An Attitude of Gratitude...
At Thanksgiving we are thankful for our food, but we are grateful for so much more than that. Why not take a few moments at your Thanksgiving table this year to recognize the other blessings in your life as well? Here’s a short devotional and simple worksheet to help you do this. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sue Carlson, Women's Ministries Director
Once a year the North American Division provides fabulous training on the subject of abuse. Abuse takes on many forms and affects all ages and all genders. Thank you for taking the time to educate yourself on this sensitive topic in order to create safe places in your homes, churches and communities as well as minister to those who have been hurt in the past. To be part of this free EnditNow Summit on Abuse simply click this link https://www.enditnownorthamerica.org/summitonabuse
Sunday, November 14 from 12:00-4:00 pm Central Time in English and Monday, November 15, 12:00-4:00 pm Central Time in Spanish.
We have a new venue for our Retreat...
The Junction City, Kansas Courtyard by Marriott!
Marriott Hotel
The Marriott is connected to the Geary County Convention Center, to accommodate our Retreat meetings!
Geary County Convention Center
Jesus 101 Biblical Institute Video Bible Stories for Kids
I know many of you ladies are moms or grandmas or aunties... Your kiddos will enjoy these video Bible stories for kids with downloadable coloring pages to go with the stories from Jesus 101 Biblical Institute!
Welcome to Jesus 101 4Kids! | Jesus 101
You can still join...
Life CPR: 8 weeks to healthier relationships!
Those who register are part of our free resource drawings each night! You must be present in the session when your name is drawn to win.
To register email: cbarker@ks-ne.org or call 785-478-4726
Our next session is Tuesday, May 25 @ 6:00 - 7:00 PM CDT
Life CPR Sessions - Zoom Recordings
Zoom Recording Session #1: https://youtu.be/6lgOUYRCidE
Zoom Recording Session #2: https://youtu.be/TGQg2F75Pm4
Zoom Recording Session #3: https://youtu.be/LG4w5mvbfUo
Zoom Recording Session #4: https://youtu.be/D8_lmJNWxUw
Zoom Recording Session #5:
Zoom Recording Session #6: https://youtu.be/PQ-3KcVv0mk
Zoom Recording Session #7: https://youtu.be/2Sd_CuuRg1g
Zoom Recording Session #8: https://youtu.be/CzKKmioRoIg
Handouts for Sessions
Feeling stressed...Here's something that may help!
If you are a living, breathing human being you have relationships…If you are young you have relationships with siblings, parents, friends, classmates and teachers. If you are older you have relationships with children, spouses, friends and coworkers. Life CPR will give you tools to make these relationships the best they can be! Join us for a lighthearted and informative hour to help you improve the important relationships in your life Tuesday evenings from 6:00-7:00 pm April 6 to May 25 for Life CPR: 8 weeks to healthier relationships. To register or for questions email cbarker@ks-ne.org or call 785-478-4726.
Here's the link to the 2nd YouTube video promoting Life CPR.
Thank you for sharing this in your churches, emailing it to friends and posting it on your social networks.
Zoom Women's Bible Study
Journey of Joy...Healthy Emotions & Holy Hearts, by Carla Gober
I’m excited to invite you to join our Zoom Women’s Bible study group titled, “Journey of Joy…Healthy Emotions & Holy Hearts” by Carla Gober, Thursday evenings, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM, beginning Thursday evening, January 7.
We hope you will join us as Carla’s insights show how the Bible holds answers to the issues that perplex 21st Century women. Discover the difference between joy and happiness, and how you can experience joy even during life’s darkest moments. Uncover new ways to study Scripture and most importantly, revel in the Lord’s blessing on your own personal Journey of Joy.
To register contact Sue at scarlson@ks-ne.org.
To obtain your participant’s study guide call Peggy Glass at the Adventist Book Center at 402-488-3395.
Bread Baking with Starters
by Carol Silva
Carol Silva is from Brazil and married to Pastor Daniel Silva. They have two children, Nicole and Lucca, and live in Wichita, Kansas where he pastors the Arkansas City and Wichita Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Churches.
