Passing the Baton of Leadership

Leadership Wednesday
May 112011

Submitted by Beth Mills, PWOCI President

It’s that exciting time of year when we hand off the leadership baton to the next generation of leaders at each PWOC installation. It’s a time of celebration for all the Lord has taught us over the year, and the deepening of our relationships with one another. For some of us, it’s a time to say goodbye to friends and launch out to a new adventure in God. It’s a time of excitement and expectation as we head into a new year of discovery in God’s Kingdom. To those who have been in local leadership this past year, thank you so very much for embracing the call the Lord laid upon your hearts to lead women into an ever deepening relationship with Christ. Thank you for your loving service to the women and families in your chapel community, and for your strength and partnership in prayer with the chaplains to shine the light of God’s glory at your installation. As you have gathered together in worship and Bible study and willingly followed God’s leading, you have been a “city on a hill”, bringing God’s light and life to those in need. To those ladies who have just recently said, “Yes” to this call of leadership, thank you for your willingness to step out in faith and follow the Lord wherever He leads. We will all be praying for you and with you as you seek God’s vision to meet the unique needs at your installations. As you receive this baton of leadership, keep your eyes focused on the goal, throw off everything that would get in your way, and know that we are cheering you onward in God’s Kingdom calling.  May God bless you abundantly with His love and His grace, may Jesus be lifted high as you meet together with Him, and may you be filled to overflowing with His Holy Spirit!

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Advent Celebration using a Jesse Tree

Seasonal teaching
Dec 012010

In our celebration of Advent, one way to pass on our faith to our children is to make a Jesse Tree. The ornaments represent events in the Bible, all leading up to the birth of the Messiah. This is an instructional tool that is not just for children but also could be used in women’s Bible studies. My first exposure to the Jesse Tree was at the Fort Leonard Wood PWOC in 1993. I still have those handmade ornaments and the “script” we used to tell His Story.

The Jesse Tree is so named because of Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots.”  It is used to tell God’s story in the Old Testament and to connect Advent with the faithfulness of God across history. God is a covenantal God and always stays true to the promises He makes with His people, even when they are disobedient.

The long-awaited Messiah came in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God Himself! Simeon proclaimed, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32 NASB)  The Jesse Tree helps us tell the story of God’s sovereign plan to redeem His people for Himself, a plan He’s held true since the foundation of the world.

During this season of celebrating His first Advent (and preparation of His second Advent), use the Jesse Tree as a reminder of all God has done and will continue to do.

The Jesse Tree can be made of your choice of craft supplies – paper, cloth, on a small Christmas tree, or bulletin board. Have the freedom to be creative with it. As I’ve mentioned before in other posts, doing some reading or internet research will help in your discovery and promote ownership of this expression of faith. Ask the Lord to guide you as you learn more about His Word, His plan across the ages, and His greatest gift of love, His Only Son.

Click here for some sample items to include on your tree (persons, events, themes/scriptures and symbols).

(chart source: crivoice.org)

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Holy Thursday - Maundy Thursday

Seasonal teaching
Apr 012010

In the Jewish tradition, believers were to observe Passover each year. The remembrance was used to pass down the teaching that God had saved His people from the hand of the Egyptian Pharaoh during years of intense slavery. When the rulers would not let the Hebrew slaves free, there were ten plagues that God sent on the land to change their hearts. The final straw was the tenth plague – the plague of the firstborn.  God’s instruction was that each household should put the blood of a lamb on the tops and sides of the doorframes to their homes. This blood was a sign that the Angel of Death would pass over their homes, saving their lives. Judgment of God will happen, but He made a way to be saved. (See Exodus 11 and 12 in the Old Testament.)

The same is true today. There is a phrase that is heard frequently in Christian circles – “put the blood of Jesus on the doorframes of your heart.” Have you heard of it? Have you done it? It’s the idea that the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect and spotless Lamb of God has given His blood (His very life) for the atonement (forgiveness) of our sins. What a great thing to celebrate! This is accomplished not by anything we could do on our own but by putting our trust and faith in the work that Jesus did on the cross!

