Interface

PCA Women's Ministry Newsletter

Vitally Connected to

Christ and His Word

I was in my 20s, sitting in my very first Bible study, when I first heard the question, "What is the chief end of man?" Much to my amazement (I thought it was a rhetorical question), everyone answered in unison, "to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." My immediate wonder at how they all knew the answer turned quickly into another kind of wonder as I pondered the ramifications of such a statement--the ultimate purpose, the ultimate reason for existence, the ultimate goal of my life, is to bring God glory.

Of course, "glorifying God" is a somewhat nebulous concept, especially to someone sitting in her first Bible study. So this beautiful revelation quickly became the impetus to dig and try to find out how in the world I was supposed to fulfill this glorious purpose. In John 15, Jesus talks with his disciples about vines and branches and fruit and how they all work together. Tucked in the middle of this conversation he makes the amazing statement, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." So that was my answer! Fruit bearing glorifies God.

My first reaction was to get really busy doing a lot of things--"bearing fruit" for his glory. As you can guess, not only was I exhausted, the soil of my heart was not being cultivated to bear the kind of fruit that glorifies our Father. My heart was becoming prideful, self-righteous, and impatient. Why? Because the fruit of busyness is not the fruit that glorifies God. The fruit that he wants to cultivate in our hearts--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control--is fruit that is born only as a result of being vitally connected to the life-giving vine. Jesus calls this vital connection abiding; he in us, us in him, and his word in us.

Abiding, like glorifying, can be somewhat nebulous and, possibly, even sound passive. It's not! We are active participants. We abide as we read, apply, and obey God's word . . . not to become connected but because we are connected. We continually present our hearts for cultivation, for nourishment, and for pruning. And, as we actively give the word of God full access to our hearts and do the hard work of obeying, fruit will come, your Father will be glorified, and you will find that your joy in him forever begins now.

Courtney Doctor

Courtney Doctor will be speaking on this topic at our Women's Ministry Leadership Training, February 19-21, 2015. She is one of the many wonderful speakers that will be at the conference. Click here to view the conference webpage for more information and to learn more about Courtney as well as our other speakers.

Recap of Director's of Women's

Ministry Gathering-October 27-29

We gathered thirty of our PCA Director's of Women's Ministry in Atlanta to network and connect around the topic, "What is a Disciple?" We were privileged to have sound teaching from Dr. Stephen Estock and healthy discussion around this topic. The women reported a rich time full of meaningful connections, united vision and purpose, as well as the reassurance that they are building a vital support network with one another.

Save the date for next year's gathering-October 2015-details to come!

	Connect Discipleship Conference January 23-24, Naples, GA This conference is for ministry staff and volunteers in all areas of ministry-with several workshops specifically for Women's Ministry leaders! Click here to view the conference page.
	Women's Leadership Training-Vitally Connected to Christ, His Word, & His Church February 19-21, 2015, Atlanta, Georgia Registration is now open! Register by January 19 for the early registration pricing. Click here to view the conference page for up-to-date info on the conference.

Join & Share

Consider to sharing this Interface email with the other women in your church!

Join the Connect Women's Ministry Facebook group to exchange ideas, resources, and encouragement. (Click the Facebook logo to visit the group and don't forget to join!)

Meet Your Women's

Ministry Team!

We want to introduce you to the PCA Women's Ministry Trainers. Click here to learn a bit about Jan Derby. (To schedule for a trainer near you to come visit your church contact your Regional Advisor.)

Securing Your

Next Guest Speaker

Click here to view and download this tool.

"To necessarily love Christ, is to love the church."

-John Calvin

Advent is a special season of spiritual preparation where we as women and families make ourselves ready for the coming, or birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a season filled with meditation on God's word, hope-filled prayer and the joyful anticipation of His second coming.


*The King Has Come* by James Boice	The Dawning of Indestructible Joy-Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper	*The Other Side of Christmas-Devotional* by Dennis Bennett

Click book covers to purchase from the PCA Bookstore. Don't forget they have bulk discounts that are typically better than Amazon's pricing and free shipping for online orders over $30.

Incarnational Ministry

Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate the Incarnation of Immanuel, God with us. It is a season filled with unique opportunities for "incarnational ministry," the joy of bringing God near to others as we seek to build community and extend compassion to others.

Here are a few ideas to get you jump started:

Host an ornament exchange--where each woman brings an ornament that represents an aspect of her story.
Host a Cup of Christmas Tea Brunch--an evangelistic brunch for your neighbors.
Spend a Saturday morning making advent wreaths together.
Host a cookie exchange for mothers and their daughters.
Gift Wrap Galore--Put on a pot of soup and invite all your friends to bring a roll of wrapping paper and ribbon to share, plus all their unwrapped gifts. Then spend evening sharing dinner, laughter and go home with all your gifts wrapped.
Pull together a group to assemble care packages--for missionary families you support, our troops overseas or even a college student facing finals.
Host a birthday party for Jesus--invite all your family & friends and family to celebrate His birth.
Go help a widow or elderly family decorate for the holidays.
Adopt a nursing home floor as a women's bible study. Deliver goodies, gifts and hugs.
Set aside a Saturday morning as a women's ministry for silence and meditation to prepare your heart for Advent.

2014 Women's Ministry Love Gift: PRAY-SHARE-GIVE

Pray: Pray that God would raise $120,000 or more!

Share: Please consider sharing the Love Gift video at your church and taking a collection or sharing it on Facebook to all your friends.

Give: Please consider giving now!

We are excited to announce an anonymous donor has made a Challenge Gift to CDM of $50,000. This gift is dependent on CDM raising additional funds prior to December 31 from churches and individuals who either already give-and are willing to give more; or, from new donors to CDM's ministry. Would you prayerfully consider helping us meet the challenge with a special gift? Your gift will not only be an affirmation of your support of discipleship in our denomination but will also be multiplied 2'xs thanks to the generosity of this donor.

Visit www.pcacdm.org/commit to learn more!

Get Connected!