White Oak Church – Saturday, February 6

Welcome sign as we entered the door at the carport – next to the fellowship hall.

Entrance to the fellowship hall.

We have some very creative ladies in our church fellowship.

I went early to get a few shots of the fellowship hall and the pretty table decorations.

The kitchen crew was Martha Copenhaver (center) her daughter Brenda (leader of the team) and her daughters Laura, Andi, and Kate and Andi’s daughter Molly. (Molly, Andi, Martha and Laura in the above photo.)

Andi and Laura filling cups.

Emily Alwine

Brenda gave me a sneak preview of some pretty desserts.

Appetizer pastry before it was covered with icing.

You can see the icing-covered pastry at this end of the table – and the cups of yogurt and fruit.

The committee had a challenge in keeping everything COVID healthy as there was a large response of 201 ladies.

Linnea Martin lead the ladies in a melody of songs.

Kim Groff opened with announcements and prayer for the morning.

Following prayer we enjoyed the first course – fruit & yogurt, juice and pastry.

Our first speaker was Glenda Heisey who opened by asking Google the meaning of Taste and See.

She shared her journey of “Learning to Allow God to Be God” as she and her husband Elvin trusted God after he became a quadriplegic following an accident when their daughter Keziah was two years old – more than twenty years ago. She shared about some of her most challenging times.

Elvin died from severe kidney failure last summer.

Summary: God never turned His back on them, even though they sometimes felt alone.

Following her message, we received the main course: a breakfast pie (potatoes, ham, egg and cheese) and a salad with an amazing dressing.

“Heal the Wound, but Leave a Scar.” The next speaker was my sister’s youngest daughter, Chelsey Harnly.

She shared about the scars of sexual abuse as a twelve-year-old and how God in His mercy protected her from further contact with the assailant and more serious abuse. He was punished with time in prison. Chelsey was not his only victim.

Our last course was dessert – a variety of delicious delicacies.

Lindsey Miller was the final speaker. “Seeing Clearly Through Betty’s Blind Eyes.” A Story of Anorexia, Self-hate and God’s Redemption.

She shared her very real experience with anorexia, counseling and rehab and the experience of visiting with 97-year-old Betty while working in an adult retirement community.

It was a slow day so her supervisor asked her to spend some time with Betty. Betty sensed that something was wrong and asked Lindsey about her walk with the Lord. Lindsey told her when she received Christ. Betty said, “I am interested in your walk with the Lord today, not when you received Christ.”

That day Lindsey realized that she was not studying her Bible or having a vital walk with the Lord. It changed her life as she totally surrendered to God and His will for her life.

Korina Wenger thanked our speakers and closed the morning with final thoughts.

It was a challenging and powerful morning.