1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Spring 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
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Leigh’s Blankies
Spring Cleaning
New Creations
Little Trees Salad
Recipe
• Movie Review
• Calendar of Events
“There is more evidence
that Jesus rose from the
dead than there is that
Julius Caesar ever lived
or that Alexander the
Great died at the age of
thirty-three.”
billy graham
The members of Renewal’s WOW
(Women of Worth) Board are
committed to helping the women
of Renewal and our community
become all they can be in Christ.
We are committed to praying for
women and helping them grow
in their walks through Bible Study,
discipleship, prayer, special events
and visitations.
leigh’s blankies
STEFANI PLUMMER
A tragic car accident on March 6, 2010 took the life of Leigh
Ann Tonkinson (35) of Gilbert, Arizona. Leigh Ann was a light
to her family, friends, church, and to those she came in contact
with at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she worked as
a nursing supervisor. Leigh Ann’s death impacted many
people, including Andra Good (director) who had been
lifelong friends with her since high school. “Getting used
to life without her here has been incredibly hard”, says
Andra, “Life is not as sweet without Leigh Ann in it.”
After teaching herself to sew by watching YouTube, Andra
found sewing to be therapeutic. Then, one Sunday, as Andra
sat in Leigh’s church watching a slideshow of children from
a village in Malawi, she noticed that not one single child
had a blankie in their arms. She thought of how much her
children and Leigh’s children loved their blankies. She wanted
to share that comfort and security with every child by giving
them a blankie. “Leigh Ann’s home is heaven now, but
through Leigh’s Blankies we can keep her memory alive.
It feels like a gift from God.”
On February 5, 2011, Leigh Ann’s birthday, Andra launched
Leigh’s Blankies. The soft flannel blankies have a unique
design and are made with a sewing machine. The blankies
each have a Leigh’s Blankies’ label sewn into the seam,
which includes their logo and scripture verse, Matthew
5:16, “Let your light shine before men.” The blankies are
entirely made by volunteers either at sewing groups that
meet throughout Arizona, or by take home blankie kits that
Renewal Christian Fellowship • For more information, contact Nancy Artman at 951.452.0788 or by email at [email protected] • renewalcf.com
Women
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W O R T H
continued
include supplies and instructions. Individual blankies are also sold at special events for $20
each. For every blankie sold, four others are donated to children in need. God has grown this
ministry very quickly and the need for blankies continues to increase.
Since February of 2011, over 5000 blankies have been made by people from all over the
community and have gone to children in many different countries, such as India, Poland, H
onduras, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Liberia, Costa Rica, Haiti, and Malawi. US organizations
have also received the blankies such as Christian Family Care Agency, Young Lives (teen
moms), tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri, Crisis Pregnancy Center (Arizona), Phoenix Children’s
Hospital, Cardon’s Children’s Hospital (Arizona) and others. Many individual children with
challenging circumstances have also been recipients of the blankies.
Leighsblankies.com
What can we do at Renewal Christian Fellowship? As a new foster mom, I am aware that children
are being detained and placed in homes, sometimes without anything that is their own.
My personal hope is that every child who has to encounter a situation where they are being
detained and placed with strangers (or other family members), can have something to cling
to. As a part of support for this ministry, I am looking for people to sew blankies. Eventually
it would be great to see this ministry grow; currently, we would start with Koinonia Family
Homes. Several families within RCF have placed with, fostered and even adopted through
Koinonia. They are an agency that strives for high quality foster care, adoption and family
service programs. They are about the children and providing resources, training and support
to make sure they are taken care of.
As a branch of the Leigh’s Blankies family, we would provide Koinonia social workers with
blankies for kids. We would also host periodic sew nights for people to get together and
fellowship while sewing and/or preparing kits for people to take and sew. Interested people
do not have to have an extensive background in sewing. The kits have detailed instructions.
Join us for our first sew night on Friday, April 24th at 6:30pm in the Student Ministries room.
Find out more information and sign-up at the sign-up table at the back of the sanctuary.
For more information, please contact Stefani Plummer (602-810-2061 or [email protected])
or the WOW Women’s Council.
Video: http://vimeo.com/115069715
Renewal Christian Fellowship • For more information, contact Nancy Artman at 951.452.0788 or by email at [email protected] • renewalcf.com
Women
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W O R T H
new creations
SUMMER GIESER
Spring has sprung and with that it has brought a lot of new life! I’d like to say all my flowers
are in full bloom but I live in a cactus wonderland. Any sign of life in my yard, would soon
be met with death, as I do not have a green thumb. I do however love seeing all the new life
springing up around me in my neighbors’ yard.
