Connecting the Fort Benning Women to Christ as we share His love with our world.

1. The Benning Connection Protestant Women of the Chapel Volume III, Issue 3 Connecting the Fort Benning Women to Christ as we share His love with our world. December 2008 from Jen’s pen Advent Thoughts I am writing this article early on the morning of the time that it is due (actually, it was due even before this, but I am pushing the envelope) because, as often happens, I have let myself get caught up in the whirlwind of Christmas. Every year I say, “This year will be different—I will choose my events carefully, and not over extend myself” only to find that once again, I have over extended myself. With traffic and shopping and balls and dinners and coffees and board meetings and kids and did I mention the traffic and shopping, often we get in caught in the whirlwind of Christmas and forget the still small voice of the one that Christmas is all about. I have determined that this year, I will take each week leading up to Christmas and study what each of the candles on the Advent wreath symbolizes for me personally. Last week at Crossroads chapel service, Chaplain Hoskins helped me along by giving an excellent message about the Hope candle. Have you ever pondered what the hope that Jesus provides in your life has done to change you??? Have you considered that without His love, where your life would be. What about His joy, that place in your heart that goes beyond happiness and gives you legs to stand on when you think that your world is crumbling away. And peace, it all comes down to peace, isn’t Peace what we all crave and long for? All wrapped up in the beauty of Christ and what he has done for us all. In the church that I grew up in, Advent was not an event that was practiced or taught about. During my college years, I attended a church with a friend where Advent was practiced and I discovered the beauty of what the Advent wreath stands for. I've really grown to appreciate practicing Advent as part of our Christmas celebration. And it has got me to thinking about how to prepare for Christmas this year. Holiday Calendar December Dec 04 – Bible Study Dec 11 – Bible Study Dec 18 – Program “Christmas” Dec25 – Christmas – NO PWOC January Jan 01 – New Years – NO PWOC Jan 8 – Spring kickoff and sign up for Bible Studies Jan 15 – start of new Bible Studies The Advent wreath has four candles around the outside, usually they are purple with one rose colored candle-(some traditions use other colors) and a white candle in the middle. The four colored candles traditionally stand for Hope, Love, Joy and Peace---the Joy candle is the rose colored one, and the white candle in the middle is the Christ candle which is usually lit on Christmas Eve. What a picture of the circle of perfection that Christ brings to us, Hope-for without Him we have no hope. Love, as He is the true meaning of love. Joy-going much deeper than happiness, joy is the underlying satisfaction that Jesus brings to our life. And peace, the peace that passes understanding. All coming from the purity of the life of Jesus who knew no sin, but died for ours. The advent wreath sums Christmas up for us in a simple yet profound symbol of what Christmas is all about. How can I urge you of the importance of not letting this season pass without spending some time at His feet? All that we busy ourselves with and all that we try to give our family and friends is really empty unless we have spent our time at His feet. Whether you use Advent to do that, or whatever means you use to get you to the foot of the Cross, don’t get so busy that you don’t have time to go to the place where you can receive all that He has to offer you. Your time spent there getting your life changed from Glory to Glory will be the greatest gift you will ever have to offer anyone else. Richest Blessing Just jen

2. PWOC Book Club This month we are reading “Leota’s Garden” by Francine Rivers. We will be meeting to discuss the book on Thursday, December 11th, after PWOC at the Chick-fil-a on Macon Road. If you would like a copy of the book or for more information, please see Nicki Rainey. A synopsis of the book is below: Once Leota’s garden was a place of beauty—where flowers bloomed and hope thrived. It was her refuge from the deep wounds inflicted by a devastating war, her sanctuary where she knelt before a loving God and prayed for the children who couldn’t understand her silent sacrifices. At eighty-four, Leota is alone, her beloved garden is in ruins. All her efforts to reconcile with her adult children have been fruitless. She voices her despair to a loving Father, her only friend. And God brings a wind of change through unlikely means: one, a college student who thinks he has all the answers; the other, the granddaughter Leota never hoped to know. But can the devastation wrought by keeping painful family secrets be repaired before she runs out of time? Shirley Goodnest and Marcy A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him.She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.So she had an idea of how to handle it.  She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her. She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it  would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew.  She did this for the whole week.As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.  Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week ? Do you know her?' Timmy nonchalantly replied,  'Yeah, I know who she is.'The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?''That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.' 'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? ''Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you,and give you peace.May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.

3. Upcoming Events Fort Benning PWOC Board 2008-2009 President: Jenifer Young 4f4young@gmail.com 1st VP (Programs):Contrilla Sparkman contrillas@yahoo.com 2nd VP (Spiritual Life):Annell German Trust_n_hisname@yahoo.com Financial Secretary: Laura Bartosh Bartosh3000@hotmail.com Secretary: Shelly Ramos lucesbella@netscape.net Titus II: Pat Davis pwocpat@gmail.com Chaplain Advisor: Chaplain Richard Garvey richard.garvey@us.army.mil Historian: Melissa Crabbe melissa_crabbe@yahoo.com Hospitality: Karen Cunningham wifeofaherokc@yahoo.com Outreach: Nikki Rainey Nikki.rainey@us.army.mil Participation: Sharon Vicars cvicars4@yahoo.com Prayer: Christi Collett christianacollett@yahoo.com Publicity: Megan Schlanser mbschlanser@aol.com Watch Care: Sarah Fellona sfellona@yahoo.com Worship: VACANT December 7 Infantry Band Holiday Concert will be held at the Rivercenter in downtown Columbus. This is a free concert and will be performed at 2 and 4 pm. December 8 Trees for Troops Live Christmas Trees have been donated for soldiers. Pick one up at the Java Café parking lot with your active duty id card. Only while supplies last. December 9 PWOC Holiday Cookie Demonstration at the Follow Me Chapel from 9-12. Come and see how to make some great holiday cookies and enjoy samples. December 10 Holiday Pajama Time at Sayers Library. Come to the Library for a very special storytime in your PJ’s at 7 pm to 8 pm. December 11 Santa is coming to Town! At Riverside, the Commanding Generals Residence. Join Santa for some holiday goodies and fun from 6-8 pm. December 12 Airborne Tower Lighting at Eubanks field. Come and watch the 250 foot tower get lighted and see a special guest jump from the skies! Festivities start at 3 pm. December 16 CSC Tour of Homes. Enjoy a tour of the many different styles of homes here on Fort Benning all decorated for the holidays. For more information, email cscreservationssfb@yahoo.com December 18 PWOC Holiday program. Come join us discover what our gifts to the redeemer are and enjoy some great food. December 23 Christmas Movie Marathon is taking place at building 1056 from 2-7 pm. Come watch your favorite holiday movies outside on the big, big screen. Bring your own blankets and chairs and dress for the weather! Do you love to sing and play music to the Lord? Do you also feel called to help out your fellow PWOC sisters? We are currently looking for a new Worship Leader for PWOC. If you are interested, please talk to Jenifer Young.

4. Don’t miss the PWOC Holiday Cookie Demonstration Fun Foot Fact The average person walks 43, 538 miles in their lifetime. That is two times around the world. What wonderful feet we have that enable us to do this amazing feat! Have you checked out the Fort Benning PWOC website? Http://pwocbenningconnection.wordpress.com 9 am to 12 pm Tuesday, December 9th Follow Me Chapel Join us for the December Program… Our Gifts to the Redeemer Thursday, December 18 9 am – 12 pm Follow Me Chapel If you have any ideas for future articles for this newsletter or have anything that you would like to see in it, please contact Megan Schlanser at mbschlanser@aol.com.