Comforter Ministry - News, Notes and Newsletters
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019
Hearts! When February rolls around each year I, like most of you, immediately think of Valentine's Day and hearts. Including March, however, may have you wondering what I was thinking to have picked this lovely heart quilt (made and donated to CM by Judy A from Wisconsin Rapids, WI - this is actually the backing so go to the CM Photo Gallery to check out the top!) as the feature picture. Well, as a Christian I also think of hearts when I think of the Lenten Season. For six weeks, starting on Ash Wednesday, March 6, Christians will be focusing on the Suffering Servant, our Savior Jesus. These six weeks we will focus our attention on the passion of our Savior, leading up to His ultimate sacrifice - death - on Good Friday. Easter Sunday we will celebrate our Savior Jesus' resurrection, His victory over sin (my sin and your sin) and eternal death. Jesus' obedient and loving heart is the answer to the why He did all of this for us disobedient and unloving sinners. I hope you will think about THAT each time you see a heart this month (and next...and always)!
GOD'S SAFEKEEPING BIBLE VERSE -
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine...I am the Lord, your God...your Savior...you are precious and honored in my sight...I love you." (Isaiah 43:1,,3,4)
DO YOU have a top made that you would love to donate to CM, but it needs to be long armed?
Heidi Bork has offered to long arm up to two (2) quilts per month on a first come, first served basis. As the top maker, you would be responsible for making the top, providing a back that is 4" larger than the top in all directions and shipping to Heidi in Neenah, WI. She will provide the batting, long arm quilting, and return shipping to you. If interested contact her at: Quilterazzi@gmail.com or call 920.205.7213.
A COMFORTER MINISTRY WOMAN WITH A PRAYING HEART -
If you are a woman with a praying heart, I am asking you to set aside a few minutes each day or some regular time of your choosing in order to pray for Comforter Ministry Recipients, CM women who have been diagnosed with cancer.
The CM Prayer List and Prayer are found right here on this page. Simply continue scrolling down and you will find a list of names for 2018 and 2019. There are many more names but I have chosen to share names from just the past year and current year. You are encouraged to pray not only for the specific names listed here but also in a more general reference as simply "CM Recipients" and "all those who have been diagnosed with cancer."
Please prayerfully consider being a Comforter Ministry Woman with a Praying Heart.
**COMFORTER MINISTRY PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITIES**
Once again in 2019, I would appreciate the opportunity to share my recently produced Comforter Ministry Power Point Presentation with you. The presentation could also include a Comforter Ministry Prayer Gathering/Prayer Bible Study. I would also encourage invitations to various events in order to share the Comforter Ministry Display.
These opportunities might include ministry/mission themed events within our WELS, women's retreats, women's groups, quilting workshops, college campus groups, high schools, Lutheran Pioneers (LGP), upper grades of Christian Day School and Sunday School, home schoolers, etc.
You are encouraged to contact me and we can determine if date, time, and place can be arranged. My hope and prayer? To search for ways to get the word out about the Comforter Ministry and the blessing it offers women of all ages. To date, 1 years old has been the youngest CM recipient diagnosed with cancer.
WILL YOU HELP ME?
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PLEASE!!! QUILTS NEEDED - Can you help? I can always use more quilts so...
Please consider making and donating quilts for Comforter Ministry, Inc. All you need to know can be found under "How the Ministry Works" and click the appropriate choice for further criteria. You may contact me, as well, if you have questions or need a Comforter Ministry journal when your quilt is complete and before sending to me (as pointed out in the criteria). Please take note of checking the CM criteria for making and donating a quilt as some recently have been on the "too small" side and others have had no CM journal. Thank you!
