By Pastor Susan Wright

About 500 million people speak Hindi in India and abroad, which makes this one of the most spoken languages in the world.

“Namaste!” (Hello).

July 25- August 10, Jenny and Kadie Arnez, Annie Callen and I will be surrounded by Hindi speakers. We will be in northwest India with LINC Ministries to encourage and help women and children in the name of Jesus.

One thing I am especially excited about is raising money for and then buying 60 sewing machines. We will buy them in India. Can you believe they only cost $60 each?

LINC Ministries operates four sewing centers. At these centers battered women are given a new chance at life. They are taught the skill of sewing. Upon graduation they receive a sewing machine of their own so they may provide an honorable living for themselves.

In order to buy the machines and pay for the other expenses of the trip we are having another yard sale. This one will include a car wash. The date is Saturday, May 18 at Cordova Neighborhood Church. We are still taking yard sale donations!

For other fundraising opportunities check this link: http://lincministries.com/india2013/.

I don’t know how to say “Thank you” in Hindi (yet). But I can in English, “Thank You!”

I thank you in advance for your prayer and support. You are helping make it possible for us to assist children and women in India and to do so well.

By Pastor Susan Wright

The women’s retreat 2013 is almost here: May 31 – June 2. This getaway will offer 7 things.

1. Four sessions of teaching and worship that will inspire and encourage
2. Beautiful mountain and lake scenery
3. Free time that can be spent alone or with others
4. Rest and refreshment
5. Opportunities to hear from God and others
6. Fun and laughter
7. Pampering because there are no chores

Our speakers, Jenny Arnez, Shula Gossard, and Pastor Susan Wright will lead us through John 3:16, the numbers of hope.

“One sentence [John 3:16], softly spoken two thousand years ago, is just as relevant today as when first uttered. If you know nothing of the Bible, start here. If you know everything in the Bible, return here.” (back cover of book, The 3:16 Promise)

The words of John 3:16 are “timeless and powerful, these words proclaim a message of love, a source of hope, and a promise of life,” (back cover of DVD study).

Reminder – Final retreat payment is due Sunday, May 5.

Good News - There are still some vacancies. To get the details and registration form, connect with Pastor Susan today: Susan@cnchurch.org, 635-5992 x14.

By Pastor Susan Wright

When you need to come up with extra money, how do you “find” it? Below are six ways I have used:

1. I raided my piggy bank to pay for this year’s deposit.
2. Some years I make monthly payments in order to pay for Retreat.
3. One year I collected enough money from emptying pants’ pockets while doing the laundry.
4. I’ve cashed in on soda cans and bottles.
5. And one year I stopped going out to eat and to get coffee until I had enough money for Retreat.
6. My best answer is finding money for Retreat is to pray first. I know that if God wants me (or you) to be at Retreat, He will provide the money.

Have you turned in your Women’s Retreat deposit yet? If not, please do so today!

NOTE: We still have some spots available for Retreat, May 31- June 2. Fill out your registration form and turn it in with the deposit today! We’d love to have you with us.

Need a form? Contact Pastor Susan (635-5992 x14) or grab a form from the office or from the table in the church narthex.

Women’s Ministries will be putting together a Friendship Quilt to raise money for our retreat. Look for us in the lobby on April 7 and 14 so you can create your own signed quilt square and share your favorite Bible verse. The quilt will be raffled off in May.

By Pastor Susan Wright

1. Q.   How much is it and what do you get for the money?
A.    Women’s Retreat 2013 is $180.00. It is 2 nights and 3 days at Zephyr Point. The rooms are hotel style and have fresh sheets, plenty of hot water, and a bed for each woman. The majority of the rooms sleep 2. Check in is 5 pm on Friday.

2. Q.   Anything else?
A.    You get six meals: Friday night dinner, 3 meals on Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday. There will also be snacks provided on Saturday afternoon and evening. If you have food requests (like vegan or lactose-intolerant), the kitchen will accommodate you. Be sure to mark that on the registration form.

3. Q.   Is that it?
A.    Of course not! The teaching and worship time will be top-notch. Jenny Arnez is one of our speakers. As always, the schedule is not jam-packed, so you’ll have some free time too.

4. Q.   That’s a lot for $180.00 That’s it, right?
A.    No way! Each woman will also receive a notebook that has lots of room for note-taking, exercises for quiet time, and resources to continue the learning once home.

5. Q.   Wow! Surely this is it?
A.    Oh, no. The Women’s Ministry Team always spoils each attendee with a bed treat. This secret item is different every year. The only way to get one of these gems is to attend the Retreat.

Q.   Count me in! How do I sign up for the Women’s Retreat this coming May 31-June 2?NOTE: This is not Memorial Day Weekend.
A.    Fill out a registration form which is located on a table in the foyer. Or email me (susan@cnchurch.org) and I will send you a form. Turn it in with your deposit to the office, put it in an offering box, or mail it. Do this today. The spots are limited. Deposits are due March 10. You can talk with Sydney Cooley (our bookkeeper) to make payments. The final payment is due May 5.
If you have a question, contact Pastor Susan at susan@cnchurch.org  or 635-5992 x14.

March – September, 2013

In our mentoring program, we are focusing on “relationship building” — walking beside each other; not as experts with all the answers but as sisters where shared experiences are prominent. Mentoring is the integration of knowledge into life experience.

We encourage two types of women to sign up for this program: mentees and mentors.

(1) Looking for Women Mentees
A mentee is a woman who has a desire to grow as a Christian woman and wants the help of an older woman who is more experienced and knowledgeable.

Would you like some help? Then sign up for Cordova Neighborhood Church’s Woman-to-Woman Mentoring Program. It will run from March – September.

(2) Looking for Women Mentors
Or are you a woman who has walked with the Lord and gained His wisdom? Are you willing to be open to share what you’ve learned with another woman? We need you to sign up, too.

Don’t be deceived into thinking that you don’t have anything to offer or receive because YOU DO!

Pick up a form from a table in the foyer or contact Scotti Fritts. She can email you a form. Put your completed form in one of the offereing boxes by March 10.
Questions? Contact Scotti: skokie_scotti@yahoo.com, (925) 408-8164.

to cover costs of Women’s Retreat

Did you know that the money women pay for retreat covers only the lodging and meals for the weekend? We fundraise to cover the rest of the costs: speaker, notebook, snacks/coffee, bed treats, etc.

One of our fundraisers is the Pie Bake Sale, Sunday, March 17, in Rudat Hall.

You can help in 2 ways . . .
* Bring a home made pie.
* Buy a slice or a whole pie.

If you have any questions, contact Pastor Susan: 635-5992 x14, susan@cnchurch.org.

By Pastor Susan Wright

“The pie is an English institution which, planted on American soil, forthwith ran rampant and burst forth into an untold variety of genera and species.” Harriet Beecher Stowe

How many of you have a family pie recipe? We do. Ours is a no bake cheesecake. It is fluffy, sweet, easy to make, and loaded with calories.

I bet you want a piece, or better yet, the whole thing.

Well, you can. At the Women’s Ministry Pie Auction on Sunday, March 17.
I’ll bring one (maybe two if I’m feeling generous). You can bid on it and maybe you’ll be the winner and take that baby home!

We’d like to have your pies in the auction, too. Don’t worry if it’s not a family recipe; we’ll still auction it. It just needs to be homemade.

The proceeds of the auction will go towards Women’s Retreat for scholarships, supplies, etc.

If you have any questions, contact Pastor Susan, the no bake cheesecake pie maker extraordinaire:Susan@cnchurch.org, 635-5992.