding.'

Information'about'it’s'history,'ways'to'help,'current'needs,'items'frequently'in'short'supply,'etc.'can'be'found'at'the'following'link:'http://www.cpcfriends.org/index.aspx?parentnavigationid=21098

Circle'Reports

Circle' 2:'Did'not'meet.

Circle' 3,'Ruth:'7'members'were'present.'Hostess'&'Bible'Study'Moderator:'Louise'Wombolt.'Louise' will'assume'circle'treasurer'

responsibilities' from'Margaret'Shanks.'Libby'Graves'conducted' the'business'meeting'and'discussed'much'of'the'information' from'the'moderator’s'meeting'minutes'and'the'September'Newsletter.' Lucy'Ellin Page'will'send

care'letters'and'gift'cards'to'college'student' Chad'Wentz'attending' TCC.

Circle' 4,'Esther:''11'members'were'present.'Hostess:'Susie'Fulcher.'Undaunted' Study'Moderator:' Amanda'Long.'2'new'members;'Jill' Mitchell'and'Debbie' Sparks.'Introductions' were'made.'An'explanation' of'the'PW'General'Fund,'Least'Coin,'Sunshine'Fund'and'Food'Pantry'contributions' was'provided.'Discussed'items'from'Moderator’s' meeting'minutes'and'the'September' Newsletter.'Amanda'provided' an'overview'of'our'PW'year,'5'study'lessons,'3'service'events'and'a'Christmas'potluck' Extravaganza!'Prayer'Concerns:'Kim'and'son'Luke,'Susie’s'Aunt'Hazel'in'hospice,' friends' and'family'of'Rhonda'Jernigan'who'passed'away'11'Sep.

Circle' 6:'10'members'present.'Hostesses:'Donna'Place,' Dawn'Burns' and'Em Chapman.'Bible'Moderator:'Jean'Reid.'Everyone'seems'pleased'with'this'year's'Horizons' Bible' study.'Ladies'volunteered' for'pew'duty'in'October.'Discussed'three'service'projects' for'the'year,'distribution' of'PW'funds'and'upcoming' events'listed'in'the'newsletter.' Everyone'signed'a'card'for'college'student,' Sydnie'Allen,'and'an'engagement'card'for'Sarah'Williamson.

Circle' 8:'13'Members'were'present.'Hostess:'Connie' Zuidema.'Connie'Zuidema and'Beth'Montoya'were'thanked'for'making'the'breakfast'casseroles'for'the'PW'Fall'Gathering.'Discussed'the'videos'of'the'authors'of'the'study'books'for'this'year'and'how'this'year’s'Horizon' study'looked'good'even'though'studying'Undaunted.'Corrections' to'last'year’s'directory' were'made.'Signup'sheet'for'meetings,'hostesses'and'facilitators' for'the'year'was'passed'around.This'year’s'college'student' is'Addison'(AJ)'Walters'who'is'attending' Christopher' Newport' University.'Discussed'that'the'PW'Newsletter' would' be'sent'out'electronically' again'this'year'and'the'directory' would'be'electronic' or'could'be'purchased' for'$1'a'copy. One'goal'for'PW'this'year'is'for'each'circle'to'participate' in'three' service'projects.' Talked'about'PW’s'budget'and'that'two'of'the'benevolent'groups'were'no'longer'solvent'and'how'replacements' may'be'found'or'the'funds'redistributed.' The'PEVA'Fall'Gathering' will'be'at'Denbigh'Presbyterian'Church' on'Saturday,'October' 10.'Discussed'how'the'suggested'donation' to'PW'was'$45'for'this'year.''We'decided' that'our'circle' tea'would'be'Saturday,'April'30,'2015. Prayer'concerns: Evan'Walsh,'Baby'George'Crawford,' Jo'Elsberg,'Maggie'Tinn,'My'Baby'Brother,' Alan'Buckner,' Grace'Armistead'and'the'fires'in'California.

Circle' 10:'8 Members'were'present.'New'Member:''Becky'Wheeler.'Hostess:'Rose'Ann'Wehr.'Bible'Moderator:'Kathy'Duncan. Discovered'1'more'book'is'needed,'reviewed'treasurer’s' report' and'various'collections.' Noticed' that'the'church' calendar'for'meeting'time'is'incorrect,' Jane'will'talk'to'Linda'to'get'it'corrected.' Talked'about'the'food'pantry'and'discussed'Woman'of'Faith'nominee.'Scheduled'the'following' community'service'projects:'October' –Food'Pantry,'November'– items'for'the'homeless,'December' – Angel'Tags.'Members'who'have'served'the'community:'Dee'– makes'Panera'Bread'run,' Louise'and'Rose'Ann'volunteered'to'read'during' Church'Women'United’s' Fall'event.'Jane'volunteered' for'clean'up'after'Church'Women'Union'Fall'event.