November/December Shepherdess Voice

treasured traditions
Some
around the state.
from
during the
Witnessing
holidays
we ensure our children
Can
raised with good traits?
are
Shepherdess
Voice
T H E O F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R F O R M I N I S T R Y W I V E S I N
T H E M I C H I G A N C O N F E R E N C E
November/December 2016
Holiday Traditions
Soul-Winning
Falling Apples

some great ideas for soul winning
Get
year and every year
this
about the traditions some of your
Learn
and their families treasure
sisters
we pass our best on to our
Can
children?
Highlights
T O L O O K O U T F O R
Soul Winning; Soul
Warming
Holiday Traditions
during the holiday season.
How Far Will the
Apple Fall?
Meet Your Sisters
to know the facts behind the face!
Get
month, we talk with Emily Gibbs
This

last Thanksgiving
stitches
he fell off a chair. My
after
Tim, has a scar on
brother,
left ankle from surgery
his
friend Erin's daughter
My
a scar down the middle
has
each one of you
guessing
this has scars with
reading
rejection, and
temptation,
death-crucified
ultimately
our sins. Those are things
for
never would have
He
he was pierced for our
"But
he was
transgressions,
for our iniquities;
crushed
punishment that
the
us peace was upon
brought
and by his wounds we
him,
Inconvenient
Love
always a story
There's
a scar. My son,
behind
has a scar just below
Gavin,
lip from where he had 2
his
King of the universe
The
a helpless baby.
became
experienced poverty,
He
exhaustion,
hunger,
By Linda Reed
remove an infection
to
he was 10 years old.
when
in Heaven.
experienced
is the epitome of
That
inconvenient love.
"When Jesus
came to earth,
this world was
worlds apart
from Heaven."
her chest from open
of
surgery that saved her
heart
when she was just days
life
than a few of my
old.More
have scars on their
friends
from when their
bellies
entered the world. I
babies
scar on my right arm
have
melanoma was
where
11 years ago. I'm
removed
while our scarred skin
And
be made new someday
will
soon when Jesus
very
to take us Home,
comes
will forever bear the
Jesus
on His hands and in
scars
side as a reminder of
His
how much redemption
just
cost.
stories behind them.
Jesus came to earth,
When
world was worlds apart
this
from Heaven.
are healed." Is. 53:5

We Asked.
You Answered.
Collected from Shepherdess'
asked for some of your favorite holiday
We
the ones that mean the most to you
traditions;
your families. Today, we are sharing some
and
the responses with everyone! Enjoy and
of
Happy Holidays!

LORRIE RIETMAN
HAVING CHILDREN WE HAVE
SINCE
A TRADITION OF DOING SOME
STARTED
OF SERVICE ACTIVITY ON OR
SORT
CHRISTMAS. 2 YEARS AGO WE
AROUND
AN EARLY HOLIDAY MEAL FOR A
MADE
WITH NO NEAR-BY RELATIVES.
FAMILY
YEAR ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE
LAST
GIFT BAGS OF GOODIES AND
TOOK
MATERIAL TO PEOPLE
INSPIRATIONAL
HAVE TO WORK ON CHRISTMAS: A
WHO
HOTEL FRONT DESK
COUPLE
AND GAS STATION
EMPLOYEES
THE KIDDOS GET
ATTENDANTS...WHEN
I THINK IT WILL BE FUN FOR
OLDER,
THEM TO PLAN THE ACTIVITY.

TAKE GOODIE
WE
TO OUR
BAGS
OF
NEIGHBORS.
THE
COURSE,
HAVE BAGS
TRACTS IN
GLOW
THEM.
SABRINA
THOMPSON

MARION PEPPERS
OUR GIFT EXCHANGE
DURING
PULL OUT THE ADRA
WE
& WE LET THE
CALENDAR
PICK OUT 1 OR 2
KIDS
THAT OUR FAMILY
PROJECTS
TO FOR THE YEAR.
DONATES
IS OUR SPECIAL GIFT TO
IT
IT'S A WONDERFUL
JESUS.
TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR
TIME
THE GREATEST
CHILDREN
OF ALL & HOW WE CAN
GIFT
BACK TO CHRIST.
GIVE

SEND OUT I
HOLIDAY
TO CARDS
FAMILY.
TAMI LE ROUX

KATIE CHITWOOD
PICK SOMEONE AND
WE
12 DAYS LEADING UP
FOR
CHRISTMAS SECRETLY
TO
OFF LITTLE GIFTS OR
DROP
ON THEIR DOOR.
GOODIES
ON THE LAST NIGHT
THEN
EVE) WE
(CHRISTMAS
OURSELVES AND
REVEAL
TO THEM! THEY HAVE
SING
IT, AND OUR KIDS
LOVED
LOVE IT TOO!

ecoming a mother, I often
Since
myself thinking about how to
find
just the right amount about
care
people think.
what
want him to have confidence to
I
firm under peer pressure, but
stand
necessarily true that my genetic
not
will be passed to my
predispositions
HOW FAR WILL THE
APPLE FALL?
by Brianna Martin
on the best of me without
pass
on the worst.
passing
want my boy to love nature like my
I
and I, but I don't want him
husband
have the fear of bugs that I do. I
to
my boy to enjoy good food,
want
being as picky. I hope he’s
without
his father and enjoys trying new
like
I want him to have good
things.
like I do, but I want him to
friends
an easier time making them
have
I always have. I want my son to
than
to be as hard on others as I can
not
when they do things I consider
be
questionable.
son has beautiful potential, but
My
are a lot of things that I can
there
in my personality that I
identify
he does not inherit. Thankfully,
hope
everything is determined by
not
A child’s environment is
genetics.
to character
instrumental
development.
some ways, this is comforting. It's
In
"A child’s
environment is
instrumental to
character
development."
son.

