So recently things haven’t entirely worked out how I imagined they would in this season of my life. I’ve had to over come some pretty big hurdles of late. For example I had to go lightbulb shopping the other day without a more suitably qualified adult than I accompanying me. That was a tough, yet educational day. But I am pleased to tell you I am now proficient in the ways of the bayonet lightbulb. And questions about wattage? I’m your gal!
But the particular hurdle I want to tell you about today is: ‘Frankie Vs the box of crockery.’ Following the sudden end of my engagement my lovely friends had been storing some things for me I wasn’t yet ready to take home. The friends who housed my things in my greatest time of need are incredibly kind and patient; take it from someone with previous of leaving stuff in their dining room; namely a couch that was there for roughly a year. If you need a safe space for your stuff or a warm and loving place to heal your heart- I highly recommend them and their dining room! But eventually the day came I was ready to remove my stuff from their dining room and bring my things home. Among this stuff was the huge box of crockery I had been gifted by my Dad. Having had help to load it in the car when I reached home I looked at this massive box of crockery for a long time, contemplating just how I would get it into my flat. The box was staring at me from the boot, jeering at me and saying ‘you can’t lift me on your own.’ And I’m looking back at it thinking ‘oh box, if only you knew my strength, I’ve got this.’ So I balance the box on my hips and wrap my arms round this huge box- and oh boy is it heavy! I manage to carry it the few steps to the front door, contort myself enough to open the front door to be greeted by the sizeable flight of stairs to my flat. I can feel the tears starting to sting my eyes, feeling a wave of sadness about the meaning this stuff once held. How I’d imagined the dinner parties I’d host with this crockery and the way I had planned the kitchen to coordinate with the colours of the crockery. But I choke back the tears and I get the box to the bottom of the stairs- result!! ‘Look box, I am so great, so strong, such an independent person. Ain’t no cardboard box defeating me!’ I navigate the first three stairs and by this time I’m huffing and puffing. But It’s going well- I have perfected ignoring the intense pain in my hands; who even needs feeling in their fingers?! I’ve got a great hold of it, still balanced on my hips. I step up to master stair four. And just then, just as I take my next step; the bottom of the box gives way in dramatic, unpredictable, and devastating fashion- just when I thought everything was going so well. Loudly out bounces plates, cups, bowls, the lid of a casserole dish, serving spoons and glasses. Some of it rolls down the stairs, some of it stays where’s it’s landed. The box is well and truly broken, and every time I shift it; something else falls out. There’s nothing for it but to sit down and take up defiant residence on the fourth stair. As I sit the tears are rolling down my face and they’re those kind of tears that rush down your face and bounce off the floor. I’m trying to be silent but I’m sobbing, those cathartic sobs that when you start you just can’t stop. And goodness are they loud- any neighbours enjoying a quiet Friday afternoon were sure to be disturbed. I look around me- all I can see is my hopes and dreams messily and publicly strewn over the stair well for all to see. Once I realised sitting on the fourth stair of the stair well crying wasn’t a great life plan, I slowly start picking the crockery up. As I pick it up, I inspect each piece. Turning it over and thankful it’s been lovingly protected in bubble wrap and taped up securely. After careful inspection I discover something I wasn’t expecting. Not one piece of that crockery is broken. Not one lasting chip exists on that crockery, not one mark on its surface to show where’s it’s been dropped. No flaw in its identity remains. The box was well and truly broken but every single thing inside was whole, protected lovingly by bubble wrap and had sustained no lasting damage. In that moment I can’t help but laugh. Scary happy laughs of realisation- my beautiful crockery is okay!! And that’s when I heard God whisper again what I’d heard Him say to me some weeks earlier- ‘Jennifer, you’ll bend in this time but I promise you won’t break.’ And I realised my life was just like that box of crockery. The bottom of my box- the solid base of where I thought my life was going- was broken, gone beyond all repair. But everything inside was protected - my faith in God, my ability to worship, my joy, my peace, my future! God is protecting me. A mark isn’t left on me - He has made me new! I’m wrapped in the protection of God's love forever and I am fiercely protected. I don’t have to do it alone. The boxes we place our lives within can break or be broken countless times. But God will always be our protection. God has told me - I will bend (or in the case of the crockery; bounce!) but I will not break. And He promises this to you too: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. -- 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. God hears us when we call for his help and he rescues us. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and he rescues those whose spirits are crushed -- Psalm 34:17-18 And He will protect you -- Psalm 121:7 Now, I’m looking forward to many dinner parties with my unscathed crockery. Crockery which has now taken on a new role as an important reminder in my life; never try and tackle the heavy stuff alone. Love Frankie x When I was asked to write a piece for the blog I thought hard about what I wanted to say. One thing that kept coming back to me was how faithful God has been in my life and how thankful I am to be a part of the Vineyard movement!