If you know of someone who may wish to participate in this ministry, please pass along this information to them. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
It is not as though I cannot purchase quilts as I have money set aside from a special gift of money for doing so should the need occur but I want to use that avenue as a last resort. I think all would agree that a beautiful part of this ministry is the opportunity it provides for others to participate and share their love, compassion, and gift(s) with those in need...just wanted you to understand my continual plea for quilts :)
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COMFORTER MINISTRY NEWSLETTER - Winter-2019
Enjoy the latest Comforter Ministry Newsletter - Winter 2019 which is now available. Click here or scroll down to the bottom area of this page, click and read/print. I encourage you to print and share with others. YOU are my PR Department :) Thank you! PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO Comforter Ministry Newsletter - Spring 2019
New Comforter Ministry Quilts
Thanks to the following quilters who have made and donated comforters for CM recently - Check out the Photo Gallery :)
*New Comforter Ministry Quilter/Quilt Group
Carolyn J and Faith-In-Action Quilters-Rochester, MN
Lorraine S and St. Paul Quilters-Algoma, WI
Lorraine S-Algoma, WI
Barb S-Bloomington, MN
Phyllis F-Mukwonago, WI
Christine H-Milwaukee, WI
Check out these amazing quilts in the Photo Gallery!
Words to Share...
Hi, Su, I always love your newsletters. I met you at one of our LWMS rallies of the Heartland Circuit many years ago. I am the reporter for LWMS at Hope Lutheran Church in Louisville, KY. When I suggested to the ladies to have the proceeds from our annual craft and bake sale go to your ministry, I was so pleased they all agreed. It was the most we had ever raised for this event. Thank you for your wonderful thank you note. Please know your ministry is in my prayers. Thank you for organizing this wonderful ministry. God bless, Marlene H
Thank you, Marlene, for your blessed support all these years and my not even knowing it - this ministry/mission and how God works through it constantly amazes me! Please continue your prayers, support, and encouragement - I am thanking God for you :)
Thank you, women of Hope Lutheran-Louisville, KY for the most generous gift of money. I was so thankful to receive this wondrous surprise!
Dear Amanda, Recently, I learned of your diagnosis from..; two of my dear friends. We have recently gone through a very similar journey as my mom has been battling breast cancer since October of 2017. She is very close to the end of her treatments, and with God's help, she's been encouraged by so many - people she knows and people she does not. This quilt arrived from a stranger (see the attached letter) and it was extremely comforting during this time. Our prayer is that by passing it on to you - you'll feel the symbolism it represents: you are loved and prayed for - by people you don't even know! You can do this XOXO Michelle H
Thank you, Michelle, for your encouraging words written to Amanda in the Comforter Ministry Journal!
Thank you, Quilter Phyllis F - Mukwonago, WI, for making and donating Quilt #528!
FYI - January 2019 Quilt #528 went from Amanda from Denton, TX (above) to another Amanda in N. Mankato, MN - so far the third woman to be comforted by Phyllis' quilt :)
Sharing my Thanks...
Brian K, Athletic Director of Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, MI contacted me this past September regarding Comforter Ministry receiving proceeds from the high school's "Pink Out" cancer awareness sports event being held in October. CM would be the recipient of money raised through T-shirt sales, event tickets sales, etc. I also had the privilege of providing materials to Brian in order to help promote CM for this event. Once again, I was amazed how God works in blessing this ministry/mission in ways I wouldn't even imagine!
Thank you, Brian K and HVLHS, for your most generous donation to CM from your "Pink Out" event!
Another FYI - A side blessing from this connection were two quilts made for CM by the 2018 Girls Volleyball Teams! Look for more info on this in the Comforter Ministry Newsletter - Summer 2019!
Sharing a Need...
COMFORTER MINISTRY POSTERS AND BROCHURES
Can you help? If you would be willing to display a Comforter Ministry poster at your church, school, etc. please contact me. Comforter Ministry brochures are also available if you have a tract rack, a women's meeting, group, retreat, etc. for distributing. Thank you in advance for helping to promote CM to those around you :) THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE CONTACTED
ME AND REQUESTED THEM!