I pray. After all, my son was His
while
first. son
holidays are the perfect time to get
The
children active in serving others. A
your
small, yet influential thing that
seemingly
did last year was to give a small
we
token of our appreciation to the
Christmas
at the conference office. We
receptionist
a Bath and Body Works foam soap all
had
up with a ribbon and a tag ready to
tied
to someone and remembering that my
give
was going to be up at the
husband
office the very next day the Lord
conference
my thoughts, “Give it to the
prompted
She doesn’t get thanked very
receptionist.
I was so willing to follow through
often.”
I’m a big advocate of thanking
because
especially those who go unnoticed
people,
of the time. Her response was the
most
thanks! She was overwhelmed with
perfect
and later sent a thank you
thankfulness
her gratitude and mentioned
expressing
we had helped her to think “outside
how
box” when it comes to saying thanks.
the
holiday season take time to thank
This
who do so much yet receive so little
those
"There are so
many traits I
see in my
husband that I
hope my son
ends up with as
an adult.
However, the
two of us will
fail miserably
without God as
our partner. "
plenty of room in his life for
There's
husband and I, with the Holy
my
help, to intentionally cultivate
Spirit’s
we want to pass down.
traits
also means we have a
That
responsibility to
tremendous
the way we do things, what
consider
say and how, and our interactions
we
others. We aren't limited to
with
allowing our son's genetics
passively
his personality, but we
determine
actively instill positive traits in
must
by first genuinely exhibiting the
him
of characteristics we'd like him
kinds
have. I am blessed to have a great
to
with whom I can raise my
partner
There are so many traits I see in
son.
husband that I hope my son ends
my
with as an adult. However, the
up
of us will fail miserably without
two
God as our partner.
that is good in me is
Nothing
of me. Ellen White says, in
because
to Christ: "So we have nothing
Steps
ourselves of which to boast. We
in
no ground for self-exaltation.
have
only ground of hope is in the
Our
of Christ imputed to
righteousness
and in that wrought by His Spirit
us,
in and through us."
working
designed us to be like our
God
but He ensured that we
families,
capable of being more than
were
of our ancestors. He gave
composites
the Holy Spirit to work in our lives
us
alter our characters. I want to
and
those alterations a subject of
make
prayer. I want God to take those
daily
faulty genes that make my
beautiful,
who he is, and fix them up so
baby
my son is the best version of
that
that he can be. I am
himself
that God will get to work
confident
SOUL WINNING WITH
KIDS THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON
by Amy Austin
thanks!

holidays are a stressful time for everyone. With additional church
The
social gatherings, Christmas shopping, and so much more it is
programs,
to forget that this is one of the best times of the year to witness to our
easy
co-workers, and community acquaintances. Here are just a few
neighbors,
small inspirational sharing
Gift-wrap
from the Adventist Book Center,
pocketbooks
to Happiness (Steps to Christ), or the book
Keys
to Die (excerpts from Desire of Ages) from
Born
Publications and give one to those in
Remnant
with whom you regularly do business and
town
to your neighbors a holiday themed
Distribute
bag (brown lunch bag size) that includes
paper
heart-warming Christmas stories printed
some
holiday paper (include the Christmas story
on
“The holidays can be a stressful time so
says:
are some things to give you a few
inside
of peace – several heart-warming
moments
and a hot drink to go with them. May
stories
family be blessed this holiday season!” I
your
also brought a Bible or character-building
have
book to homes where I knew there were
story
You can get them for just a few dollars
kids.
a group of friends together and Christmas
Get
each other’s neighborhoods and then left
carol
Soul Winning
W I T N E S S I N G D U R I N G T H E
H O L I D A Y S
by Staci Schefka
1
things I have enjoyed doing to share Christ during the holiday season:
them for what they do.
thank
2
the Gospels), a packet of hot drink mix,
from
homemade glazed nuts, and a note that
some
3
from the MI Conf. Literature Evangelism dept.
some GLOW literature at each house. Such fun!

