Women explore the heart of Christmas

The Fallbrook Women’s Connection welcomed 120 women to a Christmas brunch with inspiring holiday messages on Dec. 16 at the Grand Tradition. One of the highlights of this month’s event was a medley of Christmas songs by the Fallbrook High Madrigals. They sang every kind of song from “Ave Maria” to “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” to the delight of their audience.

The featured speaker was author/speaker Judy Scharfenberg who spoke on “What the heart of Christmas is all about.” Married for over 40 years, a mother of six and grandmother of 14, Scharfenberg shared her varied life experiences and how her life changed once she understood that she had to individually receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In relating the story “Martin the Cobbler,” by Leo Tolstoy, she reminded everyone that they are feeding, clothing and helping Jesus when they feed, clothe and help the people around them.

During the drawing for door prizes, the group presented a gift to Jean Dixon in recognition of her playing the piano as part of the entertainment almost every month.

Sponsored by Stonecroft Ministries, a non-denominational Christian organization, the Women’s Connection group offers monthly gatherings that entertain as well as educate and motivate women. The program is designed to appeal to women of all ages with topics including home decorating, beauty, women’s health, fashion, and local history as well as inspirational stories. The women who come to these meetings live all over north San Diego County and southwest Riverside County.

According to Katie Clemens, the group’s publicity chair, Stonecroft also sponsors Bible studies and Prayer Connections groups as well as an outreach program which aids women who are in transition, need education, are single mothers, or are in prison. “We minister to other women,” Clemens said. A silent auction held at the November brunch to benefit these programs raised over $2700.

One local activity unique in Stonecroft’s ministry is the Play and Pray program on Camp Pendleton. Women’s Connection members go on base every Thursday to conduct a Bible study for mothers and to also provide childcare for them during that time. Any women who want to volunteer to help with Play and Pray can call Suzanne Lockyer at (760) 728-1712.

Fallbrook Women’s Connection brunches are the third Friday of every month (except December) and January’s program will include guest speaker Miss Lillie Knauls, an internationally acclaimed gospel singer, who will help attendees “Deal with the Mess of Stress.” For more information, contact Ginny Breier at (760) 723-3633.

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