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1 Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this because you have expressed an interest in Scoop Ministries, Inc. Don't forget to add Becki@sharethescoop.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our s. We say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to our Jesus this Christmas! We say Thank you for giving Himself...given unto us...a child was born... who gave us so many gifts... yet a gift so precious in times of struggle and suffering is... His PEACE. Let our gift to him this season be... prayer. "I am leaving you a gift - peace of mind and heart" John 14:27

2 ISSUE 62 - CHRISTMAS ISSUE Greetings in the name of the Lord! From the smallest concern to the biggest problem in our lives, God cares. If it is big enough to concern you, it is big enough to concern Him. God answers prayer. Sometimes He uses His angels to do so, but I believe the most important thing about prayer is that we pray! Jesus longs for times of heart conversation with His children, dream sessions where we pour out all that we are and hope to be, to the One who can make those dreams a reality. Every problem, every concern is important to God. If it is important to us, it is important to Him. God is always waiting, ready to turn His heart toward the voice of His child as surely as a mother hears her baby's cry above all others. To think that God wants to talk with me, to hear my voice and listen to my deepest heart longings is an amazing thought. But it is a true thought. Prayer is simply conversation with God, but it is in those intimate conversations that battles are won and strength is gained. Jesus is our high priest, our communication link with God. God sent His son Jesus Christ, the greatest communicator ever to walk the earth, so that He could make a way to reach us. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ make it possible for us to have an intimate relationship with Him, to communicate with God, right where we are. I just know that our Father loves it - absolutely loves it - when we, His children, stop in the middle of our

3 busy lives for no other reason than the fact that we love Him and just need to talk with Him. When I pray, I picture His head turning toward me, to the sound of my voice. He smiles, knowing that "Janette wants to talk with Me." Yes, He is concerned with every ordinary detail of every ordinary day, but I suspect His greatest pleasure is found in the fact that we just need to talk to the One we love. I praise Him for this privilege and gift. His love for us is beyond our understanding but it is true and real. Seek Him, Turn to Him, Call out to Him. Have comfort in knowing He is always there. Front and Center! He's yearning for you to talk with Him. Find comfort in that forever. by Janette Koslosky "But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 LET Jesus light up your day, as we pray...

4 Good and gracious God, We seek your peace, love and joy in this Christmas season for our community and world...and into the new year. We place our sadness and tears at the manger for children & adults who may have lost their lives and/or homes by violence, fires or hurricanes. We pray for healing for those who are sick and weary. May the power of the Holy Spirit give them comfort and strength when it is needed. We ask you O God, to bless our first responders: Police, firemen, EMT's and all who respond to emergencies. May thousands of lights within your flock...shine out of the darkness so that you may be made known and worshiped. May your flickering light convict lost hearts & souls to draw near to you. May your radiant light move people to help others. May we live as children of light, forgiving others as Christ forgave us. May the wonder of your Holy name be lifted up to the heavens with resounding joy and praise...as your people sing at Christmas services around the world! O Holy Night...your stars are brightly shining... it is the night of our dear Savior's birth. written by B. Brown AMEN For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

5 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 Hear it from the LET gals...let Go & Let God Louise, Ethel & Thelma bring you this month's flavor: A NEW SEASON OF SERVANTS DESIRED FOR 2018 We will be asking the Lord in the New Year to once again guide and direct the Leaders of SMI on how we can keep women in our community connected and growing with the Lord. Several long standing servants of SMI will be acting as mentors vs. doing the work for SMI in Many gals have served on the Event Planning team since the get go and they need to rest and reflect on where they may be called to serve the Lord in the future. We welcome a healthy change according to what God has in store for this ministry. We are clear in the direction the Lord is leading us...and his message is for us to simplify. We thank our current leadership team