My husband Graeme and I have been a part of the Vineyard for over 20 years. We have served in many different Vineyards around the country and have been privileged to be a part of every one. The blessings of being in a worldwide movement became particularly real when we were over in California a few years ago. We were due to fly home one morning but on the way to the airport we got a call to say that there had been a shooting at the airport and it was in total shut down. We were stranded in South Central LA with a 3 year old and a 7 year old in a place we didn’t know, with very limited finances and the prospect of not being able to get a flight home for 5 days. Now in normal circumstances this would have completely shaken us, scared us and I know I would have been in a complete panic. But within an hour we had people who didn’t even know us offering to put us up, help us out and pray for us. Thanks to our church family we were able to stay with some amazing people, visit the Vineyard Church in Anaheim and go to the best Fall Festival I have ever seen! Sometimes God doesn’t want things to happen to us but he will always, always take care of us. Instead of a stressful, scary end to our trip God enabled us to be cared for and made sure we got home safe and sound with even better memories that we thought we would have. I am gradually learning that although I want God to be in control, I also have to surrender to his will and accept that my plans are not always his, but his are much much better for me! ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11 Debbie xx It was that kinda week… I don’t know about you but sometimes I have a day where I think, yeah I’m nailing this life thing! Dinner on the table, washing done, kids happy, I’m clothed and my hair is even brushed… But then there are….the other kind of days/weeks. Please tell me you know and also have the type of days I’m talking about?! I’m going to share with you two stories of the past week or so where it was definitely one of those weeks.
It’s Wednesday, I’m feeling good! washings done (loving the new tumble dryer), I’m off to the gym and come back to find Blair standing on the landing at the top of our stairs with what I can only describe as 10yr old boys pj bottoms on, they look strangely like his favourite bottoms but they only reach half way down his calf. ‘Lyndsey did you perhaps put my bottoms in the dryer?’ Ummmmmm now as well as laugh hysterically at the sight of my husband, I also began to say things like ‘oh I’m so sorry, I am the worst wife!’, ‘I don’t know what I was thinking?’ And ‘I’m such an idiot’. Now a few days later I was out and about at a class with Grace and Jonah and I had forgotten to pack the change bag again and it was time to feed Jonah. I had no bib and the only thing I had to use to stop him getting soaked was a Kleenex. A mum actually came over and offered me her spare bib since it looked so ridiculous, this is what I refer to as a #mumfail. I was thinking ‘I’m such an idiot,’ and ‘my poor child got stuck with the mum who can’t pack a bib.’ Now I probably only said these things out loud a few times, but the reality is, I don’t know how many times I said these things in my head in the following days. Then by the time I got over it, I had another thing to give myself a hard time about. I mean silly things like the day after I gave birth to Jonah saying ‘I still look 9 months pregnant!!’ And in the coming weeks saying ‘I’m so fat!. Ladies, if you’re like me, we need to stop saying these things over ourselves! On the days where things like this happen, we must laugh, deal with the situation and move swiftly on! Oh how these things are fleeting, trivial and not a reflection of who we are. We are treasured by our Heavenly Father and forgetting a bib does not make me a bad mum, wife or person and in actual fact- these things are just one moment of one day of my life. As I attempted to stop the negative thoughts and sayings, I knew I had to grasp onto other words and speak truth into my own life. I am valuable because I was created in Gods’ own image (Genesis 1:27) and I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). I belong to the King of kings and He loves me! There are so many truths in the bible that tell us how beautiful, valued, treasured and loved by God we are. So next time you want to give yourself a hard time, or speak negativity over yourself, remember God, the creator of this amazing universe, loves YOU! Lyndsey x Well ladies, that’s craft night done for another year- and it just keeps getting better! Or so I’m reliably told… Friday evening was actually my first ever experience of the legendary Falkirk Vineyard ladies craft night. Despite being on the team last year unfortunately I couldn’t make the actual event, so having heard such wonderful things about previous years- I was very much looking forward to this year! So much so that in my giddy excitement and anticipation of the event I agreed to lead a craft table… need some jewellery stamped?! It turns out I’m not really your girl for the job… but you were all so kind to me and did a fabulous job stamping! Who knew hammers could cause such hilarity?! As well as my hammering we had other much more proficient crafters offering decopatch, cross stitching, card making and beautiful colouring sheets. Thank you so much to those who led a craft table, we know how much time and effort goes into preparing for these events and we love your talents and were so blessed by the craft skills you shared. This year we had 55 wonderful women who participated in crafting and we loved having you! And we’d really love to invite you to the four other events we have in our calendar: And if you’re on Instagram follow us on @falkirk_vineyard_ladies for regular updates about events, blogs, Eden, material girls and plenty of encouragement. As well as 55 crafters, this year we also had 7 stalls selling wonderful treats, treasures and gifts, including our own Eden pop up shop. The stalls added such a lovely atmosphere to the room both before and after the crafting and bonus- I finally started my Christmas shopping! Thank you so much to the stall holders, you really made this years event special. We were also lucky to have such kind staff from the park hotel who really went out of there way to serve us and who even partook in a little festive shopping of their own. I’m sure the poor bar man will one day recover from the horror of me answering his question ‘of what type of bowls do you need?’ With – ‘well you know bowls. Just the kind of bowly bowls to put stuff into that you normally put into bowls.’ But you’ll be glad to know bowly bowls were provided and snacks consumed aplenty. And when I wasn’t snacking I was watching and learning from our lovely Lyndsey. As always fabulous Lyndsey Henderson led our FV Ladies Ministry team so well to organise craft night. Tonight I am thanking God for Lyndsey’s leadership, commitment and heart for women in Falkirk Vineyard and beyond. I’m also praying for next years craft night and would love if you would pray along with me for guidance, wisdom, provision and for the women who will join us next year for an evening of festive crafting. Frankie x I am English. Despite trying my best to put on a ‘Scottish twang’, after a few minutes of talking to me, you will soon discover that I am from down south.
I grew up in Cambridge until I was fourteen years old. I will never forget the dreaded moment when I waved goodbye to my dad as he ventured off to a job interview in Edinburgh. Me being the stroppy teenager that I was shouted : “Don’t you dare get that job!” Of course, he got the job and after a few months of packing up we started our new adventure. The moment I got onto that plane I was so scared. Leaving my siblings down south at university, I was entering a complete unknown world. No friends, no security, just me, my mum and dad (a teenagers dream!). I remember the journey well. As we were beginning our descent into Edinburgh my mum pointed out the window to the most beautiful and fullest of rainbows. She said: “Look Joanna, that’s God's way of saying to you that this will all be ok. He has got you and he is going to protect you in this. He promises that he will look after you.” Now I wasn’t a Christian at this point. I had turned my back on God but for some reason this message really stuck with me. He promises to look after you. A year later God’s promise was already being fulfilled. I had settled into and was enjoying my new school, I had made fantastic friends and most importantly… I had found God. I had told my parents I would only consider going to church if they found me a friend. Of course, God is good like that and I was introduced to a lovely girl who is now one of my closest friends. In fact, although I didn’t know it at the time, I was also introduced to my now husband, Matthew. The puzzle pieces were coming together and it was for this reason that I started to believe that I had a loving God that I could put my trust in. God was going ahead of me, making the paths clear and making sure that I got to know him and felt secure in my new life in Edinburgh. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight’ -- Proverbs 3:5-6 Fast forward to last year and God’s promise was living true. I had finished my teaching degree and Matthew and I had just happily married. We were entering into another new period of unknown and this petrified me. Although, this time it was different. I knew that I had a loving God who was still continuing to fulfil his promise of looking after me. Our new life started to come together but the church hunt every Sunday was getting rather frustrating. Until, one day someone had suggested Vineyard. “I think you’ll both love it … they have doughnuts apparently!” As soon as we arrived it felt like home. God’s way of assuring as that it was the right place to be was when Megan and Stuart announced on our very first Sunday that they would be starting a young adults group. Wow. Ok, thanks God, this is almost too good to be true! Now that I look back on my journey so far, God has looked after me and loved me beyond measure. That very promise he made to me on the plane to Edinburgh has been fulfilled time and time again. I hold this verse so close to me as I think it is such a true reflection of my walk with Christ: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” -- Genesis 28:15 I still look at rainbows now and am reminded of the promise that God has made for all of us. Whenever I see them I feel a sense of warmth. It is almost like God giving me a huge big cuddle and reassuring me that he is with me always. Of course, my story is not finished and neither is yours. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the future but looking back on my story and seeing how God has been with me every step of the way, I know that my future is safe in his hands. I challenge you, next time you see a rainbow, what is God trying to say to you? All I know is that our God is an incredible father who promises to look after you. Love Joanna x A couple of months ago while I sat at my desk at work I opened a text from my dad. Texts from my dad are often incredibly random- he refuses to use punctuation, loves an emoji and they always require further explanation. This particular message was a picture of my dad standing on the terrace of his Spanish apartment, not particularly odd or in need of explanation. What was strange was his new mode of transportation also pictured. Much to my absolute horror he had purchased two large scooters. You know those Micro scooters which were a fad in the 90’s and remain popular between 2-8 year olds worldwide? Well these were the adult version and my 57 year old father's latest solution to the 20 minute walk home from the nearest town after an evening out.
