Newsletter

We have an exciting announcement to make! Celebration is now incorporated and will apply for a non-profit status! Our official name is Celebration Women’s Ministry, Inc. with permission to do business as “Celebration.” With great joy we look ahead to the opportunities the Lord is opening for the Ministry.

One thing that will change is the titles of our Conference Board. Instead of Directors, they will be Vice Presidents. We laughed about the titles since they will still be doing the same jobs they have been doing. They are bigger sounding titles, but sorry girls no salary. Cindy Masterson will be Vice President of Leadership Development, Beth Domingue will be Vice President of Worship Ministry, Martha Zaruba Vice President of Retreats, and Jan Wilson Vice President of Prayer Ministry. Diane Whittington as Conference Treasurer, Cathy Busa as Conference Secretary and I will keep the same titles.

Just a word about your Conference Board! These women work unselfishly and tirelessly to further the Kingdom of God and Celebration because they love you and Jesus. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said - “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” To deny means to put the interests of the kingdom first and foremost in one’s life and to take up our cross means to renounce self-centered ambitions.

This is exactly what these women on the Board are doing. It is what we as followers of Jesus are called to do! May we all fulfill the call of God for our generation.

Celebration in Action! FUMC Pasadena's July 26 Celebration Event was uplifting and prayerful. A woman from the apartments near our church saw all of the women streaming in and asked what was going on. She was warmly invited in and ministered to by a table full of caring women. Pauline Harvey's topic, "Nature's Greatest Miracle" turned out to be just what she needed to hear that day. All 99 women in attendance held hands at the end and prayed for one another. Aleen Jones' daughter, Kay Tobola,
also gave a testimony about what prayer has meant to her and her family during two recent family emergencies. From the eating and laughing to the singing, learning and praying, this Event certainly fulfilled Celebration's mission of "Salvation, Healing and Equipping"!

A big thanks to Julie Puckett who has taken over the Conference Prayer Email Newsletter and doing a great job. She includes a brief note on prayer and keeps us informed of Conference and Chapter needs for prayer. Thank you, Julie,

and thanks to Emily Riffe who began the Prayer Newsletter and whom God has called in another direction at this time....

The prayer ministry of Celebration is looking forward to the opportunity presented to us at our fall luncheon with Beth Moore. There will be many whose lives will be touched in the prayer ministry after our speaker. If you are interested in being a part of this life changing opportunity, please contact me at JWilson746@aol.com or 409-385-6578. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the luncheon prior to the meeting.

May you be blessed and be a blessing.
Jan Wilson
Director of Prayer Ministry

August 16, 2003 Cypress UMC Chapter will have a Celebration of all

Teachers. Our special guest speaker is Mrs. Connie Wood, Teacher of the Year 2002. For more information contact Doris Folser phone numbers 281-861-9000 wk. and home 281-550-6674 email address is hnwdoris@swbell.net

October 18th Cypress UMC Celebration and Foundry UMC Celebration Mrs. Susan Jackson

will join forces to Observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Mrs. Susan Jackson will be the guest speaker. Publication is in process to include the communities surrounding both Churches. Contact Doris Folser phone numbers 281-861-9000 wk. and home 281-550-6674 email address is hnwdoris@swbell.net

We had an awesome time at the August Leadership event with over 70 women in attendance! We met at Westminster UMC in Houston and had ladies from as far away as Texarkana and Nacogdoches come and join us. There were 13 chapters represented and 10 churches who were in various stages of formation--including one that was actually chartered that day! The Cypress Trails chapter was chartered at the end of the meeting. We had great speakers and wonderful worship times. The workshops provided useful tools and information. Women indicated that they truly enjoyed the fellowship together as well. There was much sharing of ideas and support. Our theme for the day was "Empowered for Unity" and we felt that unity! We listened to a talk on "Making an Impact, not just an Impression", by our guest speaker Connie Wood, and to talks on unity as well. The ministry time was powerful as groups came forward together to receive empowering to go back and minister in unity.

We will offer this event again later in the year in the northern area of the state. Also make plans now for your chapter president to attend the Presidents’ Retreat in January! Mark you calendar for January 16 & 17, 2004!

Our next gathering will be September 6. 2003 with Susie Bruce with Cypress Creek YMCA, Health & Wellness Director. She is a personal trainer, rehabilitative Exercise Specialist and Aerobic Instructor. She is active in her community and church. She believes she is living out the purpose God has given her. Susie loves to sing and share her love for the Lord with everyone she meets.

The gathering will be our kick-off for our Bible Study Fit 4 A Lifeway Christian Wellness Plan. Wellness includes all areas of your life as Jesus outlined a wellness lifestyle in Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with your mind and with all your strength. Each of the four areas- Heart (emotional) soul (spiritual), mind (mental) and strength (physical).

