NEEMA CHILDREN’S HOME QUILT PROJECT

The Missions Committee and WOSJ are sponsoring a project to provide a quilt to each of the 159 orphans living at the Neema Children’s Home in Kenya.  These children have been orphaned by AIDS.  The children will live out their childhood at the orphanage and will not be adopted. The Neema Children’s Home is located in a mountainous area of Kenya where the temperatures dip down to the 30’s at night.  Plus, the building is not heated! The childrens’ ages range from 4 years to 21 years and over half are boys.  St. James has a team traveling to the area in May, 2008 and they will deliver the quilts. We need your help to purchase fabric & supplies.  We Also need volunteers to sew, quilt, cut fabric, etc.  If you sew or you know someone that does, please contact the church office, or you may email us at wosj07@yahoo.com

We can work at our homes as our schedules permit.  After the holidays, I’d like to schedule some group sewing days and have everyone meet at the church for fun, fellowship, (food?) and oh, yes, sewing!Watch for the announcements of group sewing days at the church! 

 Quilt ProjectNeema Children’s Home2007/2008 

St. James Missions Committee & WOSJ are sponsoring a project to provide quilts to each of the 159 orphans living at the Neema Children’s Home. 

Our goal is to make 170 quilts to allow for additional children that may come to the home between now and May, 2008. Ideally, the quilts will be 100% cotton, approximately 45” X 55” in size.  This size is approximate and can vary from quilt to quilt. 

St. James is purchasing wool batting to be used in as many of the quilts as possible.  If you are unable to use the wool batting, please use a low loft polyester that is washable and durable. Please wash your fabric in advance of cutting to allow for shrinkage and fading.  We believe the quilts will be handwashed going forward, however, we are unclear as to the type of detergents or scrubbing that may be in use. 

If you prefer to crochet, rather than quilt, that is also acceptable.  Again, please prewash your yarn to allow for shrinkage and fading.  The residents of the children’s home range in age from 4 to 21.  Over half of the residents are boys, so please try to use prints that are not gender specific or too feminine.  

Thank you so much for your participation in this exciting and worthwhile cause.If you have any questions, please contact the church office or email us at wosj07@yahoo.com

Simple Block QuiltFinished Size approx 45” X 55”Fabric Requirements:
½ yd of each of 4 novelty prints (44-45” after washing) or 2 Fat Quarters of each of 4 Prints of your choice.
2 Yds. for Sashing, Borders, & Binding
Batting
3 Yds Backing

Cutting Instructions:

From each of the ½ yd of the 4 novelty prints: Cut 4 – 10 ½” Squares or From each of the 8 Fat Quarters:  Cut 2 – 10 ½” Squares
From the Sashing/Border Fabric:  Cut 8 – 3 ½” x WOF (Width of Fabric)Also cut 6 – 3” Strips for Binding.

Assembly:  USE A SCANT ¼” SEAM ALLOWANCE

Join the blocks in 4 Rows of 4 Squares.  Join rows with the 3 ½” strips.  Add Top and Bottom Borders with the remaining strips.  Piece the remaining 3 border strips end to end and subcut into two pieces.  Join these two strips to each side.  Trim as needed. 

 Variation of Simple Quilt Finished Size approx 45” X 56”Fabric Requirements:
½ yd of each of 5 novelty prints (44-45”after washing) or 2 Fat Quarters of each of 5 Prints of your choice.
1.5 Yds. for Sashing, Borders, & Binding
Batting
3 Yds Backing 

Cutting Instructions:

From each of the ½ yd of the 5 novelty prints: Cut 4 – 10 ½” Squares or From each of the 10 Novelty Print Fat Quarters:  Cut 2 – 10 ½” Squares
From the Sashing/Border Fabric:  Cut 5 – 3 ½” x WOF (Width of Fabric)Also cut 6 – 3” Strips for Binding.

Assembly: 

USE A SCANT ¼” SEAM ALLOWANCE Join the blocks in 5 Rows of 4 Squares.  Join 5 rows together (no sashing between rows as above).  Add Top and Bottom Borders.  Piece the remaining 3 border strips end to end and subcut into two pieces.  Join to each side.  Trim as needed.Note: The small squares are (4) 5.5” squares sewn together w/1/4” seam.

 Layering and Basting

Layering and basting needs to be done on a hard surface, either a large table or the floor.

1.    Place the backing wrong side up on the surface (the floor).

2. Place the batting on the backing. Do not stretch or distort it. It may need to be straightened or patted down some.

3. Lay the pressed quilt top right side up onto the batting. Keep the quilt top centered on the sandwich (batting and backing). Smooth it out. Lay your quilt top right side up on the batting

4. Basting can be done with safety pins or thread. To safety pin baste, start at the center and pin about every 8 to 10 inches. To baste with a thread, use a large embroidery needle and single thread knotted at one end. Start in the center, taking large stitches out to the sides. Knot the thread a the end. Go back to the center each time.

Time to Quilt

For this project and the time constraints, we recommend machine quilting, stitching in the ditch.  Of course, you may hand quilt if that is your preference.  For the squares, stitch an “X” through the square to secure it.  Tieing is also a great method for quickly quilting these quilts.  

See “Tying & Binding” for instructions on tying and finishing the quilt.

DECEMBER MEETING INFORMATION

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends celebrating and giving thanks for how loving and giving our Lord is.

 And now, we are getting ready to celebrate our Saviour’s birth…..something we should be celebrating everyday of our lives. He is wonderful, all the time!

December 11th will be the next WOSJ dinner/meeting. As usual, it will start at 6:30, so come early to reserve your seat. Reservations are required for both dinner and if you need child care for your child.         