Spring also ignites the cleaning and decluttering fire inside of me. I like to make my keep, toss
and donate piles. I realize how much I have accumulated since last spring and vow to never
buy anything ever again! After decluttering I feel like I can breathe again. I feel so much more
productive. Once I have cleared out the clutter I like to start planning things. I start to think
about the end of the school year, summer Vacation and projects that need to get done (they
are more enjoyable to do in nice weather). I can’t help but compare the things Spring brings
with my spiritual walk.
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Just as we put away the old of winter and
ring in the new life of spring, we also do that as Christians. Our old life is put away in the
toss pile(although at times we like to go back into that toss pile, like that dress we hang onto
from high school, and try to hold onto for another season). We are new creations and we are
celebrating our new life not just in one season but all year long. That is the beauty of new life
in Christ.
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. We also need
to declutter our lives and get rid of those old thoughts and practices. Daily filling our minds
with God’s Holy word. Allowing the old things to pass away and living this new life that God
given us. By doing this a joy springs up in us and brings that excitement of something new. I
don’t know about you, but I get excited when something new happens or I receive something
new. When that UPS man rings my doorbell I get a happy feeling (even though I vowed earlier to never buy anything again). I should wake up with that same excitement or even more
excitement, knowing that I am a new creation and I have a wonderful creator who meets me
wherever and whenever. I do not have to wait 3-5 business days.
As a church body we chose the name Renewal, which means the state of being made new,
fresh or strong again. That is what spring is all about. New creations being born,
a freshness in the air and what winter made weak, the spring sun makes strong again. May we
celebrate our new lives each and every day and in each and every season.
Renewal Christian Fellowship • For more information, contact Nancy Artman at 951.452.0788 or by email at [email protected] • renewalcf.com
Little Trees Salad
BOBBI SCHUTTE
Ingredients
1/2 head cauliflower, broken into flowerets
3/4 c. Miracle Whip or Mayo (your preference)
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 lb. bacon, fried & crumbled
1/2 head broccoli, broken up
1/4 c. sugar
8 oz. Swiss cheese, sm. cubes
Instructions
Combine cauliflower, broccoli, cheese and bacon.
Mix salad dressing, sugar and vinegar.
Toss.
Enjoy!
do you believe?
MOVIE REVIEW BY CINDY PHILLIPS
This is the question asked in a new movie that was released March 20. It follows the lives of
twelve people as they journey toward new or deepened faith in Christ. Their lives cross paths
in different ways, and then collide in a climactic scene near the end of the movie. This film
is great for believers to see as it can cause them to evaluate how deep their commitment
to Christ really is. It is also a wonderful movie to take unbelieving friends to see as it clearly
explains the result of sin, separation from God for eternity, and the plan of salvation. Although
it most likely won’t win an Academy Award and the plot is a little predictable, the message
is clear and uplifting. It definitely deserves two thumbs up.
Renewal Christian Fellowship • For more information, contact Nancy Artman at 951.452.0788 or by email at [email protected] • renewalcf.com
Women
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APRIL 2015
W O R T H
SUN
MON
TUES
WED
1
THURS
2
Bible Study
FRI
3
SAT
4
Good
Friday
Service
9:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
5
6
Easter
12
19
13
20
7
8
Bible Study
Bible Study
6:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m.
14
15
Bible Study
Bible Study
6:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m.
21
22
Bible Study
Bible Study
6:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m.
9
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
Leigh’s
Blankies
Sew Night
6:30 p.m.
26
27
28
29
30
Renewal Christian Fellowship • For more information, contact Nancy Artman at 951.452.0788 or by email at [email protected] • renewalcf.com
Women
O F
W O R T H
SUN
3
10
17
MAY 2015
MON
4
11
18
TUES
5
WED
SAT
2
7
8
9
14
15
16
20
21
22
23
27
28
29
30
6
Bible Study
Bible Study
9:00 a.m.
13
Bible Study
Bible Study
6:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m.
19
FRI
1
6:30 p.m.
12
THURS
Bible Study
6:30 p.m.
24
25
26
Memorial
Day
31
Renewal Christian Fellowship • For more information, contact Nancy Artman at 951.452.0788 or by email at [email protected] • renewalcf.com