This Bible study is 12 week studies on nutrition and fitness. Foundry will have a bible study starting at noon on September 9 on nutrition and 7:00PM on September 9 on fitness. Then in the spring we will revise the times of the Bible studies. The cost for the Bible study is $20 for the book only and $45.00 for the kit. The nutrition starter Kit contains a workbook, accountability journal, wise choices fit 4 cookbook, and a lunch bag. The fitness starter kit contains the Fitness member workbook, and accountability journal, workout video, and an exercise bag.

The Gathering will be at Foundry United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, located at 8350 Jones Rd, Houston, Tx 77065. Time 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. Breakfast will be served. Childcare is provide. Love Offering will be taken.

For additional information contact Pat Praesel at home 281-463-7486, office 281-498-3660, or email gprae63221@aol.com .

Westminster UMC, 5801 San Felipe in Houston is having our Fall Celebration event on Saturday, Sept. 20. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall from 10-12 and enjoy a light brunch together. Our guest speaker is Louise Looney, from Hidden Manna Retreat Center. To find out more information or to RSVP, contact Cindy at clmasterson@houston.rr.com or 713-782-8480.

The wonderful news for the Mission Bend UMC Chapter is the filling of the Praise & Worship leader position. Susan Epperley has stepped up and agreed to head up this team. Susan has also become active on the Conference Praise & Worship team with playing the drums. The Lord has just lifted her to mighty levels this year. She is on our Chapter Intercessory prayer team also.

LADIES!!!

It is not too soon to make your plans to attend Celebration 2004 Spring Retreat!! Mark your calendars NOW!

Where: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center

When: April 30-May 2, 2004

Speaker: Alice Smith, U.S. Prayer Center. Alice and her husband Eddie, are internationally known conference speakers equipping the Body of Christ in retreats, seminars and conferences in areas of prayer, spiritual warfare, spiritual mapping, deliverance and leadership.

We have experienced Salvation, Healing (of our bodies and our hearts) and now God is calling us to be fully equipped so we can share our joys and freedom with others. Begin praying now for your friends and loved ones who need an overcoming life in Jesus Christ. Bring them to the retreat with you and see them marvelously set free and connected to the Source!

You will not want to miss this life-changing retreat!!

Eight of the Silsbee FUMC Celebration officers made a trip to Bryan Texas, recently, to visit with Rachel Norris, a Christian pottery maker. Rachel will be the keynote speaker for our September 13th Celebration meeting. She will be mixing her own personal Christian testimony, with her making of pottery. The Silsbee Celebration team invites all who can, to attend our Sept. 13th meeting, where Rachel will help us discover the richness of the layers of meaning in the portrayal of the potter and the clay by observing the work of a potter first hand. For more info.. contact Linda Georgas, president, 409-385-5889.

"I want to make Jesus the Lord of my life and my home." Those words were tearfully offered up during the prayer time. How awesome! This precious woman, along with many others, came forward for prayer at the end of Connie Wood's talk, "Women Rejoice--Does God Have a Gift for You!" The prayer time makes all of the work of putting together an Event so worth it. I praise God for Connie and her obedience in praying about what our chapter needed to hear and faithfully offering it. On this very busy May morning 115 women managed to take the time to gather. We were happy to welcome a table full of guests from FUMC Deer Park. A total of 9 Methodist churches and 8 other churches were represented with several visitors having no church affiliation. The five women that attended the Celebration Retreat each gave a brief testimony of how the retreat had powerfully touched their lives. I'm very thankful for the Conference Board and our local Board for making Celebration the wonderful opportunity for "salvation, healing and equipping" that it is! Tammy Gilts, FUMC Pasadena Chapter President Upcoming Events:

FUMC Pasadena would like to invite you to their next two Events! Saturday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to noon, please come hear Rev. Betsy (Adams) Sutherland, Associate Pastor at FUMC Houston. She will present her healing testimony and a teaching from Psalm 30. Betsy has a beautiful spirit and story. Also, Madeline McKneeley will give a brief report on her mission trip to Honduras and how Celebration helped her get involved in sharing God’s love. Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to noon you are also invited to hear Susan O’Donnell, KSBJ personality, national speaker, comedian and vocalist share her musical talent and very interesting and uplifting testimony. Both of these Events will be held in FUMC Pasadena’s Christian Life Center located at 1062 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77504. Please plan to join us for a free brunch, singing, inspiration and prayer. There is no charge--an offering is taken at each Event to offset costs. Reservations are only necessary if you plan to bring a large group, or if you need the nursery. For more information call Tammy Gilts at 713-946-1066 or email tgilts@yahoo.com. Visitors welcome!

Sugar Land has been blessed with a great year and anticipates that our last rally, Saturday, Nov.1st will be another of God's wonderful gifts to those that attend. Jessica Box, associate pastor at Pasadena FUMC will be our speaker and those of us familiar with this dynamic young preacher know this will be the place to be that day. Join us for brunch beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by worship and Jessica's message. We finish at noon after a time of intercessory prayer. For more information call Helen Rothenbach at 281-491-6041 or check the church website www.sugarlandmethodist.org.