We are featuring this month, our own, Marie Rawlings. She has told me how much she wants to share with the women of St. James how God showed His love through the “going home preparation” of her husband Ralph, . If you think you have not experienced God’s love, you won’t want to miss Marie sharing how she experienced God’s love. You won’t want to miss it anyway!   Watch for more information in the Sunday bulletin’s to come.         

December will be our first meeting with everyone that has a Secret Sis, so please do not forget to bring your Secret Sis a little special something for Christmas. Love on her and show her she is special. And, keep the cards and notes going to her, several times a month.  Gifts only at the special  times, like Christmas, birthdays, and anniversary. It is the thought that counts, not the gift giving. Let’s make this a successful year for the Secret Sis, not just for us as the receiver, but also, so many others will want to join the  next year.         

Watch the Sunday bulletin and check out our webpage http://wosj.wordpress.comfor information and/or changes that might come up regarding the WOSJ.  

Thank you all for participating and supporting this ministry. It would not “be” without you. I appreciate all that willingly help and serve. My committee is wonderful and I thank each of you for your service for the Lord.         

I pray you have a Blessed Christmas, with joy in the Lord, unspeakable joy that only He can bring to your heart. Show love to one another, not just by gifts, but by our actions. Support your church through this love in HIM.

Sandy Fingerlin, 252-2694

Website blog…www.wosj.wordpress.com

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Women Of St.James…….         

We, the women of St. James Church, are growing in momentum with our outreach ministry in different areas of serving.

I want to say a great big THANK YOU!

We appreciate you and your obedience in God’s call to help and serve. Wonderful ladies of St. James,  we need more to sign up and be a servant after God’s own heart.  Please, more hands make light work.  If you are not signed up to participate in one of the many areas, don’t miss the opportunity to bless someone. So, be sure to stop by the WOSJ table to sign up any Sunday morning between first and second services through November.

Our website blog

http://wosj.wordpress.com  is to keep you informed.  But, if you have further questions, email me at:  www.wosj07@yahoo.com, or you can call me, I am listed in the church directory.

The Secret Sis Ministry is in full swing this month. So, be sure to follow the directions on the back of the sign up sheet you received about your Secret Sis.  Let’s make it fun and meaningful for everyone. We want all women to feel like they have been appreciated, loved and prayed for.

Our November 13th WOSJ dinner/meeting will be held in the dining room (now being used as our sanctuary, for only a short time longer).   We will start promptly at 6:30pm, so come early to reserve your seat so you don’t miss anything. Doors open at 6:10pm. As usual, the meal cost $7.50, reservations must be made no later than Nov. 12th at noon for the meal and reservations for free child care if it is needed. Otherwise, there might not be someone there to care for your child.  If you prefer not to eat, come at 7:10pm for the meeting at no charge.

Erin Garcia, answering God’s call to music and outreach ministry at

the  early age of 16, is our speaker this month.  She has many

stories and testimonies but one that God has laid on her heart to

share that will be for all women, all ages, to hear. She has titled it,   

“A Joyful Heart Captured by His”. 

Erin’s passion is for individuals to reach their full God-given

potential both personally and professionally.

I pray that you join us for this powerful message.

            

If you have not attended a Women  of St. James’ dinner/meeting

before, we hope you will come and try us out. The WOSJ is

open to all ages and we have something for everyone. 

Join us and enrich your life with new friendships.

Our theme this year is “The Year of Friendships.”

Come and make a difference!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sandy Fingerlin         

ADOPT A PLATE

The Women of St. James (WOSJ) Ministry depend on the offerings from the family of Saint James Church.  This month (September) we are starting an “Adopt a Plate” program which means you have an opportunity of sponsoring one or more of the “guest” at each dinner/meeting.  We usually have 10 or more guests and their meal is complimentary.  These guests can include the speaker for the evening and their guest, the servers (to say thank you for helping), and includes the youth helping serve the tables.  The youth earn service points from Jesus University when they participate in serving in WOSJ.  Guests are also people that are involved in the entertainment for the evening, as well as any new persons visiting WOSJ for the first time.

The cost for the “Adopt A Plate” is $7.50 and this cost usually comes out of the offerings that are given that evening.  Most  of the time it does not cover the costs involved.  So, we are asking that you will consider getting involved by “Adopting a Plate” for these guests.  There is no limit to how many plates you may may adopt. 

WOSJ is a self-supporting ministry within the St. James UMC relying totally on the offerings to this ministry.  We truly are blessed by your giving.  Even though you will not be awarded anything but a “thank-you” from the WOSJ, we know that our heavenly Father will see your  generous giving heart and will bless you.

You may contact us at:  wosj07@yaoo.com

 

COMING SOON….The Oklahoma Centennial Year of Unbroken Prayer!

St. James UMC is so blessed to have a part in the Oklahoma Centennial Year of unbroken Prayer.  We will begin our week of prayer September 9th through 15th.  There will be sign up posters in the foyer on Sunday. Be sure to check out the website:  http://www.tulsaprayer.comSt. James is already listed on the website just click on the “Register to Pray and pick your time”.  We are asking that you choose your time in one hour increments, and that you come to the church prayer room to pray. Realizing that an hour seems like a long time to pray, we will have the prayer room set up with lots of prayer aids.  We plan to have security people in the church from 8pm (time subject to change if it gets dark before then) until 7 am.  Look for more information coming this week at church!  In the meantime, be sure to check the website out, look at the church that is praying this week (highlighted in gold by date) and pray for them as they pray for Tulsa.