to know your fellow sisters and put more
Get
a face to a name
than
what are your
Briefly,
your work and your
passions,
writing, Scripture
unicycling,
quilting, knitting,
memory,
singing, playing
cooking,
instruments, and
musical
you could go on vacation
If
in the world where
anywhere
such a trip may just
days
happen!
MEET YOUR SISTERS:
EMILY GIBBS
Emily and Jacob
Gibbs serve in the
Riverside, Escanaba
and Munising
churches.
interests?
passions and interests are
My
separated into the
best
two categories: loves
following
joys. My loves: My
and
Father, my husband
Heavenly
4 years—Jacob, my job
of
at Wilson Junior
teaching
my dog and two
Academy,
My joys: backpacking,
cats.
disc golf, running,
camping,
would you go and why?
and I have been
Jacob
for some time about
dreaming
trip to New Zealand. There’s
a
rather fascinating
something
the idea of upside-down
about
antipodean English
seasons,
and the intense
dialects,
that my sister boasts of
beauty
working there as a
while
One of these
veterinarian.
"My passions
and interests
are best
separated into
the following
two categories:
loves and joys."
gardening.

usset potatoes peeled
12-15
cubed.
and
in water with a handful of
Boil
for 20 minutes.
salt
well. Drain
a large bowl put 1/2 c Earth
In
Balance.
in the hot boiled potatoes
Pour
mash with potato masher,
and
add 2 containers Tofutti
then
cream.
sour
all with a hand mixer or
Whip
until smooth and
mash
creamy.
resulting mercy make this
and
possible!
"Being a
pastor's
wife has
been a most
deep
chiseling
process for
me."
is one of the most impactful
What
you’ve learned in your role as
things
a pastor’s wife?
a pastor’s wife has been a
Being
deep chiseling process for me. I
most
again and again that I am no
see
a sheep, to be nourished by a
longer
shepherd, to be fed and
human
and comforted. I am a
watered
empowered and cared
shepherdess,
by the Master Shepherd Himself.
for
has called me to the next step
God
my journey with Him—the step of
in
aside my own wants and
laying
and being willing to serve
desires
encourage and give wherever I
and
needed, while relying upon His
am
you mind sharing with us a
Would
quote or Bible text?
favorite
find that my favorite quotes and
I
texts are always shifting, due to
Bible
needs or joys I face day-to-day.
the
most recent favorite text,
My
is Ps. 138.8, which says: “The
however,
will perfect that which concerns
Lord
Your mercy, O Lord, endures
me.
Do not forsake the works of
forever.
hands.” I am reminded daily
Your
I am a work in progress—A big
that
of work, really. But God has
piece
to complete that process
promised
me as long as I give Him complete
in
Only His intense sacrifice
permission.
strength to meet my own needs.
Holiday Recipe
VEGAN MASHED
POTATOES
by Ciliciana Hall
Serve with your favorite gravy!!
"I'VE FOOLED A LOT OF
PEOPLE WITH THESE
POTATOES. THEY WERE
CERTAIN THEY HAD CREAM
IN THEM!"

Laurie Snyman
11/08
Ellen Kim
11/15
Olena Rybachek
11/16
Lisa Struntz
11/16
Marija Counsell
11/17
Eujin Wolf
11/20
Holmes
11/20Shirley
Giannina Garcia
11/22
Barbara Dronen
11/23
Faith Thomas
11/26
Annette Metz
12/01
Monica Ames
12/06
Amy Austin,
12/11
Sunny Mills
12/11
Helene Thomas
12/16
Cindy Mata
12/18
Iveth Ortiz
12/18
Collene Kelly
12/21
Carol Garcia
12/24
Linda Gallimore
12/27
DO YOU ENTER THE $10 PER
HOW
PER FAMILY MEMBER FOR
DIEM
RETREAT? WE ALWAYS
MINISTERIAL
UP JUST WRITING IT IN THE
END
TO THE TREASURER COLUMN
NOTES
MAKE SURE IT GETS NOTICED,
TO
IS THERE SOMEWHERE IT
BUT
BE ENTERED?
SHOULD
your report, to the right of “Regular Travel”
In
a column labeled “Special Travel”. Within
is
column, is another column titled “Meals”.
that
the total dollar amount of per diem that
Put
are submitting here for the correct dates
you
used them. Do not enter it in the “Total”
you
as it automatically calculates it for
column
You may also note it in the “Additional
you.
to Treasurer” section, though it MUST be
Notes
in “Special Travel”.
entered
Katie Chitwood
President:
President: Amie Hubbard
Vice
Janice Schmidt
Secretary:
Coordinator: Patsy Tower
Care
Assistant: Marion
Newsletter
Peppers
Editor/Layout:
Newsletter
Walter
Amanda
Helpers:
Shepherdess
Sparks
Angie
Hill Beth
Schefka
Stacy
Garcia
Carol
Um Jewel
Sponsors:
Snyman
Laurie
Crystal Mountain
11/11-13:
Retreat
Marriage
love to hear your special news. If you have reason to celebrate or have any announcements, please let
We
editor know!
the
may submit anonymous questions to Alice by emailing marionpeppers@gmail.com. This can be
You
for us all, so go ahead & ask!
helpful
SHEPHERDESS
OFFICERS
BIRTHDAYS
EVENTS
11/15-17: New In Ministry
Jolene Messer
Linda Gallimore
12/28 May Lee
ASK ALICE!