December Meeting ~ Christmas Brunch

Sat., December 6th

10:00-12:00

Please join us for our annual Christmas Brunch.

In the High Mountain Church cafe:

681 High Mountain Rd.

No. Haledon, NJ 

At our last meeting and through email, a few people stated what they are bringing (listed below). Please rsvp if you can come and what you are bringing.  
RSVP to this email or njcwgroup@gmail.com.   

• Elaine: quiche
• Maude: salmon spread  
• Barbara H: paper goods
• Susan P: winter salad
• Chris S: chocolate meltaway cake
• Sr. Jane: fruit salad

Our focus will be Fun with Words. Using Christmas objects, we'll practice the use of literary devices such as simile/metaphor, personification and alliteration.  

​Hope to see you all there!! 


ps - Leslie, John, Karen, Barbara R: we'll miss you! Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Search is On

Thoughts to ponder

from our November meeting

                                                                                                                                     freedigitalphotos.com

 The Search is On

Do you ever fixate on a word? You’re writers - I know you do this. I was thinking about the word search, realizing how active it is. You can’t be a passive searcher. Then I thought about the fact that God likes us to search. He commends a searching heart and promises in Jeremiah 29:13 that if we search for Him, we will find God when we seek Him with all our heart.

The Bible also tells us to search for wisdom, search for the lost, search our hearts, and search the Word. It says a searching heart will not be disappointed, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matt 7:7).

As a writer, my least favorite aspect of writing is the search

·                     Searching for the right words

·                     Searching for answers - research

·                     Searching for publishers

·                     Searching for platforms, illustrations, anecdotes, pictures for blogs, opportunities…

It can be tedious and, for me, at least, it’s the number one cause for procrastination.

But think about it - without the search, there’s no joy of discovery. There's no aha moment. Be encouraged. Searching, researching is part of the writing package.

Take Away Thought: Searching is part of the journey and, without it, there’s no joy of discovery.

Do you play with words? How about letters? I recently had fun with the letter P. I invite you to take the P challenge on my blog, barbarahigbyhope.com

Our next meeting will be a Christmas Brunch on December 6th. Details will follow.

Our November meeting is Saturday, 11/1

God graces His people with gifts. Ephesians 4:11 mentions five of God's many gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Do you notice what they have in common? Each one is a gift of words. Whether or not we have one of those specific gifts, we have been graced with a love for and talent with words. It's what unites us at this meeting (or at this website).

We will meet from 10 am to noon at High Mountain Church of the Nazarene.

See website sidebar for location & general information.

• Elaine O'Neill will share tips from the writing conference she attended.
• Come prepared with paper & pen, laptop or tablet for a writing exercise.
• We may forego critiques, but if you have something you're ready to submit to a publisher and need feedback, please bring it. 

                                                      Thoughts to Ponder 

                                                     from October's meeting

Later in the chaper we learn why these word gifts were given: “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Wrapped Gifts by Marina Shemesh     

They are given to be shared and to bear fruit:

·         To prepare God’s people to serve

·         To bring unity

·         To increase the knowledge of Jesus

·         To become mature believers

In verse 29 we read that our words should build others up and benefit them. Like any gift, words come with responsibility and with a high calling.

Take Home Thought: Our words are more than print on paper. They have power and purpose to bring encouaragement, unity, maturity and knowledge of Christ as they prepare readers to serve. 

Barbara Higby

barbarahigbyhope.com