Annual Soup & Bake Sale - November 3

Zion Community Church's  annual Soup & Bake Sale is on Saturday, November 3 from 9 am to 2 pm.  Last year we raised over $8,000 for a local breast cancer patient.  We are looking forward to raising big numbers again this year.  More information on the family we have chosen to support this year will be provided soon.

Donations are need:

• baked goods

• homemade crafts

• items for gift baskets - bath items, items for children, pretty pens, small notebooks, those kind of things. Anything that can be put in gift baskets. Items are needed by Sunday October 28. They can be left on the bench downstairs with Angela's name on the bag or box or contact the church office at 814-383-4161 to schedule a drop off time or for more information.

Adoption through Pennsylvania’s Child Welfare System

Are you interested in adopting a child through Pennsylvania’s Child Welfare System?

Please join us for the Parent’s Resource for Information, Development and Education training series. The PRIDE model strives to strengthen the quality of family foster care and adoption services by developing and supporting resource (foster and adoptive) families as partners in child protection.

Orientation:
To get started, you will need to attend this informational meeting about Bethany held on October 23, 2012 from 6:00- 8:00 PM at the Bethany office at:

426 South Allen St Suite 104
State College, Pa.

Training Dates:

• November 3, 2012
9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
• November 17, 2012
9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
• December 1, 2012
9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
• December 4, 2012
6:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Location for PRIDE Trainings:

State College Christian Church
403 South Allen St Suite 112-A
State College, Pa

For more information or to register for training, please contact Robin
Regan at 814-769-0044 or RRegan@bethany.org

Thursday, October 11 - Winterizing Your Garden

Women of Wisdom will have our evening meeting October 11 from 6:30 to 8 pm in the Faith Cafe (enter the back double red doors at Zion Community Church, 2777 Zion Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823). We will have a master gardener talk to us about how to prepare our gardens for winter, and we will make some crafts for our Soup & Craft Sale on November 3. Please join us for a fun ladies night out!

MOPS & Beyond is now WOW!

Zion Community Church's womens group have merged into one. 

As MOPS & Beyond join the Zion's United Women's group, we have become WOW - Women of Wisdom. 


What hasn't changed? The great meetings MOPS had twice a month for women to come and learn and relax!

For ALL women (from ZCC or not)!

You're Invited: Hot Cocoa Party! This Sunday, January 14th

Come, join us!! ALL WOMEN ARE INVITED!! Please know , you do not need to be a member of Zion CC to enjoy this event. =)

We are planning a mix of chick-chat, cocoa (of course!), snacks, and a SPA treatment!!

We will also be chatting about Women of Faith, to include a ...video too. The Ladies Encounter group (www.LadiesEncounter.com) has organized

 a bus trip to a Women of Faith event. This year they are headed to Washington DC in August 2012. This party will give you a better understanding of what a Women of Faith conference is, if you've never attended before. Also, information will be provided for the bus trip (cost, times, etc) that Joyce Bassler of Ladies Encounter has masterfully organized for the past several years. 

If you have questions, feel free to call Tammy at 360.4976 or email ConnellyEast@gmail.com.

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!!

For more information about Ladies Encounter, visit:

http://www.ladiesencounter.com/

Or check out Ladies Encounter Facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/LadiesEncounter?sk=wall.

Details of the WoF '12 Washington DC event can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/223415697724078/

Posted for Jeanne Mesko, a dear friend who attends Zion Community Church:

Hello Friends,

Merry Christmas to you! 

I am sending this email because I am currently preparing to finally do something I should have done a long time ago - open a daycare in my home!  As many of you know, I've worked in child care for many, many years and I'm currently substitute teaching until I figure out what's in store for me next.  I'm praying this is it.  It's what I know, it's what I do.  I am located in Zion (just outside of Bellefonte).

I am just trying to get the word out and word of mouth usually works out best.  I was hoping that if you hear of anyone looking or know of anyone looking, you would be willing to pass my name along.  I would greatly appreciate it!  

