July 2013

Go Girls!

Take Flight: Preparing for our Womens Retreat by Sarah Fisher

I want you to start thinking about our upcoming women's retreat at Skycroft, October 25 - 27. Our retreat theme is "Take Flight: Letting God Write Your Story." In addition to a lovely setting, quiet escape away from daily stress, and lots of time building new relationships or deepening existing ones, we will be looking at the stories of six Bible characters, and how their encounters with God changed their lives. The story of Joseph has so many facets, and Isabella begins to look at some of them on page three. Two things have stood out to me about Joseph. First, in spite of the horrible treatment by his brothers, and an Egyptian "career" with many ups and downs, Joseph was able to look at what his brothers had done to him and state, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph's ability to see himself as part of God's story is amazing, and is often alluded to when we face trials or suffering. It's like an anecdotal parallel of Romans 8:28.

A ministry of: FUMC Berkeley Springs

49 South Green St. Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 304.258.2766 | gofirst.org Pastor Andrew Cooney

THE WORD
Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

One piece of the Joseph story that occurs before this confession is often overlooked. Matthew 6:22-23 (The Before Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he dismissed everyone from his Message) presence, and we are told that he wept so loudly that the whole palace heard him (Genesis 45:1-2). I don't think those were tears of joy. Racking sobs that are heard Think About It throughout a palace are cries of pain and hurt. Even years after his bothers had sold him into slavery, the pain of what they did to him and what he endured was still there. What three things would help you open the windows Sometimes we are told that God can turn anything into something good. God can of your eyes to see Gods redeem any situation, and will always make things work out. I don't disagree with those grace and love? statements. But I think we sometimes feel that if we really believe those statements, we have to bite our lips and deny our hurt, or just "get over it." I don't see that in this story. 1. ____________________ I see a man who was deeply hurt and betrayed; the pain was still fresh years later. 2. ____________________ Believing that God has a plan does not mean there won't be painful circumstances and 3. ____________________ relational breakdowns. But it does mean that we can trust God through our tears and pain, allowing Him to "write our story" and bring us through to the other side.

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FUMC Womens Ministry

Team Member Profiles

Heres your chance to get to know the FUMC Womens Ministry Leadership Team a little better.

Name: Isabella Yosuico Spouse: Ray Yosuico Kids/Grandkids: Pierce (6), Isaac (3). Step-kids: Megan (36), Josh (30). Grandkids: Hunter (13), Logan (8). Job: Freelance writer/communications consultant Hometown: Born in Southern California, raised in Columbia, Md. Moved to Berkeley Springs in 2003. Became a Christian: At 33. Favorite Bible verse: Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans, Galatians, Acts. Most people don't know: I speak Italian fluently, and a teeny bit of French and Spanish. Favorite pastimes: Being a mom, working, reading, writing, running, cooking, arts & crafts, travel. Issues most passionate about: Communicating, to women in particular, that our value and purpose are God-given (Psalm 139:13-16), and that God can redeem anything weve done or suffered for our good, others good, and His glory (Romans 8:28). Women's ministry to me means: Encouraging, guiding and comforting one another with THE TRUTH.

SAVE the DATE!

October 25 to 27: Fall Womens Retreat
At Beautiful Skycroft, near Frederick, MD Nature, pool, spa, fitness center, sports and more! Check it out at:

Praying for the 10/40 Window

Ten-forty refers to an area that stretches from 10 degrees south of the equator to 40 degrees north of the equator, where four billion people live in 69 nations across Central Asia, the Middle East, and northern Africa. Praying for the 10/40 Window has become a global movement due to these and other urgent needs: With two-thirds of the worlds population, the 10/40 Window is where 90% of the worlds poorest live. Child prostitution and slavery, as well as the abuse of women and children, is widespread and unrestrained in many of these 69 countries. Sharing the Christian message is illegal in many of these nations, and some of the worst persecutions of Christians occur within 45 countries in the 10/40 Window.
Find out more about praying for the 10/40 Window at win1040.com.

www.skycroft.org
Book Review
The Easy Burden of Pleasing God
Author: Patty Kirk Publisher: InterVarsity Press

A Christian college professor, Patty Kirk has seen her share of people working hard to please God. She has also seen her share of spiritual crisis, and the two often go hand-in-hand. Many people who have accepted Gods grace through Jesus still seem to believe they are capable of being good enough to deserve that grace. And their effort to pursue this goodness makes them miserable. In this book, Kirk seeks to set us free from the notion that our job is to work very hard to make God happy. She gently reminds us what the Bible actually tells us about following Jesus. As you read, you might find yourself setting aside your pursuit of perfection and finding a new kind of joy.