Prayer Notes
Please add to your personal prayer list the following 2018/19 Comforter Ministry recipients -
Traci - Heath, TX; Dixie - Tomahawk, WI; Phyllis - Jackson, WI; Gretchen - Hobart, WI; Lisa - New Ulm, MN; Gloria - Minneapolis, MN; Clarice - Brookfield, WI; Shanna - Brookfield, WI; Julia and parents Chris and Jessica - Nashotah, WI; Nancy - Chippewa Falls, WI; Sue - LaCrosse, WI; Sheila - Tomahawk, WI; Anita - Wauwatosa, WI; April - Terrell, TX; Pam - Georgetown, TX; Janie - Somerset, KY; Barbara - Milwaukee, WI; Julie - Grand Prairie, TX; Peggy - Solon, IA; JoAnn - Neenah, WI; Julie - Rockwall, TX; Beth - New Berlin, WI; Joan - Kalamazoo, MI; Katie - Switzerland; Luella - Katy, TX; Robert - Ft. Worth, TX; Jill - McKinney, TX; Carolee - Franklin, WI; Gail - Two Rivers, WI; Mollie - Bowling Green, KY; Melisa - Pflugerville, TX; Jacqueline - Whiteriver, AZ; Rosie - Kenosha, WI; Debra - Choctaw, OK; Marla - Zumbrota, MN; Jeannine - Sturgeon Bay, WI; Sue - Rockwall, TX; Annette - Madison, GA; Dee - Milwaukee, WI; Judith - Grand Rapids, MI; Kelli - LaQuinta, CA; Paula - Spring Branch, TX; Tammy - Oklahoma City, OK; Jane - Oak Creek, WI; Jenny - Hartland, WI; Marsha - Conyers, GA; Daniel - Wauwatosa, WI; Jan - Anderson, IN; Janet - Oklahoma City, OK; Betty - Upper Marlboro, MD; Tammy - Dallas, TX; Vicki - Conyers, GA; Lois - Farmington, MI; Faye - Newborn, GA; Nancy - Peshtigo, WI; Paige - Seattle WA; Barbara - West Allis, WI; Suzanne - Wauwatosa, WI; Joan - Covington, GA; Sherri - Peshtigo, WI; Michelle - Caddo Mills, TX; Melanie - Colorado Spring, CO; Jackie - Colome, SD; Carmen - Bloomington, MN; Ida - Reeseville, WI; Linda - Utica, NE; Rebecca - Copperas Cover, TX; Heidi - Chicago, IL; Audrey - Krakow, WI; Kathy - Neenah, WI; Vicki - Marietta, OH; Sandra -Richfield, WI; Chris - Eden Prairie, MN; Isaac - Peoria, AZ; Gina - Westland, MI; Kathy - Rochester, MN; Jane - Texas; Jana - Germantown, WI; Nancy - Maplewood, MN; Beth - Dripping Springs, TX; Marlys - Apple Valley, MN; Patty - Louisville, KY; Sandy - Clara City, MN; Amanda - North Mankato, MN; Teresa - Jasper, GA; Lesly - Burnsville, NC; Vicki - Thornton, CO; Tammy - New Berlin, WI; Brittany - Milwaukee, WI; Mary - Garland, TX; Linda - Plano, TX; Gwen - Waupaca, WI; Lucy - Green Bay, WI; Kari - Bloomington, MN
Holy Comforter, Bring peace of heart and mind to these women. Their earthly tribulations are at a high point during these most difficult days. They need Your presence and peace to comfort and sustain them. Through Your Word You promise to strengthen and comfort all who believe in Jesus as their Savior. Through Your grace may they experience your holy comfort and, if it be Your will, grant them complete healing. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
REMEMBER - IF YOU KNOW OF A WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND WOULD LIKE A COMFORTER MINISTRY QUILT AND JOURNAL SENT TO THEM, PLEASE CONTACT ME.