Carol learned this method of bread baking and the benefits of these breads from her sister and she has continued to improve these recipes through the years with her own special touches .
In these videos Carol is speaking in Portuguese, her native language. However, her instructions are written in English for you to easily read as subtitles as you watch her demonstrate the steps to making these breads with starters.
We hope these videos will enable you to make and enjoy these delicious, nutritious breads with your family as well as to create beautiful, tasty gifts to share with your friends and neighbors throughout the year.
May God bless you! Happy Baking!
Carol's Original Sourdough Bread Tutorial
Carol's Focaccia Bread Tutorial
Carol's Orange Brioche Bread Tutorial
Carol's Olive Sourdough Bread Tutorial
Carol's Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread Tutorial
New to Sourdough? Yeah, me too! Here are some tips I learned you may find helpful...
Sue's First-Timers Tips...
FOCACCIA
Tip: BE PATIENT...IT'S WORTH THE WAIT!
This was my first attempt at making bread with a starter! I made Carol's Focaccia recipe. I almost threw out my dough! I had made other bread in the past and was used to it rising to double in size in about 60-90 minutes. Well...after 60-90 minutes my dough hadn't done anything! I was glad I waited...After about 6 hours at room temperature it had risen to double in size and turned out great! I'm so glad I didn't toss it!
BRIOCHE
Tip: MILK OR WATER WORK WELL TO REPLACE THE ORANGE JUICE... KEEP MIXING...THE BUTTER WILL MIX! BE PATIENT... IT WILL RISE!
This was my second experience making bread with a starter. I used Carol's Brioche recipe. I decided to make plain Brioche so I left out the orange zest and orange extract. In place of the juice I used some whole milk I had left on hand and a bit of cream to finish out the right amount of liquid I was needing. There's a lot of butter in this and it didn't look like it was going to mix in, but it did! Keep mixing! Once again...I was surprised at how long it took for the dough to rise to double! Be patient...just set it aside and do something else. In about 6 hours it will be perfect!
I used 55 grams of dough for the dinner rolls and I made mine in a muffin tin. I used 85 grams of dough for the hamburger buns and used a large canning jar ring to cut the shape and baked them on a baking sheet. That worked well for me.
ORIGINAL SOURDOUGH
Tip: BE A LITTLE ARTSY!
This was my third attempt using a starter and I made the Original Sourdough Recipe Carol shows us. By now I was getting used to the idea that I would just have to be patient with the rising part and sure enough it eventually did double in size! I had seen some beautiful designs people had made on sourdough bread and thought I'd see what I could do. Here's a link to the YouTube tutorial I used to make the design on this bread. The design I used starts at about 8:00 minutes into the video.
OLIVE SOURDOUGH
Tip: DRY OFF YOUR OLIVES IN PAPER TOWELS...
Next, I made the Olive Sourdough Bread. If you love the taste of Kalamata olives you will love this sourdough! It is full of them as well as oregano. Be sure and dry off your olives in paper towels before you mix them in with your dough. YUM!
Here's a link to the tutorial I used for the design that you see in my bread in the picture.
Whole Wheat Sourdough
Tip: THERE ARE MANY CREATIVE YOUTUBE TUTORIALS TEACHING SOURDOUGH BREAD DECORATIVE TUTORIALS! HAVE FUN & ENJOY!
Next I made this Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread. It is a heavier bread because it is made with whole wheat. Here's a link to the tutorial I found that I used to make the decorative cuts on my Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread pictured above.
Orange Brioche
Tip: THIS BRIOCHE HAS A LOVELY ORANGE FLAVOR AND IS MILDLY SWEET. THIS MAKES GREAT TOAST!
YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED THE FULL 50 MINUTES TO BAKE THIS...THE OUTSIDE OF MINE LOOKED GREAT, BUT THE INSIDE TOP WHERE YOU SEE YELLOW IS A BIT DOUGHY...