I have just started the licensing process to become a certified Family Child Care Home provider.  I have listed some basic information below about me and my daycare.  I'm hoping to be up and running by January 30!  Even if you don't know anyone, I'd appreciate your prayers!!

I am looking for 6 full time children.  3 immediately and 3 more after the licensing process is complete. (Not sure how long that takes.)

Feel free to pass this email on if you know of someone who might be interested in a smaller, home environment for their kiddo.

Thanks so much!!  Have a wonderful holiday!

Jeanne Mesko

Time to stop...and smell the cookies.

ATTENTION: Christmas is ONLY 9 days away, I repeat 9 days away! So that means if you haven't gotten all your cookies baked, Christmas shopping done, or not quite have been following that advent calendar that you psych yourself up every year by saying you'll do..... then you better start...uh soon.


But somehow we tend to still overdo it every year? The "It" I'm  focused on is other things not that is not related to Jesus' birth. We know this beautiful gift is top priority, but why do we sometimes feel like we haven't done enough to bring our families together and celebrate the TRUE reason? I have struggled with setting my priorities straight each year because I think I need to do everything in order to get into the true Christmas Spirit, but I only end up exhausted and frustrated because I can't find enough hours in the day to:


* Christmas Shop - Thank You Amazon! Yes, there are some gifts I still have to travel to the store and buy.
* Bake Cookies - I wish I was Suzie Homemaker. I'm not a great at baking. I admit it.
* Advent
*Jesse Tree
*Remind kids of why we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ
*Preparing for Christmas Plays
*Put up the Christmas Tree
* Decorate the Christmas Tree
* Keeping animals away from the Christmas tree
*Remind kids of why we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ
*Black Friday Shop - WHOOO!
*Watch all those Christmas Movies
*Wrap those Christmas presents
*Children's Christmas Play
*Hold a Christmas Party
*FIND those hard to find gifts for someone who has literally everything. AKA: My Father.
*Remind kids of why we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ.
*Oh.....I missed the last 4 days of advent. Catch up.
* Go back out shopping because you forgot that one person you knew you wanted to buy for.
*Visit family alllllll.day.long.
or
entertain family alllll.day.long.
*Make your final decision on your meal and execute it, perfectly, but not without exhaustion.


If December is overwhelming and you just can't prioritize, organize, and just aren't a planner. Let me suggest three things that have been a blessing this year and have both my girls (Hannah 4, Reese, 2) excited about the coming days and what our plans are for tomorrow and the days leading up to the birth of God's son.




1. TRUTH is in the TINSEL



My Review: This wonderful ebook for $4.99 has a very easy to do craft activity each day for you and your kids to do. She also links scripture and even has a section where you "Talk" with the kids while you do the craft. It's downloadable at the link above. She outlines the materials you need beforehand so you will no have to hunt down something that seems impossible to find. A PLUS? Most materials are laying around your house! I printed the whole book and put it in a binder. When are you finished with your crafts and advent, just store it away until next November.


2.  Nativity Magent Wooden Advent Calendar by Kurt Adler

 Most wooden advent calendars can be pricey. You have to be willing to invest at least $25+ into them. This one is from Kurt Adlers collection and it's my favorite. The magnets can be stored inside each day (not enough though for all 25 days so you can space them out). I put a magnet, scripture and about every other day I add a sweet hershey kiss as a treat while we are reading!   If you don't have an advent calendar yet, just wait until after Christmas to get them on discount!


A Felt Jesse Tree - Thank you Pinterest! I love to do anything with felt. It's easy to use for kids, pretty indestructible and easy for kids to play with.



Remember mom's, relax and enjoy the Christmas season with your family and kids. It's not too late for you to save Christmas in your house! Enjoy family dinners together and talk about why Christmas is so important. Start your own traditions that you can continue with every year. You can even explain why we give gifts. Being giving, loving, and thankful this Christmas will be the ultimate gift you give to your family. 

We here at MOPS & Beyond want to wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas!

I must sign off with this. One of my favorite Christmas movies clip.

Many Blessings, Lynnette