I phoned him later that evening and he explained to me taxis are expensive. I explained to him parents on scooters were painfully embarrassing. He recounted to me the tale of the evening before of him majestically gliding past the long taxi queue on his adult scooter, my step mum beside him on her own scooter and their race back to their home. At this point I nearly hung up in horror, wondering if my impending trip across to Spain was a holiday or an intervention for pensioners on adult scooters. Clearly my darling father had the touch of the later life crises. From then on I had regular updates about how the scooters were changing his life. And true enough when I was over for a long weekend my dad packed the scooters into the car before our evening out so we could leave the car to be collected in the morning and enjoy an evening of sangria and tapas. Naturally reverting back to 12 year old Frankie I was embarrassed of this, what people would say about us if they saw the scooters and staunchly refusing I would ever in my whole entire life ‘scoot’ home. However 11pm came and let’s face it- no one wants to walk home after an evening out. So on that scooter I got. My dad then turned scooter master and showed me how to use the brake, improve my aerodynamics and suggested I prepare for my life to change. And just like that I saw myself glide past the taxi queue, waving to the friendly local hecklers and serenely moving at speed down hill, hair blowing in the wind. And I couldn’t help it but the smile on my face was irrepressible . I weaved in and out of traffic islands, laughed as I crossed the small canal and went round a round about the wrong way; forgetting it was Spain and not Scotland. But don’t worry the roads are very quiet and well lit (ish). I reached the top of another hill, stopping in order to ensure I could build up maximum speed by pushing off from the top. And down I went, imagine the quiet Spanish streets, wind, laughter and just then as if this wasn’t the biggest treat I kid you not, I saw a shooting star whizz past my eyes. And I felt it, the first I’d felt it for a while and I couldn’t help but shout it out loud – ‘I am Free.’ I haven’t felt terribly free recently. I’ve felt weighed down by circumstances, I’ve felt under the spotlight, I’ve felt crushed by sadness and anxiety. I’ve had sleepless nights and experienced about every subtle physical symptom major stress can cause upon the human body. I’ve felt hopeless for the future after things I faithfully prayed for and practically prepared for failed to come into fruition and helpless that I could do nothing to change this. I’ve felt worthless, unloved and all alone. But there in that moment I felt God lift a layer of sadness from me, the chains around me felt looser as I hurtled down that hill with tears of freedom rolling down my face. Every time I think of this moment I feel that freedom again and I smile. God has given me the blessing of a tangible moment to cast my mind back to when I feel weighed down and I can feel again uplifted and again feel His almighty presence and turn my circumstances back into his capable hands. ‘For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom’ -- 2 Corinthians 3:17 I am now a thorough advocate and fan of adult scooters- but please do wear a helmet and adequate padding- but that’s a whole other story entirely! Also someone told me shooting stars are actually asteroids which are entering the universe to burn up but that doesn’t have the same cheery ring to it now does it?! Frankie x For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Claire, I’m a full time teacher while also currently completing a masters part time at Stirling University. On a Sunday morning you’ll normally find me in a yellow t-shirt on younger kids or hiding behind the piano on the worship band. I like to be busy taking on many additional roles and responsibilities, striving to be the best at everything I do and constantly looking for my next project, you know what they say – ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person’.
