WOMEN’S CIRCLES
Here’s a spiritual growth goal: join a Circle of friends. Elizabeth Circle meets the 1st Monday each month. Sarah Circle meets the 4th Monday each month. Joining our Circles is an easy way to make new friends and grow spiritually. Contact Vi Davis at 614-875-2605, or Debbie Abbitt at 614-326-9253, for more information.
Elizabeth Circle
May 7 at 6:30pm In room 101-2
Sarah Circle
May 21 at 7pm In room 103-4
FOR THE TINIEST OF THE TINY…
The idea of becoming a parent can be exciting and fun, while at the same time 100% terrifying.
Imagine that you are thrust into parenthood, not with the birth of a healthy, 6-9 pound, bright eyed, pink-skinned baby, but with the birth of a 1 pound 4 ounce baby whose skin is translucent and eyes are still fused shut because s/he was born only 23 weeks into your pregnancy. For those of you who may not know, a pregnancy is not considered viable until 24 weeks. Now imagine that the only thing that is keeping your incredibly fragile but beautiful baby’s lungs from collapsing is a breathing tube; a breathing tube that is so easily dislodged that all it takes is for that tiny baby, who can’t control their limbs yet, to smack it a little too hard.
Now most people that I talk to about this will only understand this as an idea, but this was my reality. My daughter had that breathing tube for the first 30 days of her life. One of the scariest days of my life, while my daughter was in the NICU, was day 14. When the NICU doors slowly swung open, all I saw was people running in and out of her room. My heart dropped. When I finally reached her room someone explained to me that my daughter had dislodged her breathing tube. This is apparently very common with intubated preemies.
That’s where something called the Danish Octo project comes into play. What started as a small group in February of 2013, has now gone global. With this project you make little crocheted or knitted octopi so that these babies can grab onto its tentacles.
You may be asking, “What’s so special about these tentacles?” Well, let me explain. From what we understand, those tentacles are believed to recreate the feeling of the umbilical cord in the womb. This can help reduce stress in these tiny new babies. Reduced stress leads to more regulated heart rates, better breathing, and higher levels of oxygen in their blood.
Another huge bonus to these octopi is that they reduce the risk of the babies dislodging their breathing tube. So I’m asking you, if there is any way you could help with this project, that you do. Whether it’s through your crocheting or knitting abilities, your donation of cotton yarn, or simply putting your hand over these tiny octopi and praying for the baby and family that will receive them, your love and support would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all your prayers, my little Gracie is now over 10 pounds and is breathing on her own. I look forward to the day when I will get to introduce her to all of you who held her up to her Heavenly Father in prayer. Thank you for loving and praying for the tiniest of the tiny.
In His Name, Faith Hicks
Happy Mother’s Day!
If you would like to help, follow the links below or attend a Prayer Shawl meeting to learn more.
PRAYER SHAWLS
Do you know of someone who would be blessed by receiving a prayer shawl?
Please call Nancy Kinman at 875-8155. WRAPPED IN PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY will hold its next monthly meeting on Saturday, May 12, in Rooms 103 & 104 from 9:00am-11:00am.
Everyone is welcome. Bring your knitting/crochet materials and any completed shawls to be blessed with prayer. We would be happy to teach anyone interested to knit or crochet. Please join us!
For more information call Glenda Allman at 614-871-0060 or Diana Imbrock at 614-871-3854.
THE BEACONS AND QUILTERS, MAY 2018
The Beacons and Quilters is a small group of eleven women. We have a member from Bethel and two from Our Lady along with St. John’s members. Our projects benefit those who are having an unfortunate or a rough time in their lives. We hope to ease their suffering by providing a few of the items they may need. We hope to show them we understand and give them Christian love and concern.
The Beacons and Quilters welcome visitors. First timers who do not sew may trim stamps for the Wounded Soldier project, cut fabric squares, select fabric from our stash for others to start a quilt or help on other projects. You may just come, sit for a while and join in the conversation. Your visit is always welcome. Remember, a visit is not a commitment.
The semi-annual March meeting of the Central Area LSS Auxiliaries was held at here at St. John’s. At the meeting, we had 29 people representing ten Lutheran congregations. Not all congregations have an active Beacons group. The main business of the meeting was working on filling 54 of 75 newborn baby diaper bags. Those filled bags were delivered to the Delaware pantry warehouse. Some of the bags have already been distributed. The remaining unfilled bags will be completed at later date. We thank you for helping to fill the bags with your donations.
Do you have any extra Bibles not being used? LSS Ohio Disaster Services need used Bibles to give to people who have been in a disaster where their belongings are destroyed or lost. If you can part with any of your extra Bibles, please place them in the Beacons cabinet in the Link. Also, we need bath towels, bars of soap and sturdy combs for the health kits. The health kits help Ohioans in time of need.
The Beacons collect and recycle just about anything except decorative pieces and large, heavy items. We sort and donate used clothing to various organizations. The card fronts are given to the Cancer Thrift Store on Stringtown. The cancelled stamps go to the two Wounded Soldier projects in Virginia. The towels, wrapped soap and other hygiene products make up the kits for LSS Disaster Services. The cat litter buckets and used Bibles are given to the LSS Disaster Services, also. Place your donation in the Beacons cabinet in the Link. We no longer collect Campbell’s labels or Box- Tops for Education as these programs have been ended by their companies. Thank you for donating.
The Beacons and Quilters welcome you to come and visit. The Quilters meet every Tuesday from 9am to 2pm in rooms 103-104. The Beacons meet with the Quilters on the third Tuesday to sort and bag clothes, cut stamps, and help with projects. All materials are provided. We bring a packed lunch. At the Beacons’ meeting, we take two offerings to help support our ministries.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to interests of others.
