More Engage Italy Photos

News from Italy!

From Sarah Marie as posted on her blog:

"Find Yourself in God" was the name of the women's conference we hosted earlier this month in Trieste, Italy. One of the ladies of our church has felt a growing passion to reach to the women in our area, and brought this desire before the church in the spring. We prayed and it was agreed that we would work together to organize an outreach event for the women of Trieste.

As we began to prepare for the conference, I must admit that it was a little difficult to see how everything could be pulled together in what seemed to be such a short time. Meeting and planning over the summer is challenging when nearly every family in the church left for a significant amount of time, and though it was only a half-day event, there were many details to arrange. It quickly became obvious that prayer was the key ingredient, and every meeting began and ended by seeking the Lord. We relied on His calling, looked to His strength and direction and thanked Him for the help of each other.

We were all stretched in our faith; it was a very unifying time.The women of our church were brought closer together as worked side by side, we were encouraged by others as they joined us in prayer, and we saw the awesome power of the Body of Christ as different gifts were used together.

One huge blessing was the partnership of the Women's Ministry at Redeemer Evangelical Free Church in Milwaukee, who organized an evening of prayer to lift up our conference the night before!

The day of the conference was incredible.

The women went early to the theatre to set up, the men stayed at church all morning to pray for our event and took turns watching the children. Already, the Body was in action! As we prepared, the peace and joy we prayed for was evident, and as women began to came, we praised the Lord for His faithfulness.

There was a moment we each felt a pang of disappointment in the fact that the numbers we smaller than we had hoped, but we shared later how quickly these feelings melted for each of us, knowing that if only one heart was touched, it was all worth it! The singing was full of worship, the message was challenging and encouraging, the Gospel was presented clearly, and after there were great conversations over homemade treats.

I was reminded again: It's not about me, but it's all about Him! A few women gave us their name and contact information to follow-up. One unexpected result was the feedback we received from believing women who asked for this type of event to be arranged again as a way for sisters to gather together and grow! Please pray with us as we continue to seek the Lord and see the fruit He produces... "

Please continue to pray for them and their church planting efforts in Trieste, Italy! Below are photos of our Women of Redeemer "Engage Italy" night here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

With thanks to Tamara Hamill for leading this event, Marie Cassavant for making all the authentic Italian food and Mary Hamill for creating a lovely, warm atmosphere - all glory to God! Mark your calendars for January 30, 2010 for our next engage event: "Engaging Milwaukee! "Hmm...wonder what type of food will be served for Milwaukee!?!

Christmas Celebration Team

"Celebrate the Gift" is the theme of this year's annual women's Christmas celebration and outreach held Friday, December 4 at 6 p.m. at Redeemer Church. Again, we will turn our church into a home with an open house welcoming teens and up to enjoy a variety of fun, themed-rooms. This year we plan to feature a bigger coffee bar with live music, a game and movie room to enjoy your favorites with friends, more space to honor and thank our soldiers, featuring a night of pampering, food, crafts, gifts, carols, gifts, drama, gifts, great door prizes, food, GIFTS and more! Yes, LOTS of GIFTS! Can't wait to lavish women with the love of God this Christmas! And, we are thrilled this year to feature the new FUSE youth room and experience the teens special 'surprise room!' This event really has something for everyone! And a need for everyone to participate from prayer, to inviting your friends, hosting a room and more!

If free, please join our next planning meeting, Wednesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. at Redeemer Church. If not able to attend, but free to help, visit Activity Central on Sunday's for current opportunities to serve. Any questions contact Natalie B. 414.427.1898.

INSPIRE U Girls Get Away Weekend UPDATE!

I'm so excited that Redeemer Women's Ministries team is able to offer a much more affordable alternative to a women's retreat this year!: Hotel $25 and a great conference for ONLY $25 including lunch! Our girls getaway weekend will include: time away from family so you may feel rejuvenated, time with friends, opportunities to make new ones, and lot's and lot's of opportunities for spiritual growth since we will have 22 workshops to choose from. "Wow!" is what I said when I took a look at what was offered. I don't know about you, but I just don't know how I'm going to choose so I'm going to have to pray through that list! What an awesome problem to have.
Having said all that, here is your final reminder so that you won't have to miss out on the Girls Get Away, Friday, October 16 and the "Inspire U" conference this Saturday, October 17. It's not to late to register or stay overnight. Therefore, if you're thinking, "Wow, I'd love to go" be sure to give me a call ASAP and let me know Kim @(414)427-1474.

Hope to see you this weekend! It is going to be fun!

Kim Anderson

Remembering Our Soldiers

Christmas can be a lonely time for many. And it is especially lonely for our service men and women serving away from their families overseas. For the past two years, the Women of Redeemer Christmas celebration has hosted a room "The USO Cafe" highlighting and honoring the men and women who have served and are currently serving overseas. Last year, we collected 120 personally written Christmas cards to mail overseas. This year we plan to do the same, AND MORE!

This year our women's Christmas celebration is entitled "Celebrate: The Gift" with our hearts desire to express the 'lavish love of God'. We would like to lavish our soldiers this Christmas with the love of Christ and send not only cards but needed gifts/supplies. Starting in November these items can be brought to the church in the marked boxes by the Women's Ministries bulletin board. Photos can be picked up at the same location on Sunday, December 6.

Thanks to Dorie N. who steers this effort annually in rememberance of family members who haved served and are now serving. She has compiled a list of requested items:

1. If you have served in the military or have a family member who served/is serving in the military could you lend us a picture? Please include with the picture their name, branch of service and when they served. These will be displayed on our “Wall of Honor”.

2. We would like to send boxes of items that current deployed military personnel use to share with them the 'lavish love of God.' Items needed are: Toiletries: razors (good ones – not generic- most men deployed shave every day and the generic ones reportedly give them razor burn), shaving gel, wipes, soap (bar), shampoo, conditioner· Skin care – lip gloss, hand crème, foot powder· Clothing – black gloves (it gets cold in their winter too), black stocking caps, black /brown t shirts (Med/Large), Black athletic crew socks (Reg/extra large) ·

There are women deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and aside from the things listed above they could use – body crème, hand crème, black ouchless hair ties, tampons, women’s magazines, chocolate hard candy (chocolate bars melt).

Finally and always, please be in prayer for our soldiers– for their protection, for the success of their mission, that their commanders will be wise and discerning about how to use them. Pray for our soldier's families – that they will have the support they need to manage the deployment of their loved one.

Thanks for helping to communicate to these men/women the lavish love of God of this Christmas! Your time and gifts do matter. One of the soldiers shared with Dorie: “Everyone has just been outstanding with the support to us as always. It's still so much more than just opening a package, it's a social gathering and gives us all that moment away from here (Iraq/Afghanistan).”

Plan to be Inspired!

Have you registered yet for "Inspire U" women's conference? October 17 will soon be here! Also if planning to stay overnight (Friday, October 16) contact Kim Anderson (414.427.1474) today! You don't want to miss this Girls Weekend!