This is the exact recipe Carol used in her Brioche video. The feel of the dough is amazingly smooth and soft and the smell of the orange is delicious! This makes delicious toast!
Really Helpful Gadgets...
I'm really enjoying this digital scale for measuring...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0811RX62R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
These little shakers work great for sprinkling the rice flour...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HC5M5HY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My Dutch Oven works great for baking the Sourdough...This is a REALLY good price from SAMS Club...
https://www.samsclub.com/p/6-5q-dutch-oven-red-in-club-737160/prod18670053?xid=plp_product_2
Bread Lame for cutting the fancy designs in the dough...
Banetton Proofing Basket and scraper...
Making Sourdough Starters from Scratch...
Okay, I was very unsure about this part... How to make / activate a starter.
The half gallon jar on the left shows the starter I made from the dehydrated starter we will send you along with instructions if you request it. The jar on the right shows the starter that Carol gave me I've kept alive and growing.
You can see they've both grown triple their original size (from the sharpie line).
Carol's method to activate a starter: 100 grams starter / 200 milliliters filtered water / 300 grams King Arthur's Bread Flour (12.7% protein - Walmart / HyVee sells). Leave the jar at room temperature with a loosely covered lid.
These starters were fed 24 hours prior and left at room temperature to grow like this.
Breathe: Women's Bible Study Group
Let's get together for faith & fellowship!
Please join us for "Breathe," making room for Sabbath, a 5-week Bible study by Priscilla Shirer. We'll meet Tuesday mornings 8:30-10:00 am, October 20, October 27, November 3, November 10 and November 17, OR you can sign up for Thursday evenings 6:00-7:30 pm, October 22, October 29, November 5, November 12, and November 19.
Contact scarlson@ks-ne.org for questions or to sign up to participate. Contact pkglass@ks-ne.org at the Adventist Book Center to order your "Breathe" women's study guide book.
A 5-Session Study from Priscilla Shirer
One of the greatest challenges among women in our culture is taking time to cease from all the activities and just breathe. We are in bondage to busyness. We constantly strive to complete the limitless to-do lists that hinder us from experiencing all that God has for us. By neglecting time for tranquility, serenity, and repose, we limit our Christlikeness and miss out on some of God's greatest gifts. In the Old Testament, Sabbath was given to the Israelites as a gift, and it is still a gift to us today. If you are weary, worn out, and exhausted, then the concept of Sabbath will change your life.
Session Titles
- Session 1 - The Freedom of Sabbath (35:40)
- Session 2 - Stops Along the Sabbath Journey (22:20)
- Session 3 - Double-Portion Friday (32:57)
- Session 4 - Coming Into Focus (35:18)
- Session 5 - Sabbath Margin (15:34)
Hi Ladies!
Here are the steps to join tonight’s Virtual Women’s Retreat with Elizabeth Talbot :
Go to imsda.org/women/retreat/
You will find a schedule of presentations.
Click on “Live Presentations.” When it’s time for the presentation click on “Join via Zoom” if you have “Zoom” on your computer or “Watch Facebook Live.”
Have a blessed Sabbath! Enjoy!
Sue
Project Shield: Reusable Feminine Hygiene Kits
Free Zoom Sewing Classes
What if…
*You lived in Uganda and 24% of your friends drop out of school because they cannot manage their monthly cycle.
*You dig through the landfills / trash to find anything to get you through your feminine cycle.
*You miss one week of school each month, and you can’t make up the missed work, so you eventually drop out of school.
*You dig through the landfills / trash to find anything to get you through your feminine cycle because products cost more than what a family earns in a day.
*You and 80% of females you know have reproductive disease caused by poor feminine cycle hygiene.
Then you really need a Project Shield kit! Please join Karla Marsh and Sue Carlson on Zoom for Step-by-step instruction on how you can make these reusable feminine hygiene kits in your own homes. These kits will be sent on mission trips to be distributed to local girls and women.
You can make a huge difference in other women’s lives. If you are interested in learning how to make these kits, please email scarlson@ks-ne.org and let me know which class(es) you would like to join and I will send you a link for the class(es) you specify. Each class is the same, just repeated on different days and times to accommodate different schedules.
