Join us to help Life’s Choices in their annual fundraiser! You can run, walk, or skip to the finish line – whatever works for you!
Anyone is welcome – ladies, men, kids, friends, grandparents….bring the fam!
More details for this year to follow, but here’s some pics from last year to get you psyched up!
According to a study by LifeWay published in November of 2015, “Over 40% of women who have had an abortion say they were frequent churchgoers at the time they ended their pregnancies and about a half of them say they kept their abortions hidden from church members.” Research also indicates that more than 40% of child-bearing age women have experienced the pain of abortion – that’s 2 out of 5 women.
Without question, abortion can be one of the most traumatic experiences in a person’s life.
After 20+ years of trying almost anything to numb the pain of my abortions and find some kind of worthiness in anything, I finally opened my heart to Christ to receive forgiveness. Yet even then, I was unaware of how to resolve the pain and anguish of that messy past. I truly believed that Jesus loved me in spite of my abortions, and that God took my sins and put them as far away from himself as the East is from the West, but deep down inside I just couldn’t see how He could love me in spite of what I’d done.
Sweet sister, does your soul long for healing too?
I was able to find the love of the Father needed to help release me from that burden and be moved into healing through the encouragement of a sister-in-Christ who was willing to walk alongside with me in that struggle. Would you seek the opportunity to let another sister help you through it too? If your heart is steeped in the pain of abortion, or you know of a sister the same, please consider participation in a post-abortive healing through “Surrendering The Secret” bible study. It’s an 8-week bible study created by Pat Layton to heal hurting women and the heartbreak of abortion through honest and interactive bible study, meaningful group experiences, and unique journaling exercises in a confidential, caring community. The class is always offered in confidence for privacy, so no one needs to know, and it’s open to any sister in need regardless of church affiliation or none at all. I encourage you to view this trailer: https://youtu.be/QuVt-5kn4yY, then reach out to Katie Bailey at secondchron714@verizon.net. Katie works for Life’s Choices, a pregnancy help center with offices in Hamburg and Kutztown, and will be leading the study. Katie and I will both be praying that you can take the first step towards healing, or help another sister to find it too.
And if you’ve already come through and been healed – Praise God, and consider being an amazing support by walking another sister through it, hand in hand. ♥
If you’ve seen Lisa Harper speak at some of our past Women’s Conferences, you’re gonna love this! Lisa will be at GT Church in West Lawn on May 7th! And even better, tickets are $20 each. Bonus!!!!
You can check out GT’s Facebook Event for all the info, or just go get yourself a ticket! Tickets seem to be first come, first served, so don’t waitt too long to purchase. And since there’s already a few ladies going, be sure to visit the Inspired Sisters Facebook page and let everyone know that you’re going… maybe we can make it dinner and a show. 🙂
See you there!
Tired of the snow? Bite your tongue!
Let’s have some fun with it and go skiing! This is open to women, men, and children!
We’re planning the trip, but we’re deciding on three days:
• Sunday, February 20
• Tuesday, Feb 22
• Monday Feb 28
Trip will be at Blue Mountain. Lift tickets will just under $70.00 for an 8-hr lift ticket, regardless of weekday or weekend, if we get at least 20 people in a group.
Please reply to this email, text Marie, or visit the Zion’s Church facebook page and leave a comment.
** Note: For those who’ve never tried it before, you are more than welcome but are strongly encouraged to take a lesson or two, which means that you will be assigned to a separate area of the slopes until you are comfortable to join up with the others.
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The connections that we make during the retreat are very important. When we are able to bond with other women, we feel a sense of “belonging” to that group or place where we normally gather. We can know God and make the choice to attend church regularly to grow in our faith, but when we find our “family” there, it can also change our perspective because we belong. And that helps us grow closer in our relationship to Christ as we are able to find commonalities and share our burdens with, and to find strength and connection in our sisters-in-Christ.
• Spring Retreat (most likely in April 2022). Certainly don’t want to ruin a good thing, but maybe just get more of it! Camp Swatara has availability in April of 2022. Prices would be the same as the November weekend.