I like to give the impression that I can do all of the above and be happy, I can juggle uni with work, keep my house clean and presentable, still make time for the gym five days a week (got to love a 5:45 am alarm), attempt to have a social life and still take on more, right? Wrong! So wrong! Yes I was managing to do all of the above but it was slowly breaking me, I was unhappy, grumpy with those closest to me and close to completely giving up. I didn’t know what to do, where to go and I was questioning whether there was a way out. I was becoming desperate but I maintained a façade that ‘everything was fine’ because I didn’t want anyone thinking I was failure, that I couldn’t manage. Around this time I had decided to sign up for a 10K run after I felt convicted to raise money for Glasgow Children’s Hospital. I have never been a runner, I hated playing sports as a child and after being laughed at for the way I ran on a treadmill at the age of 16 I vowed never to run again which I didn’t until June this year. My previous attempt at running 10 years ago had resulted in knee pain and my Mum laughed when I told her about my 10K ambitions – this is how out of my comfort zone this was! However, I signed up for the Scottish 10K with only four months to train and took my first steps outside. The first few attempts were pretty horrendous but I slowly built my stamina and to my (and my parent’s) astonishment within just five weeks I had run my first practise 10K with no knee pain in sight. I found I was not only able to run but I was enjoying it! There was no doubt that at this time I was over-worked, anxious, had taken on too much and was unable to stop and relax, even more I was spending less and less time with God as uni and work was taking up the majority of my time. However, the time I was spending running was forcing me to stop, I couldn’t look up teaching ideas on Pinterest as I ran and as the running became easier I was relaxing, enjoying myself and beginning to connect with God in a way I hadn’t for a long time. As I ran I began thanking God for His beautiful creation, the weather, the way He has created everything to be unique, designed by His hand. I started running further each few weeks spending more and more time outside and as I ran I began praying to God, talking to Him about my hopes, dreams, worries and fears and I found that as I ran God started breaking the chains which were holding me back: I am not enough. I can’t let anyone down. I have to be strong and capable to be loved and accepted. Love and relationships are conditional. I have to prove my worth. Instead I started believing that I don’t have to prove myself, people will love me for who I am, God made me the way I am and I started to let it sink in that He will never love me any more or any less than He does now no matter how much I’ve messed up in the past or will in the future. This hasn’t been a quick journey (this is only a small snapshot), this has taken months of baby steps forward and some giant steps backwards but I’m getting there. I successfully ran the 10K a few weeks ago and am enjoying training for my first half marathon in May, it’s not always easy, I’ve not always got the motivation to go out but once I get over the door and get started it’s amazing how much better I feel. Alongside the gift of running God has provided a beautiful friend who has allowed me to talk through my fears and anxieties, listening to my ups, downs and sagas of life each week, He has also provided an amazing circle of friends who have prayed, encouraged and laughed with me in the highs and the lows. Above all He has been incredibly patient as I move towards an understanding that God loves me just the way I am and that it is ok to not be ok. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Love Claire x There was a day not so long ago that I call ‘The fateful mint aero rocky road day’.
My lovely friend Mhairi had successfully made a delicious treat which I loved. I asked for the recipe and was excited to make it for my friends coming round. I am 35 years old and have worked out some of my strengths and weaknesses. While I am first to admit my many failings I am fairly confident in my cooking abilities. This recipe looked like a breeze. I tried, I failed. I bought more ingredients, I tried again, I failed. I bought yet more ingredients… I tried, I failed… do you see where this is going? I cried, I wailed, I swore, I declared in a loud unwavering voice “This rocky road will not defeat me!” (In case your wondering it did) I wholeheartedly overreacted when my husband gingerly suggested I stop and maybe just buy some cookies and I shouted things like, “I can’t do anything else in life! This is the only thing I am good at and now I can’t even do this - I’m a complete failure!” I slammed doors wasted more money on something that didn’t matter. This rocky road was becoming a battle I was going to win and after spending over £20 on ingredients I finally admitted defeat. It had won. I couldn’t do it. I felt a failure. I had not only wasted money, swore at my husband and acted like a raving lunatic in front of kids crying into my seized chocolate I had surprised myself. The things that I said about myself, did I really believe them? I thought I had embraced Gods grace for me. How could a traybake shake me so much. Did I really base that much of self worth in my cooking. What was so awful about buying cookies?!? It’s a funny story and looking back I can laugh. But I had to answer those questions. Who really cared about the traybake? My friends didn’t. It was pride and God was