Free Zoom Class Times: September 14 @ 6:00 – 7:00 pm / September 23 @ 9:00-10:00 am / October 1 @ 3:00-4:00 pm.
Have you heard about the Agape Conference, a virtual conference for leaders and families that begins tonight at 7:00 pm?
August 14-15 the NAD along with a few other organizations are sponsoring a variety of helpful seminars addressing the needs of children, families, Sabbath School teachers and leadership during this time of pandemic.
There are a large variety of helpful seminars to choose from. These 100+ seminars presented by 80 instructors are FREE and offered in three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese. These are FREE seminars, but to participate in the seminars and general sessions you must register.
Here’s the link to register to be part of the 100+ seminars and general sessions!
https://agapeconference.org/registration/
Here’s a link to the amazing list of seminars and presenters.
https://agapeconference.org/english-seminars/
Gideon: Women's Bible Study Group
Let's get together for some more fun, faith & fellowship!
So, if you've ever struggled with insecurity or had trouble accepting your limitations, this study will help you see how God can use your weakness to unlock His strength. Yes, Gideon can attest - weakness is a gift. Join us for a Bible study that will open your eyes to a brand new perspective on yourself, your God, and ...GIDEON.
Every Tuesday morning, July 21-September 1, from 8:30-10:00 am we'll get together via Zoom to visit, pray and enjoy watching and discussing this video presentation on Gideon. We'd love to have you join us!
To register or if you have questions contact Sue at scarlson@ks-ne.org.
Gideon...Your weakness, God's STRENGTH. Hope to see you soon!
Join Erica Jones this Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 6:00 pm Central Daylight Time as she discusses Anxiety.
You won't want to miss this special and informative presentation on Facebook Live!
Let's get together for fun & fellowship!
ONE IN A MILLION... journey to your promised land
by Priscilla Shirer
You can still join us!
Last Tuesday morning our Women’s Bible Study Group met via Zoom for our Bible study, ONE IN A MILLION…journey to your promised land, by Priscilla Shirer. What a great time of fellowship and inspiration we had together! If you meant to join, but somehow just didn’t get around to signing up, there’s still time to join before our second session! I can send you a link to view session one and copies of the study guide to use until you are able to get your own copy of the study guide from Peggy Glass at the ABC. Email Peggy at pkglass@ks-ne.org or call: 402 488 3395.
We'll be meeting online from 9:00 - 10:30 am Tuesday mornings: May 5, 12, 19, 26 and June 2, 9, 16, and 23. Each time we meet we’ll spend some time getting acquainted. We’ll share anything we found especially meaningful from our study the previous week. We’ll watch our video presentation and briefly discuss what we watched together. That’s it! Won’t you join us for some fun and fellowship! Only 6 sessions to go and we would like you to be part of our group!
Have Questions or want to join our group? Contact Sue at scarlson@ks-ne.org
Helpful tips on dealing with the Covid 19 Crisis...
70 Ways to Cope With COVID-19 Anxiety
Managing feelings, practicing self compassion, and embracing distraction.
Posted Apr 01, 2020
THE BASICS
Are you feeling worried, tense, irritable, sad, angry, fearful, powerless, lonely and hopeless right now? If so, you are not alone. Intense emotions like these make perfect sense during such uncertain times.
Our daily lives have been turned upside down. Schools are closed, people are suddenly working from home, friends and loved ones are losing jobs, and people we know and love are being infected with the coronavirus.
While we cannot control the course that the coronavirus will take, we can control how we respond to the situation.
We can learn how to better manage our feelings using a variety of coping skills geared toward self-care. We can practice self-compassion, accept uncertainty, embrace distraction, and help others within the rules of social distancing. We can maintain human connection in new and innovative ways, and we can come together as a community to support and encourage each other as we go through this difficult time.
Anxiety, fear, and “fight or flight”
Anxiety and fear alert us to potential danger so we can mobilize to find solutions to the problems we are facing. But the fear response, when triggered, can lead to a significant increase in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, releasing stress hormones and other chemicals responsible for the fight or flight response.