6 for helping to train up new leaders to be a part of something GOOD which God has built up, through their commitment in serving SMI for so many years. With that said, it will be a transition year for us, as we invite new gals to help us think of new connection events and new ways to grow the ministry with a fresh perspective. We also desire to raise up a younger generation, so that we stay, "alert and current" for the Lord. I chuckle only because I know a woman in her late fifties who is slowing down...punching out at a much earlier time in the day, than when she first started this ministry!! If you are interested in serving for this awesome ministry in 2018, we INVITE you to come and brain storm with us at our 2018 retreat, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 10 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on the campus of St. Paul's. We desire gals to help out in many areas such as church outreach, hospitality, fundraising, PR & administrative tasks, bible study leaders, etc. For more info and to attend the retreat, please RSVP to President Staci Beckman at Staci@sharethescoop.org by M arch 2, It's helpful to know the number of women attending for planning purposes. B. Brown ~ Connections are the Essence of Life. ~ We were created for connections. ~ Love is the ultimate connection. ~ Connections help us understand life. ~ Connections empower us. ~ Connections keep us growing. ~ Connections help us balance our lives. ~ Connections increase our confidence. ~ Connections make us more productive. ~ We have to learn to connect. (from Pastor Kalvin Waetzig-St. Paul's Lutheran Church) Becki dresses her wheel even at Christmas time! (lol)

7 Merry Christma s to a ll of our Sc ooper f riends both near a nd f a r A TRIPLE SCOOP OF HIS WORD and A Taste to See, Hear & Do...

8 (The pictures above were taken by B. Brown. More may be coming in a 2018 calendar form, as a way to raise dollars for SMI.) Scoop Ministries, Inc. has assisted 78 women and 5 organizations to date since women have been given grants to date, for 2017.

9 To God we give all the glory! Thank you, Janette (pictured above) and Silvia (pictured at right on staff with Healthy Connections) CPFSJ screens our applicants & gives valuable resource information to those in need and Janette administers the grants and meets/speaks with our recipients on behalf of SMI. The Flavors of Hope program provides financial support to local women who may be in a short-term crisis. All completed SMI grant applications must be submitted to and reviewed by the staff at Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (CPFSJ), before SMI will consider the application. Office location of CPFSJ Tracy Family Resource Center Healthy Connections 35 E. 10th Street, Suite A Tracy, CA "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 We give praise, glory and thanks to God for all who have given financial gifts to SMI this year.

10 Doubling the Impact! SMI recently received a pledge to match what has been given to Scoop Ministries thru it's annual donor campaign for SMI also received a blessing from Central Valley Association of Realtors. To date, Scoop Ministries has an estimated 28 annual givers for this year. God's goal for us is to double our annual donors. This non-profit needs these funds to do what God directs us to do which is: Plant the seed of the Lord's truth, keep women connected and growing spiritually and help women who may be in a short-term crisis. Continued prayers are going up for additional year-end gifts given to SMI. Your gift will result in blessing hundreds of women. Here is just one testimonial from one of our "Flavors of Hope" grant recipients: "Your blessing trickles down and God uses you not just for my family but for so many more. When days are heavy for some...you and your team reflect God's character, love and compassion." We rely on all annual individual gifts to help make this ministry grow! We have online donating available through our website. You can give monthly or give a one-time gift. Another giving option: When you shop online through Amaz on you can choose to add Scoop Ministries, Inc. through their Amaz onsmile program. It doesn't cost you anything! If mailing in a check, make checks out to Scoop Ministries Inc. and mail to the address below. Our Mission: Fan out into our community & beyond to reach all women, so that the flavors

11 of Jesus Christ can be shared. SMI is a 100% run, non-profit organization & all gifts are tax deductible S. Tracy Blvd. #149 Tracy, CA Editor Contributions: Becki Brown ~ Writer/Editor, Executive Director Writers: Becki, Janette Copy Editors: Kim and Gina Board of Directors: Staci, Gina, Kim, Deborah, Janette, Nina Like to write about God! We welcome your comments, suggestions & article submissions at any time! We also welcome listing women's events from those who partner with Scoop Ministries, Inc. Please send to Becki at Becki@sharethescoop.org. HELP US CONNECT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOLLOW... SHARETHESCOOP ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK