Twenty-three Mat Makers gathered for our meeting, faithfully continuing to serve as God’s hands and feet in our community through practical acts of love, compassion, and service.

Lynn H. opened the meeting in prayer, lifting up Liz’s family as they grieve their loss. She also gave thanks for Liz’s lasting impact on the Mat Makers ministry and prayed that God would continue to guide, strengthen, and use each of our ministries to bless those in need.

In Memory of Liz

We are saddened to share that Liz, one of the original Mat Makers, passed away Sunday morning at the age of 90.

We gathered on Friday to celebrate her Homecoming with her family, loved ones and friends.  Pastor Stephen Bischoff celebrated Liz in a beautiful service message.  Tyler, her grandson and father of Mila (Liz’s Great-Granddaughter) gave a beautiful Eulogy about his MaMaw.  

Upcoming Events

• Trade Days — First Tuesday in October which is October 6
• Superhero Fire, Cullman — Saturday, September 26, from 12:00–3:00 p.m.; Andy is leading the Serve.  Superheroes Fire in Cullman. This event will draw attention to suicide prevention and the homeless population and is sponsored by Karen Cook Ministries. Mat Makers will be one of approximately 30 participating ministries, with a focus on our outreach to those experiencing homelessness. We will have metal crosses and tiny Jesus figures available as giveaways. Andy Jordan will lead this event. Please wear your Mat Makers shirt.
• First Saturday Serve: Mat Makers Style — Saturday, October 3, at 8:00 a.m.; Lynn P. is coordinating the Serve.  We will showcase several of our ministries, help recruit more crocheters, and give newcomers an opportunity to participate. Our primary focus will be on making mats, since this is where we currently need the greatest help and productivity. As we move into the colder fall season, mats are especially needed. Other Mat Makers ministries will be represented together on one small display table.  More info coming soon.  Wear your Mat Makers Shirts!

Mat Makers Projects

Thank you to everyone who continues to give their time, creativity, and materials to these projects:

• KJ completed 1 mat
• Lapghans for Veterans — Lynn P. and Samantha
• Hats and scarves:  Several hats and scarf sets have been completed.  We showed the various items donated during the September First Saturday Serve.There are several Hats that need matching scarves available. If you can help with these finishing touches, please pickup some matching yarn on Tuesday.
• Walker bags are available for anyone who would like to take some to have on hand in your vehicle.

Donations and Needs

We received donated yarn on Saturday, along with T-shirt strips for jump ropes.

T-shirts are available for anyone who would like to take them home to cut into strips for jump rope making.

Needed: We are looking for beds for a family of four—one adult and three children. Please see Marilyn if you can help or have information about available beds.

Please also continue to remember the needs supported through our gift baskets, meals, and other ministries.  If you have items who can be donated — helping you declutter and helping others in need — let us know.

Mat Makers Blog

Keep up with current news, ministry updates, and prayer requests on the Mat Makers Blog.  I will be adding information about serves, items needed and more.

You may also visit the Prayer Requests page to see current needs and join us in prayer.  If you need the password, please let Lynn P know

Devotion and Closing Prayer

Valerie shared the devotion, reminding us that the “doer will be blessed in what he does,” from James.

“A doer…will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 NKJV North of Israel and teeming with aquatic life of many kinds, the Sea of Galilee is a beautiful blue. South of Israel is the Dead Sea, and it’s called “Dead” for a good reason: There’s no life in its stagnant water. What makes these two bodies of water so different? First, the Sea of Galilee has an inlet: the Jordan River flows into it. On its southern shore, the Sea of Galilee also has an outlet: water flows through the Great Rift Valley. Like the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea has an inlet: the Jordan flows into it. But the Dead Sea has no outlet; it takes in but does not give out. This is the theme of the book of James. Vibrant believers not only take in, but they also give out. They put the word they receive (input) into action (output): “If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (Jas 1:23-25 NKJV). James warns us not to become so heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good; that it’s not enough to read the Scriptures, but we must also look for practical ways to put them into practice each day. His message could be summed up in the famous Nike slogan: “Just do it!”

As we remember our sweet Ms. Liz, she was nothing like the Dead Sea. She was a Doer. Like the Theme of the book of James. Vibrant believers, such as Ms. Liz, not only took in, but they also gave out. Rest in Peace Mrs. Liz. We love you!

I love you all, we will see you on Tuesday in the Sunroom at 9 am!

Love,

Lynn P