While the current crisis is frightening and overwhelming, the fight or flight response is counterproductive, and ultimately leaves us with heightened feelings of fear, and sometimes panic. When this happens, we may become “hijacked” by our intense feelings, which can cloud our ability to think clearly and impair our judgment.
A crisis can cause a total disconnect between thoughts and feelings, often leading to maladaptive behaviors, such as:
- an exclusive focus on perceived danger,
- incessant watching of the news,
- panicked purchasing of supplies that leave little to no resources for others,
- decreased concentration and focus,
- sleep and appetite disturbances, and
- increased isolation and feelings of loneliness.
While the COVID-19 virus is cause for great concern, and social distancing and contact precautions must be taken seriously, extreme anxiety and panic are counterproductive and actually disrupt our attempts to cope. But taking steps to calm the sympathetic nervous system will help us to engage our rational mind when thinking about and dealing with the stressors we are all currently facing.
Regulate emotions
The first step to combating the fear and anxiety triggered by the COVID-19 virus crisis is to learn ways to manage and regulate some of the intense emotions that we may be feeling right now. One of the main objectives is to use the parasympathetic nervous system to calm the body and mind. Things like practicing breathing, relaxation, and meditation can flip the switch, turning off the danger signals and putting a stop to the fight or flight response. Some more general strategies to do this include the following:
Limit exposure to news
Constant exposure to a variety of sources of media triggers the fight or flight response and increases that overall sense of panic. Using the amount of time you spent engaging in the media prior to the coronavirus crisis as a gauge, try returning to this pattern again, rather than watching the coverage all throughout the day. Along these same lines, limit yourself to engaging with more credible sources of information such as information from the CDC. Bombardment by the media coverage, which is often inaccurate and very alarmist, can cause intense feelings of fear, which are often likely to be out of proportion to the situation. Above all else, when feeling panicked by the media coverage, try to remind yourself that feelings are not facts.
Create a structured routine each day
Structure can provide us with a sense of normalcy and enable us to feel some semblance of control over our days. With this said, remember that this is a time of great transition unlike anything we have ever experienced before. It is important to be patient and kind to yourself as you figure out the best ways to manage the many competing demands you will be facing. When possible, suspend self-judgment as you learn to do things such as work remotely while balancing the needs of family members and friends.
Recognize and focus on what you can control right now
Keep up with our daily routine, self-care, and following CDC guidelines such as hand-washing and social distancing. Above all, make sure to take care of your body by eating nutritious meals, getting sufficient sleep, and doing some form of physical activity each day. Sleep, proper nutrition, and physical activity can go a long way toward setting you up for the best days possible right now.
Practice meditation
You can use apps like Insight Timer. Many people are also offering free online meditation groups. Keep an eye out for “pop up” meditations on Facebook.
Practice yoga
Give yoga a try, whether individually or with your family. There are many YouTube channels that offer Yoga instruction. One of my colleagues highly recommends “Yoga with Adriene” on YouTube.
Take walks
Get outside and walk—either alone, or with a family member and/or a pet, while practicing social distancing.
Participate in at-home workouts
Many people on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook offer free workouts. If you belong to a gym, find out if the gym is offering virtual classes that would offer you a chance to work out and to interact with your peers.
Read a new book
Read, or perhaps listen to a book on Audible. You may even want to start a book group with friends and/or family and then discuss them virtually using platforms like Zoom or Google Hangouts.
Binge-watch new shows on Netflix
Netflix is also offering Netflix Party, which allows you and others to watch together virtually.
Connect with friends and family on FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp
Some people find that planning a regularly scheduled virtual ‘date” with family and friends gives them something to look forward to
Resume old hobbies
Restart one that you stopped having time for, or take up a new hobby or two. There are several people providing free online instruction in things like knitting and crochet on youtube
Take on a cleaning or organizing project
Pick one that you have been putting off.
