W.O.

W
Women of Wisdom
A publication of Calvary Christian Assembly Women’s
Ministry
VOLUME I ◦ISSUE 2◦ WINTER 2010

A word
. from our
president…
By Karla Kulseth

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting

fat, please put a penny in the old man’s
hat. As I was thinking about writing a Fall Gathering 2009
short Christmas article, leading into our
Newsletter, this ditty came out of the blue.
Where did it come from and why would it
appear suddenly for no reason? We never,
ever ate goose and I have never put a Upcoming Events:
penny in anyone’s hat, except the
occasional Salvation army bucket, which
does not look like a hat! Memories are like “Emmanuel God with Us” Christmas
that, though, they often wash over us
without warning, and the holiday season is Concert Sunday December 13th 6:30
an obvious stimulant. There are several pm
events this holiday season to build new
traditions or continue on from last year,
Gingerbread Family Outing
such as the annual Calvary Christian Saturday, December 19th10:30am
Assembly Christmas Concert, “Emmanuel:
God With Us” ; The Gingerbread Family
outing at Westlake Mall, and the Attic
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
Theater’s radio play, “It’s a Wonderful Sunday, December 20th 6pm
Life. All events are free and wonderful
opportunities to invite your friends and
family. Ladies’ Spa Night
I love the memories that we are building Saturday, Feb. 6th 6 pm
together through our special Women’s
Events, and we are going to have our 2nd
Annual Ladies Spa Night on Saturday,
February 6th. Remember the foot soaks and
soothing room? After the holiday rush and
activities, we’ll be more than ready for
these wonderful treatments and equally Inside this issue:
delightful amenities. So save the date, but p. 2- Ladies’ Spa Night +Odds & Ends
for now, enjoy the wonderful Christmas p. 3 –“China: A Land of Firsts” by Lynda
season, and remember, “Unto us a child is Dokter
born, unto us a son is given” Is. 9:6. And p. 4- Fall Gathering recap by Becky Dagg
he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
p. 5- Save the Date! : A look ahead
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.

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 Ladies Spa Night
Saturday February 6
6-9 pm
It’s almost time again for our wonderful
Spa event! It is hard to believe 10
months ago we had our most popular
event that included paraffin hand dips,
foot soaking, manicures, facials, and an
amazing soothing room. Remember the
fun, relaxed atmosphere? Every service
brought delighted sighs and that longed Pampered hands, Spa Night
for contentment,
2009 so sorely needed after
the frantic holidays. The food and
desserts were unsurpassed with the
amazing chocolate fountain and
delicious chicken croissant.
Odds &…
We are striving to make this year’s
event even bigger and better, but we Help Wanted for Fast
Lane Diner!!!
could use some help. Would you be
Servers, cooks, cashiers,
willing to be on the planning committee, clean up, all help
or help procure goodies or services for gratefully requested.
the night? What about publicity or even Fast Lane resumes Jan
helping out for an hour or two? We need 6th.
lots of hands and ideas. Janice Thomas 206-525-
Contact Janice Thomas 206-525-3830 3830

Congratulations to Audrey Alonso for winning the “Name This Newsletter Contest”
with her entry, “W.O.W: Women of Wisdom” Audrey won a $10 Starbucks gift
card and, more importantly, notoriety. The next time you see Audrey, praise her for
her creativity and ask her to buy you a latte.

..ENDS
Homemakers will be
meeting for lunch on Jan 7,
2010 at Eva Wangen's home
at 11:30.  Christine Hosack
from Thailand will be our
speaker.