teaching me through this. Niki, you can’t be perfect. It’s not about what you can do. Accept my grace. I was sure I had dealt with these insecurities already and I shocked myself. Tonight as I remember this day I am reminded of the words of a song, “You’re not finished with me yet! By your power, I can change I can change. You’re not finished with me yet.” These words that are circling round my head.. and I’m am not so tunefully singing them and can’t stop tears welling up as I think about Gods grace and abundant love…God is not done with me! He has pruned me, moulded me, pointed out the stuff I’m not proud of, shone light on the darkness and lifted me out of the filth! He’s saved my life! And yet he’s not finished! I am so grateful! He’s never done with me, he is never going to stop loving me..I literally am tired of my own voice saying sorry at times, I’m tired of making the same mistakes and repeating the same patterns but He never ever ever tires of forgiving me! He adores me. I am the apple of his eye! And he’s not done!!! In fact I believe the best is yet to come! Instead of sitting still and having my story stop here I will run forward and press on and into what comes next! Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 1:6 How exciting. So yes, a mint aero chocolate rocky road may still reduce me to a potty mouth lunatic but there is grace for me!!! He’s not done! In his goodness he says keep going , keep pressing on toward the goal. My story isn’t over. It’s still being written. My worth is not found in what I can do but who I am in Christ and what he has done for me! I am not defined by my failures and disappointments. Today I had those same friends over for lunch. I love cooking for people and I really enjoyed preparing and making them lunch and for pudding…. I bought some cookies. I am learning it’s all about grace not perfection! P.S. My beautiful and talented friend Carol Anne was also defeated by the rocky road recipe but she didn’t swear!!! She kindly sent me a picture of her separated chocolate and told me I wasn’t the only one. Don’t you just love friends like that? I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I will press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 3:13-14 Love Niki x Welcome to Falkirk Vineyard Ladies blog!
As our first entry I want to introduce myself, the team, where we have come from and our vision for this ministry. My name is Lyndsey Henderson and I am married to Blair, we have a little girl, Grace and our second bundle is due any time now. I have been leading this ministry for 3 years and am constantly amazed at how God is blessing us and the work we do. Our ministry started from a few friends at church wanting to hang out, this turned into our first ever Craft Night. We invited our friends to a night of sharing ideas and teaching crafts, it was held in my house and we had about 16 ladies. After that we had a Clothes Swap, which was about 15-20 ladies. Fast forward 3 years to April 2017 and we held our annual clothes swap with over 60 women in attendance, the majority who were not from our church. ISN’T GOD AMAZING! We now have an awesome team of women who work so hard to provide events which we can bring our friends to, help us to build relationships with one another and have fun! The team for 2017/18 is Mhairi Sargent, Sandra Innes, Jennifer Franklin, Joanna Orr and Joanne Kilpatrick. These ladies have such a heart for women and serve with enthusiasm and joy and I am privileged to have them serving in this ministry. God is now challenging us to grow, expand our tents (as our Pastor Andrew McNinch says) and to step into what God has for this ministry. But don’t worry, our events will run again this year, only bigger and better! We have another 5 events for you to enjoy with your family and friends. Our vision is to provide opportunities to build authentic and loving relationships with women inside the church, outside the church, women we know and women we don’t. This year we will also be holding gathering events for those women in our church to get together and spend time talking about our lives, God and everything else in between. There will be three opportunities and we will have food, a lovely lady will share what God has been speaking to them about (5/10 minutes) and we will spend time encouraging one another, praying for each other and hearing from God. What better way to grow in our faith and in friendships. There is also a small movement starting, where women are meeting up in a mentoring role. This is for women who feel they would benefit from having someone to talk to about life, problems, God, studying the bible or if you just need a listening ear. If you are reading this and thinking I would really appreciate someone just to meet up with and chat with, someone to listen to or help me through something, then please approach any member of the women’s team and we will take it from there. Proverbs 27 v17 ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’ And of course our fantastic blog has started. This is an opportunity for women to encourage each other and share stories of God in their lives. It will be updated at least once a month with a story, thought or reading from a different women in our church. Helping to come alongside one another, encouraging and spurring each other on. I hope you have enjoyed reading the news of FV Ladies and are excited for the year ahead. Follow us on Instagram for updates and news and know that we are so excited for what God has in store for you women this year! |
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