Write
You can write in a journal, write poetry or stories. Starting a journaling club with friends and family where you write regularly about a specific topic can be fun. There are even some apps that allow you to create haikus with people all around the world.
Take breaks
When working from home, take breaks throughout the day and set a timer to mark the end of the workday.
Make an appreciation list
Write down and carry a list of the people and things that make you feel good so you can review it when you are feeling down and remember who to turn to and what to do to make yourself feel better.
Here is a list of even more activities that may provide distraction, comfort, and relief during these uncertain times:
- Watch Ted Talks
- Listen to podcasts
- Do a word search or a crossword puzzle
- Play Sudoku or Solitaire
- Play an instrument
- Sing
- Dance
- Watch funny YouTube videos
- Take a nap
- Take a hot shower or relaxing bubble bath
- Play with your pet
- Clean
- Learn to knit, crochet or sew
- Listen to music
- Create a playlist of your favorite songs
- Bake
- Paint, draw or color
- Write a letter or send an email to someone you care about
- Plan your dream room
- Rearrange your furniture
- Have a family game night
- Make and play with some playdough
- Build a pillow fort
- Look up recipes and learn to cook new meals if you have the ingredients
- Have an indoor picnic
- Have an indoor scavenger hunt with your family
- Play fun games like duck duck goose, hide and seek, and steal the bacon
- Look at old photos
- Work on a puzzle
- Play a video game
- Make a Vision Board
- Create collages for friends and family members
- Pray
- Write a gratitude list every day
- Write a list of things you have accomplished each day, no matter how simple
- Shop online, with or without actually purchasing
- Color coordinate your wardrobe
- Give yourself a facial
- Create TikToks
- Sing songs on Smule with other people around the world
- Have a family karaoke contest
- Experiment with your wardrobe
- Hunt for your perfect home or car online
- Text, call or email an old friend
- Learn a new language
- Make a bucket list
- Join an online forum about a hobby or interest you have
- Take an online class
- Learn some dances by watching YouTube videos
- Become an online volunteer
- Play a multiplayer game like Words With Friends
- Go on a virtual museum or zoo tour
- Practice Self Compassion.
- Listen to Binaural Beats on YouTube
Remember that if you are struggling and want or need additional support, virtual therapy is a really helpful option. If you are in a crisis, please call a local hotline for immediate help.
Be safe and stay healthy.
Contribution from Dr. Elissa Gross, Lukin Center Senior Psychologist.
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About the Author
Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice who specializes in helping men and couples achieve their therapeutic goals.
Tips for feeling happy and hopeful during this time of quarantine!
Anxiety is at an all-time high. Whether you or someone you know is struggling, there is help and hope! It is incredibly important to stay CONNECTED during this time of isolation. Make sure you talk to someone every day. If you can FaceTime or Zoom, even better. It’s also helpful to keep a journal so that your thoughts and feelings have a place to go. Other healthy diversions like coloring, reading, listening to music can bring comfort. Make sure you’re getting some fresh air and exercise—they are KEY in combating anxiety and depression.
Young women are home from school and looking for answers to difficult questions online! Gorgeous2god is a SAFE place where they will be listened to and answered by a trained mentor: https://www.gorgeous2god.org/confidential-q-a
Even though we are inside, let's continue to connect with others by sending cards, virtual small group book clubs, cooking classes or Bible study through Zoom or FaceTime and calling members who had stopped attending church to ask how they’re doing. If you know someone who lives alone or is an introvert, make sure to connect with them weekly. It is also a great time to foster or adopt a pet! They are great companions!
Abuse victims are at higher risk of physical danger during times of crisis/increased stress, which would certainly include the present. First, PRAY…for safety and the safety of your children. You can find excellent resources and videos at www.enditnownorthamerica.org, www.wildernesstowild.com, and www.whenetwork.com.
Here are some links to resources you may find helpful!
https://www.domesticshelters.org/ (director of services by zip code)
https://www.nadfamily.org/resources/counselors/ (directory of counselors)
https://www.wildernesstowild.com/survivor-packing-checklist