…
2
China: a Land of Firsts
By Lynda Dokter Pampered faces, Spa Night
Having returned from my first mission trip to China the end of2009
October, my mind swirls with historic places, huge cities and
countless people. Change and growth abound in such magnitude
I’ll mention only a few examples. Look what authoritarian
decisions and actions have accomplished. In the first place,
China
is the only superpower on the list of fastest growing economies;
built the world’s largest airport and stadium in Beijing;
constructed the world’s fastest train in Shanghai; has the largest
population of 1.3 billion and the largest army with over 2 million.
On October 1st the People’s Republic of China celebrated their
60th Anniversary with a parade of military might mixed with
entertainment and boulevard floral displays commanding
attention. Though not without human rights problems, truly the
details and Lynda’s article
overall picture of China are most impressive though
possibly daunting.
First ever, too, was our minister’s trip with a team of over one
hundred to have an open Christian meeting in a state registered
Chinese church. No one knew what would happen, not even the
Chinese pastor. For an American to speak and bring a team was
a first for their church also. Both anticipation and apprehension
surrounded our visit. After all, government officials would watch
and evaluate the services. Photography was to be minimal and
discreet. Possible repercussion was a concern.
Stuffed to capacity, the church probably held 1,500. The
congregation’s atmosphere prompted in me two words: Love
and joy. Mostly age 30 and younger, these Chinese exuded the
love of God and bubbled with joy singing, clapping and shouting
responses to their soft-spoken pastor. Yet when requested, their
well disciplined training brought them from exuberance to a hush Lynda at the Great Wall of China
in a nanosecond.
In the first service the congregation listened intently through a
translator to a biblical message telling how Jesus heals. Then,
hundreds stood to acknowledge their healing. During the second
evening we heard a teaching on the fruit and gifts of the Holy
Spirit. Each night the congregation responded beyond all
expectation. Hundreds came to pray with our team after the
services. All you had to do was stand there looking pleasant.
One by one, they came and reached out their hands to you;
hungry for God; to know Him and His word; to sense His love and
power touch their lives through us. The Holy Spirit drew them
and led our team in how to pray, dispelling the language barrier.
What an atmosphere of faith, hope and love! What a privilege to
participate!
Warmly smiling, they enthusiastically welcomed our team to
their church, not just cordially. Several personal connections
deeply touched me. I still tear up recalling a young woman
lovingly looking me in the eye while placing several packages of
gloves in my hand as a gift to me. Then there was Jack, one of
our tour guides, anxious to share how he accepted Jesus Christ in
March and was being baptized the day after we left. The city gate of Kunming
When further recounting the trip, a picture came to my mind of
a bird’s nest. Not the monumental stadium built for the Olympic
Games in Beijing. Instead, I saw baby birdies in the nest with
mouths wide open, waiting to be fed, just like the Chinese in the
two church services where our team ministered. In a larger
sense, I believe the Lord is saying that the bird’s nest is all of
China holding the precious people.
As a confirmation, the day after the services we heard that
government officials spoke to the pastor saying, “We need more
Americans to come and do this.” May that be so! Let‘s commit
daily to place Jesus Christ first with our whole heart. To listen,
pray and obey rather than live in self-willed routine
complacency. May God lead each one of us to extend His love,
grace and power... first here, then there and everywhere.

3
Traffic in Beijing
 Marie Strum explains landscapes Serena Hart

Reviews Are In: “WOMEN’S FALL GATHERING” Receives 5 STAR

Rating

By Becky Dagg

The critiques have voted and this year’s Women’s Fall Gathering was given 5
stars. On October 17th forty women kicked off their fall/holiday season sharing a
wonderful breakfast brought to us by Rachel Snyder and inspirational devotion by
Sharla Starr. Thank you, Instructors, for sharing your talents with us. We had the
opportunity to attend classes, teaching us how to decorate a table and plant
spring bulbs. In spite of a brief power outage we learned how to create bath
bombs, jewelry and note cards. In addition, those writers among us experienced
the art of journaling. Imagine all this talent right here in our Church community!
The morning was full of activity, fellowship, and, of course, delicious food. If you
weren’t one of those blessed by this event, I would encourage to you look for it

4
 Deane House explains table settings

Krista Elhers, W.O.W cheerleader

Save the Date!

December 2009
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wed
Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 Christmas 14 15 16 17 18 19 Family
Concert 6pm Gingerbread
outing 10:30am
20 “It’s a 21 22 23 24 Christmas 25 26
Wonderful Eve Service Merry
Life” 6pm 6pm Christmas!
27 28 29 30 31 January 1

January 2010
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wed
Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 Sat Women’s
Happy New Discussion 9am
Year!
3 4 5 6Prayer 7 Homemaker’s 8 9
5:30pm/Bible @ Eva
Study 7pm Wangen’s
11:30am
10 11 12 13 Prayer 14 15 16
5:30pm/Bible

5
 Study 7pm

17 18 19 20 Prayer 21 22 23
5:30pm/Bible
Study 7pm
24 25 26 27 Prayer 28 29 30
5:30pm/Bible
Study 7pm
31 February
1
February 2010
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wed
Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 Prayer 4 5 6 SWDG 9am;
5:30 pm/Bible Ladies’ Spa
Study 7pm Night 6pm
7 8 9 10 Prayer 11 Harmony 12 13
5:30pm/Bible Fellowship
Study 7pm 12:15pm
14 15 16 17 Prayer 18 19 20
5:30pm/Bible
Study 7pm
21 22 23 24 Prayer 25 26 27
5:30pm/Bible
Study 7pm
28 March 1