March is a busy month, not only does Daylight Saving time begin, but Easter is early this year.  Spring starts on March 20th and many children will be out of school for spring break.  With all everyone has going this month I hope that you will make some time for our March WOSJ meeting.

This month we are so pleased to have as our guest speaker Joe Carson.  He will be sharing with us about good nutrition and excercise.  Usually this is the type of teaching and information you would expect to hear in January when we make those New Year resolutions to try harder to lose those extra pounds and shape up for our health.  I say it is never to late to start.  Of course, the sooner the better.

Joe is a high-energy, very personable 34-year old with a compelling story and multiple professional certifications.  His own success story is nothing short of remarkable.  He believes in the life-changing power of good health, proper nutrition and fitness.  Joe is Barbara Hood’s personal trainer and we all can see how well she has improved her health by taking off those extra pounds and has strengthened her body with good nutritional habits. 

Joe has promised to keep the information simple and short.  He will be both interesting and informative.  You won’t want to miss this meeting!

Since the meeting is not a must for women’s interest only, we have opened the meeting to include men and youth.

Please sign up at the WOSJ’s table located in the foyer starting March 2nd after the second service .

Remember your Secret Sis and continue to shower her with cards of encouragement.

I pray that you all will have a blessed Easter, starting with Holy Week!  You are blessed to be a blessing.

AND NOW:

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;

 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;

 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Numbers 6:24-27 (Amplified Bible)

here’s what you need:

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of margarine
• 1 package (10oz) marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
• 1/2 cup coconut
• green food coloring
• Water and Jelly Beans

1. Microwave margarine in large microwave bowl for 45 seconds. 
2. Stir in marshmallows.  Microwave 1 1/2 minutes. 
3. Stir until smooth. 
4. Add cereal.  Stir until cereal is well mixed with marshmallows.  
5. Wet hands, immiediately shape into bird nests. 
6. Add 4-5 drops green food coloring and water to coconut. 
7. Stir until coconut turns green. 
8. Sprinkle a little coconut on top of each nest. 
9. Top with a few Jelly beans.

Remember to bless your secret sister with lots of love, cards, notes of encouragement and gifts (when the occasion calls for gifts).  The gold box in the foyer below the information center is a place to put your gifts and cards to you secret sister.   Don’t let anyone of our secret sisters be disappointed, remember our theme is “Blessed To Be a Blessing” so let’s bless our secret sisters.  Be sure to sign up for a free email account at yahoo or hotmail to send e-cards to your secret sister in christ.  Email me about how to do this.  wosj07@yahoo.com

 To read more about this exciting mission that St. James is very active in go to their website  http://www.rocablanca.org/.    AND come to our WOSJ meeting on Tuesday January 29th, to hear Duane and Sue go into depth of what God is doing in the lives of the Mixteco, Chatino, and Zapateco people!. 

The dinner meeting will be in the dining hall starting at 6:30 pm, and of course Chris is catering.  The menu is Tortilla soup, mexican salad of a sort, chips, dessert, with a Mexican theme throughout.

This is an excerpt from their website….”Located in the state of Oaxaca in Southern Mexico, Roca Blanca is a multifaceted mission base where God is at work daily. With 155 different language groups, and 40 “unreached” people groups, Oaxaca offers you the unique opportunity to minister in the area with the highest concentration of “unreached” people groups in the Western hemisphere.    Along with being a base established to reach out to the people of Oaxaca, Roca Blanca also contains a bible school, a music school, a trade school, a medical clinic, a high school, and a prayer house. People from all over the U.S. and Mexico have come to serve the Lord in this Pacific Coast paradise.”

Tickets will be available in  the Nartex on Sunday morning.  Be sure to reserve your space for dinner.  If you are unable to come for dinner you can arrive around 7:15  for the speaker’s presentation. 

Schedule of Events

Friday, March 14 s
• Praise & Worship – Charles Billingsley & Michael O’Brien
• Chonda Pierce
  Concert: Richie McDonald

Saturday, March 15

• Praise & Worship – Charles Billingsley & Michael O’Brien
• Mini Concert: Mark Schultz
• Speaker: Lisa Whelchel
• Speaker: Carol Kent 
• Speaker: Thelma Wells
• Speaker: Gloria Gaither

Tuesday Jan. 8th 2008 is our dinner/meeting with our speaker Marie Rawlings.

If you signed up in December for the dinner which was postponed because of the ice storm, your ticket is still valid.

Anyone that wants to make dinner reservations for the meeting may purchase your ticket  in the foyer between the services.   Or if you want to forgo the dinner and arrive for the speaker’s presentation please be here at approxiately 7:15 pm.

Jan. 29th we will have our Jan. meeting with our speaker being Sue and Duane Kershner.  More info on that dinner meeting coming up. Watch the Sunday bulletin.

As usual, dinner is 7.50 and reservations for dinner and child care (if needed) must be made in advance. Or come at 7:15 pm for the meeting/fellowship only.
Come and join the SJ Women’s fellowship.

Come be blessed and be a blessing!
Hope to see YOU there.

We still have the Secret Sis ministry ongoing.  You can bring your gifts and cards this Sunday or drop them off to the church office during the week .  Be sure to have the name on the gift in plain sight And attached securely.  Last year some name tags fell off and gifts did not get to where they belonged in time. 

If you have cards by themselves you can place them in the Christmas baskets with the other cards. 

A great big thank you ALL  for participating in the Secret Sis ministry and loving on your secret sis with cards and notes all year.

Remember the activities at the church, the  Christmas eve candlelight with special music, and the watch-night prayer service  to  praise God for all the blessings  in  the year 2007 and to bring the 2008 New Year in with prayer. 

And finally, everyone have a very Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.

Address them as follows.

A Recovering American Service Person

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

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.