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Case Studies in Faithfulness: Joseph By Isabella Yosuico
Part 1 Both Sides of Simmering Resentment Genesis 37
The Bible itself tells us that all scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). Ive experienced this truth in my own life in a big way, so I try to read the Bible choosing to believe its truly speaking to me and revealing things that apply to my everyday life. The story of Joseph is not only a page turner, theres so much in it thats relevant today. Spending some time in it once again affirmed this truth. Are you living 2 Timothy 3:16? As we all know, Joseph was the favored son of Jacob, a patriarch of questionable character who is nonetheless in Jesus family tree (a great topic for another time, as you and me are all part of Jesus family tree notwithstanding our poor character). Jacob made no bones about his favoritism, and gave Joseph a coat of many colors, deepening what was already plain resentment of Jacobs other sons, born of other wives and handmaidens. Ever played favorites, at work or at home, to someones harm? I am raising my hand. Lay readers and scholars vary on their opinion about whether Joseph was a spoiled brat or an innocent victim or something in between, but there can be no denying that the seeming unfairness of the circumstances would have been pretty painful for his brothers. We are also told that Joseph tattled on his brothers (Genesis 37:2), which hints at a little bit of an attitude. Regardless, its not hard to imagine the pain and tension the favoritism caused all involved. Has anyone out there been marginalized or resented by family, with or without cause? I am raising my hand. Has anyone out there been the cause of family resentment, by accident or on purpose? I am raising my hand. Anyway, it couldnt help when Joseph shared two dreams, both of which indicated that his brothers and his father would one day bow down to him. Even his adoring Dad seemed annoyed, though the Bible tells us he took note (Genesis 37:11). Lets face it: we know how the story ends and Josephs dream was indeed prophetic, so he told it like it was. It seems like he reported it innocentlyentirely possible for a sheltered, rural teen of another erabut it sure wouldnt havent sounded good regardless. Ever done something innocently, only to discover later that it really made someone mad? I am raising my hand. Seems like nobody was entirely clued in to the depths of the brothers hatred, because Jacob sent his beloved Joseph out to check on (ouch) his older brothers in a distant pasture and Joseph went without hesitation. Ever played a part in a drama to which others seemed genuinely oblivious? I am raising my hand. Ever been genuinely oblivious to a drama until it exploded? I am raising my hand. In those fateful hours out in the fields, Josephs brothers long-simmering resentment finally boiled over, and when they saw him coming they hatched a wicked, rage-fueled plan: kill him! We might be tempted to dismiss the story of Joseph as irrelevant because most of us wont outright kill the objects of our resentment, but Im reminded what Jesus said (Matt 5:22, 1 John 3:15). Mmmmmm. Ever sought revenge or been the victim of someones resentment? I am raising my hand. The more level-headed elder brother Reuben stepped in to save Josephs hide, and I get the impression that Reuben hoped the brothers would chill out when they threw Joseph into a pit. Instead, they sold Joseph to a passing caravan of traders, much to Reubens dismay. I dont know about you, but if I were Joseph at this point, I think Id be paralyzed with fear, brimming with resentment of my own, and crushed with hurt, having a pity party and inviting anyone who would listen to my tale of injustice. But Joseph didnt do that. Have you failed to follow-through when you knew what was right? I am raising my hand! How do you react to pressure, injustice and hurt? I invite you to cast yourself in one or more of the roles, and begin to read the story of Joseph yourself, which well continue to explore next month. What well consider next is how God was working in and through Joseph, and how Josephs conduct and attitude were unaffected by others or circumstances even though they were HARD. Anyone been challenged to be faithful through something hard? Theres no condemnation in Christ Jesus, but there is real freedom in The Truth.

Design and base content 2012 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO, group.com/women. Permission to photocopy granted for local church use only.

July
A Taste of Whats Happening for Women
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UPCOMING:
October 25 to 27: Fall Womens Retreat
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Stitches n Hooks
TAKING THE SUMMER OFF. WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER ENJOY!

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29 6:30pm Book Club TBA

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31 BOOK for August: You can still read this page-turner! The Light Between Oceans: A Novel by M.L. Stedman

Womens Ministry Leadership Team Sarah Fisher, Womens Ministry Coordinator: sfisher@gofirst.org | 304.258.2766 Denise Bergen Cindi Close Gretchen Close Linda Romano Bonnie Weber Isabella Yosuico

Design and base content 2012 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO, group.com/women. Permission to photocopy granted for local church use only.