Newsletter

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel lonely, everything is going wrong, and you want to Judy

talk to someone? You call your friends and they are not at home! They don’t return your calls. Well, I have good news! You have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. His name is Jesus. He is as close to you “as the air you breathe.” He IS the air we breathe so the song goes.

My Mother, Elna Cox, who is a prayer warrior and partner with Celebration, is recovering from a major illness. She shared with me yesterday that while in the hospital she couldn’t or didn’t feel like praying. However, she felt God’s hand with her and she knows it was the result of all of your prayers for her. We thank you with a grateful heart. Mother said that she knew that Jesus “would never leave her or forsake her.” (Heb. 13:5) And He did not!

The same Jesus that ministered to my Mother is there for you. He told us “I am with you always even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) And “Nothing shall separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:38)

May you call on Him in your times of need. He will be there for you. May we learn to dwell in the secret place of the Most High for then we will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalms 91)

Happy Birthday Celebration!

"Today is Our Birthday, We're Gonna Have a Good Time"

What is your favorite childhood memory? Chances are, if you are like me, it is difficult to narrow it down to just one single event. But if there is one thing I do remember really enjoying as a young girl, it's being invited to birthday parties. From wearing the tall "cone head" type cardboard hats and blowing the little roll-out whistles to laughing and visiting with friends and playing pin-the-tail on the donkey, a birthday party always meant a good time for everyone. (Oh, and did I mention the great food and little Carnation ice cream cups with the chocolate cake? I especially loved that, too!)

Cathy Busa

Well, if I have made any of you reflect on good times gone by when we were young(er) and possibly a little more carefree, have I got a great treat for you! Did you know that this year's Annual Conference Celebration Luncheon is more than just any old luncheon?? This is a special day marking the 4th birthday of Celebration Ministry!

The Silsbee Celebration Chapter met on March 22, 2003, with guest speaker Susan Rozman. Her topic was prayer and its influence on her life. There was great food, and very spiritual praise and worship and prayer time.

We also had an overnight retreat held April 4th and 5th. The members of the Silsbee Celebration Team met for the retreat as guests of their president, Linda Georgas. There was outstanding praise and worship, followed by Spiritual food, supplied by guest speaker Sylvia Strother of Silsbee. Pictured, left to right, are members Sharon Dickard, Martha Clark, Dana Bradshaw, Cheryl Owens, Debbie Jones, and Martha Bradshaw. Guest speaker, Sylvia Strother, president Linda Georgas, members Lisa Boever, and Lee Ann Sheppard, guest Martha Spell, and members Judy Self and Lydia Duncan.

Westminster UMC in Houston had our Spring Celebration meeting on April 5. Rev.Ann Ross was our guest speaker and she encouraged us to praise as we pray! She shared some of her inspiring personal testimony with us as well. We had 50 women with 9 area churches represented. We had a great brunch, a wonderful time of praise and worship, and a sweet time of prayer ministry. One woman shared, "God has shown me that there is a large group of women that care and wish to support each other. God can move our hearts and touch us. We just have to be still and to feel his Holy Spirit." We were all blessed to be together!

Cindy Masterson--President, Westminster Chapter

Mission Bend UMC quarterly event will be Saturday May 10, 9:30am - 11:30am.
We are so very excited to have Carmen Sifuentez as our speaker. She is very involved in the "SOS" (Save our Streets) ministry in Bryan Station, TX. This ministry works with children & teens on the streets of the inner city. She has a wonderful testimony and message. Please join us for fellowship and worship. Please call Audrey Spencer @ (281) 240-9890 if you plan to attend or need babysitting.

Chapelwood Celebration "Mother's Day Brunch" Saturday, May 10 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. featuring special guest, Rachel Norris, potter...inspired artist...Inspiring Woman of God. Enjoy a beautiful reception-style brunch, then celebrate in Praise & Worship. Watch creativity and inspiration in action as Rachel demonstrates a potter's work with clay. Limited Seating. Make your reservations now by calling the Chapelwood Reservation Line at (713) 354-4490. For additional information, call Reservations Chairman Debby Nixon at (713) 647-9930; and mail your donation of $10. per person to Debby Nixon at 10158 Hanka St., Houston, TX 77043. Nursery is available by reservation. Plan to bring your mother, your daughter, or someone who has nurtured you along your path to Celebrate the love of Jesus!

Connie's talk is based on John 14:27-28 and she says, "No matter what you have faced, are facing, or will face, you can be confident in God. He offers you calm in the storm, and peace in the battle. Please come and learn how God wants to give the gift that keeps on giving--His peace."

Connie Wood is the minister's spouse at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in College Station and was honored as "Teacher of the Year" this year at her Junior High.

First United Methodist Church Pasadena is located at 1062 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77504. Come enjoy a free brunch, singing, inspiration and prayer! For more information or to reserve the nursery call Tammy Gilts at (713) 946-1066 or email tgilts@yahoo.com.