Our new officers for 2003 – 2004 are Karla Langreder; President, Martha Zaruba; Vice President, Janet Smith; Treasurer, and Jane Loose; Secretary. We have many exciting ideas/plans to glorify the Lord through our Celebration Events. We are planning our Bible Study groups as well as outreach programs for the local Women’s Crisis Center. We also have helped our local schools with much needed school supplies in August. With the Lord’s help and guidance we will bring women to Christ through salvation, healing and equipping.

Lighthouse Chapter will be having our Celebration Event on Sept 27^th at 9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall at Bay Vue UMC, Crystal Beach. In October, we will have two opportunities to participate in Celebration activities. First, plan on attending the Fall Luncheon Oct. 3. We have 2 tables reserved. Contact Janet Smith at 409.684.3107 for seating. Second, we will be in charge of the Celebration booth at Bay Vue’s Fall Festival on Oct 25. Please contact Karla Langreder at 409.684.0386 for more information.

Saturday, September 6, Vidor UMC will be hosting their Celebration Information Meeting featuring the Celebration Conference Board. They warmly invite you who live in the Golden Triangle to attend this exciting event. For more information contact Martha Kirk at nanamkirk@yahoo.com or 409-828-0194.

Bellaire UMC in Houston will be starting their chapter of Celebration. Their Information Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27. Come join us to "Experience Celebration"! Please call Martha Johnson at 713-668-3463 or email her at J_family@swbell.net. Bellaire UMC is located at 4417 Bellaire Blvd. @ Newcastle, Bellaire, Texas. (Reposted 8/28/2003)

Information Meeting for Marshall FUMC is scheduled for October 25! Contact Sharon McMahon for more information 903-935-2142 or email smcmahon@ev1.net.

Saturday, November 1 will be the Kick-off for Celebration at Ashford UMC in Houston.
Plan to attend this exciting day with the Lord as the Conference Board presents Celebration to the ladies of Southwest Houston. For more information contact Maggie Van Syckle 281-870-8307, email maggiemschf@sbcglobal.net.

Cypress UMC Celebration started with a new board of directors in February 2003.* The president is Sandra Rodriguez, Vice President Tami Vossler, Treasurer, Guylene Davis, Secretary, Molly Tally.* *The board approved to start having the Celebration Gatherings on the same Saturday that the UMM have their monthly breakfast/meeting, every two months.* *The 1st celebration gathering at this new time was held on Saturday, June 21 at 8:30 a.m.* The 35 women who attended were blessed by a moving testimony by our Senior Pastor’s wife, Mrs. Debbie Vein.* Debbie told of her call to ministry with the Aids crisis with Africa’s children.

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee." The husband said, "You are in charge of the cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee." The wife replies, "No you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." The husband replies, " I can't believe that; show me." So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says..........

I was born with a “passion” for music. As a little girl, my heart’s desire was to be a singer. But it wasn’t until I gave my life to Jesus, that the doors began to open for me to sing “for Him”. This new beginning was exciting, but at the same time frightening, yet as I leaned on the Lord, He strengthened me and encouraged me to take those steps in faith…to follow my “calling”.

My dear artistic, musical sister, have you been keeping the “desires of your heart” a secret? Your gifts are needed for the Kingdom!

If you feel that God may be calling to this area of the ministry, or have any questions or concerns regarding praise and worship please give me a call or email me. I’d love to visit with you!

	Prayer - Two Chapters signed Charter
	Aldersgate Group Connie Wood, Annette Vesculius, Adeoti Adeniran, Rebecca Wood, Rhonda Sharp, Della Nichols, Carole Lewis
	Ashford UMC Carla Mcginley, Barbara Howard & Maggie Van Syckle
	Bellaire Group Laura Cragle, Martha Johnson & Georgia Graham
	BayVue / Crystal Beach Group Jane Loose, Janet Smith, Karla Langreder, & Gerry Lang
	Cindy Training
	Cindy Welcome
	Cypress Trails Signing Charter Amber Cirilo, Mary Nell Benson, Inga Berny, Marjorie Filer, Ida Ruth Morehouse
	Celebration Denim Shirt
	Foundry Group Kathy Johnson, Jean Henry, Pat Praesel & Linda Hinzie
	Julie Puckett, Caroline Hicks, and Cindy Masterson
	Katy Group Faith Schneider, Kay Tomlinson & Carol Rogers
	Mission Bend UMC Group Audrey Spencer, MickeyEllis, Pat Howell, Joanne Saul, Lisa Lisle, Jan Luda
	Pasadena Group Tammy Gilts, Brenda Myers, Aline Jones
	Perritte Memorial Nacogdoches Judy Woodford, Brandi Dalhoff & Susan Teekell
	Silsbee Group Linda Georgas, Jan Wilson, Leigh Waldrop
	Williams Memorial / Texarcana Chapter Signing Mechelle Thomas, Jean Tullis & Mel Luebbert
	Westminster Celebration Women

Copyright © 1998 [Celebration Ministries]. All rights reserved. Revised: November 05, 2003 RLR:-)

Copyright © 1998 [Celebration Ministries]. All rights reserved.
Revised: November 05, 2003 RLR:-)