• Monthly Ladies Breakfast: We can meet at a different place each time or the same place on a monthly basis. And if someone wants to host in their home, that’s an option too! We can do a Saturday morning breakfast gathering, or maybe even a Sunday brunch would work better? Let me know what you think!
• Marriage Study: “Becoming Mrs. Betterhalf” in January (women only!). You might have heard about this study…it was run as an online Facebook group study by Holly Furtick (wife of Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church) last year. I was able to participate, and I thought it was a really strong and challenging study. It’s not your usual open-the-book-and-share-your-thoughts study. While there is a video session for each, women are encouraged to memorize scripture and share requests and questions with their spouses as homework. During each meeting, women study the Word and process our husbands’ responses. It’s an interactive study that will challenge you to learn how to be “Mrs. Betterhalf” through God’s Word and your husbands’ feedback.
Please take a moment to reply to this email or comment on Facebook for what you would like to participate in. And if there’s nothing listed that works for you, please feel free to suggest something else! <3
P.S. – If you think other ladies would benefit from a study or activity that you also feel you would participate in, remember that YOU are welcome to suggest it and lead it too! I will be glad to support you with encouragement and resources!
Every year has it’s memories and things that made it special, and this year is no different – just take a look at some of the shenanigans below!
You might have thought Women’s Retreats were stuffy and boring, but you’ve never been to one like this. From laughing together until our bellies hurt, to laying hands on a sister with a burden and asking Jesus for healing and breakthrough over her, this retreat is really one of a kind.
This year we opted to view four powerful sermons instead of a session-oriented bible study. Busy moms have sports and other responsibilities, so we thought it would be helpful to make the sessions independent of each other to make it easy for those arriving late or needing to leave early.
After introductions and a one-unique-thing icebreaker, we watched a sermon by Tim Ross, formerly of Gateway Church, from the 2015 Pink Impact conference. It was the perfect sermon to kick-off a weekend – Tim is engaging and quite funny. Check out this clip for yourself…
Anytime you don’t have to cook and clean for yourself is a bonus! And sometimes it even seemed like we just finished eating and it was time for our next meal!
Our next inspiration came from Pastor Shannon Nieman from Abundant Faith Center church in Texas. Her entire sermon on the Proverbs 31 woman went verse by verse and creatively contrasted each between the English Standard Version and the Passion Translation. It’s hard to imagine that any of us can measure up to the standard of the Proverbs 31 woman, but we learned to look at her knowing that we are all equipped to be her already. And how good is our God that he gives us a guideline to work with!
We introduced a new song and style to our worship in “Promises” by Maverick City before taking in a sermon by Sarah Jakes Roberts called “Get Up Girl” – she is a powerhouse! And if you liked “Promises”, check out “Man Of Your Word” and “I Shall Not Want.” Other worshipped songs we were blessed by were “Highlands (Song of Ascent)” by Hillsong, “Goodness of God” by Bethel Music, and “Make Room” by Community Church.
We closed out the weekend with Louie Giglios’ sermon titled, “Don’t Give The Enemy A Seat At Your Table.” And God is so good that even in four independent sermons, he could speak continuity and give each of us what we needed to find in the teachings.
Another big hit this year was the ‘craft’ – and not only because it was fun to do, but because each guest was able to make the craft their own. There were three pre-designed images, yet every shirt created is a variation all it’s own.
Special thanks to the Inspired Sisters team (Amy and Kaitlin), and to Jess who graciously provided her Cricut machine and heat-press for the shirts. (Can anyone say, “guess what’s going on MY christmas list!).
If you are in a medical or necessary field that requires you to be working at this time, let me first extend a “thank you” for your tireless and loving heart, and in all you are doing for your fellow sisters and brothers. It is greatly appreciated and isn’t going by unnoticed. If you know of something that can be done in aid – sewing face masks, or another item to have that would be of great help, please reach out and give the opportunity to be of some kind of service.
In conjunction with our church and state and government, all of our events or activities are on hold as you probably have already guessed. Pray for those making these tough decisions, and for those who must continue on in any necessary areas.
So how is it going for you?