Susan Jackson, co-founder of Celebration, will be the speaker for Wharton Celebration on June 7, 2003. For more information contact Lillian Carolan carolan2@swbell.net or call her at 979-532-3925.

Sugar Land Celebration expects God to do great things at our April 26th rally. Susan O'Donnell, from KSBJ will be our speaker so the day will certainly prove to be a lively one! We are also honoring Cindy Cole, a member of our original chapter board and also a speaker known to many Celebration chapters. She is moving moving to Nashville with her husband and two sons this June. Helen Rothenbach, President.

Faith UMC, Neenah Wisconsin: On May 31, 2003 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM is presenting a “woman’s study “ entitled Staying Encouraged and Joyful in the Midst of Life’s Discouragements and based on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. Lynn Stinski, our Celebration chapter VP will be our presenter. A gifted speaker and encourager extraordinaire, this promises to be an a special morning.

On September 6th, Mary Lambrecht, the founder of women’s ministry at Faith UMC in Neenah will be returning for our fall brunch and chapter event. Mary is a counselor at Center for Family Healing, a Christian counseling service in Appleton, WI, a pastor’s wife, and most importantly of all a beautiful woman of God. For more information contact Peg Muenzel at peg.muenzel@juno.com.

The next meeting for Westminster Celebration will be Sat. June 21, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. We are having Susan Jackson, one of Celebration's co-founders, as our guest speaker! Please call Cindy at (713) 782-8480 or email at clmasterson@houston.rr.com for further information.

Silsbee FUMC's Celebration meeting is scheduled for Sept 13, 2003. Their speaker is the "potter" from Bryan, Texas, Rachel Norris. For more information contact Linda Georgas at (409) 385-5889, or email her at lgeorgas@msn.com.

At a brunch on April 5, Wharton Area Chapter Celebration women were presented “Lessons From a Garden” as Peggy Norton combined her love of the outdoors with her love of the Word of God. Peggy’s focal scripture was Isaiah 61:11: “For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations.” She shared what God taught her as she planned and established her personal prayer garden. Rich with scripture and Biblical symbolism, she reminded us that “praying is like planting, for hope sown in faith is harvested in joy and thanksgiving.” Ninety-nine women, representing nineteen different churches and nine different denominations, united in worshiping the One True God. We thank the Lord God that His Holy Spirit was present and at work in hearts and that He is continuing to bless the women in the Wharton area through the Celebration women’s ministry. He is truly amazing us!

“SOUNDING THE TRUMPET”

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER

Needed: Committed, "right hearted", warrior mentality, intercessors!

The Lord is expanding our territory! The need for purposeful and regular prayer is increasing! Thank you Celebration Chapter Boards for your continued prayer support!

Here are two more opportunities where prayer warriors are greatly needed.

Pockets of Prayer: Two or three women agree to pray together weekly for Celebration needs: the conference, the local chapters and new opportunities.

Please contact Julie Puckett at juliepuck@yahoo.com, if you are interested in forming a prayer pocket in your area. She will send you the prayer needs via e-mail to the group's contact person each week so you can be praying in agreement with the Conference prayer team.

If anyone lives in the Houston area, and would like to join us on Fridays for the Conference weekly prayer team, please let Julie know by calling her at (713) 782-4351.

A Few Good Troops

Would you be willing to join the "Volunteer Army" to hold up your Celebration Conference Board officers?

Thank you for praying for our needs through email contacts. That is so vital! However, we need to accelerate our efforts.... bring out the big guns, so to speak..... the "bunker bombs!"

We would like to see our Conference officers covered by individuals who will commit to pray. If you feel called to pray for a particular officer, would you give me an email response JWilson746@aol.com or call (409) 385-6578?

Jan Wilson
Director of Prayer

Together we can make straight in the desert a highway for our God that the glory of the Lord may be revealed.

The realm of God's glory was present at Foundry United Methodist Church Celebration Gathering on March 29, 2003. There were also many attempts by the enemy to take control of this meeting, but the prayers lifted to God halted his schemes.

As women entered our fellowship hall, they were aware of the beauty and the loving care that the women of the decorations committee put together in order to make each woman feel special--one of God's creations. Then we shared the delicious breakfast, fellowship time and prayer, followed by our praise team leading the women in songs that were worshipful and topical. There voices, lifted in praise and worship to God, were inspirational. You knew the presence of the Holy Spirit was among us.

Our Bible Verse was Jeremiah 18:1-10, was part of our guest speaker's testimony. Rachel Norris did not know what the Bible verse prior to the event. Rachel's testimony touched every woman's heart. It was a wonderful to have her demonstrate, with her potter's wheel, how to make pottery out of a lump of clay. Of course, this was not the only reason Rachel was at our meeting. Her testimony was inspirational. It truly touched the hearts of the women.

Jesus touched the life of every woman there. You left the meeting uplifted and thanking and praising God. There were many positive comments. "God is an awesome God!"

Your Sister in Christ!

Pat Praesel, President