Follow the Covenant Path - Our Women's Conference in Review

What a wonderful Women's Conference we had last Saturday!  We are so grateful for all those who contributed in any way to help us have such an uplifting event.  There were many hours spent in preparation in addition to the time given on the actual day.  We truly have amazing sisters and brothers in our Stake - so willing to give of their time, talents and energy.




Our conference theme was "Follow the Covenant Path" with our classes chosen to support the 2019 North America Northeast Area plan (NANE) for stakes of the Church locally.  Sisters were able to choose from classes in the following theme rotations: Deepen Conversion to Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ & Restored Gospel, Gather Scattered Israel on Both Sides of the Veil - Missionary Work, Gather Scattered Israel on Both Sides of the Veil - Temple & Family History Work, Strengthen the Conversion of Children and Youth.  Our teachers were thoughtful in their preparations and we were all blessed by their efforts.






Sisters also had the opportunity to participate in two service projects - Sassy Caps and Sassy Seatbelts.  Sassy Caps are a soft & fun SASSY hat designed to donate to people undergoing chemotherapy.  Our sisters worked their hats using hand held knitting looms.
Sassy Seatbelts is a simple sewing project. When people receive ongoing chemo, they often have a port-a-cath surgically implanted, just under the skin in the chest that can be irritated by wearing your seatbelt in the car.  That’s where these little pillows come in handy.  They attach to the seatbelt with velcro & relieve the pressure on the port.  The two projects we chose have a direct and personal connection to the Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society - specifically to Hampstead Ward.  Kristen and Jamie, the sisters who founded Sassy Caps, grew up in the Hampstead Ward.  These sisters began Sassy Caps in honor of their mother Sheila Braniff who was a long-time member of the Hampstead Ward Relief Society.  On the homepage of the Sassy Caps site they shared this about their mom and why they started Sassy Caps:

"Sheila was a gifted teacher and a loving mother who could laugh at herself and see the best in others. We started this project to honor her and all of the people who went out of their way to show her that they loved her when she was sick - those who wrote cards, or brought meals, or made her laugh that wonderful laugh. Mom's favorite hymn says, "Because I have been given much, I too must give." We have such gratitude for the blessing and guiding influence she has been in our lives. We were truly "given much" in the mother department, and started Sassy Caps to follow her example of giving."

We estimated there were about 30 Sassy Caps in progress during the conference.  We also completed 82 Sassy Seatbelts with an additional 18 completed after the conference, for a total of 100 donated to a local cancer center.








Our lunch was delicious with a chipotle bar and cheesecake for dessert.  The luncheon committee worked many hours to create such a wonderful meal for us to share together.  At the beginning of our luncheon, Debbie Wood (Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society President) presented our donations of diapers and laundry detergent to the representatives of FIRN, a local non-profit organization which helps immigrants and their families. The donation table was overflowing.  How grateful we are for the generosity of our sisters!





As part of our luncheon, we had an instructional presentation from Mendy Hunter (Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society Counselor) on how to use the JustServe website and app.  “JustServe.org is a website where the volunteer needs of organizations may be posted and volunteers may search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community.”  Visit justserve.org or download the JustServe mobile app to register and find opportunities in your area.

We also had the opportunity to hear from representatives of three local organizations - The Salvation Army, Neighbor Ride, The Therapeutic Recreational Riding Center - who use volunteers and are part of the JustServe community.

We were blessed to hear a musical number "May I Serve thee" sung by Nique Link, Trina Murphy, Kristy Nunley and accompanied by Rachel Davis.  Our concluding speaker at the luncheon was President Lorin Lund (Columbia Maryland Stake President).  His remarks were a wonderful conclusion to a conference that lifted our hearts and minds to a higher place.




-Lorie Pierce (Stake Relief Society Secretary)

Photos courtesy of Richard Brown, Lorie Pierce and Debbie Wood.

Thank you to these sisters & brethren for all their efforts:
Teachers: Steve Towne, Deandra Christiansen, Margaret Wright, Emily Robertson, Omaira Long, Cari Larkins, Lorraine Layton, Diana Gardner, Kaitlyn Dixon, Elizabeth Van Patten, Cheri Meiners, Ashley Halsey
Service Project Leaders/Assistants: Colleen Mitchell, Kaylene Stephens, Shelia Martinsen/Mickey Sheppard, Helen, Nadie, Bina Stanger, Della Jackson with Jen Taylor providing accent flowers
Luncheon Co-Leaders/Helpers: Suzanne Rigby & Janice Maughan/Kelly & Kelsey Smith, Mary Halsey, Stephanie Iroanya, Jessica Morgan, Michael Pierce, Elder Brigham Haroldsen
Decorations: Marissa Fenton, with help from Brittany Dolney and Ashley Alley
Technical Support: Ron Hutchinson
Photographer: Rich Brown
Musical Number: Nique Link, Kristy Nunley, Trina Murphy, Rachel Davis
Pianist: Anne Chilson, Chorister: Paulette Gaul
And a heartfelt thank you to the brethren from Hampstead Ward for their assistance in set up and clean up of this event.

Follow the Covenant Path - Stake Relief Society Women's Conference 2019

We are excited to announce this year's Stake Relief Society activity will be a women's conference.  There will be classes to choose from, service opportunities to participate in, an opportunity to hear about local organizations we can become involved with in our communities and a luncheon to mingle and enjoy each other's company.

Our theme is Follow the Covenant Path and the classes will provide us with insights, learning experiences and uplifting messages designed to help us participate in and support our North America Northeast Area Vision.  That vision statement is: "As beloved children of God, we will follow the covenant path by receiving ordinances and keeping covenants that lead to eternal life, and invite family, friends and neighbors to do the same."

You can find out more about the CLASSES being offered here:
https://columbiastakers.blogspot.com/p/follow-covenant-path.html

You can find out about the SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES available here:
https://columbiastakers.blogspot.com/p/service-projects.html

There is also a DONATION OPPORTUNITY:
We will be collecting Diapers (all sizes but especially sizes 4 and up are needed - even opened packages are great!) AND Laundry Detergent at this Stake Relief Society activity to benefit FIRN, a local non-profit organization which helps immigrants and their families.  Please consider donating these needed supplies.  Thanks for your help!

Please be aware that No Child Care will be available at this event.  We suggest that if the need exists, you seek out young women or young men in your ward/branch or reach out through your Ministering brethren & sisters for possible options.

We hope that many of our sisters across the Stake will be able to join us for this event.  It promises to be an uplifting and inspiring day together.

If you have any questions, please let us know at columbiastake.rs@gmail.com.

Christmas Wishes to Our Missionaries 2018

We want to invite our Columbia Stake sisters and their families to send Christmas cards to the missionaries serving from our stake all around the world.  We have been doing this for the past few years and I've heard back from parents and missionaries alike how much they appreciate that little remembrance from home.  Please note that if you are mailing international it will take longer for the cards to arrive.  Also please note that packages should not be sent unless you have checked with the parents of the missionary first.  You can find the mission home addresses for these missionaries using the LDS Tools app or the Directory in your LDS Account on lds.org.  But to make it more convenient, I have compiled them together in a Google Doc.  Use link below to access that:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z_7rcAU5TTF9aIpK5muNZxRKmenlLskbeciqyvlMeTA/edit?usp=sharing

As usual, I have collected photos of these missionaries to share with you! Thanks to their parents for helping me accomplish this post!!  I hope you enjoy seeing their smiles as much as I did.

If there is a missionary I have missed, please email me their information at our general email account: columbiastake.rs@gmail.com.  Thanks!  Lorie Pierce (Stake RS Secretary)