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If you are interested in pre-registering for our Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) program, you can now do so! The 2010-2011 brochure is available as a download from the sidebar of this blog, along with the AWANA registration form you'll need for children in the Puggles and Cubbies programs.

You can mail in your forms and $25 registration fee to the church office. The address is on the brochure. Marking your envelope "MOPS" or "Attn: Rachel" will help get that information in the right hands.

The complete schedule hasn't been nailed down yet, but most of the details should be the same as last year, for those of you who were involved. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call, comment, or email!

815.459.1095 • womensblog[at]efccl.org

Please keep in mind that filling out the forms and mailing in your $25 fee does not guarantee your spot in the MOPS program. (Money will be refunded if you are placed on a waiting list.) We are limited in size by the number of childcare workers we can find, and we won't know that information until later in the summer.

We had a blast hosting a simulcast last August, and we're planning to have just as much fun at the Beth Moore simulcast event at the Evangelical Free Church of McHenry! Tickets cost $20, and the event lasts from 9 a.m. 'til 3 p.m. on April 24, 2010. If you want more information or would like to register, please visit their website: www.mchenryefc.com.

P.S. Let us know if you're interested in joining or hosting a carpool!

It's finally warming up again outside, and the promise of spring is in the air! It's the perfect time to join with our Hiker Chicks on a two-hour hike through the Pleasant Valley conservation area. Meet up with the ladies in the front parking lot at 12:30 p.m. after church on Sunday, March 21. We'll depart for lunch at Subway and then a two-hour hike. If you're interested in attending, need a ride, or have room for passengers, please contact Martha Schuelke at 847.854.8139.

We hope to see you there!

(image via Thomas Merton)

Ladies, join us for another cold-weather hike on Sunday, February 28 at 12:30 p.m. We will meet in the church parking lot, stop by Subway for lunch, and then head to Moraine Hills State Park for a two-hour hike. Please contact Martha Schuelke (847.854.8139) if you are coming, need a ride, or have room for passengers.

(image via Thomas Merton)

As some of our fall Bible studies draw to a close, we encourage you to look ahead to the start of some new studies! If you've been thinking about joining a study, now is the perfect time to do so. Stop by for the first week or so and see what you think! We'd love to have the chance to surround you with encouragement and love as we grow together in Christ.

Starting January 30:
Just two days from now, our Saturday morning group will start working through Beth Moore's Stepping Up, a study on the Psalms of Ascent. This group meets every other Saturday from 8 a.m. 'til 10 a.m. For more information, call Donna Ricci at 815.479.8015.

Starting February 16:
The topic of "biblical womanhood" -- understanding what the Scriptures say about women and our role in society, in our homes, in our churches, etc. -- has been on our hearts for a long time now. We are excited to delve into Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book, Becoming God's True Woman, in our Tuesday morning group, which meets every week from 9 a.m. 'til 11 a.m. For more information, call Eileen Palsgrove at 815.459.7127.

Starting February 25:
Our Thursday morning weekly class (which meets from 9 a.m. 'til 11 a.m.) will soon begin working through Lies Women Believe, the renowned series from Revive Our Hearts. Nancy Leigh DeMoss will challenge fifty of the lies that commonly take hold of the hearts of Christian women and show "how to counter those lies with the Truth that sets us free." For more information, contact Laurel Wade at 815.356.5954.

We're heading back to Moraine Hills State Park on Sunday, January 31! Put on a few extra layers and join us for a two-hour hike after church. We'll depart from the parking lot at 12:30 p.m., stop at Subway for lunch, and then travel as a group to our destination. If you are interested in attending, need a ride, or have room for passengers, please contact Martha Schuelke (847.854.8139).

The weather outside is frightful, but bundle up on December 27 to join our Hiker Chicks on a two-hour hike at Moraine Hills State Park! Meet in the front parking lot of the church at 12:30 p.m. and bring a picnic lunch or money for Subway. If you are interested in attending, need a ride, or have room for passengers, please contact Martha Schuelke (847.854.8139).

(Image via sensetheart.com.)

Our yearly Spring Tea has been moved! We will now be celebrating a Christmas Tea on December 19, so mark the calendar and start inviting your friends, family members, and out-of-town guests who might be around for the holidays! As usual, we will need several women to volunteer to host a table, so let us know if that is something you would be interested in doing.

Where: Bull Valley Golf Club, 1311 Club Road, Woodstock, IL

When: December 19 at 11:45 a.m. (This will allow fifteen minutes to peruse the beautiful tables before sitting down to eat and drink.)

What: Join with women from our church to eat, drink, and fellowship before hearing a special message from guest speakers Debbie Richardson and Jen Gibson. This is a great excuse to dust off your china (as a table hostess) and your pearls or to show off your goofy holiday sweater. This year's theme is "His Princess," so feel free to bring your tiara, too!

Who: This event is a time of fellowship for women of our church, but we encourage you to invite friends and family members, too! We'd love to see tables filled with 20-somethings as well as tables filled with 70-somethings. Don't be afraid to mix it up, either, and get three or four generations at one table!

Cost: Tickets will be available for $20 a person. Please talk to us if payment is a concern, and we will do our best to offer full or partial scholarships as necessary.

Last year's baking event, Mix It Up, was a huge success, so we're bringing it back in 2009. Clear your schedules for November 12 and 19 at 7 p.m. for two nights of fabulous foods and great new recipes. We will once again focus on Christmas breads and cookies, spending time baking and eating while sharing about beloved and favorite traditions.

Where: Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake, Dining Room

When: November 12 at 7 p.m. (bread demonstration); November 19 at 7 p.m. (cookie exchange)

What: The first night will be a demonstration by some of our talented bread makers, who will focus on holiday bread recipes. The second night will be a cookie exchange, a casual time to eat and talk and fellowship during this new holiday tradition.

Who: This event is geared toward those over the age of fourteen and is open to women from our church and our community.

Cost: Free! You will be asked to bring a number of cookies if you would like to participate in the cookie exchange, but there are no other fees.

If you want to get a head start on the baking and eating, request a copy of the Mix It Up 2008 recipe book from the church office, available for only $2!

Craft away the holiday blues! We received so much feedback on our fabric gingerbread house — a display item for our Mix It Up baking event last year — that we've decided to dedicate three Monday nights before Thanksgiving to creating this craft together! Join us November 2, 9, and 16 at 7 p.m. for this three-part project that will be ready just in time to give away as a gift or to keep in your own home as a decoration. Invite some friends, or bring your mothers, daughters, aunts, nieces, and cousins for a new family tradition.

Where: Alvira Colbert's home, 7515 Forest Oak Drive, McHenry, IL

When: November 2, 9, and 16 at 7 p.m.*

What: Construct a fabric gingerbread house with a removable top, which can be used year after year as a beautiful display item.

Who: This event is open to all women in our church and community. Invite friends of all ages!

Cost: You are welcome to buy your own fabrics and materials if you want to create a custom look. We will also provide a limited number of kits with everything you need at the cost of $15 per kit.

*This is a three-part project, but you can finish at home if you need the extra time or cannot make all three sessions.