For those who harbor a good amount of introversion, the time spent at home this past few weeks probably feels like a blessing, but to others? Maybe not so much. It’s hard to wrap our heads around what is going on, isn’t it? It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen, and many of us might be struggling with the current circumstance or welcoming the slow pace. Yet as Christian women, we have a been given so many gifts, and so many opportunities now to lean in on Him to find our strength and resolve, waking each day with both the intention to make the most of the time that He has given us and time allowable for rest and reflection and praise.
So what kinds of things do you do to occupy your down time lately? Anything new? How about a devotional that you’ve found to be a really good read during this time, whether a physical book or online? Share it with us! I’ve just started Lisa Bevere’s “Strong” online devotional this morning. It’s amazing how God always goes before us, unfailingly, to prepare for us the very things we will need when a circumstance arises, and this devotional is no exception to that. If it sounds like something of interest to you, here’s the link to register. The messages are short – just over 15 minutes each day, and they do not require that you purchase the book to follow along.
Another resource I’ve come across is from Group Ministry. It’s filled with links for short devotionals to do with kids of all different ages, and coloring pages for kids and adults: https://www.group.com/category/ministry-resources/free-resources.do
Though social media gets a much-deserved bad rap at times, it truly has been a great way to connect with others lately, and isn’t Zoom great too? If you’re not already, why not start a bible study with a few friends and meet weekly over Zoom or another real-time internet viewer? Text and invite me at 610-587-2136 and I’ll be your first participant!
How about some Random Acts of Kindness bingo? Visit our facebook page and upload your completed bingo pdf! And also in the next few days, you’ll find a daily posting of “isolation questions” to help spark some interactions and conversations… I miss everyone!
So keep on praying for healing and health for our families, our friends, our leaders, our country, and our world. Praise God for these times when we can find new ways to re-connect and get closer to Him.
Blessings!
What a time we are living in right now… it’s unprecedented. The virus, the overload of information and statistics, and the toilet paper!
In the uncertainty of all the changes to our daily lives and the world itself because of the virus, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and worried. Are you concerned? As Christians, we know that fear has no place in our hearts, but let me share something encouraging that I was reminded of …
Jesus Calms a Storm
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” -Mark 8:35-41, ESV
In this crazy time, we are in the boat, and Jesus is with us. And while we are awake and agitated, He is sleeping and restful. And when we wake Him with our concerns, He reminds us, “Peace! Be Still! How blessed and thankful we can be for our Savior… a Savior that we can rest in amidst the storms swirling around us. Thank you, lovely Jesus!
That said, Inspired Sisters will be cancelling and postponing most activities and events. Please take a moment to view the list and update your calendar.
• POSTPONED: March 19 – Thursday • Bible Study: Surrendering the Secret, Healing the Heartbreak of Abortion
You may email askinspiredsisters@gmail.com for more information.
• STILL HAPPENING: March 21 – Saturday • Be Active! Morning Hike to Pulpit Rock
Let’s go outside! This activity is still on. Text Marie Perry at 610-587-2136 or comment on the Facebook event page to let us know that you’ll be coming.
• CANCELLED: April 07 – Tuesday • Inspired Sisters Quarterly General Meeting
Meeting agenda will be posted here. If you have any ideas or thoughts or concerns to share, I encourage you to send them via email to askinspiredsisters@gmail.com. Once things get back to normal, our meeting date and agenda will reflect all the feedback we’ve received.
• STILL HAPPENING: April 11 – Saturday • Be Active! Morning Hike to Pulpit Rock
Since it’s outside, this activity is also still on. Text Marie Perry at 610-587-2136 or comment on the Facebook event page to let us know that you’ll be coming.
• CANCELLED: April 18 – Saturday • Pink Impact Simulcast Conference Event
Gateway Church / Pink Impact has postponed the event with no reschedule date at this time. It’s possible that our event, scheduled for April 18th, would be a welcomed break from the social distancing, but with Zion’s closing, it may be best to follow suit as well and reschedule.
Hope you are able to make the best of whatever your situation is. And if you need prayer, a few items from the grocery store, or would just like some encouragement, I hope you will reach out to me – I’d be blessed to help you out.
Marie ♥