So the people back in the day of Jesus were coming to town to celebrate the Passover feast. Once in Jerusalem, they encountered a couple days full of Jesus’ teachings plus other dramatic events that eventually led to His trial and death. But prior to the death sentence that He received, He spent some time with His friends. His disciples. Those that He had poured His life, love and ministry into over the past three years.

This is the account of Jesus celebrating His last Passover with His friends.

Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 26, verses 26-30) says, “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many of forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Other events of Jesus’ last full day on earth can also be found in Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23; and John 13:1-30.

So what makes this Thursday different than others? What does Maundy mean? Are you saying “Monday Thursday?” That doesn’t make sense…..no, it refers to the new mandate Christ gave His followers: Jesus’ words after He washed His disciple’s feet. He instructed them with a new commandment – to love one another as He loved them. A great way to celebrate this day and evening in commemoration of Christ’s last night before the crucifixion is to worship with other Christians and partake in the Lord’s Supper! What a great gift that Christ left to His people!

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Celebrating Holy Week in Your Home

Friday Fruit, Seasonal teaching
Mar 312010

Every spring, my kids and I make some kind of 10-day calendar to commemorate the last week Jesus was on the earth. Sometimes it’s a scroll. Sometimes it’s a booklet of construction paper stapled together. One year they put on a play with their stuffed animals. But every year, there is Scripture. We look at the Scriptures for that day, and the children will write something and draw something that represents that event. It has been a good way to make Holy Week a very regular and “normal” celebration in our home.

Tucked away in the pages of the Gospel of Mark, the NIV Study Bible offers a timeline and map of those earth-changing events (pages 1524-5). The journey to the cross actually begins with the Friday before Palm Sunday; Jesus arrived in Bethany before the Passover so He could spend time with his friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He was anointed with expensive perfumes by Mary, not only to show her devotion and service to Him, but also a sign of what was to come. His death and burial.

In a world where secular celebrations get the headlines, let’s use this important time on the Christian calendar to remember the events preceding the death, burial, and of course, resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. God in the flesh Who came to earth for you and me.

Here is a list of Scripture readings to use with your own families in preparation for the greatest event of all human history – the day the grave was overcome with the resurrection of Jesus the Christ!!

I pray it’s a good week for you and your families. Let’s focus on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 2)!!

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O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL!

Friday Fruit, Seasonal teaching
Nov 272009

We are approaching a season called Advent. Aim Two of the PWOC Aims states that we are to “TEACH women the history, beliefs and programs of the church, all built on a solid foundation of worship and Bible study.” Over the next four weeks, ideas about Advent will be presented in the PWOCI blog. Staying true to our heritage of ecumenical Protestant beliefs, let us come together as we prepare our hearts and minds and homes for the celebration of Christmas.

Advent is a term that comes from the Latin word, “adventus,” – “arrival” or “coming”. This term is used sometimes in our culture about a new beginning, as in the “dawn of a new day,” but when mentioned in conjunction with the end of our calendar year, it signifies a holy time, the time we prepare our hearts to celebrate the first advent of Jesus – God coming to Earth. This marks the beginning of the Christian church calendar year and is typically celebrated for the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. For Americans, this usually means that Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The celebration of Advent can be found recorded as early as the Fourth Century, AD, and has been associated with preparations for Baptism, Epiphany, the Birth of Christ, and anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. By doing some internet research, you will be able to find many resources and to incorporate this celebration into your family’s holiday traditions.

One tradition that has been a fun one for us is the use of Advent calendars. Children love the idea of routine and excitement, and a calendar helps them be consistent in counting down the days to Christmas. Our family also reads a book about the ABCs of Advent, each day having a reading associated with the season. For example, A is for Angels; B is for Bethlehem; C is for Candles; and so on. Advent wreaths are used in worship services and can be made for your own home as well. This season of Advent can be the perfect time to focus Christmas all on Jesus.

So as you begin your decorating and festivities, put on some music and sing along with us, “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee; Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.”

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