MessagesofLove_ButtonUpYourOvercoat

Welcome to The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory Women's Ministries Website

Women’s Ministries Programs

Theme:

“Messages of Love”

Momma’s Love Note,

Button Up Your Overcoat”

Chiffonia Smith

Fellowship—January 2008

A Winter Fashion Show

Program Preparation

In advance of the program visit a thrift store to find winter fashions that will catch the eye of those who will be in the audience. Choose two outfits, including the accessories, for each model.

Decide who will be the models. They could be from your women’s ministry group or the mothers of children attending your corps. This could be a way of linking these women to your women’s ministries program. Sometimes the models chosen will depend upon the outfits found in the thrift store.

Label each outfit with a number. On a 3 x 5 index card list that number plus information about the outfit, the name of the person modeling the outfit and the sales price. These cards will be used during the fashion show by the emcee who will announce the name of

the model and give a description of the outfit.

If the ARC in your area has a women’s program, they may be willing to provide the models and outfits for the fashion show. Many of the women in the program have a wonderful testimony of what the Lord has done for them. Ask them to share their story as a part of your program.

Following the fashion show, have the modeled clothing items and accessories available for sale.

Winter Music

Choose music that describes a winter scene to play during the fashion show. Suitable numbers could be:

“Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” or use an instrumental soundtrack.

Decorations

Make a runway using sturdy material that will withstand people walking on it. Paint it white with splashes of gray or silver. Use a wedding arch decorated with small white Christmas lights and greenery. On each side of the arch, place artificial trees or plants with silver bows attached to them. Place fake snow, made from cotton batting, in the trees, around the arch and on the runway. Set up chairs for the audience with a center aisle.

Refreshments

Serve finger food: cocktail sausages, sandwiches, mini–muffins, mints, chips and dip,

vegetables and dip, snowflake cookies and snow logs. (Cut a banana into three pieces. Spread with peanut butter, to completely cover. Roll each piece in coconut.) Also serve frosty lime punch. (Combine 2–6oz. cans frozen limeade concentrate, thawed; 3 cups of cold water; one cup of lime sherbet and 2–12 oz chilled bottles lemon–lime carbonated

beverage. Mix all the ingredients in a large punch bowl, spooning in the scoops of sherbet

just before serving. This makes about 15 half–cup servings.) Hot chocolate could also be served.

Devotions

Are You Buttoned Up?

As a child, I remember my mother saying to all seven of us kids, “Be sure your coat is buttoned up! Put on your gloves. Do you have on your hat and scarf?” Or this dreaded question, “Are you wearing your long johns?” At times, during the winters of West Virginia, these items are all needed. But why did my mother check on what we were wearing? In her loving way she was trying to protect us from elements outside her control

—the elements of winter. She knew that when the weather was cold, her children needed to be protected to remain healthy. By her concern, she showed us her love.

The writer of Proverbs tells us of a similar woman. The Scripture states: “She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear” (Proverbs. 31:21, The Message). Here was a woman who took pride in making sure that her family was well taken care of. Because of her love, she offered them her very best.

We all know that it’s necessary to bundle up when the winter season arrives. We button up those overcoats as Momma told us to and put on our scarves and hats. But what about putting on the items that can make a difference in our spiritual lives? Things that can protect us from other types of elements. Colossians 3:12–14 from The Message states, “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even–tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all–purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Just as we spend time making sure that our physical bodies are taken care of and protected, we must also focus on our spiritual bodies. How do you dress each day of your life? Are you wearing the wardrobe that God has chosen for you? In addition to the items mentioned in Colossians, Ephesians 6:10–17 tells us to put on the armor of God. This

will protect us from the elements of the devil’s schemes. Talk about protection from the elements. This is the protection that we need every day. God has shown us what our wardrobe is to be. He wants us to be buttoned up in His love so that we can face all that life throws at us.

Today look at your life and think about the words that momma said long ago, “Be sure to button up your overcoat.” Have your winter clothes all mended and ready to wear; dress in the wardrobe picked out for you by God. Button up!